2021 Boundary Breaks Vineyard Chardonnay Unoaked, USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

As the name says, this is an unoaked Chardonnay from the Finger Lakes region of New York.  This is a cooler climate region and the resulting wine will be a great alternative for those oakaphobes or people just looking for something a bit different.  Light golden in color, some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with slight grapefruits, some minerality and a bit of "wet rocks".  Medium bodied.  On the palate, crisp and clean with a bit of grapefruit and minerality.  Nice finish.  This works better with food.  This would be excellent with lobster (no buttery oak).  Drink over th

2020 Montinore Estate Borealis The Northern Whites, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This unique blend comes from Oregon.  It is 38% Muller-Thurgau, 28% Gewurztraminer, 22% Riesling and 14% Pinot Gris.  Best guess, this is a blend of wine available after bottling various grapes and vineyards.  This was purchased at a restaurant.  Green gold in color.  Light bodied.  The palate has a varietal complexity.  Easy drinking.  Nice value.  A good choice with lighter foods and it went well with vegetarian pizza options.  

2021 Cristom Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola-Amity Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$72.00USD

Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has  cherries, spice and a slight cola note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit bigger and more intense (in a good way) than I might have expected for this wine.  Black cherries, sour cherries, with some tobacco/forest floor.  There is some depth but it will take some cellaring to unwind the complexity.  Long finish.  Hold for another five to eight years and drink for ten to fifteen after that.  The classic pairing would be Salmon. Plenty of upside on the score as it matures.   

2020 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Eroica, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

Served blind.  Always a favorite, it seems this has come down in price over the years and is now an excellent value.  Light golden in color with some slight silvery hues, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with an outdoorsy/hay quality.  Also minerality and slight lemon/citrus notes.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Nice texture.  On the palate, lemons with slight grapefruits.  Slightly clipped finish.  This drinks great on its own and is very food friendly.  It will go well with Thai food.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2020 Luke Wines Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 2% Petite Verdot from Washington state.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, char and slight dark chocolate.  Full bodied.  Silky tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, slight chocolate and a bit of spice.  Some minty and bitter cherry notes on the finish.  There is some depth here and it may improve a bit with short term cellaring.  It is nice on its own, but seemed better with food.  Of course, a burger would do, but it worked great with Felafel.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2020 Luke Wines The Companion Red Blend, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a blend of  54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 3% Petite Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec from Washington State.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice; dusty with black raspberries, plums, spice, slight black cherries and a hint of vanilla.  Soft texture with medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries, cassis with underlying spice and slight char.  Long finish.  This is an easy drinking red that has some backbone and depth.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  Very nice on its own, this will work great with a brisket out

2022 Luke Wines Sauvignon Blanc, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

From Washington state, this comes in at 13.2%abv.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon/lime, minerality and a touch of grassiness.  Medium bodied with a nice, slightly oily texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, limes with a slight gooseberry note and underlying minerality.  Long finish.  Overall, a very nice Sauvignon Blanc for a very fair price.  This is lovely on its own and will work nicely with lighter foods.  A great choice with a fruit salad for lunch.  

2021 Crooked Tree Vineyard Island Blossom White Sweet Traminette, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
82
Grade: 
B-

The Traminette grape is a hybrid grape with ties to Gewurztraminer.  Pale golden with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has some lemon-lime notes.  Light bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet.  Some acidity to help cut it.  Moderate finish.  This is easy drinking and nice to sit outside on a warm late summer afternoon.  It would work well with fried foods.  Drink now.  

2021 Crooked Tree Vineyard Whitecaps Dry Tramintette, USA, Lake Erie, Kellys Island, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

The Traminette is a hybrid grape with some resemblance (by design) to Gewurztraminer.  Very pale gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with slight lemon-lime.  Light to medium bodied.  12% abv.  On the palate, this is refreshing.  Easy drinking.  Light lemon-lime notes.  Good finish.  Nice balance.  A nice afternoon at the winery kind of wine.  Drink now.  This is very food friendly with lighter foods.  It would go well with fried chicken.  

2022 Crooked Tree Vineyard Wind Chime semi-dry Chardonnay, USA, Kelly's Island Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

The label lists this as 12% abv.  Silvery/green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with some lemony notes.  Light bodied.  On the palate, the label calls this  semi-dry but there isn't really a lot of sweetness going on.  It is refreshing with some lemon-lime qualities.  Easy to drink.  This is food friendly and would work well with fried foods or popcorn.  A fun wine for sitting outside at a winery listening to live music.  Drink now.  

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