2013 Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Margone, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

Great showing for this wine.  A solid vintage and a very good producer really combined for a success.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, slight black cherries, anise, and slight tea leaves.  Full bodied.  Ripe cherries on the palate with underlying forest floor.  Light tannins.  Lots of depth and complexity.  Also, delicious.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Great value for a wine of this quality.  This is not yet at peak, maybe another 3 to 5 years, and then should dirnk well for ten to fifteen after that.  A great match for pasta bolognaise.  

2005 Château La Croix St. Georges, France, Bordeaux, Pomerol, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

Much better and cleaner than another bottle tried a couple years ago.  Both were bought on release at the same time.  A right bank wine from the great 2005 vintage.  The vineyard is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc (unsure about the specific vintage in bottle).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, cedar, chocolate, slight tobacco and just a bit of smoke.  Consumed over two days, this was better/more open on day 2.  Full bodied.  Lush texture but with good acidity.  Lots of black cherry fruit over smoke with some chocolate.  Nice finish.  This s

2019 Sineann Zinfandel Old Vine, USA, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

Peter Rosback releases his wines early, so it is nice to get a taste.  These are from a vineyard that is about one hundred years old and was reclaimed around 20 years ago.  It is an interesting take on a grape not often found in those parts.  This years version seems a bit lighter on the fruit with a nice spicy quality to it.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, cinnamon, baking spices and slight sour cherry note.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit softer in texture.  Light tannins.  Cherry fruit with underlying spice.  This is bottled under screwcap.  Of course

2017 La Bastide St. Vincent Gigondas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

This was a new Gigondas for me to taste and it showed quite well.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is clean with black cherries and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru along with a bit of anise.  This isn't the deepest or most complex wine, but it is drinking well right now.  It probably should be consumed over the next seven to ten years.  This will work well with a nice bean/meat cassoulet.  

2017 Famille Perrin / Perrin & Fils Gigondas La Gille, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

From the Perrin family that is one of the top producers of wine in the Southern Rhone valley.  Purple in color, with ruby swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice and accessible.  It has sweet black raspberries, slight char, slight floral note (lavender?), with spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, flavors of cherries and black cherries with an interesting black licorice note.  Good finish.  This may still improve over the next few years and should drink well for ten.  This drinks well on its own and should work well with chili, stews and bean soups.  

2016 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is the basic Gigondas from the top producer of Gigondas.  They also make a variety of single vineyard wines.  The price on these has gone up over the years with the success of the winery and so, they now sell for as much or more than many Chateauneufs.  This is a blend of , 70% Grenache with the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim and shimmering bright.  The nose has black cherries, black pepper, slight black olive and spice.  On the palate, this has a juicy texture.  Black cherry fruit.  Clean.  It will undoubtedly improve and open over the next three to five y

2016 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas Les Racines, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

Given the outstanding vintage and pedigree of this wine, perhaps it was a bit shut down, but it under performed expectations in a recent tasting.  That said, it was still excellent especially given the pricing of Gigondas.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has black cherries, black pepper, spice and dust.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, slightly bitter black cherries.  Clean.  Tight.  This didn't budge over the couple of hours it sat in the glass.  It probably needs at least three to five more years to open and then should drink well for five to seven after that.  If drinking soo

2013 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$105.00USD

This is always one of the top Gigondas of the vintage.  2013 was, however, a below average vintage.  This is still an outstanding vintage but this wine is expensive for Gigondas.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is tight but opens to show earthy black raspberries with a bit of smoke.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Nice mouthfeel.  Slightly bitter (not in a bad way) cherries with black cherries over char.  Slight tannins.  Moderate finish.  This is tight and may still improve a bit.  It should drink well for the next seven to ten years.  This will work better with food. 

2016 E. Guigal Gigondas, France, Rhone

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Guigal makes a wide variety of wines in a wide price range.  There are some great values in the lower price range.  As the price for their Chateauneuf has risen, this wine has become a place to find some value.  Purple in color, with a thin ruby rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight roasted herbs and meats with some spice and dust.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with underlying roasted meats and some spice.  Nice energy.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to drink well for ten to twelve more years.  A nice drink o

2016 Montirius Gigondas Confidentiel, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

This wine was aged in a single concrete tank.  It is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedere.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first.  With air, it shows black cherries, plums and dust.  It is very deep but quite tight with firm tannins at the moment.  It opens to carry the plums thru to the palate and also some black raspberries.  Clean.  Wonderful mouthfeel.  This needs about three to five more years and then should drink well for twelve to fifteen years.  

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