2020 Wander + Ivy Cabernet Sauvignon California, USA, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

These come in 187ml individual servings packaged in an attractive glass bottle with a plastic stopper and screw on top.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is  tight but opens to show cherry aromas.  Perhaps a touch of volatile acidity as well which helps life the nose.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, black cherry fruit.  Moderate finish.  This is a fun, easy drinking wine that would be nice for picnics.  Drink now.  

2020 Wander + Ivy Utiel-Requena Red Wine Blend, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$7.00USD

This comes in attractive packaging.  A 187ml glass bottle with screw top and plastic stopper.  The wine itself is from Spain.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cherries although a bit clipped on the finish.  Also some Kirsch notes.  This is a fun idea for a "single serving"  for $7 or $8.  Drink over the next year.  A nice wine with pizza or a picnic.  

2020 Domaine Bousquet Gaia Red Blend, Argentina, Mendoza, Gualtallary Vineyard, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of Malbec, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon organic grapes.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, plum, slight weedy notes and clay.  Medium to full bodied.  Good acidity.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has black cherry fruit.  Simple and easy drinking but a nice value.  Great choice for a party.  This works well on its own and would be nice with a burger or chicken off the grill.  Drink over the next few years.  

2022 Domaine Bousquet Chardonnay Virgen, Argentina, Mendoza, Uco Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This is a well priced organic Chardonnay from one of our favorite producers.  Yellow/gold/green hues, clear and bright. The nose has yellow grapefruits and nice minerality.  Excellent juicy texture.  Good acidity.  Nice balance.  On the palate, grapefruits, slight lemons and minerality.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter foods such as a lemon pasta.  Drink over the next three to five years.  Great value!

Decoy Unlimited 2021 Alexander Valley Merlot

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This offers nicely balanced red fruit with minimal oak, solid acidity and decent tannic structure. Not an easy thing to find in a Merlot, and a Merlot at this price. Black cherry, black berry, huckleberry, red currant, light cedar and vanilla notes dominate and this is a very comprehensive wine. Mainly Merlot, there are small percentages of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Malbec. It was aged for 14 months in French oak, only 40% of which was new, hence the light wood touch. What this ultimately offers is a robust Merlot that is well worth the price.

Cherry Pie 2021 Pinot Noir, Toro Hills

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Any vineyard facing San Pablo Bay, like Toro Hills, is buffeted by wind and fog coming off the water. Typically fruit grown here is more fully developed. This Toro Hills Pinot has that depth of flavor, less bright strawberry notes and more raspberry, huckleberry, blueberry and blackberry with soft black cherry, spring wildflowers, and a slight earthiness. The acidity is spot on allowing for expressiveness with food while the mild barrel aging (10 months in barrel with just 30% new French oak) allows for a balanced approach and fruit over wood. ORIGIN: Sonoma County. ALCOHOL: 14.9%

1968 D'Oliveiras Madeira Boal, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1968
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$458.00USD

A great showing for this "young" Madeira.  Light brown (the color of Iced tea) in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great.  Dusty with Tootsie Rolls, caramel and orange peel notes.  Full bodied.  Viscous texture.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Complex.  Delicious.  Chocolate, caramel and slight oranges.  Long, long finish.  This is drinking well and at age 55, it has decades maybe centuries left.  Great on its own, this would work with more savory, plain desserts.  

 

2015 Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$325.00USD

Christopher Tynan's wines do not get enough attention.  The Syrahs are great but this is stunning.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, camphor, baking spices, fresh tobacco and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy and balance.  This is still very young but starting to open up.  On the palate, cassis, pencil lead, and chocolate with some underlying char.  Long finish.  This needs another five to ten years to get closer to peak and then should be great for another twenty to thirty after that.  Great on its own, this needs bi

2018 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$241.00USD

The home winery for Thomas Rivers Brown, one of Napa's premier winemakers.  This is a new (albeit classic) vineyard for TRB.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great.  Complex and clean with cassis, blueberries, pencil lead, sandalwood and menthol.  Full bodied.  The palate is also complex if tight.  Cassis and blueberries with some spice and slight char.  Long finish.  This is obviously young but already drinking great.  Still, another decade in a good cellar will take this to the 100 level.  Great on its own, it will need big food now to match the firm tanni

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