2018 Flora Springs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is their Napa (not from a single vineyard) wine.  Again, 2018 is proving to be a great vintage and this wine is no exception.  This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that sees 70% French oak and 30% American oak barrels.  It has a deep ruby color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dark chocolate and cedar.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the cassis comes thru but the coffee is more espresso.  Some underlying char.  There is a lot of vibrancy and energy here.  Firm tannins.  Long finish.  This needs about three to five more years until maturity although it is drinking well right now.  Ple

2018 Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Chardonnay, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is an excellent value in Napa Chardonnay.  Light golden in color with slight green hues.  The nose is pretty with lemons and grapefruits with a slight smoky char.  Medium bodied with a lovely, slightly oily, but creamy texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Just a  whisper of oak showing.  Nice minerality with underlying chalk.  Nice lemon/lime fruit with good acidity.  Solid finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to do so for five to seven more years.  It drinks great on its own, but will work well with lighter food, but also salmon or shark.  

2018 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is the Robert Mondavi Winery's version of a Sauvignon Blanc.  It is actually 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon.  It is also a great value in California Sauvignon Blanc.  Light golden with some green hues in color, clear and bright.  The nose shows a slightly grassy note with plenty of tropical fruits.  Also a bit of citrus.  It has a very creamy texture which is nice and enough acidity to come off as crisp.  On the palate, mostly guava and papaya fruits.  Ripe and delicious.  Drink this over the next few years.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  A

2019 Prisoner Wine Company Chardonnay, USA, California, Carneros, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

The Prisoner Wine Company makes, ironically, a "Take No Prisoners" style of wine.  They are lush, big and delicious and make no apologies for their style.  And, why note,  millions of people love them.  This Chardonnay with a touch of Roussanne, and Gewürztraminer) is no exception.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is big with oak coming off as vanilla and crème brûlée, along with some lemon cream.  With air, some baked apple notes emerge.  Full bodied with light oak tannins.  On the palate, this has a lot of oak but enough acidity and fruit to give some balance.  Lots of vanill

2015 Weninger Soproni Steiner, Hungary, Sopron, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

From what is arguably one of the "Grand Cru" sites for red wine in Hungary.  This is 100% Kekfrankos that is biodynamically grown.  Purple in color with lighter ruby at the edges.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy, slight barnyard with nice cherry fruit.  On the palate, nice sour cherry fruit with medium tannins.  Slight cough drop note.  Slight forest floor.  Long finish.  This is complex and deep and also tasty.  This seems like it has some upside and will improve over the next three to five years.  Drink over the next ten to twelve.  Certainly, this will work well with meat dishes

2015 Péter Wetzer Kékfrankos Beldles, Hungary, Sopron, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

It is hard to track down aged versions of Kekfrankos but finding this (only six years from vintage) gives me hope that the better wines will not only last but develop with some age.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries and sour cherries with some char and a bit of roasted herbs.  Very nice texture.  Nice depth.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries and black raspberries with a slight sour cherry notes.  Great texture.  Long finish.  This seems young and would still benefit from three to five more years of cellaring and drink over the next t

2018 Weninger Soproni Kékfrankos Balf, Hungary, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is a biodynamically made Kekfrankos (Blaufrankisch) from one of Hugary's top winemakers of red wines.  This is the base version.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and sour cherries with a bit of hay and a slight green herbal notes.  On the palate, this is has a nice texture.  Very nice tart cherry fruit over a bit of smoky char with a nice backbone of acidity.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  Very good value.  Drink over the next five years.   This will work well with Lecsó (vegetable stew) although carnivores might want to add Hurka & Kolbász (sausages).

2019 Péter Wetzer Kékfrankos, Hungary, Sopron, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This is 100% Kekfrankos (Blaufrankish) from Hungary.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is tight, but with air shows cherries.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with good acidity.  Nice cherry fruit with some sour cherries.  It is young, so it would be interesting to see how this develops with age.  Right now it doesn't show much complexity, but that could change with some proper cellaring.  That said, it does drink fine right now, and would be a nice pairing for Paprikás Csirke (chicken paprikash).

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