2021 Avanzi Lugana Sirmione, Italy, Lombardy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Sirmione is on the southern side of Lake garda in northern Italy.  This wine is 100 Turbiana grapes which is a local clone of Trebbiano di Lugana although it is genetically closer to Verdicchio.  Pale silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with peach and slight minerality.  Light bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, some peach and some minerality.  Moderate finish.  This is nice and easy on its own and would be a nice wine with lighter foods such as Tuna or Chicken Salad.  Drink now.  

FIOL 2021 Prosecco Rosé

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

FIOL was only founded in 2010 but has since created a strong following. Their 2021 iteration is a blend of 15% Pinot Noir and 85% Glera, which together create creamy bubbles that lead into a soft and pleasant patch of strawberry, raspberry, light lemon notes, hints of cranberry and red delicious apple. This is not an overly complicated wine, it is deceptively simple, and simple sometimes is difficult to create. This is a very enjoyable wine, especially during the summer months when all you want is something pleasing and flavorful.

2022 Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Fiore, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

After trying the "Tradizionale" VdSG from this producer which is aged on its skins, it seemed appropriate to try this version.  It is also made from 100% organic Vernaccia grapes but this is made from free run juice which sees very little skin contact.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some citrus with minerality and a hint of peach.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, minerals and citrus.  Clean.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own and very food friendly as well with lighter foods.  A nice choice with grilled fish.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2022 Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Tradizionale, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

Fascinating wine.  Made from Vernaccia grapes.  This is an organic white wine in which the grapes were macerated on their skins.  Not quite an orange wine, it looked more like a salmon-pink rosé with deep golden hues.   Clear and bright.  The nose has some hay, some light oxidized tones, and some almonds.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is deep.  Flavors of slight citrus, minerality and a slight bitter (in a good way) note.  Good finish.  This wine needs food.  It would pair well with Cinnamon Risotto.  Drink over the next few years.  

2013 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Exposition Three Weill a Way Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This is 84% Syrah and 16% Viognier from Sonoma.  There are three version of this wine which Robert Parker compared to the three Guigal Lala wines from the northern Rhone.  Luckily, they were not that expensive back on release.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, bacon fat, slight dried flowers, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this seems mature and close to peak.  Flavors of black raspberries, slight blueberries, spice, and a hint of earthiness.  Long finish.  This wine is complex and deep.  This is great on

2018 Fingers Crossed Syrah, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$249.00USD

Whoa.  This is a big wine.  It is also Fantastic!  It is 93% Syrah, 3% Roussanne, 2% Grenache and 2% Mourvedre.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, roasted meats, spices and herbs.  Full  bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep with loads of black raspberries, blueberries, some black cherries, spice and char.  Long, long finish.  This is great now, but if you can wait five years, it will be even better.  That said, drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this would work well with Chili

2022 Tenute Navarra Sofien, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is a white wine from Sicily that is a blend of Grillo and Chardonnay.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with white floral notes, peach and slight citrus.  With air and slight smoked note comes thru.  Medium bodied.  Moderate acidity.  Nice texture.  On the palate, there is a tart citrus note with good minerality.  Some complexity.  It is nice on its own, but better with food.  It worked very well with soft cheeses and veggie appetizers.  drink over the next three to five years.  

2023 Flora Springs Soliloquy White, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

One of my favorite whites from Napa.  This is a blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc with the rest Malvasia and Chardonnay.  Pale golden in color with a touch of light green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with a slight grassy note along with peach, Granny Smith apples.  Medium bodied.  Polished texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is refreshing with peach, green apples and nice minerality.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is very nice on its own and will work well with all but the heaviest foods.  It went wonderfully with Dal and Spinach Paneer dishes.  Drink over the next fi

Chappellet 2021 Cabernet Franc

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

Chappellet has been growing Cabernet Franc for 35 years, planted at a time when Franc was merely considered a blending grape. Comprised of 78% Cabernet Franc (there are small amounts of four other grapes), Chappellet had a made bold choice to produce a stand-alone wine from this grape. Sure, Franc has been made in the U.S. as a stand-alone, and the Loire Valley is ripe with iterations of Franc - most notably in Chinon and St. Dennis. But Franc in California and Franc in France are quite different. That difference aside, Chappellet does an admirable job crafting a very enjoyable wine.

Art of Earth 2022 Riesling

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$11.99USD

Riesling is something of an odd duck. Most people believe it’s always made in a sweet style, and certainly when made in California typically it does have a sweeter profile. But Riesling can range from bone dry to luxurious dessert wine For those unfamiliar with German Riesling, the vast majority have a light smell and taste of what is called petrol, yes, as in gasoline. But you’re not drinking gasoline. The weather, soil and the clones of Riesling that Germany typically uses offer these aromatics and it’s quite common and actually something very unique to the Riesling grape.

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