2018 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

The Guigal Cotes du Rhone is consistently one of the best values in wine.  This is the red, but they also make white and rose.  It is  a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty, slight earthiness with black cherries and black raspberries.  Medium to full bodied.  Very tasty.  Nice texture.  This drinks easy but it also has some stuffing.  On the palate, light tannins with black raspberries and black cherries.  Well balanced.  Amazingly, they make 4.5 million bottles of this wine and keep the quality

2019 E. Guigal Condrieu, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

This is the basic Condrieu (they also make a higher end called La Doriane).  It is made from 100% Viognier grapes.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with floral qualities along with some vanilla and spice.  With air, apricots emerge along with a bit of peach.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, the apricots and spice come thru.  A bit of a bitter ginger note on the finish.  This needs a bit of cellaring, maybe two or three years, and then should drink well for five to eight more years.  Very nice on its own, this will work better with food.  Shellfish would be a nice

2017 E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

A very nice northern Rhone white, perhaps a bit lighter in style, but in a good way. It is a blend of 95% Marsanne, and 5% Roussanne.  Light yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with vanilla, peach, pears and spice.  Medium bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, tangerine with slight lemon peel and the oak/spice continues thru to the finish.  A bit of grapefruit on the finish as well.  This is very nice on its own but even better with food.  It went well with a vegetarian cassoulet.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2017 Tegernseerhof Blauer Zweigelt, Austria, Weinland, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Grade: 

This is a red made by a producer who mostly produces whites in Austria.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is very earthy with a sweaty socks note.  Light bodied. On the palate, there is a note of rhubarb turning slightly bitter on the finish.  Low acidity.  This will probably be a bit better with food.  Drink over the next year or so.  

Gunther Schlink 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

From the Nahe, one of Germany’s best wine growing regions, comes this delightful rosé of Pinot Noir. Known as Spätburgunder in Germany, Pinot Noir is one of the country’s top red wines. Pale copper in color this is an uncomplicated rosé that is aimed for pure enjoyment. There’s proper acidity that flows through this wine from start to finish and just a hint of sweetness. Soft fruit notes of honeydew melon, lemon and strawberry dominate with a whisper of black cherry on the finish. Light, clean and satisfying. ORIGIN: Nahe, Germany. ALCOHOL: 12%

Duckhorn 2019 Three Palms Merlot

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$115.00USD

Three Palms is unquestionably the most well-known and famous Merlot in the United States. That Duckhorn has made a commitment to Merlot for decades is to be applauded. This iteration beautifully spells out why they have made that commitment. The deftly handled balance of fruit, acidity, tannin and oak is simply marvelous. Black cherry, blackberry, boysenberry and huckleberry lead off, followed by back notes of black cherry, plum, anise, and cocoa powder. Aged for 18 months in predominately new French oak. ORIGIN: Napa Valley. ALCOHOL: 14.5%

2017 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$105.00USD

There’s a belief I have that if you mess up any fruit from Howell Mountain there’s something wrong with you. Duckhorn has consistently produced an extraordinary Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2017 is no exception. Comprised of all Cabernet with 10% Merlot, this is a softer version than in years past, these tannins are a little more mild, the acidity a little brighter, and the fruit opulent and rich. Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, and boysenberry, lead off and the fruit is a tad more expressive than in years past. It was aged 24 months, 18 of which were new French oak.

Cuvaison 2020 Chardonnay Kite Tail

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This wine has always been one of the outstanding performers in the Cuvaison portfolio and year after year is a wine that never ceases to impress. It is also one of those Chardonnays that makes you rethink Chardonnay because it is so beautifully balanced, so definitely handled, that it surpasses what most of us know about Chardonnay. Yes you’ll find light lemon-lime, green apple, kiwi, guava notes, but also viscosity and minerality. It also possesses a slight resin and stone fruit quality and maturity of fruit. That these vines are just 20 years old suggests there are great vintages ahead.

2015 Tegernseerhof Riesling Beerenauslese Kaiserberg, Austria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

The is a beautiful dessert wine from Austria.  Beerenauslese literally means berry selected which means the grapes are harvested individually and not in bunches to ensure ripeness.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has honey, apricot and a slight balsa wood note.  Viscous.  Sweet, not cloying.  Enough acidity to cut through.  The palate also features the apricots and honey.  Long finish.  This is delicious and probably serves to be consumed on its own.  Drink over the next twenty years.  10.5% abv.

2015 Tegernseerhof Riesling Auslese Steiner Pfaffenberg, Austria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Auslese is a German word meaning Selected Harvest.  The grapes are late harvest grapes with high levels of sugar.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a bit of diesel along with peach and slight apples.  Light acidity but the wine is not cloying.  On the palate, notes of white raisins, honey and peach with some minerality.  Slightly sweet. Slight tropical fruits on the finish.  This is delicious.  It is great on its own and would work well with a not too sweet piece of (Austrian) pastry or cookie.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

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