2015 Alloro Vineyard Pinot Noir Justina Estate, USA, Oregon, Chehalem Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This is a bigger in style for Oregon pinot Noir.  Ruby/purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has sour cherries, a slight earthiness and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  An interesting soft texture.  On the palate, sour cherries and a very slight anise note.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is a delicious Pinot Noir that seems to be getting close to peak.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  Great on its own, this would work well with Salmon and could stand up to big flavorful sauces.  

2010 Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling Argetsinger Vineyard, USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes region in New York.  At age 14, it is showing some age but still offering up plenty.  Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has canned peaches, slight petrol, and a bit of minerality.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, the peached come thru but also a bit of  bitterness.  Seems a bit part prime but the acidity is keeping it going.  Nice finish.  If you own any, drink up, but certainly worth drinking.  Better with some food.  It would be nice with a beet and goat cheese salad.  

2019 Jürgen von der Mark Grauburgunder Bedecke Deinen Himmel Zeus, Germany, Baden, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Really interesting wine.  This is Pinot Gris (Grigio) from Germany.  The name of the wine comes from a Goethe poem Prometheus.  Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose has light white peach and minerality.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, minerals, peach and a slight herbal quality.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own, but better with food.  A nice wine with a Red Lentil salad.  drink over the next five years.  

2018 Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

Another great wine from Fait-Mail.  These wine get some buzz but deserve even more.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, slight graphite, cedar, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is concentrated, intense and delicious.  Flavors of cassis, slight dark chocolate, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is still quite young and won't hit peak for at least a decade.  That said, it provides a lot of pleasure right now.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Fantastic on its own, this would work with big meat

2007 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This bottle had been purchased at the winery.  Deep ruby  in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, sandalwood, tea leaves and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this seems at peak.  Complex and delicious.  Flavors of cherries, some black cherries, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but much better with food. Perfect with a plate of pasta.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2022 Frog's Leap Flycatcher Red Wine, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

The inaugural vintage of this wine.  This is a blend of 33% Zinfandel, 31% Petite Sirah, 22% Merlot and 14% Syrah from various appellations around California.  Deep garnet in color, clear and matte.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, gravel, spice and slight mocha.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, flavors of cherries and black cherries with some chocolate and underlying char.  Good finish.  This is accessible and ready to go.  It is nice on its own and will work well with many foods (not seafood).  Baked chicken dishes would work well.  Drink over

2021 Askaneli Saperavi Qvevri Dry Red Wine, Georgia, Kakheti, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is 100% Saperavi grapes which is fermented in Amphoras called Qvevri that are buried in the ground.  This method of making wine is 7,000 years old.  The resulting wine is very good.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black currants, earthiness, and slight mushroom notes.  Complex.  The wine is full bodied with medium tannins.  Bright acidity.  On the palate, this drinks very easy.  Clean with good fruit.  Black currants with underlying forest floor and slight mushroom.  This drinks well on its own but is better with food.  This went well with a variety of foods i

2021 Palmento Costanzo Etna Bianco di Sei, Italy, Sicily,

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

This is a white blend from Sicily  made from 90% Carricante and 10% Catarratto grapes.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is deep and interesting.  A bit of blood orange, lots of minerality, some char and a bit of wild thyme.  Medium bodied.  Creamy texture. Crisp with good acidity.  On the palate, its all about the minerality.  Crushed rocks, char and slight salinity with a slight citrus note.  Nice finish.  This is a tasty wine that is nice on its own but better with food.  This would be a nice wine with grilled scallops.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2016 Weingut Willi Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Langenloiser Alte Reben Kamptal Reserve, Austria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$56.00USD

Very nice showing for this wine which seems to be at peak.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lots of minerality/chalk.  Also white pepper and a slight apricot note.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Creamy texture.  On the palate, this is crisp with minerality and a bit of apricot fruit.  Good finish.  This is very nice on its own but better with food.  This worked well with Buffalo Cauliflower.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2022 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine La Pépie, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

Muscadets continue to be some of the best values in wine.  Made from 100% Melon de Bourgone grape.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has crushed shells, salinity and just a hint of lemon.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is all about minerality.  Depth.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is great on its own but the classic pairing is oysters.  Drink over the next five to seven years, but it will probably go longer.  Don't listen to those who say they need to be consumed in the first year or two.  

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