2008 Trimbach Riesling Reserve, France, Alsace, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

This is a relatively inexpensive (although the price has probably doubled since this was released) Riesling from one of the top producers in Alsace.  At age 16, it is drinking nicely.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean, no petrol, with some apples, light citrus and a hint of minerality.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, this is dry.  Apples and minerals.  Some lemons.  Moderate finish.  This is past prime but still offering up something.  Drink up.  This is better with food.  It worked with a Spinach-Artichoke dip.  No easy feat.

NV Moët & Chandon Champagne White Star, France, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Sometimes it is easy to forget just how good this wine is.  No, it's not Dom Perignon, but it is very good and very available.  Light golden in color, a nice mousse of very tiny bubbles, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with apples, toast and slight chalk.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has slight oxidation with apples and slight char.  Good finish.  This is very food friendly and will work with just5 about any food.  It went well with vegetable quiche.  One issue to be careful of is that this is sold everywhere.  Make sure of good storage and try to make sure this i

Argyle 2019 Brut Sparkling Wine, Knudsen Vineyard

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Founded in 1987, Argyle wanted to make sparkling wines that could hold their own with Champagne. Comprised of mainly Pinot Noir, there is 4% Chardonnay blended in with this 2019. What at first seems a mild sparkler, with notes of brioche bread, soft lemon and mild apricot, reveals a different side. The stone fruits and minerality come out mid palate and finish strong. Acidity is the real story here revealed with this wine, making this ideal with a variety of foods.

Whitehall Lane 2021 Malbec

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

It’s not that Malbec is a forgotten grape, it’s that it doesn’t get the love it deserves, and too often wineries seem to want it to taste like Cabernet. Enter Whitehall Lane, who makes this impressive Malbec that you will love - a Malbec that tastes like a Malbec should. The fruit is supported by a tannic structure that provides an earthiness and rusticity to it. Blackberry brambleberry, huckleberry and boysenberry all work together to create a rich wine that’s not over the top but not subdued either. The mid-palate reveals the wines’ acidity with notes of sandalwood and cocoa powder.

2015 Carl Ehrhard Rüdesheim Berg Roseneck Riesling Kabinett, Germany, Rheingau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Light yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a lot of fruit; pineapples and peaches with some minerality.  Clean.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet but not overtly.  Flavors of pineapple, peach and minerals.  Modest acidity.  Good finish.  This is an easy drinking Riesling that should please most palates.  It is lovely on its own and will work nicely with lighter foods.  It would work well with Chicken Salad.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

Bousquet Cameleon 2022 Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

Bousquet has long been producing quality wines coming out of Argentina at enviable price points. This Chardonnay straddles that line between a linear reductive style and a more malolactic fermented, brighter style. It works. And that it takes these two worlds and combines them rather seamlessly. Yes, you get the upfront lemon, lime kefir, guava, apricot and white peach notes, but there is also that silky, smooth lightly buttery style that makes this an easy drinking wine. Additionally, the acidity is spot on providing support and structure for the whole of the wine.

2018 TH Estate Wines 5 Blocks Cuvée, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

From Terry Hoage, this is a blend of 66% Syrah, 23% Mourvèdre and 11% Grenache.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, roasted meats, black pepper, black cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has big fruit; black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper and char.  Good energy.  Long finish.  This is drinking well on its own and will work with bigger food flavors.  It went well with spicy Indian style food.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2018 Herdade de São Miguel Colheita Seleccionada Tinto, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a blend of 50% Alicante Bouschet, 30% Touriga Nacional, 10% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from Portugal.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is lighter with cherries, some spice, and a slight chocolate note.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Fresher on the palate with cherries and black cherries.  Moderate finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work nicely with meat or fowl dishes.  A nice choice with Chili.  Drink over the next three to five years.

2021 Herdade de Rocim Alicante Bouschet, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is 100% Alicante Bouschet.  Purple in color with ruby and some blue swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with boysenberries, black cherries, spice, and slight vanilla notes.  Medium to firm tannins.  Full bodied.  Well balanced.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries and char.  Long finish.  This is a robust wine that drinks well on its own and can hold up to big (and spicy) foods.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2021 FitaPreta Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

40% Aragonez, 30% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Trincadeira, and 10% Castelao.  Purple/ruby/blue in color, mostly opaque although slightly flat.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, spice and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black raspberries, anise and char.  Good finish.  This is a very solid wine that is drinking well now.  It is a great value.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  A nice mid-week pizza wine, this should work well with meats or fowl or even roasted veggies.  

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