2018 Harry & David Vineyards Pinot Noir Rose, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Another wine from Food and Gift purveyors Harry & David.  These are available from their web site and stores and sold as packages and gift sets along with their other products.  The label touts that the grapes were picked early in the season which seemed a bit counter intuitive although they likely are trying to achieve a crispness.  Given Oregon's climate, that was a bit puzzling.  In any event, not the first wine label I didn't understand.  The wine itself is very nice.  Very pale pink in color with some light lavender and silver hues.  The nose is very nice with peaches, strawberries

2015 Harry & David Vineyards Riesling, USA, Southern Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is from Food and Gift purveyor Harry & David and made in Southern Oregon.  This is a very interesting and different take on Riesling.  Light yellow/white/gold in color with a bit of a green tinge to it.  The nose has a fresh cantaloupe quality to it which is very interesting.  On the palate, this has a bit of a tingling acidity.  The cantaloupe /melon quality comes thru.

2012 Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is pretty with cherries, black cherries, slight dust, and spice.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Flavors of black cherries with some dill.  Light tannins.  Medium finish.  Very food friendly, this should go with a wide variety but stews and casseroles should do very well.  It is probably close to peak but should be at this level for a decade.  Available for around $15, this is a great value in traditional Rioja.  

2015 Bodegas Luis Cañas Rioja Crianza, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

Brought back from Spain by a neighbor after meeting with the owners.  This is drinking well now and traditional.  Ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with cherries and slight dried dill.  On the palate, this seems to be just slightly past prime but still drinking well.  Dried and fresh cherries with no tannins.  Easy drinking.  Food friendly.  A very good value although drinking in the first couple of years from vintage is a good idea.  

2012 Saxum Broken Stones, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

Saxum is one of my favorite wineries so no surprise, but this is outstanding.  It has really opened up since last tried reinforcing my belief that despite what some say, these big reds are best after ten years in a good cellar.  This is made from 79% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah and the rest Grenache, Mourvedre and Roussanne grapes.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, white pepper, roasted meats and slight violets.  On the palate, the texture is wonderful.  Velvety with excellent acidity.  Complex and layered, this unwinds in the glass.  And, it is delicious with black raspber

2012 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese, Germany, Nahe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Donnhoff makes some of the best Rieslings in the world.  This wine is fantastic if still a bit young.  Even those who said they didn't appreciate sweet wine thought it was great.  Light golden in color.  The nose has just the slightest bit of petrol.  Also some lemon candy with powdered sugar.  On the palate, there is some acid but not a ton.  Minerals and lemon candy.  Nice depth.  Long finish.  This goes great with most foods especially those with some kick.  This should last for another decade probably two.  

 

2013 Firelands Winery Lake Erie Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, USA, Ohio,

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

From a winery in northwest Ohio along the Lake Erie shore.  Vidal Blanc, is a hybrid grape that does very well in this area and makes wonderful dessert wines.  This is a true Ice Wine and not artificially produced.  Deep golden in color.  The nose is pretty with a canned peaches in heavy syrup quality to it.  On the palate, there are more peaches along with a bit of orange peel and slight bitter honey.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This would go with anything that a Sauternes would go with.  It should last another five years for sure and maybe ten.  It is one of the styles of wine that is m

2015 Ravines Wine Cellars Riesling Dry Argetsinger Vineyard, USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Apparently, this is one of the highest rated wines from the Finger Lakes region.  it is quite good and fairly priced at $30.Light yellow in color.  The nose has a slight petrol note and nice minerality.  A bit of lemon oil as well.  On the palate, this has nice acidity.  Fresh lemon fruit.  Some depth with underlying minerality.  Good finish.  It would work with a wide variety of foods including Thai and spicy foods.  It seems like it is starting to just show some age but should easily last a decade or more.  

2016 M Cellars Pinot Gris, USA, Ohio, Grand River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This had been purchased from retail so it may have been sitting on the supermarket shelves for a while.  Fairly priced at $16.  It was solid but not as good as most of the wines from this producer.  In our tasting it was one of two wines that got no first, second or third place votes.  Light silvery gold in color.  The nose has little to offer.  On the palate it shows more of a grapefruit juice turning a bit bitter on the finish.  It has a nice mouthfeel.  This was likely much better in its youth or from a pristine bottle.  Drink up if you have one.  

2017 M Cellars Riesling Grand River Valley, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

These days, I think that M Cellars is making some of the best wines in Ohio.  They are nestled in the northeast corner of Ohio not too far from the Lake Erie shore.  There are actually quite a few wineries in that part of the state.  Most utilize a "tourist" model for selling their wine.  M Cellars is one of the few attempting to make world class wines and more often than not, they achieve that goal.  This bottle was recently purchased at their tasting room.  It was one of my favorites in a tasting of Ohio and New York wines.  Light silvery green in color.  The nose has a lemony quality whi

Pages

Pages