2018 Planeta Etna Bianco, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is made from Carricante grapes on the slopes of Mt. Etna in Sicily.  Yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  An interesting nose with peach, slight orange notes, smoke, and almonds.  Full bodied with a slightly viscous texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, lemons and minerals/smoke.  A bit of lemon candy on the Long finish.  This drinks very well on its own and will work well with sea food and lighter foods.  drink over the next couple of years.  

2020 Tasca D'Almerita Catarratto Buonsenso Tenuta Regaleali, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

From Sicilia DOC, this is 100% Catarratto grapes.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has golden raisins with green apple notes.  There is a lovely oily texture that is slightly viscous.  On the palate, the green apples come thru.  Lower acidity.  This works better with food though certainly enjoyable  on its own.  Swordfish would be a nice accompaniment.  Drink over the next couple years.  

1972 Château Doisy-Dubroca, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Barsac, Wine Reiew

Vintage: 
1972
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is apparently available in the market and I would love to know the back story.  The 1973 has been reviewed a couple time here recently as well.  It has a Rose/pink/orange color to it, clear and bright.  The nose has apricots, butterscotch and caramel.  Viscous.  On the palate the apricots and butterscotch come thru.  Solid acidity.  Nice finish.  This is very nice and drinking well at age 49.  This would be a great birth year wine for anyone born in 1972.  It would work well with blue cheese or just in a glass by itself.  

2018 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

A classically styled CdP, the word "rustic" no doubt comes to mind.  It is a blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, and 5% (Cinsault, Clairette, and others).  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, funk and garrigue.  Full bodied.  On the palate slightly silky texture.  Medium tannins.  Cherries and black cherries with some earthiness.  Black licorice on the finish.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this will work nicely with braised beef.  

2018 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Picpoul, Vaccarèse, and Counoise.  It was very tight and most likely shut down at this point.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose shows some cherries and black raspberries with dust and slight garrigue.  It does have a wonderful texture which is often an indication in wines that are shut down of future greatness.  On the palate, it comes off a sweet cherry pie filling at the moment.  This should be cellared for another five to seven years and then drink over the next eigh

2003 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$58.00USD

Nice to revisit this wine at age 18.  2003 was a very hot vintage that was problematic for many winemakers.  This one is holding up just fine.  It is 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and the rest Cinsault and Mourvedre.  This is fully mature but only showing a bit of age.  Light purple in color but still opaque and mostly bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, garrigue and dried tobacco.  Full bodied.  On the palate, nice cherry and black cherry fruit with underlying tobacco and some char.  Good complexity.  Long finish.  This will work better with hearty food; beef stew would work well.  D

2018 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Secrets de Pignan, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is 100% Grenache from organic grapes grown in Pignan.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and spice/garrigue.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries and some plums with underlying spice and char.  Nice energy and balance.  Long finish.  This needs more time to mature and open and surely will improve with five to seven more years.  It drinks well now though and will continue to do so for another twelve to fifteen years.  It will work well with lamb stew and other slow cooked, savory dishes.  

2018 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Baron, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$37.00USD

This is a luxury cuvee for this wine who make a few different CdP's.  It is a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 20% Mourvedre.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has raspberries, black cherries, garrigue, pepper and black olives.  Full Bodied.  On the palate, this is drinking well now.  Very concentrated notes of black cherries and black raspberries with underlying pepper and smoke.  This has a long finish.  It will improve over the next five to seven years but either way will drink well for the next twelve to fifteen years.  Great on its own, but better with grilled

2018 Domaine de Ferrand Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% a field blend.  It is quite tight and shut down at the moment so if drinking soon, give it about six hours of air or more.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and garrigue.  With air a bit of lavender comes out.  On the palate, this has a lovely silky texture.  The fruit is quite tight but there are black cherries and black raspberries with a bit of black licorice and anise.  Everything feels right about this wine but it just isn't showing much at the moment.  Give it another five to seven years and then it should be o

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