2008 Azienda Agricola Montevetrano Montevetrano Colli di Salerno IGT, Italy, Campania, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$84.00USD

Great showing.  This is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Aglianico from Campagna in Italy.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and a bit flat.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, dried cherries, herbal notes, forest floor and spice.  Complex.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex.  Lots of fresh cherries and black cherries with some tobacco, leather and spice.  Long finish.  This is close to or at peak.  It drinks nicely on its own and will work well with many foods.  Roasted poultry should work well.  Drink over the ne

2004 Cafaggio Villa Cafaggio Cortaccio Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany.  At age twenty it is fully mature and seemingly at peak.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries,  dried cherries, spice, forest floor and char.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, this has some complexity.  Fresh and dried cherries, tobacco, forest floor and char.  Good finish.  This is better with food.  It would work well with a nice plate of pasta.  Drink up.

2012 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, St. Helena, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$170.00USD

Beautiful showing and yet another example of how "showy" Napa Cabs can age and develop nuances and subtilty although this one still has plenty of life left.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, slight tobacco, and just a bit of spice.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this took about an hour to open and then just kept developing in the glass.  Flavors of cassis, some black cherries, spice, leather and char.  Long finish.  Based on this bottle, this wine has another ten to fifteen years of prime drinking.  Great on its own, t

2019 Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Another great Cab from Becklyn.  This is their entry level and while not inexpensive, it is a great value for a top Napa cab.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, cedar, vanilla and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Lively acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis with slight vanilla and char.  Good finish.  This is drinking well if young.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  Great on its own but will work well with roasted meats or veggies.  

2022 Dönnhoff Riesling, Germany, Nahe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is their basic Rielsing.  it is a great value and while not at the level of complexity of their more expensive wines, it still provides a lot.  Light silvery/gold in color with just a touch of green hues.  On the nose, peaches, minerals and slight honeyed notes.  Light to medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  Slightly sweet but definitely sweet.  Peaches with slight pineapple.  Nice minerality.  Good finish.  This drinks easy and the bottle is soon finished.  Drink over the next five years.  It will work well with Thai or Indian foods.  

2021 Sandlands Zinfandel, USA, California, Lodi, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This bottle has some serious Brettanomyces issues.  I am usually pretty tolerant but this was near my limits.  Almost undrinkable on day one, it was allowed to breathe over night and while still present, it was tolerable (for me) on day 2.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly clear and slightly flat.  On the nose, there is a lot of barnyard/band-aid aromas.  There is some fruit underneath but it is hard to get to.  On day two, the barnyard is more in the background and the nose is more about clay and band-aid along with some black cherries.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the pa

2021 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc Judge Family Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Bennett Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Light green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with honey dew, slight tropical notes, and a bit of sea air.  Nice texture.  Good acidity.  Crisp, yet with rounded edges.  On the palate, this is tasty with honey dew melon and some minerality.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  Chicken Salad or Tuna Salad would be a great match.  Drink over the next five years.  

2018 Domaine de la Côte Sainte-Epine St. Joseph Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs and meats, and black pepper.  Light tannins.  Nice texture.  good balance.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Black raspberry fruit with some char and a bit or pepper.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with a bit of food.  It went well with vegetarian (black bean) Chili.  

2016 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Gramolere, Italy, Piedmont, Wine review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight asphalt, slight rose and iron.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is tight but opens in the glass.  Cherries with some asphalt and minerals.  Deep.  This is just entering its drinking window and should be there for another eight to twelve years.  Nice on its own but better with food.  A plate of truffle pasta would be perfect.  

2018 Ridge Mataro Gonsalves, USA, California, Contra Costa County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with raspberries, plums and spice.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  Some depth.  Flavors of black raspberries and plums.  Better with food. It went well with roasted veggies.  Drink over the next five to seven years. 

Pages

Pages