2019 Bodega Colomé Torrontés Argentina, Calchaqi Valley, Salta, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is a great value in quaffable and enjoyable white wines.  Excellent winery that continues to make very good to great wines.  Torrontes come in (at least) three flavors, but I am not sure which strain of the varietal this is.  Like most wines from Argentina, this is grown at high elevations which tend to concentrate the flavors.  Light silvery/golden in color.  The nose is nice with notes of canned peaches in syrup.  Perhaps a bit of white flowers (honeysuckle?).  Light bodied but a slightly oily (in a good way) texture.  On the palate, it gives the perception that the wine will have so

2012 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is my favorite Carlisle Syrah.  At age 8, it really was a bit young to be opened, but it was delicious after a couple of hours of air.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, bacon fat, black olives and white pepper.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit over a charred earthiness.  Great balance.  Lively.  Deep.  Long finish.  This probably will continue to mature for another five to seven years, and be good for another ten after that.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with fatty meat dishes but also Indian or hea

2012 Lunarossa Borgomastro Colli di Salerno IGT, Italy

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a wine from Campania in south/central Italy.  It is made 100% from Aglianico grapes.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  There is a lot of Brettanomyces yeast on the nose giving it a heavy barnyard scent.  This will often be different in different bottles, but given the level in the bottle I had, it will be problematic for some.  I am relatively tolerant of the scent but it made it difficult to get anything else on the nose.  Luckily, it was a bit cleaner on the palate.  Black cherry fruit of an earthiness.  Nice texture.  Good acidity.  Moderate finish.  This will work bette

2015 Biecher & Schaal Riesling Schoenenbourg

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Alsace is a nice source for affordable dry Rieslings.  This one is light gold in color.  The nose has grapefruit, slight peach and minerality.  Medium bodied.  Dry on the palate.  More about minerals than fruit.  Easy to drink.  Nice finish.  This was under $20 and certainly worth the price.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  This will work well with Thai food.  

2011 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Mülheimer Sonnenlay Riesling Spätlese Trocken, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Richter's wines are some of the best values in German wines available here in the US.  This is a dry version with just a touch of age on it.  Very nice.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has peaches, wet rocks, spice with the slightest touch of diesel.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the peaches carry thru with underlying minerality.  This is dry.  The finish has some warmth to it.  It is drinking well right now, and should continue to do so for the next five years or so.  It worked nicely on its own but is better with food.  A beet and goat cheese salad was perfect.  

2017 Ferren Wines Chardonnay Lancel Creek Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

This was a wine that came highly recommended.  It was great to be able to try a new wine that live up to the hype.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is big but nice with lemons, buttered popcorn, slight pineapple and white flowers.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this was tight and needed some air to open.  Lemon, lemon peel, crushed rocks with light tannins.  Moderate acidity.  The finish turns slightly  bitter/lemon pith.  This is young and seems like it will develop for another seven to ten years.  After that, it should drink well for another ten to twelve.  If drinking n

2017 Mt. Luxxe Vineyards Zinfandel Old Vine, USA, California, Lodi, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

This is a nice, inexpensive, middle of the road in style, Lodi zinfandel.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, raspberries, slight bramble and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit.  Easy drinking.  Drinks well on its own and will work great with a burger off the grill.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2016 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

What a great vintage 2016 ha turned out to be for Chianti in general and this one in particular.  Not the cheapest Chianti, but this is outstanding.  Deep ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, black cherries, sandalwood and tea leaves.  Medium bodied.  Great balance.  Lovely acidity.  Spry.  On the palate, lots of lush black cherry fruit with underlying forest floor.  Clean.  Deep.  Long finish.  This will continue to mature for another five to eight years and drink well for a decade after that.  A nice match for pasts of all kinds.  

2017 Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Lion, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Another new winery for me.  This was quite good.  A blend of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre.  Deep ruby in color with purple swirls.  Great nose of cherries, black cherries, floral notes, and spice.  Clean.  On the palate, this is medium bodied and quite concentrated.  Black cherries and cherries over a clean spice and earth.  Nice balance.  Good finish.  This still needs three to five years to maturity and should be good for ten after that.  It worked well with vegetarian chili.  

2016 Brave & Maiden Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Limited, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This drinks like a cooler climate Cab.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, dark chocolate, slight rosemary and spice.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with a bit of chocolate.  This drinks easy.  it is young and may improve a bit with time.  It should drink well for ten to twelve years.  A nice wine with roast beef.  

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