2021 Bouchaine Vineyards Vin Gris of Pinot Noir

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
95
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

A terrific acidity leads into subtle yet definable and lovely flavors of strawberry, guava, honeydew, slight lemon-lime, and a hint of papaya. Beautifully balanced, this is a wonderful expression of how fruit can transcend as a mere single grape – in this case pinot noir - and express itself in a myriad number of ways. The wine was mainly whole cluster pressed with just 15% saignée method, which involves the removal of a proportion of juice from a tank of crushed red grapes.

2020 Alma de Cattleya Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

Sonoma’s Alma de Cattleya wines have steadily proclaimed themselves and year after year, they turn out truly wonderful wines. The 2020 chardonnay is lively, light, delicate, hinting at fruit aroma but not coming right out and saying it. There is a simplicity to this, a subtle beauty. Yes there are the notes of lemon lime, guava, but it is more subdued creating an enjoyable drinking experience because it is not an overwrought wine.

2019 Barista Pinotage

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

Pinotage has long been a maligned grape. Though South Africa is known for pinotage, there are many South Africans who wish it did not exist. However truly exceptional pinotage can indeed be found. Created as a cross between pinot noir and cinsault in 1911, Barista creates a well-defined iteration. This wine states pinot very clearly yet the underlying notes of earth, mushroom, tropical fruits are nonetheless there, but not in the traditional banana way that many inferior pinotage are known for.

2020 Pago del Cielo (Torres) Céleste Verdejo Rueda

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is made from the Verdejo grape.  Green/golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose as spice and golden raisins.  Full bodies.  No fruit, this is about minerals and spice.  On the palate, minerals and hay with some spice.  Good acidity.  Round texture.  Long finish.  This is good value.  Food friendly.  It will work nice with lighter pork or chicken dishes.  Pork chops would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next few years.  

2019 Gaia Moschofilero Monograph, Greece, Peloponnese, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This a really interesting white that is a great value.  Moschofilero is the name of the grape.  Silvery in color with green and gold hues.  The nose is really interesting with plums, tropical fruits, and some floral qualities.  Nice, slightly oily texture.  On the palate it has a tart but candied quality.  Tropical fruits.  Nice crispness.  Long finish.  Good finish.  This should very very food friendly and go well with all kinds of sea foods.  Oysters would be perfect.  Drink over the next couple of  years.  

2018 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Petite Sirah Pierce Ranch, USA, California, San Antonio Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is an excellent value in wine that comes from south of  San Francisco.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, char, and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, the black raspberry fruit comes thru.  Some complexity.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and works well with meat, pork or fowl dishes.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  

2018 Jonata Winery Todos, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Ballard Canyon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Jonata makes some spectacular wine that also have spectacular prices.  Todos (which means all in Spanish) is the blend of the rest of the wines that didn't get bottled individually and it is an excellent wine at a more down to earth price.  This vintage it is a blend of 45% Syrah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petite Verdot, 9% Petit Sirah, 5% Merlot, and the rest an assorted 6%.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, chocolate, black cherries, gravel and cassis.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It may get better but wit

2020 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

The base Bedrock Zinfandel is an amazing value.  Year in and year out, it is delicious and affordable.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with raspberries, black cherries and bramble.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with some char and black pepper.  Nice balance.  Good mouthfeel.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  A great wine with a burger or spaghetti.  

de Négoce Petite Sirah OG N.179, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Another winner from de Negoce.  While this wine will undoubtedly get better and mature over time, this drinks nicely now and for the money, it is hard not to open a bottle now.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char, and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Deep.  Tight.  On the palate, this took an hour or three to really open.  A decant would be a good idea.  Very tasty with boysenberry fruit and underlying char.  Not crazy wild but not shy either.  Very nice on its own, but this will work well with a burger or other foods off the grill.  Drink over the next t

2019 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is the base Syrah from Bedrock.  A tremendous value that delivers way above its price point.  If there is a problem with it, due to its low price, I don't seem to lay enough of these down to mid and long term cellaring.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, some char, a bit of black olives and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Lovely texture.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries with some underlying earthiness and char.  Nice finish.  This should make good drinking for the next ten to twelve years.  It will go well with burgers, ribs or a corn

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