2016 Tabarrini Montefalco Sagrantino Campo Alla Cerqua, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$56.00USD

Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is showing a bit of alcohol.  Also, Black Cherries, spices and slight vanilla.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, spice and smoke.  Long finish.  This is still young and could use a few more years in the cellar.  After that it should drink well for ten to fifteen more years.  It drinks well on its own, but if drinking soon, give it a decant some big flavors to match.  

2015 Còlpetrone Montefalco Sagrantino Memoira, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, smoke and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  This  has a lovely satiny but muscular texture.  On the palate, this is deep with black cherry fruit, slight tobacco and char.  Good acidity.  This drinks well now but is still a bit young.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  It is nice on its own but would be nice with a Wild Mushroom dish or other earthy foods.

2011 Còlpetrone Montefalco Sagrantino, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is one of the better values in Montefalco Sagrantino.  While it may not be as good as some of the very expensive options, it is still an outstanding wine.  At age 12, this bottle is just  about at prime.  The vintage, 2011, was good but not great, so this is a nice wine to see how well one likes mature Sagrantino.  Purple in color with slight browning.  The nose has black cherries, char, vanilla and spices.  Medium bodied.  Silky tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, dried cherries and wisps of smoke.  Moderate finish.  This drinks easy and is probably better with food at this point

2018 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Pagliaro, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$96.00USD

Gorgeous, if very young, wine.  This is typically a wine that needs a minimum of ten years of cellaring.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, dust, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Very firm tannins!  Great almost seamless lush  texture.  On the palate, black cherries, black raspberries with some tobacco and spice.  very deep and complex if tight.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and will work well with roasted or slow cooked meat dishes.  Best to hold for another five to ten years and drink for fifteen after that.  As good

2018 Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$48.00USD

This is 100% Sagrantino from central Italy.  Typically, this wine needs a minimum of 10 years ageing, but, it's nice to try one young to determine if it is worth purchasing more.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with a "sweet" scent of black cherries, dust, cloves and slight vanilla note.  Full bodied.  Very tannic!  On the palate, this is deep but tight.  Black cherries with cloves and black pepper.  A bit of anise on the finish.  This is 15.5% abv., but not noticeable while drinking.  It is delicious but needs another five to ten years cellaring and then shoul

2021 Arnaldo-Caprai Grechetto Colli Martani Grecante, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is 100% Grechetto from Umbria, Italy.  Light golden in color,  clear and bright.  The nose is nice with slight tangerine, peach and chalk.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, peach and tangerine with mineral undertones.  Good acidity.  Slight almond note on the finish.  This is a lighter wine that drinks well on its own and would be great with appetizers or lighter foods.  This would be nice with a vegetable/bean soup.  Drink over the  next couple of years.  

2021 Ruffino Orvieto Classico. Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$9.00USD

Screw capped.  This is an excellent value in white wine from central Italy.  It is a blend of Grechetto 40%, Procanico 20%, and other white varietals (Verdello, Canaiolo Bianco) 40%.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with minerals, copper, dust, and apples.  Not a lot of fruit from nice depth.  It has a nice, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, lemons with a slight candied note.  Good minerality.  Solid acidity.  A bit of bitter almond on the finish.  This drinks easy on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  It would work well with a squash soup.  Drink

2019 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$320.00USD

Always a pleasure to drink Yquem.  From a 375ml bottle.  This is young, of course, but delicious.  It is a blend of 55% Semillon and 45% Sauvignon Blanc.  Light golden in color with some orange hues, clear and bright.  The nose has apricots, honey and slight caramel notes.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Excellent acidity.  On the palate, this is sweet, not cloying.  Apricots with honey.  Incredibly long finish.  This will get better with further cellaring, but is delicious now.  Drink over the next thirty years.  great on its own, this would also work with simple pound cake. 

1862 D'Oliveiras Madeira Sercial, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1862
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$2200.00USD

Wow, so much fun to try a wine this old.  The US Civil War was going on as these grapes were growing.  Sercial is the grape used and it makes the driest version of Madeira.  The color of Iced Tea, clear and bright.  The nose has orange peel, and an earthiness to it.  Also some walnut notes.  And, of course, some oxidation.  Medium bodied.  Bracing acidity.  On the palate, slightly nutty with a lot of alcohol.  A bit of butter scotch.  The finish is warm with some char.  A very interesting wine and a little goes a long way.  Probably best to drink this on its own after a great meal.  

2013 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select, USA, California, Napa, Stags Leap District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$297.00USD

Shafer Hillside Select is truly an American First growth.  It has the production levels, the long history and the quality.  A great bottle of wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight blueberries, char, graphite and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the  palate, great texture.  Notes of cassis with graphite and char.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This is not yet at peak but getting there.  Delicious.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Great on its own, but this will work with hearty foods as well.  This would be perfect with brisket.  

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