2018 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

One of the truly GREAT Chardonnays in the world.  This is very young right now, but still showed quite well.  Light gold in color with a bit of a green hue, clear and  bright.  The nose is great with lemons, slight pineapple, and spices.  Full bodied.  Energetic.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is crisp and delicious.  Pineapple, slight vanilla and spice.  Long finish.  This took and hour or so to really open.  It could use another five to ten years in the cellar, but no real harm opening now.  Drink over the  next twenty years.  Great on its own but better with food.  This will work w

2018 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Rivers Marie (the home winery of winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown) really knocked it out of the park with their 2018 Chardonnay.  This is the basic release (not a single vineyard) and it is wonderful.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon curd, vanilla and spice.  Full bodied.  Silky light tannins.  Great acidity and balance.  On the palate, this is delicious. Lemons, vanilla and slight smoke.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its  own and will work well with sea food or even fowl.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  An Excellent value!

2018 Sebastien Dampt Chablis 1er Cru Les Beugnons, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

In the world of Chablis, there are some exceptional producers but only a couple of those are "affordable".  Sebastian Dampt is one of them and that is especially true of the 1er Crus.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has green apples, slight grapefruits, slight gunpowder and spice.  Full bodied.  Excellent acidity.  On the palate, this is still a bit tight but opens quickly in the glass.  Green apples, grapefruits and slight char.  Long finish.  Delicious on its own, this is even better with food.  Of course, oysters would work very well, but so does a fruit salad.  Drink

2011 Kapcsándy Family Winery Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Yountville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

Merlot gets a lot of mockery (See Sideways), but a well made Merlot is truly special and this is one of the best on the planet.  Now, 2011 was one of the weaker vintages in Napa, but the late Lou Kapcsandy tailors the plants to adjust for the vintages and the State Lane Vineyard is truly Grand Cru.  The result is another outstanding wine.  It also have 5% Cabernet Franc blended in.  if anything, the vintage is a bit more accessible at a younger age than most.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright.  Gorgeous nose.  Black cherries, mocha, spice and slight coffee.  Full bodie

2018 Realm Cellars The Bard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$146.00USD

Realm is one of our favorite wineries and The Bard may be our favorite (so hard to choose) especially considering price.  This is an expensive wine, but for the quality, this is a great wine.  It is a Cabernet based blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 2% Petite Sirah .  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, tobacco, chocolate, coffee and baking spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is young and tight but also showing complexity and depth.  Flavo

2018 Arnaldo-Caprai Grechetto Colli Martani Grecante, Italy, Umbria, Wine review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

Interesting to taste this after recently trying the 2021 (https://www.intowine.com/reviews/2021-arnaldo-caprai-grechetto-colli-mar...).  Light golden in color,  clear and bright.  The nose has a nice minerality but the fruit seems faded.  Some chalk and earthiness.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, lots of minerality with a slight peach note.  Good acidity.  Bitter almond note on the finish.

2019 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Old and Mature Vines Scherrer Vineyard Alexander Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$42.00USD

A lovely, old school Zinfandel.  Whether one thinks this is young or ready or old is a matter of preference.  For my tastes, this is drinking youthfully but ready.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has bramble, raspberries, slight black cherries and spice.  Light but present tannins.  On the palate, bramble and black cherries with spice and slight char.  Drinks well.  Not over the top.  Very nice on its own but better with food.  A great wine with pizza.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2022 Saracina Rosé of Grenache

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$19.99USD

From Mendocino County, Saracina’s Rosé of Grenache is grown on sustainably farmed vineyards that are home to 140-year-old olive trees, vegetable gardens, beehives, and local birds and wildlife. This offers black cherry, strawberry, blood orange and rhubarb notes, with both red and green apple in the mix. Interestingly there is a light sweetness that is counterbalanced by a light tartness. The bright acidity allows this to work well with a variety of different foods. ORIGIN: Mendocino County. ALCOHOL: 12.5%

2019 Sandlands Chenin Blanc Lodi, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Sandlands makes some of the best Chenin Blancs in America.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with minerality/crushed shells, some lemon and lanolin.  Light to medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this young.  Vibrant.  The minerality continues thru but the lemon is more persistent.  Long finish.  Tasty.  This is nice on its own and should work well with all but the heaviest meat dishes.  It worked very well with Hunan food.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

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.  

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