2019 Stolpman Trousseau Combe, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Ballard Canyon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

This is a Trousseau from California.  Pale ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, some confectionary sugar but also a bit of aquarium water.  Think bodied.  On the palate, cherry fruit with a soft texture.  Good acidity.  Moderate finish.  This had many similarities to the 2016 Frédéric Lambert Côtes du Jura Trousseau consumed along side.  It is fine on its own but worked better with an assortment of cheeses.  Drink over the next few years.  

2018 Skaramuča Plavac Premium Kvalitetno Vino, Croatia, Pelješac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Plavac Mali is an offspring of Zinfandel (confirmed by DNA testing).  It is one of the most important native grapes to Croatia.  Garnet/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with cherries, black cherries and slight black pepper.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, nice cherry and black cherry fruit with some pepperiness.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work with food.  Spicy tacos are a difficult match but would work well.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2014 Lovingston Pinotage Gilbert's Vineyard, USA, Virginia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

Take a grape like Pinotage (a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault) and grow it in Virginia and guess what, it's a very good wine!  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with black cherries, mushrooms and slight clove.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with underlying damp earthiness.  Some depth.  Nice finish.  This is slightly sweet but very smooth and easy to drink.  It drinks nicely on its own and will work with meaty foods.  Beef stroganoff would be a good choice.  

2020 Alessandro Viola Nero d'Avola Terre Siciliane Note di Rosso, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

In attempting to discover the grapes in this, a brief search on the Internet revealed lots of suspects but no definitive answer.  Other grapes mentioned include Nerello Mascalese, Perricone and Merlot.  The varietals that popped up the most are a blend of Nero D'avola with a small percentage of Syrah.   Purple in color with a rim of persistent bubbles.  This wine is made in a "natural" style but other than the bubbles there were no noticeable faults.  The nose has lots of sour cherries, some anise, black pepper and slight black olives.  On the palate, this has light tannins, tart acidity an

2019 Casa Carmen Tinto, USA, Maryland, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the state of Maryland.  Enrique and Felipe Pallares, originally from Ecuador, founded this winery in 2017.  Good wines are being made all over these days.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very earthy with a bit of barnyard, but also tobacco, dried cherries and black cherries.  On the palate, there is some Brettanomyces.  Not off putting but noticeable.  There is also some black cherry fruit and underlying forest floor.  There is some complexity here.  It drinks well on its own and would work well wi

2016 Frédéric Lambert Côtes du Jura Trousseau, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is made from the Trousseau grape in the Jura, France's smallest wine region.  Pale ruby in color, clear and bright.  There are many Rose's that are darker in color.  A very unique wine.  The nose has cherries, confectioner's sugar and a slight herbal note.  Medium bodied.  A very soft texture yet also tart acidity.  Lots of cherry and strawberry fruit with a white pepperiness to it.  Can a wine be elegant and rough at the same time?  This one seems to be.  Complex.  It works better with some food to tame the acidity.  It should probably be drunk over the next five to ten years.  This w

2019 Gvantsa's Wine Otskhanuri Sapere, Georgia, Imereti, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

This is from western Georgia (the country).  The grape is 100% Otskhanuri Sapere that is fermented with the stems in Kvevri (Amphorae).  Very dark purple in color, opaque.  The nose is very earthy with black raspberries, pomegranates, and sour cherries.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherry fruit, high acidity and the robust earthiness comes thru.  Long finish.  This smoothed out a bit with some air.  Very different profile.  It drinks much better with food to help with the tannins and the acidity.  Drink over the next three to five years.  A nice match for lamb chops.  

2019 Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva, Italy, Sardinia, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is Grenache, called Cannonau in Sardinia. The Riserva designation indicates two years ageing before release including at least six months in barrel.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice cherries with slight herbal notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is a slightly bitter note on the attack.  Lots of cherry fruit.  Medium tannins.  Slightly thin on the finish.  This drinks nicely on its own but works better with food.  A classic pizza wine.  

2019 Mas de Valeriole Beauduc, France,

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is labelled as a Vin de Pays des Bouches-du-Rhône Terre de Camargue from the southern part of France near Arles.  It is made from the Marselan grape which is a crossing of Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, no sulfites were utilized.  Purple/ruby in color.

2018 Affinitás Furmint, Hungary, Tokaji, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is a dry wine made from mostly Furmint in Hungary.  It is actually a blend of 85% Furmint, 7% Hárslevelű, 5% Yellow Muscat and 3% Kabar.  Pale golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice peach notes with a bit of a floral quality.  Medium bodied with a slightly oily texture.  On the palate, the peach comes thru with a strong but balanced acidity.  Some depth.  Tasty.  Long finish.  One of those wines that seems familiar but not quite.  drink over the next couple of years.  At under $20, it is a nice value and a strong buy for summer sipping on its own or with lighter foods. 

Pages

Pages