2007 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Baron, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

From the ripe vintage of 2007, this bottling got just average scored from Robert Parker/ The Wine Advocate.  It is easy to see why, but that is not a reflection on quality as much as style.  This bottling was quite enjoyable but certainly an outlier from the traditional Châteauneufs.   A blend of 55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre. Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lovely cherries with some strawberries with a hint of dried flowers and spices.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is elegant and lighter.  Charming might be a good descriptor.  Cherries, with slight cranbe

2020 Massimo Daldin Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

Anyone who has ever visited San Gimignano probably has a soft spot in their heart for it.  A beautiful picturesque hillside town, famous for its towers.  This winery has been making wines here since 1996, so how come I am just now hearing about it?  So it goes in  the world of wine.  But this wine is excellent!  Light yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with apples, some minerals and slight pine.  Medium bodied.  But the tension in this wine.  It's precision.  Tight layers.  Bright acidity.  It wakes up the palate and then satisfies it.  The palate has great minerality

2019 Raeburn Chardonnay, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has fresh cut lumber, toast, butterscotch and a slight lemon note.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins (most likely oak driven).  On the palate, the toast and butterscotch come thru with a bit more lemon.  Lower acidity.  The finish is medium with a bit of vanilla.  This has a lot of oak on it, so factor that into your buying preferences.  It drinks better on its own than with food for that reason.  Drink over the next few years.  

2020 Caves d'Esclans The Palm by Whispering Angel, France, Provence, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This is an inexpensive Rose by the makers of Whispering Angel Rose.  It is nice but definitely a step or two down from its big sister.  12.5%  ABV.  A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault.   Very pale pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some watermelon and a hint of strawberries.  Light bodied.  On the palate, the strawberries are more the driving force.  There isn't much acidity here, so it drinks better on its own or with light foods.  Drink over the next year.  

2020 Sineann Grüner Veltliner Pear Blossom Vineyard, Washington, Columbia Gorge, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Saying this is my favorite Washington (or even Domestic) Gruner Veltliner is faint praise given the paucity of producers.  Let's just say this is an excellent white wine and a terrific value.  Light gold/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with granny smith apples, slight lime and lots of minerality.  Maybe a bit of a floral note, too.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, apples and limes.  This goes down easy.  Good energy and balance.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter foo

2013 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$160.00USD

This is the "second" wine for Bevan, the other Cabs being single vineyard releases.  While it is expensive, it is half the price of those other wines.  It is a fantastic wine in its own right if not quite as good as those single vineyard wines.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, leather, slight coffee, some blueberries and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, what a great texture.  Rich and muscular but with a touch of finesse.  Flavors of cassis, and blueberries intertwines with coffee and spice.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This

2019 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Mont, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Another great bottle from this, arguably the best, producer of Vouvray.  This is Chenin Blanc at its best.  Light golden/silver in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with quince, slight peach, saline, and lots of crushed shells and minerals.  Medium bodied and slightly viscous texture.  On the palate, this is dry.  Peach, quince with minerals underneath.  well balanced acidity.  Very smooth.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  Of course, this is quite young but it comes out firing on all cylinders.  It should drink well for the net twenty years.   This drinks great on its own (it to

2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This remains my favorite Carlisle Zinfandel year in and year out.  There are lots of reasons, but chief among them is the texture.  So rich and lush yet the wine has so much balance and energy.   A blend of 96% Zinfandel and 4% Carignan.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with raspberries, black raspberries, slight blueberries, smoke and slight bramble.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, raspberries and slight black cherries with smoke and some dry earthiness.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should drink well over the next ten to

2019 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is such an excellent Zinfandel, it would be really great to let some age.  But, given the price and how good it drinks so young, these seem to be go to wines for mid-week drinking and a case doesn't even make it to the next release.  Oh well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with raspberries, slight black cherries, char and slight bramble.  Medium bodied.  Really nice texture with lots of energy.  On the palate, raspberries and black cherries with underlying charred earth.  Nice acidity.  Good finish.  Just guessing, but it seems like these will l

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