2008 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Dehesa la Granja, Spain, Castilla y León, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Purple with slight dark brown swirls.  On the nose this is dusty with persistent barnyard.  Some cherries.  It tastes older and past prime on the palate but still worth drinking.  Some barnyard too but cherry fruit and dried cherries.  A bit drying on the finish.  Not sure if this is a representative bottle but this is a current release.  Better with food; meats and stews would work well.  

2014 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Crianza, Spain, Rioja, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

It had been a long time since I tried this ubiquitous Rioja wine.  It is still very good and an excellent value at around $15.  Purple/garnet in color.  The nose is nice with spice, cherries and slight black cherries.  With air some vanilla comes out.  On the palate, this is soft and accessible.  Light tannins.  Cherries and slight dill.  Good finish.  This will work with almost any food.  

2015 Bodegas La Cana Albariño, Spain, Rías Baixas, Wine review

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

Good showing for this wine despite being four years from vintage.  Light yellow gold in color.  The nose has a nice minerality with chervil and slight peach.  On the palate, there is a crisp underlying minerality along with a peach and citrus component.  Good acidity.  This is fresh and lively.  It will work with most lighter and medium foods and be great with seafood and fresh salads.  

2008 Sineann Cabernet Franc Champoux Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is doing quite well at 11 years from vintage.  It is a Washington state Cab Franc that in its youth was boisterous and ripe but has calmed down, picked up some funk and is drinking well.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, slight tobacco and baking spice.  On the palate, this has wispy tannins.  Good juicy black cherry fruit with underlying char and a bit of forest floor.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Works well on its own or with some bigger or medium foods especially roast.  

2007 Passopisciaro Sicilia Passopisciaro, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$0.00USD

Very nice showing for this wine which seems to be at the younger side of peak right now.  Grown on the side of Mount Etna and made from Nero Mascalese.  It drinks very much like a smoky Pinot Noir.  Garnet in color.  The nose has cherries and underlying char.  On the palate, wispy tannins.  Lots of cherries with depth and concentration.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is a very interesting wine that demands contemplation but is also quite tasty.  Will work great with pasta, veggies and medium and lighter foods.  

2014 Cantine Fina Caro Maestro, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
89
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a Bordeaux blend from Western Sicily.  It a nice affordable wine that is enjoyable and will hold and improve a bit for a few years in a good cellar.  It is a modern, internationally styled wine, but still has a certain continental quality to it.  Purple in color.  The nose has nice cherry fruit with a bit of spice and slight cedar.  On the palate, there are some tannins.  Nice cherry fruit.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Easy drinking and will work with a wide variety of foods.  It won't get much better, but perhaps a bit.  It should be drunk by 2025.  

2017 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio, Italy, Alto Adige-Suditrol, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

Do you like affordable, easy drinking white wines?  Then look for this one.  This is authentic and as good as wine costing twice the price.  Will it blow your doors off?  Probably not, but for $15, you will have no regrets.  Food friendly or on its own.  Light copper gold in color.  The nose is great with minerals, mountain air (think cold and fresh) and a hint of lemon peel.  On the palate, this is refreshing.  Slightly more than lean texture.  Made for drinking young.  Lots of verve.  Good finish.  

2010 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

Any time you get to try a Schrader wine it is a great night.  But, when you go to a friends house and see this open, well, it doesn't get much luckier than that.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, charcoal, spice and slight graphite.  On the palate, this is precise and tight.  It opens slowly in the glass with firm tannins.  Cassis and blueberries carry thru but it seems bottomless.  This needs a long decant or better yet a decade in the cellar.  It is delicious now but so much upside.  Long finish.  It makes a wonderful cocktail but with some patience, this

2015 Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

So, Nils Venge has been making great wine in Napa for decades.  This is a family project and his son Kurt makes the wine.  IIRC, this is my first time trying this wine and it was amazing.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, cedar, smoke and the slightest graphite note.  On the palate, this is one of those wine with so much energy it seems every sip is a bit different than the last.  Of course, it is young and that will probably change as it settles down.  Firm tannins at the moments.  Juicy cassis fruit with some underlying char.  Clean with great balance.  Long finish.  This would

2012 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Consistently one of the better BdM's out there.  2012 was a good year if not stellar, but this wine was singing.  Pop and pour, it took about an hour to open up and was good to go.  Garnet in color.  The nose has cherries, tea leaves, and slight spice notes.  On the palate, this has slight tannins.  Nice cherry fruit.  Showing slight layering of fruit and forest floor.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This will work with a wide variety of foods and really begs for food.  It is still on the youthful side bu no baby.  It won't get better but should mature nicely for the next decade.  Drink anyti

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