2017 Bodega Amalaya Malbec Estate Grown, Argentina, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is a blend of 85% Malbec, 10% Tannat, and 5% Petite Verdot.  Grown from vineyards at 5,900 feet above sea level.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has plums, spice and black raspberries.  Also a touch of black pepper.  On the palate, this has silky tannins.  Plum and black cherry fruit.  Not noticeable oak.  This wine is about accessibility and easy enjoyment.  Good fruit.  It goes down easily.  Should be drunk within the next few years.  It will work with medium and heartier foods well.  This retails for around $15 which is a great value.  

2017 Malene Rose Santa Barbara County, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

Copper/salmon pink in color.  The nose is very clean with watermelons.  On the palate, this is light in style with cherry fruit.  Clean and refreshing with a long finish.  Served to a group of our friends, it was very popular.  This is better with food.  It has a nice acidity and works well with almost all foods.  Made from "traditional Rose" varietals according to the back label.  

2018 Bonterra Vineyards Rosé, USA, California, Mendocino, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

Bonterra specializes in using organically grown grapes.  Pale silvery salmon pink in color.  The nose is light but has some nice strawberries.  On the palate, the fruit is more watermelon and quite pronounced.  Juicy watermelons at that.  Very refreshing.  There is a slight bitterness on the finish but overall this is a quality rose that is very enjoyable.  This is (well) under $20 and a very nice value.  While some say we should drink Rose all year round, I can't wait for the weather to warm up and sip some on a warm evening outside.  This will sip great on its own or work well with fruit

2018 Bodega Amalaya White, Argentina, Calchaqui Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is 85% Torrontes and 15% Riesling.  Light silvery green gold in color.  The nose is pronounced and very nice.  Grapefruit and Mandarin oranges.  Slightly viscous.  Good acidity.  Oranges and minerals on the palate.  Nice finish if a bit thin.  This wine is delicious on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  It is relatively inexpensive and will be great for summer parties.  

2018 Bodega Colomé Torrontés, Argentina, Calchaqui Valley, Wine review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

Torrontes is the signature white grape of Argentina.  This is 100%.  Light silvery gold in color.  The nose has some grapefruit and a steely quality to it.  Better on the palate with flavors of quince and grape fruits.  Light bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is a friendly easy going wine that sips well on its own and will pair nicely with lighter foods.  It is relatively inexpensive and a good value.  

NV Cheurlin-Panfilo Champagne Le Medaillon, France, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Opened by a friend to celebrate another friends birthday.  70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay.  Light golden in color.  A nice head with lots of smallish bubbles.  The nose is nice with burnt hay and slight citrus.  On the palate, there is some citrus and minerals.  Long finish.  Good acidity.  This is very food friendly and will work with a wide variety of foods.  

2015 J. Bookwalter Cabernet Franc Suspense Conner-Lee Vineyard, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a very nice Cab Franc from Washington.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, tobacco and slight bell pepper.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity.  Good fruits black cherries and cherries with underlying herbal notes.  Good finish.  Slight tannins.  This works better with foods and went well with a home made pizza.  It seems still young and might get better but should easily last another 5 to ten years.  

2012 Ridge Chardonnay Estate, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

Whether you like this wine comes down to style.  It is well made in the "classic" new world style with rich, opulent tropical fruit, butter and oak.  It does seem to be a bit past its prime so drinking sooner than later is called for.  Golden in color.  The nose has butterscotch, spice, mango and butter.  On the palate, this has a voluptuous texture.  Decent acidity certainly helps it work with food.  The buttery and spice notes are predominant on the palate but there is some tropical fruit quality.  This is not my preferred style of Chardonnay but it is certainly better than many in the ca

2006 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Gorgeous wine.  It is sweet of course, but not as sweet as expected.   Golden in color.  The nose is pretty with just the slightest touch of petrol.  Also lots of minerality, wet stones and slight apricot.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Enough acidity but a bit more to counter the sweet would be nice.  Still, it is a very nice wine.  Went well with Halloumi cheese.  Drinking well now, but it has two or three decades of life left.  

2014 Valdez Family Winery Chardonnay Ulises Valdez Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Sadly Ulises Valdez has passed away too young.  This bottle was opened for a time when tasted (I believe for 24 hours), so take that into account.  It is drinking very well though.  Golden in color with a bit of straw.  On the nose, this is nice with slight green apples, some hay and some butterscotch.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  There is some depth here.  Drinking very well with some lemon/citrus and a nice minerality.  Good finish.  Worked well with some appetizers as we stood around talking.  

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