2017 Robert Mondavi Winery Chardonnay, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is a nice value for a California Chardonnay for those who like a touch of oak and slight butteriness.  Pale golden in color.  The nose has pineapple with baking spices and oak.  An interesting graphite/gravel note comes out with air.  On the palate, this has a full bodied, rich texture.  Slightly viscous with just a perception of sweetness.  Oak, lemons and melon on the nose with a touch of alcohol.  Some warmth on the finish.  Served at a tasting, this was quite popular with Napa Chardonnay lovers.  I don't think this will improve but it should dirnk well for five to seven years.  It

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

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Robert Mondavi long ago started calling his Sauvignon Blanc as Fume Blanc, but it is the same wine.  This is always a quality Sauvignon Blanc for a fair price.  This is actually 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon.  Pale golden in color with some green and copper hues to it.  Clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with oranges, limes, minerals and with air, a bit of dust and mint.  This has a rich, creamy texture that gives it a presence that most Sauvignon Blancs don't have  On the palate, there is lemon-lime, melon and a quality that is sort of like mint tooth paste (in a good way).  Very

2019 Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio Collezione di Famiglia, Italy, Terre Siciliane (Sicily) IGT, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is a lovely Pinot Grigio from Sicily.  It comes in a tinted green clear bottles, but the wine is silvery copper/gold in color.  On the nose there is a nice steeliness to it along with some limes.  With air, a bit of chalk emerges.  Nice acidity with a slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is dry.  Notes of lemons and wintergreen.  Slight tannins.  The finish has sour lemon candy.  This is a big wine with some warmth to it.  Very refreshing on its own but worked better with a Watermelon, Feta and Mint salad.  This should be consumed in the next two or three years but the sooner th

2012 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is drinking well right now.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, sandalwood, dried cherries and slight anise.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  The cherries carry thru with an underlying minerality.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks better with food and went well with home grilled pizza.  It should be consumed over the next five to seven years.  

2012 Donelan Vénus, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is mostly Roussane with 3% Viognier.  At age 8, it is drinking quite well.  Medium straw/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with peaches, white pepper, wax, and slight minerality.  Full bodied.  Round texture.  The peaches come thru along with an underlying minerality.  Nice finish.  At this point, this works much better with food.  It worked great with a thin crust veggie pizza.  This probably should be consumed over the next five to seven years.  

2015 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

Maybach makes great wines.  It is one of my favorite wineries.  Though the wines are expensive, given the quality, they could be even more so.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, cedar and spice.  On the palate, this is full bodied with medium to firm tannins.  Loads of cassis with blueberries along with some oak, spice and char.  Delicious.  Deep.  This is young and will continue to mature for the next five to seven years and should be good for ten to twelve more after that.  Delicious on its own, this will need big food such as a steak or roasted veggie

2010 Kapcsándy Family Winery Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

This is one of the best Merlot's made anywhere.  Period.  The attention to detail and the quality of fruit is amazing.  Certainly some vintages are better than others, but it is always phenomenal.  There is 5% Cabernet Franc in the blend.  Deep ruby/purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  A wonderful nose of black cherries, plums, slight kirsch, slight dark chocolate, and minerals.  Full bodied with a lush texture.  Flavors of sour cherries, black raspberries and plums intertwined with minerality, dark chocolate and slight spice.  Light tannins.  Lots of verve, it dances on the tong

2010 Rhys Pinot Noir Home Vineyard, USA, California, San Mateo County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This is from one of the top producers of Pinot Noir in California.  Stylistically, it is more feminine in style but still packs plenty of sunshine and fruit.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries and candied cherries with slight spice and earthiness.  On the palate, this is medium to full bodied.  Nice acidity.  There is some depth as it unwinds in the glass.  Still drinking quite young and this will continue to improve for the next five to seven years.  It should drink well over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, it will work well with roasted fowl or veggies.  More ce

2017 Argiano Non Confunditur Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese which makes it a "Super Tuscan".  It is, however, not expensive and truly a great value.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, baking spices and slight woodiness.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  A nice backbone of acidity.  It has a soft but inviting texture.  Delicious red berry fruit with underlying dry earthiness.  Medium finish.  This drinks great on its own but is better with food.  A great "pizza wine".  It should be good for another five to seven years.  

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