Rhys 2021 Pinot Noir, Alpine Vineyard

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$135.00USD

As the name suggests, this Pinot grows at an average elevation of 1,300 feet, a scant 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. There’s a wonderful rustic quality to this, given that the Santa Cruz Mountain are comprised of ancient soils. The fruit is restrained, more earthy and mineral driven, just the sort of style that works well with a variety of different foods. Yes, there is black cherry, pomegranate, huckleberry, but also a light dried raisin note. There as also great acidity, a whisper of candied almond, sandalwood, resin and boysenberry.

Kosta Browne 2021 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

The allure of Kosta Browne wines has been that, though they are very expressive wines, they are subtle. Shunning the in-your-face-Pinot-with-a-dash-of-Syrah, these wines are meant to reflect the place where they are grown, and the proof of this is that they taste like it. To further this point I received five Pinot Noirs to sample and opened one blind and tasted it. My first thought this was Sonoma Coast, and after looking at the label, it was.

2022 Tasca D'Almerita Catarratto Buonsenso Tenuta Regaleali, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is made from 100% Cataratto grapes in Sicily.  Silvery/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is refreshing with peach, sea air and slight char.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous, "liquidy" texture.  On the palate, peaches with a slight bitter almond note (in a good way) and char.  Plenty of depth here.  Long finish.  This is a complex wine but also refreshing.  It is crisp, food friendly and reasonably priced.  This is lovely on its own and would be great with fried shrimp or other sea food. Drink over the next fiver to eight years.  

NV Valdo Prosecco Marca Oro Rosé Brut, Italy,

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is a very well priced Prosecco from Italy. It is a blend of 90% Glerra and 10% Pinot Noir. Pale Salmon pink in color, clear and bright. Very frothy with a lot of smaller-ish bubbles. The nose is interesting with cherries, slight apples, and a subtle smoky/earthy note. Medium bodied. good acidity. On the palate this is dry with cherries, slight cranberries with a light minerality. Long finish. This drinks nicely on its own and is very food friendly. Drink over the next few years.

2008 Paternoster Aglianico del Vulture Don Anselmo, Italy, Basilicata, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is 100% Aglianico from Basilicata (the arch of the boot) in southern Italy.  Don Anselmo is the grandfather of the current owners and the person who started the winery.  This is their top bottling.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Black cherries, cherries, balsamic, spice and leather.  Full bodied.  Tannins are present but mostly integrated.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious with black cherry fruit, tobacco, forest floor, dust and slight char.  Long finish.  Complex and deep.  This drinks great on its own but really needs food.  This would work

2019 Felline Primitivo di Manduria Giravolta, Italy, Apulia, Wine review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is made from Primitivo grapes which is a close relative of Zinfandel in Apulia, Italy (the heel of the boot).  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with raspberries, cherries, bramble, orange peel and black pepper.  Soft texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black and red raspberries with a touch of milk chocolate.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own but would be better with food.  A great choice for Pizza night.  Drink over the next few years.

2015 Lunarossa Borgomastro Colli di Salerno IGT, Italy, Campagna, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is 100% Aglianico from Campagna in Italy.  This is a grape that can be made for ageing and this bottling is the wineries top choice for having a long life.  At age 9, it is showing some age but seems like it has a lot left to offer.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, smoked fruits, spice, coffee beans and minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity especially for such a ripe wine.  On the palate, this has a deep, layered complexity.  Flavors of black cherries, some boysenberries with minerality and char.  Long finish.  Thi

Davis Bynum 2022 Chardonnay, River West Vineyard

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Davis Bynum has a long history in Sonoma, dating back to the early 1970s and has long promoted Sonoma wine before Sonoma was known for its dynamic wines it is today. This 2022 uses six different Chardonnay clones from various blocks on their property to craft a classic Sonoma Chardonnay. You’ll find lemon curd, light resin, apricot, honeysuckle and white peach where the acidity supports the fruit.

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