2016 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$54.00USD

One of the great Chardonnay's anywhere!  Screw capped.  Light gold/green in color.  Great nose with minerality, lemons, slight vanilla and a hint of pears.  Medium to full bodied.  Crisp and clean.  Refreshing and delicious.  This took maybe 30 minutes to open and then kept opening all night long.  The palate had lemons, lots of minerality and a sort of "poached pears in vanilla sauce only crisper quality".  Lots of depth.  Long finish.  This bottle is still on the young side but drinking great.  It will continue to do so for another ten to twelve years.  Drinks great on its own, this worke

NV Denny Bini Podere Cipolla Lambrusco Emilia IGT, Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Wine Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This was different and interesting.  One of the better Lambrusco's Tasted.  It is a blend of 30% Lambrusco Marani, 30% Lambrusco Salamino, 20% Lambrusco Maestri, 10% Lambrusco Grasparossa, and 10% Ancellotta.  It is made utilizing the Charmat-Martinotti method in which the secondary fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks.

2013 Continuum Proprietary Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$195.00USD

A more elegant side of a Napa blends but outstanding.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight cigar, black cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, moderate tannins.  Great texture.  This is young-ish but delicious and showing some complexity.  cassis and black cherry fruit that is concentrated and unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  Give this another five years and it should be nearing in on maturity.  It should last another twenty after that.  Still some upside on this wine.  Great on its own or with food.  A steak or brisket would be a nice match.  

2013 Sinegal Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$270.00USD

Still young but drinking nicely.  Inky purple, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, char, and spice.  A slight horsey note.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lush, velvety texture.  Lots of cassis with some spice and smoke.  Long finish.  Firm tannins.  This needs another five to seven more years to maturity and should drink well for fifteen to  twenty after that.  

2016 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

Nice showing for this although still on the youthful side.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slightly meaty with b lack olives.  Full bodied.  Great liveliness.  Nice texture.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying char and just a bit of black olives.  Nice finish.  This should continue to improve for another three to five years and drink well for ten to twelve more after that.  This drinks well on its own and even better with food.  Stews or chili is a nice choice.  

2015 Saxum Terry Hoage Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This is a blend of 50% Syrah, 34% Grenache, 16% Mourvedre checking in at 15.7% ABV.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, plums, black pepper, slight roasted herbs and meats and a bit of violets.  Full bodied.  Great lush texture but with lively acidity.  So easy to drink with no noticeable alcohol on the nose or palate.  Black raspberries over roasted earth with some herbs.  Long finish.  This is young but accessible.  It should continue to improve over the next three to seven years and drink well for another ten to fifteen after that.  It dri

2009 Cantine del Notaio Aglianico del Vulture Il Sigillo, Italy, Basilicata, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$127.00USD

This is made in the "arch" of the boot in southern Italy utlizing a similar method as Amarone.  The grapes are dried out on straw mats prior to being crushed, but the wine is fermented (mostly) dry.  This is a big fruity and ripe wine that even at age 12, is young.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, tobacco, roasted herbs, anise and smoke.  Full bodied.  Dry.  On the palate flavors of black raspberries, black cherries over burnt forest floor.  Great texture.  Complex and layered depth.  Good acidity.

2018 Cadia Langhe Arneis, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a white from the Piemonte region of northern Italy.  Light silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with a bit of pear and nice minerality.  On the palate, this took some time to open but eventually, the pear come thru as does the minerality.  Nice, slightly oily texture.  It could use a bit more acidity but nevertheless worked nicely on its own and with some Bruschetta.  Drink over the next few years.  

2004 Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

Great showing for this wine.  Pop and pour, it is close to fully mature but not quite.  Medium ruby in color.  The nose took about thirty minutes to open.  Cherries, slight roses, slight menthol, tar and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, plenty of cherry fruit, some dried cherries, underlying spice and dry earth.  Lots of energy.  Nice balance.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This should easily do another ten and probably 15 more years.  It drinks well on its own, but is better with food.  It went nicely with a Spinach Lasagna.  

2017 Costaripa Valtènesi Rosamara, Italy, Lombardia, Riviera del Garda Classico DOC, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

This Rose is made in the Lake Garda area of northern Italy.  It is a blend of Uve Grapello, Marzemino, Sangiovese  and Barbera.  Salmon pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  Very different nose with cherries, green tea and an herbal note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the cherries and the herbs come thru.  Dry.  These should be consumed sooner than later.  It went nicely with Fricos with artichoke dip - not an easy match.  

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