2017 William Talty Zinfandel Filice Connolly Vineyards, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$42.00USD

I was expecting this to be a much bigger wine.  Perhaps it is the vintage as 2017 was a thinner vintage in much of Napa.  In any event, it is an excellent wine styled in more of a claret styled Zin.  As it is the first vintage I have had, I am curious if this is representative of other vintages.  Deep ruby in color with purple swirls.  The nose has red berries, some cedar and a ton of black pepper.  On the palate, the red fruit and the black pepper come thru.  Good acidity.  The drinks almost too easily.  Very good on its own, this would work with steaks of burgers too.  t seems like it sho

2015 Callaghan Vineyards Malvasia Bianca Amor Fati, USA, Arizona, Willcox, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a late harvest syled dessert wine from Arizona.  Light golden in color.  There is a lot of volatile acidity on the nose, but with air, some/most of it blows off.  There is some honey and white raisins on the nose. On the palate this is viscous.  Slightly sweet though not cloying.  It lacks some much needed acidity.  The honey comes thru to the palate, along with slight peach.  Shorter finish. It worked with a not too sweet carrot cake.  It should last for five to ten more years although the VA is a bit worrying.  

2015 Gianni Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Marina Cvetić Riserva, Italy,

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

There is a wide range in style and quality for MdA's.  This is one of the better ones that is still affordable.  This took about thirty minutes to really open but then drank quite well.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries and plums with some clove notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cherries, slight sour cherries with a strong backbone of acidity.  There is some depth and complexity though not a lot.  It begs for food and worked with a lasagna in bechamel sauce though perhaps a tomato sauce would work better.  It drinks ok on its own although the acidity stands out.  It probably

2016 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is drinking very well right now.  Light golden in color.  The nose has lemon cream, brioche and slight orange/citrus.  Very nice.  Also just a bit of baking spices.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Still showing some oak that will integrate with further ageing.  Delicious.  Flavors of orange creamsicle and baking spices.  Great energy and precision.  Long finish.  This worked well with a vegetarian lasagna in bechamel sauce but will work with most seafood or fowl dishes.  it may yet improve a bit but should be great drinking for the next ten to fifteen years.  

2016 Gundlach Bundschu Gewürztraminer Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

An interesting take of Gewurtz.  Very different from the Alsatian counterparts.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has no lychee at all which is fine just a bit surprising.  It does have a floral quality to it, along with ginger and a strong mineral base.  Very nice.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  It is dry as a bone.  The minerality comes thru along with a granny smith apple note and a bit of orange peel.  Clean finish with no bitterness.  Overall, it is a very nice wine that worked excellently with a butternut squash soup.  It probably should be consumed in the n

2016 Winderlea Vintage Sparkling Brut, USA, Oregon, Willamette, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is the inaugural vintage for this wine.  A blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir.  The dosage (added sugar) was 4g/l which is very low.  Light silvery golden in color with a fine line of tiny bubbles.  The nose is expressive.  Very clean with pears, slight lanolin, lemon curd and yeast with underlying slight nuttiness and a hint of smoke.  On the palate, this has a nice crispness.  Light strawberries with more profound lemon cream along with a slight nuttiness.  There is some orange rind on the finish.  Clean and deep, it is tight in the glass.  No guess as to how it ages balancin

2004 Renato Corino Barolo Vigneto Rocche, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is really drinking well.  If not at peak, pretty damn close.  Light ruby in color with some orange bricking at the rim.  The nose is very pretty with cherries, slight dried cherries, slight roses and hints of hot tar.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Light tannins.  Cherry fruit layered with earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This has a contemplative quality for drinking alone, but works great with food.  Pasta and mushrooms are perfect.  It won't get better but should drink well for seven to ten more years at least.  

2015 Bedrock Wine Co. Petite Sirah Drummond's Cuvee, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

What a great showing for this wine.  Consumed over two nights, this was better on the second night.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with boysenberries, charred gravel, spices and slight black licorice.  Full bodied.  Wonderful texture.  This has a nice depth and complexity which did not show until the second day.  Firm tannins.  Nice black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  Nice finish.  Delicious.  These need more time, but if opening soon, give it a long decant.  Probably best to wait five to seven years and it will be god for ten to fifteen more after that.  I

2007 Lagier Meredith Syrah, USA, California, Napa, Mt. Veeder, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

I am a huge fan of the eponymous winery of Steve Lagier and Carole Meredith.  They make some wonderful wines on their remote property in the mountains of Napa.  And they are great values.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, smoked meats, slight floral note and baking spices.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit with underlying char and slight earthiness.  Nice At age 13, this seems close to peak but may yet improve.  Either way, it should have ten to twelve years before slowly fading.  This w

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