Cuvaison 2020 Chardonnay Hedon

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Small lot Chardonnay. Not many people take the time to create small batches of wine, but Cuvaison does and it opens the door into wines that are specially cared for and you can taste that. This Chardonnay is a shy, subtle Chardonnay, and even though winemaker Steve Rogstag says it’s an “iconic California style,” it’s really more a respectful nod to Burgundy. Yes, this is 100% Chardonnay, aged in both French and American oak for 18 months, with full malolactic fermentation, but the acidity and light flavors veer away from California to France.

Cuvaison 2019 Syrah Diablo

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

The devil is in the details and with Cuviason’s Diablo Syrah, the details are key to an exceptional wine. Syrah often is mis-treated and most Syrahs on the market are fairly benign. But winemaker Steve Rogstad coaxes much out of these 21-year-old vines grown is less than optimal soils. A smooth viscosity leads to plum, huckleberry, black cherry, red currant, and light pomegranate notes, with back notes of young tobacco leaf and new leather. This is not a timid wine, but a sensuous one that is definitely meant to work with food, as it’s a little heavier on the alcohol.

Cuvaison 2019 Merlot Arcilla

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Though Cuvaison is best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, they have an impressive overall portfolio of wine that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Case in point, their 2019 Merlot is nothing short of outstanding. This is a medium bodied wine that drinks like a full-bodied wine with lots of swagger. Black cherry notes dominate along with plum, blackberry, light blueberry, cocoa powder and fresh sawed cedar wood. This is 100% Merlot and shows that with excellent fruit, you can make a Merlot that doesn’t need the addition of other grapes to make it better.

2020 Familia Deicas Bodegones del Sur Cabernet Franc Vineyard Select, Uruguay, Juanicó, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is Cab Franc from Uruguay!  Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, bell peppers, tobacco and slight chocolate.  Medium bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Lovely texture.  On the palate, this has juicy acidity.  Black cherry fruit with underlying char.  Long finish.  Blind, I would have guessed it from the Loire Valley.  Drinking well now, it should continue for another eight to ten years.  Nice on its own but better with food.  This would be a perfect wine with (Veggie) Burgers off the grill.  

2019 Bodega Bouza Monte Vide Eu, Uruguay, Montevideo, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$67.00USD

This is a blend of 50% Tannat 30% Merlot and 20% Tempranillo.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, plums, chocolate and spice.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this drinks like a bold, young Bordeaux (which is a compliment).  Cherries, black cherries, cinnamon, and plums.  There is a nice complexity.  Its is drinking well but may still improve.  Either way, it should drink well for the next ten to fifteen years.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with roasted meats and vegetables.  

2020 Gimenez Mendez Tannat Alta Reserva, Uruguay, Las Brujas Canelones, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is 100% Tannat.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, dust, chocolate, spice and a hint of toasted oak.  Medium tannins.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, plums and black raspberries.  Moderate acidity.  This is very tasty.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for another twelve to fifteen years.  Nice on its own but better with food.  This would work well with Lamb Chops.  An excellent value!

2018 Alto de la Ballena Tannat/Viognier Reserva, Uruguay, Maldonado, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is an intriguing blend of 85% Tannat and 15% Viognier.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with chocolate, cherries, and a slight coconut note.  Medium to firm tannins.  Full bodied.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, cherries and other red fruits.  Moderate finish.  This is drinking well now and should drink well for another five to eight years.  This works better with food.  It would go well with roasted duck or chicken.  

2019 Montes Toscanini Tannat Gran Tannat Premium, Uruguay, Las Piedras, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$59.00USD

At a recent tasting of Uruguayan wines, this seemed to be the crowds choice for best wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has raspberries, plums and milk chocolate.  Medium to firm tannins.  Soft texture.  On the palate, black cherries and plums.  Deep.  The finish is long with lots of fruit and tannins.  This is drinking well now but should improve.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this will work better with food.  Pot Roast would work well.  

2018 Pisano Tannat RPF (Reserva Personal de la Familia), Uruguay, Progreso, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is 100% Tannat.  Ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose seems warm/moist in a good way with black cherries, dark chocolate, spice and slight herbal notes.  Firm tannins.  Softer texture.  On the palate, black cherries and black raspberry fruit.  Good acidity.  The tannins kick up on the finish.  This is very tasty.  Good value.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  It drinks well on its own but probably better with food.  It would be nice with grilled meats or even roasted vegetables.  

Gimenez Mendez 2020 Tannat

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

Uruguay’s flagship red wine is, and always has been, Tannat. It grows well there. Tannat, however, is not the friendliest of grape owing to its heavier tannic structure. For this iteration, it’s 100% Tannat and it offers blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, with back notes of wild cherry, plum and lingonberry. There is very little oak influence – just nine months in barrel - and very strong tannins, so this wine definitely needs some air time, and food. Tannat is not a cocktail wine and it needs to be paired with food, most typically in Uruguay it’s beef.

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