2018 Herdade do Esporão Esporão Reserva, Portugal, Alentejo, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a blend of organic grapes: Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Syrah, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Touriga Franca, that is made in Portugal.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is very pretty and perfumed/fragrant.  Cherries, anise and a slight dill (presumably from American oak) notes.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, lots of cherries and black cherries.  This has nice depth and is delicious.  Good acidity.  Some warmth on the long finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work with foods that one might paid with Pinot Noir s

2020 Herdade do Esporão Esporão Reserva Branco, Portugal, Alentejo, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of white organic grapes:  Antão Vaz, Arinto, and Roupeiro made in Portugal.  It sees 30% new American and French oak barrels and the rest is done in stainless steel.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is smoky with lemons, white pepper, peach and slight grapefruits.  Medium bodied with a slightly oily texture.  On the palate, nice lemon, peach and white pepper notes.  Lower acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks nicely on its own and will also work with lighter foods.  It is very tasty and should prove to be popular at this price point.  Drink over the next cou

2020 Herdade do Esporão Alentejo Colheita White, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is a white blend made from Antão Vaz, and Viosinho organic grapes.  Golden in color with silver hues, clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruits, powdered sugar and slight vanilla (and yet, no oak was utilized).  Also an interesting minty note.  Medium bodied with a slightly oily texture.  Tingly acidity.  On the palate, lots of grapefruit with a slight bitter note.  This drinks easy and is refreshing.  It works nicely on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  Salads or seafood would be good but also chicken salad.  Drink over the next year.  Nice value.  

2018 Herdade do Esporão Alentejo Colheita, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a red blend using Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Aragonez organic grapes from Portugal.  Garnet in color, lighter at the rim, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, and a bit of chocolate.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, there is nice fruit here.  Easy drinking with black cherries and slight char.  Slight bitter cherry note on the end.  This is a nice value.  It drinks nicely on its own and will work well with weekday food such meatloaf, pizza or pasta.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2017 Shalestone Saperavi, USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Tasted as an additional wine in a Georgian Wine tasting, this is made from the Saperavi grape which is the primary red grape of Georgia.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, some black raspberries, and gravel.  Medium bodied.  Strong acidity.  On the palate, the cherries and black cherries come thru.  It is a bit softer and more supple than the Georgian Saperavi's tasted alongside.  Light but persistent tannins.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  This will work better with food but is nice on its own.  It would work nicely wi

2017 Zurab Tsereteli Saperavi, Georgia, Khaketi, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

The cork on this was soaked all the way thru on most sides and a bit on the top, but the wine seemed sound.  This is made from Saperavi grapes and aged in Kvevri (Amphorae) on stems and pips.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with cherries, cinnamon, tobacco, and slight anise.  Medium bodied.  Strong acidity.  Complex and deep.  The palate has lots of cherries, some black cherries, and spice.  Nice finish.  This got better with air which was interesting given the condition of the cork.  It seems like it should have another ten years or so to go.  This works

2017 Schuchmann Wines Saperavi Vinoterra Mukuzani, Georgia, Kakheti, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

An interesting wine from the country of Georgia made from 100% Saperavi grapes.  It is aged for three years in French oak barrels.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, flat and mostly opaque.  The nose is nice with black cherries, some black raspberries, baking spices and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, there is some residual sugar left here leaving a light sweetness.  It seems to work well though giving some lift and energy.  The sweetness is minimal but present.  Flavors of black cherries, slight cassis and a bit of a cough syrup note.  It drinks easy with a nice finish

2017 Lukasi Saperavi, Georgia, Kakheti, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is made from the Saperavi grape in the country of Georgia.  It is, however, fermented and raised in new French oak for 12 months.  Inky purple in color, but a bit flat.  Opaque.  The nose is nice with a "Bordeaux-ish quality.  Earthy, musty, cigar box along with black raspberries and char.  Medium bodied.  Strong acidity.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, black raspberries with a slight char.  Moderate finish.  This seems to be at peak and should drink well for the next five to eight years.  It works better with food.  Chakapuli, a traditional Georgian herbed lamb stew fro

2017 Dakishvili Family Vineyards Family Selection, Red Dry Wine, Georgia, Kakheti, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

This is a blend of 60% Saperavi and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon from Georgia.  The wine was fermented in Kvevri (Amphorae) and aged for 12 months in French Oak.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, baking spices and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries, baking spices, slight vanilla.  Some complexity.  Nice finish.  The oak is a bit obtrusive on this but it may yet integrate with further cellaring.  Probably best to hold for a few years and drink over the next five to eight.  Nice on its own, bu

2019 Artìzanì Saperavi Forest of Wild Series, Georgia, Kakheti, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

I am not a believer in "natural wines" as it seems to judge a wine on its merits and not on some nebulous term.  That said, most of the ones I have tried seem like chemistry experiments gone wrong.  This is the exception and one of the best "natural wines" I have tasted.  It is made from the Saperavi grape in Georgia.  It is made with no fining, filtering or addition of sulfites.  That said, it is also made in a more "modern" style for Georgian wines, that is fermented for 8 days in temperature controlled vats, pressed off the solids leaving no residual sugar and finished in stainless steel

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