2001 Château Guiraud, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

From a tremendous vintage, but this Sauternes is great in just about any vintage and one of the more reasonably priced ones at that.  This was purchased on release and well stored.  Medium golden/orange in color.  The nose is great with honey, slight pineapple, slight saline and canned peaches.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet not cloying.  It has dropped some of its sweetness in the 19 years since release.  Lots of depth and complexity.  Layers of peaches, minerals and honey.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is great on its own and will work with a not too sweet frui

2015 Agricola San Felice Chianti Classico Riserva Il Grigio, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This was my first time trying this wine and at least in this great vintage, this wine is outstanding.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, forest floor/tea leaves, char and spice.  Full bodied.  The fruit is ripe but certainly not over done.  Flavors of cherries, char over an earthy/forest floor note.  Great acidity.  Nice finish.  The wine is still young and should continue to mature for another five to seven years and then will drink well for 10 more after that.  It should work great with any meat or fowl dish and of course, pizza or pasta.  This is a gr

2001 Vietti Barolo Castiglione, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Vietti makes some great value wines and some top Barolos.  This one is their entry level Barolo and it is a very nice value and a very nice Barolo!  At age 19 from a great vintage, this is showing some maturity but certainly not all the way there yet.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim with no browning.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, spice and tar.  Medium to full bodied with light tannins.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity as the layers unwind in the glass.  Flavors of cherries over a bit of forest floor and damp earth.  Very smooth.  Nice finish.  This should con

2017 Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a pretty classic Napa Cab more in the old school style.  The label lists 14.3% ABV.  Not the wine if you are looking for a big fruit bomb, it is much more restrained.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, minerality, slight herbal notes and coffee.  On the palate, this is medium to full bodied.  Cassis fruit over roasted herbs with slight char.  Nice finish.  This is young and might improve a bit with some ageing.  It should continue to mature for another five to seven years and be good for another five to seven more after that.  It will

NV Domaine Bousquet Malbec Natural Origins, Argentina, Tupungato, Wine Review

Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This comes in a 3 liter box.  The beauty of the box is that the wine is deprived of oxygen enabling the consumer to drink it over a long period of time.  This box was sampled initially in June, repeatedly thru the summer, and again in October.  There was no noticeable degradation.  This is the type of wine made for the person who wants an occasional glass of wine (or a wine to be used in cooking too) that is still good.  I sampled the Cab and this one and preferred the Malbec.  It is from Argentina from a vineyard at 100 feet in altitude.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nos

NV Domaine Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon Natural Origins, Argentina, Tupungato, Wine Review

Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This comes in a 3 liter box and before anyone scoffs, boxed wine is one of the best containers for drinking wine that doesn't need ageing.  It keeps an open "bottle' good for a long time.  This is a great value for the person who wants a glass of a hearty red and might drink the box over the course of a month.  The box doesn't carry a vintage designation but this is from the 2019 harvest.  Purple/ruby in color.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries and slight bitter boysenberry note.  On the palate, this isn't super ripe but there aren't any green flavors

NV Mosketto Frizzante Rosso, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is a lightly sparkling (frizzante) red wine from Italy.  It is made from Brachetto grapes.  This is meant to be an easy, low alcohol (5.5%) fun wine and it achieves that goal.  Ruby in color with a pink froth.  Clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and sour cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet with cherries, strawberries and candied cherries.  It is easy to drink and probably a bit better on its own that with food although it will work well with chocolate.  Drink over the next year or two.  

NV Mosketto Frizzante Rosato, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

 This is another fun wine from this producer.  It comes in attractive packaging although the screw top actually has a tiny leak in it and left a small pool in the fridge.  No worries, the wine was sound and it is only the second time I have seen such a closure fail.  This is a lightly sparkling (frizzante) rose that checks in at 5.5% abv.  It is a blend of Moscato and Brachetto grapes.  Pale salmon in color a white froth.  The nose has pink grapefruit and strawberries and slight simple syrup notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is semi-sweet with nice watermelon notes.  Great acidity

2019 Stags' Leap Winery Sauvignon Blanc, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Another winner from this stalwart Napa producer.  White gold/silvery in color.  The nose has seltzer, minerality, pears and white floral notes.  Pretty.  Medium bodied.  On the palate there is a sort of copper minerality that is very interesting along with the more usual notes of lemon peel, and melon.  Good acidity.  Fresh.  Long finish.  This is delicious and refreshing on its own but would work great with chicken salad or other lighter fare/salads.  Best to drink in the next few years to enjoy the vibrancy.  

2019 Bonterra Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

This was tasted from a 1.5 liter box.  While boxed wines tend not to be the most expensive wines, the box is actually a wonderful method for enjoying wines.  It keeps the oxygen out and the wines in excellent condition.  Silvery green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has peaches, limes and minerals.  On the palate, this is crisp and clean.  Limes and melon with a slight minty note and underlying minerals.  Sort finish.  This is drinking well on opening.  In the box format, one could leave this in the fridge and have a glass or two a day for a couple three weeks with no degradation

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