2000 Paternoster Aglianico del Vulture Don Anselmo, Italy, Basilicata, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is from the "arch" of the Italian boot area and made from the Aglianico grape.  It is possibly the best wine from this area but it does take a long time to mature.  At 19 years from vintage, this wine is now in a great place.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, leather, cigar box, and dust.  On the palate, it does show some age but plenty of fresh cherries and black cherries as well over a dry earthy, tobacco quality.  Good acidity, this goes quite well with food.  Nice finish.  It was decanted for sediment and continued to improve for an hour before leveling off.  No

2010 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

My first time trying this wine.  It is made by Philippe Melka.  93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot.   2010 was a hit or miss vintage but this is quite good.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, and coffee.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Plenty of black raspberries and blueberries.  Lush texture.  Not a lot of acidity but enough to work with food.  Good finish.  This is not a fruit bomb and its not intense, more middle of the road in style.  Very enjoyable.  It should probably be consumed in the next five to seven years though it undoubtedly will still be d

2002 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Beautiful showing for this bottle.  Gorgeous color if a bit worrisome.  A deep burnt orange color.  The nose is very nice with a slight petrol quality along with apricots and slight honey.  On the palate, this is slightly viscous.  Not as sweet as it was in it's youth though still some sweetness.  Peaches, slight honey, slight almond note on the finish.  Complex and deep.  It is evolving nicely and well stored bottles should continue to be a treat for a while.  This went well with a salad and will probably have more synergy with lighter foods at this point in its life.  

2006 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut La Grande Dame, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

Nice to revisit this one again (other notes are posted on this site).  It is always interesting to follow a wine over time.  What was a very concentrated and precise wine on release has started to broaden out and showing some development.  It is still a youthful wine with plenty of energy at 13 years from vintage.  Light golden in color with a nice frothy mousse with tiny bubbles.  The nose has a bit of yeast/baked bread with a lemon peel note.  On the palate, this has a nice citrus over a slightly earthy quality.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is showing a nice complexity and depth.  W

2018 Campesino Grenache Isa, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Campesino is a winery that makes excellent Rhone varietal wines for fair prices.  It is a list that people should be signing up for if the wines are not available in the local marketplace.  This is one of the better, more refreshing Rose's on the market made from mostly Grenache.

2017 Artezin Zinfandel Mendocino County, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This is an inexpensive wine made from 85% Zinfandel and 15% Petite Sirah.  It is aged in one and two year old French oak barrels.  This is a nice wine to serve at parties and cook outs.  It will be popular with people who enjoy a nice glass of red.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black raspberries, raspberries, some black cherries along with a bit of cola and spice.  On the palate, black cherries, black raspberries and a bit of black pepper.  Easy drinking.  Nothing harsh.  Not a lot of acidity.  Ripe fruit.  This is a wine to drink now.  

2016 Bodegas Virxen de Galir Valdeorras Pagos del Galir, Spain, Valdeorras, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This comes from northwest Spain.  It is made from 100% Mencia grapes and spends six months in oak and six in bottle before being released.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is nice with cherries, soy and spice.  On the palate, cherries, black cherries with an underlying spice.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  This should hold for three to five years if stored well.  It will go well with chicken and lighter meat dishes as well as vegetable dishes.  

2018 Bonterra Young Red, USA, California, Mendocino, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This is an unusual wine.  It takes some of the Rose this winery produces and hard presses the grapes (presumably after the juice intended for the Rose is separated).  Hard pressing is basically squeezing to get a bit more juice.  This is typically tannic.  The difference is they then adds in Malbec juice to the wine.  The wine is barrel fermented and then aged for a bit in stainless steel.  The result is a young, lighter wine that is not too unlike a Beaujolais.  It proved quite popular at our www.Intowine.com tasting.  We liked this a bi

2018 Flora Springs Sauvignon Blanc Soliloquy, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (44%), Chardonnay (41%), Malvasia (10%), and Pinot Gris(5%).  The name comes from a proprietary clone of Sauvignon Blanc that Flora Springs utilizes in the Crossroads vineyard.   It is an interesting white that really needs some air when opening.  Silvery/green in color with pale yellow/gold.  On opening the oak is dominant and that did not work well.  Of course, this is just being released and that will cure itself.  In any event, patience is rewarded.  After about an hour of breathing the tropical fruit came out.  A slight bit of grassiness, in a good wa

2017 Bodegas Virxen de Galir Valdeorras Pagos del Galir, Spain, Galicia, Valdeorras, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This comes from northwest Spain and is made from 100% Godello grapes.  It is an interesting take on this varietal seeming more modern and new world than many.  Pale golden in color.  The nose is nice with limes and slight vanilla notes.  There is a slight golden raisin note with air and then a bit of peach and mint.  Really very pleasant.  On the palate, this is soft and smooth.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Notes of dry pineapple (if that makes sense) with a touch of vanilla and a bit of peach.  This should be drunk in the next year or two.  It will go well with seafood or fowl and certa

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