2010 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Monvigliero, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$266.00USD

A very nice, moderately priced (on release) Barolo.  With 13 years from vintage, this one is in a great place.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has hot tar, cherries, spice and char.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, nice cherry fruit with some complexity.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This will work better with food.  Pasta with a mushroom cream sauce was perfect.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Pagani Ranch Sonoma Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Another winner from Carlisle.  I am sure these will age nicely, but I just can't keep my hands off of them young.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, spice, blueberries, and cedar.  Full bodied.  Lovely, almost lush texture.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, black raspberries, with slight char underneath.  Long finish.  Just delicious.  This is great on its own and will drink well for another ten years.  It also will work well for spicy and bigger foods.  Besides pizza, this would be great with ribs off the gr

2010 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This is in a great spot right now.  Still youthful but drinking well.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted herbs and slight roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with underlying char.  Also some black pepper.  Deep.  Long finish.  This is near peak but should go another eight to twelve years.  Very nice on its own, this would also work well at the dinner table with slow cooked meats or veggies.  

2021 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

The winemaker's notes indicate that "the finished blend is 85% Zinfandel with 7% Carignan, 4% Cinsault and bits and bobs of Grand Noir, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet and other field-blended varieties." Overall, this is pretty consistent with prior years.  Purple/garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, raspberries, char and slight bramble.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is middle ground between claret and bombastic styled Zin.  Plenty of black cherry fruit with good balance, slight tannins and some char.  Nice finish.  This is a great c

2022 Sigalas Assyrtiko Santorini, Greece, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is all about minerality with a touch of peach, lemon and char.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is focused (piercing minerality) with good acidity.  Long finish. This begs for food; maybe some Hummus and Pita, or some oysters.  Drink over the next few years.  

2014 Tensley Syrah Tierra Alta Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted herbs and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, char and slight dark chocolate notes.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should for the next eight to twelve years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with Indian dishes, too.  

1998 Alois Kracher Welschriesling TBA #4 Zwischen den Seen, Austria, Neusiedlersee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$160.00USD

It is always a pleasure to drink Kracher, especially an older one.  The lower the number, generally, the less sweet they are.  Iced tea in color, clear and bright.  The nose is lively with molasses, hazelnuts, but also apricots and salinity.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  On the palate, this sweet but not crazy sweet.  Good balance.  Delicious.  Easy to  drink.  Flavors of hazel nuts, Salinity and slight dried figs.  Long finish.  This will work with less sweet cakes, maybe something nutty.  Drink over the next ten years or so.  

2012 Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Dundee Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Great showing for this bottle.  It is in a perfect place right now.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, sandalwood, slight perfumed note and some earthiness.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, lots of fresh cherries, slight dried cherries and just a bit of black cherries.  Some earthy funk as it opens.  Long finish.  This is drinking great and close to or at peak.  Drink over the next ten years.  Great on its own, but better with food.  A great wine with Salmon I should think.

2014 Rhys Pinot Noir Swan Terrace, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$118.00USD

One of the best California Pinot Noir's I have had.  Middle of the road in style for Cal Pinot.  Deep ruby in color with some purple hues.  Mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, spice, some smoke and slight earthiness.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, lots of delicious cherry and black cherry fruit.  Deep and tight layers that unwind in the glass.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This was pop and pour and it kept opening and evolving all night.  Drink over the next ten to twenty years.  Great on its own, this worked well with pasta with mushro

Quinta da Fonte Souto 2018 Alicante Bouschet

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$43.00USD

In France and Portugal, you’ll find Alicante Bouschet. But few other countries make it. So to find a stand-alone bottling from the Symington family (best know for their Ports), my interest was piqued. Soft tannins and mild acidity give way to blackberry, blueberry, ripe black cherry, a hint of huckleberry jam, and back notes of sage, wildflower and rose water. Unique unto itself, this is definitely a wine worth seeking out, if for no other reason than you won’t find this grape bottled very often.

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