2017 19 Crimes Red Wine, Australia, South Eastern, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
75
Grade: 
C
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

This is an inexpensive bottle from Australia that is a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet and Grenache.  It is the kind of wine that made Australia famous in the 1990's and soon fell out of favor.  This is a very sweet wine that will be popular with people who like that style.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has confectionery sugar, raspberry fruit and red candies.  On the palate, this is candied raspberries.  A bit bitter on the palate.  It is not about depth but rather fruit and imbibing.  Drink now.  

NV Orlana Vinho Verde Rosé, Portugal, Wine Review

Score: 
72
Grade: 
C-
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

This is an inexpensive Rose that will not be for everyone.  It is sweet and easy and drinks best cold.  Deeper salmon pink in color.  The nose is like watermelon candy.  On the palate, this is like strawberry powdered kids drink.  It is very sweet.  Slightly viscous.  Probably a difficult food match.  For your friends who like sweet pink wines this is an alternative.  Normally, vinho verde has some spritz to it but, at least this bottle, lacked that quality.  

2016 Torrin The Banshee, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This bottle saw about 6 hours of air prior to be served.  That helped but it was not enough.  Torrin wines are fantastic but they do take time.  They are tight and tannic and concentrated on release and proper cellaring is rewarded.  Absent that a long decant is advised.  This wine is 40% Syrah, 33% Mourvedre, and 27% Grenache.

2014 Domaine La Millière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

This was a pleasant surprise.  Served from Magnum and along side some bigger California wines, this provided a nice contrast and was quite tasty.  2014 was not a particularly good vintage in the southern Rhone, but of course, good producers usually find a way to make good wines.  Ruby in color.  The nose is nice with cherries, garrique/spice, and slight floral notes.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Nice cherry fruit with some dark cherry and a bit of earthiness.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This worked quite well with some home made pizzas and in general is food friendly.  It is dr

2014 Donelan Syrah Obsidian Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Knights Valley Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

From Magnum.  This bottle was opened and allowed to breather for six hours prior to serving.  It needed every bit of that and more.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, roasted herbs, slight earthiness and slight floral qualities.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, lot of black raspberry fruit with a bit of roasted meats and black pepper.  Though there is a lot of fruit, this is not over ripe at all.  Juicy acidity works well with the food.  This is still young and will likely improve over the next five years.  The wine has already improved since t

2015 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Papera Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Papera Ranch is one of my favorite vineyards for Zinfandel.  Most the vineyard is Zinfandel, there is also  some Carignane, Petite Sirah, Valdigue, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trousseau Gris, Mission, several unknowns, and Pinot Noir.  This is labelled as a Heritage wine meaning that it is a field blend from an old vineyard.  The original plantings in this vineyard go back to 1934.  The wine itself is great but it took about thirty minutes or so in a decanter to open up fully.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, a bit of char, spice and a bit of pepper.  On the palate

2013 Tenuta Col Falco Montefalco Rosso, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of 65% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, and 20% Merlot  from Umbria in Italy.  It is an excellent value that is just starting to hit its drinking window.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, plums, a bit of dry earth and char.  On the palate, this mostly about cherries with a bit of chocolate.  Medium bodied with good acidity, this is not a big wine but there is plenty of fruit.  It unwinds in the glass and shows moderated depth and complexity.  Good finish.  This is about or close to peak but should has another ten years at this level.  It will work well with pasta

2015 Santo Wines Assyrtiko Grande Reserve Santorini, Greece, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Greece is making some really good wines these days, both red and white.  It seems the whites are finding more shelf space in wine stores though.  This white, made from the Assyrtiko grape is very good.  It is a higher end version and like many lovely whites, I question the need for a "serious" wine instead of just having a more "simple" wine.  This wine is fermented in oak barrels for 12 months and then left to age another 12 months in bottle before release.  The result is that this wine has more body and complexity but it loses the crispness and freshness that makes Santorini wines so enjo

2016 Tenuta San Guido Le Difese Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

 This is the entry level wine from this producer of Sassicaia.  It is 70 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 % Sangiovese.  And, from a great vintage, this wine showed very well.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, sandalwood and light strawberries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the cherries and strawberries are there.  No tannins.  Bright acidity.  A delicious wine but probably needs to be consumed in the  first few years.  It drinks great on its own but will work with lighter foods or pizza and pasta.  

2015 Antinori Villa Antinori Toscana IGT. Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

A perennial favorite in my household going back to the days when this was labeled as Chianti.  A very nice value and a wine that will age for a few years anyway.  Purple in color, slightly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty, slightly smoky, with nice cherry fruit.  On the palate, this has nice layering.  Not too deep or complex but what is there is developed.  It certainly seems as though there are some Bordeaux varietals in this wine, but I am unsure of the blend.  It drinks more like a Bordeaux of similar price.  The fruit is riper though.  This may still have some upside but should be

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