2019 North Coast Wine Club Appassimento, USA, Ohio, Grand River, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$31.00USD

It northeast Ohio, it can be difficult to grow Cabernet Sauvignon and get it ripe.  The spring often limits when budbreak occurs, and cold autumns don't often allow sufficient hang time.  In an experiment to deal with this, the North Coast Wine Club, utilized the Appassimento method from northeast Italy, in an attempt to get a bit more volume and alcohol.  This means the grapes are allowed to partially air-dry out which reduces volume while raising the sugar levels.  it is the way Amarone is made, but in this case, instead of Italian grapes, this wine is made in that method but using Bordea

2021 North Coast Wine Club Carménère, American, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

These grapes for this wine come from California, shipped cold to northeast Ohio where they are made into wine.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight rhubarb, slight herbal notes and a bit of coffee grounds.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has nice red fruits (cherries, pomegranate) along with a peppery note.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and would be a nice wine with pasta or pizza.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2019 North Coast Wine Club Riesling, Washington, Yakima Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

The grapes are grown in Washington and shipped (34F) to northeast Ohio where the wines are made.  12% abv. Light golden in color.  The nose is interesting with nice minerality along with a slight chamomile note and peaches.  Medium bodied.  Dry.  On the palate, the minerality comes thru along with a bit of lemon peel.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now on its own and should be quite food friendly.  A nice match would be Thai food.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2010 Torrin The Banshee, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This is a blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre.  Torrin wines are bruisers, but at age 13, this one is just starting to calm down a bit.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper, roasted meat and leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Loads of black raspberries and some plums with underlying char and a nice minerality.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  It is nice on its own and would work well with a beef stew.  

2017 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cassis, dust and slight dishwasher note (not pleasant).  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Much better on the palate.  Cassis with a fair amount of oak.  Moderate finish.  This drinks easy on its own and would be nice with a burger or plate of pasta.  Drink over the next few years.  

2021 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

One of the old guard from Napa.  This is their basic Zin which is actually a blend of 83% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante, and 4% mixed reds.  This is a fine value.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has bramble with a peppery note.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries and raspberries.  Easy finish.  This is drinkable without requiring contemplation.  Drink over the next couple of years.  A nice wine with foods off grill.  

2020 Frog's Leap Chardonnay Shale and Stone, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has gun powder and yellow grapefruit.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, grapefruits with underlying char/smoke.  Good acidity.  Slight residual sugar on the finish.  A nice wine, but it sees no oak which makes it suspect that the grapes were close to the wildfires.  Is the "smoke" just from sulfur?   Drink over the next few years.  Better on its own or with some cheeses.  

2009 Rhys Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

Rhys makes some of the best Pinot Noir's in California.  This is bigger in fruit but with a Burgundy styling.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight black cherries, spice and just a hint of pine.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cherries and some black cherries with an underlying char and forest floor.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is still drinking youthfully.  It should continue to so do for another ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this works well with poultry or  meats, but would be nice with Salmon as well.  

2020 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Clos du Bourg, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

Huet is one of the top producers in the world.  That they make Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley just keeps the price down.  The 2020 is another star.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  It has a great nose with orange peel, slight ginger, sea air, quince.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet with enough acidity to counter it.  Flavors of quince, slight ginger and salinity.  Long finish.  This is drinking great now and should for another fifteen years.  Great on its own, this will work nice with Thai food.

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