2020 Seven of Hearts Cabernet Sauvignon Alder Ridge Vineyard, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$48.00USD

This is a lovely Washington Cabernet (from an Oregon producer).  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dust and a slight minty note.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has cassis, bell pepper and slight tobacco notes.  Some depth.  Still young but showing some evolution.  Nice finish.  This is a more traditional (not extracted) Cabernet that seems to speak of place.   It will improve with a bit of cellaring.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2014 Seven of Hearts GSM, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

From the Oregon producer comes an interesting GSM blend out of Washington.  The wine is aged ten and though still in the marketplace, the winery has closed it doors for retirement.  It is a blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre.  The color was quite light (about the same as their light colored Pinot), ruby, clear and bright.  The nose has some cherries with a touch of spice.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, there is some depth and complexity.  Cherry and earth.  Moderate finish.  I would have liked to taste this in its youth as I suspect its a bit past prime.  It was ha

2020 Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir, USA, Oregon, Willamette, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

This is a lighter, more elegant style of Pinot that is not often seen (even in Burgundy) these days.  Light ruby  in color, clear and vibrant.  The nose is great with sour cherries, dusty attic, and spice.  Really nice semi-velvety texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cherries and some sour cherries.  Clean.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own, but would be better with food.  A Mushroom Quiche would work well.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

2019 Seven of Hearts Pinot Gris, USA, Oregon, Dundee Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This winery has recently shut its doors, but there is still wine in the market.  The wine was brought up in a combination of used French oak and steel.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice minerality along with a touch of Meyer Lemon and pears.  Slightly oily texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, slight lemons along with almonds.  Slightly bitter note on the finish.  This wine has shed its youth but is still drinking well.  Drink over the next year or two.  Nice on its own, this will work well with Thai food.  

NV Bodega Calle Baja Tanga Sparkling Rose, Argentina, Mendoza, Wine Review

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

This is a blend of 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% Malbec.  The name means "lower tongs" i.e. "panty remover" and the label a bit suggestive.  The wine itself is a pleasant, inexpensive sparkling wine from Argentina.  Light salmon pink in color, clear and bright with a frothy mousse.  The nose has strawberries with light cherries which carries thru to the palate.  Good acidity.  Easy drinking.  It seems like it would be very food friendly.  Fried chicken could be a good match.  

2015 Licht-Stadtfeld Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Trocken, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Nice to revisit this (it had been almost seven years).  This was a  great value back in the day ($20).  It really hasn't ddeveloped as much as hoped, but still a very good wine.  Light gold/green in color. The nose has green apples, and minerals. On the palate, this is dry. Some depth. The palate is more peach with some minerality.  Shorter finish.  No hurry but won't get better.  A nice wine with lighter foods or maybe some Szechuan.  

2017 Booker Vineyard Vertigo, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 65% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, and 5% Grenache.  I am a big fan of these wines and this one was no exception.  This is a big wine but it is starting to shed some of its youth.  Inky purple, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, plums, roasted meats, spice and slight chocolate note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep.  Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, slight chocolate and spice.  Great lush texture.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work with some foods.  Cassoulet

Bouchaine 2022 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

Bouchaine has consistently made this wine and has consistently made it well. What sets this apart from many California rosé is that it straddles the line between fruit and acidity, allowing the wine to be a part of any meal. It offers strawberry, lemon-lime, resin, light apricot and loquat. There is also a slight tartness to it, a hint of green apple that helps define this as a multi layered wine. Since the wine sees no oak at all, the freshness, the brightness and the clean fruit shines through. 1,500 cases. ORIGIN: Napa Valley, Carneros. ALCOHOL: 13.5%

Acumen 2021 Mountainside Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

Most wineries, like Acumen, love fruit grown on hilly terrain. The grapes have proper drainage, the addition of breezes keeps the leafy vines healthier and soils are richer in nutrients. Therefore, this Mountainside Cabernet has everything going for it. This wine requires a little bit of patience however, and decanting this for a few hours will be well worth your time. This shows the obvious black cherry, blueberry, boysenberry, and huckleberry notes that Cabernet typically has.

2020 Kutch Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

One of my favorite vineyards for Chardonnay and Jamie Kutch does great things with it.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apples with spice and slight vanilla.  Great texture.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, the apples and vanilla come thru.  Vibrant wine.  Plenty of depth.  Delicious now but should age gracefully.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with many foods.  Baked seafood would be one.  

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