2021 Donnafugata Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is from an Island located south west of Sicily.  Although part of Italy, it is actually closer to Africa (Tunisia).  It is a fascinating dessert wine. Made from Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria) grapes.  Amber in color with some golden hues.  The nose is great with canned peaches, apricots and candied oranges.  Viscous.  On the palate, this is sweet but not cloying.  Delicious.  Enough acidity to carry the fruit.  Also a touch of honey.  Long finish.  Great on its own, this would work well with Biscotti or shortbread.  Fun.

 

2019 David & Nadia Chenin Blanc Plat'Bos, South Africa, Swartland, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$72.00USD

In trying to explore Chenin Blanc, this one came highly recommended.  It is expensive for Chenin, but quite good.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is lovely with red apples, salinity, peach and slight floral notes.  Medium bodied with a crisp, slightly oily texture.  On the palate, the apples come thru along with a bit of peach and great minerality.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own and better with food.  It would be nice with a dish that combined pork and roasted apples.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2017 TH Estate Wines Syrah The Hedge Reserve, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is what used to be Terry Hoage  Winery.  It is 98% Syrah and 2% Mourvedre.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this is a big wine.  Full throttle.  Flavors of black raspberries with some black pepper and char.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but will take big food.  Roasted or grilled meats and/or veggies would work.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

2021 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah California, USA, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

Another great value from Bedrock.  This is their basic Syrah and it is excellent and reasonably priced.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, char, slight black pepper and roasted herbs.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black raspberry fruit with some  black pepper and char.  It should drink well for another ten years.  Nice on its own, a great choice for a mid week burger.  

2016 Paternoster Aglianico del Vulture Synthesi, Italy, Basilicata, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

This is the entry level wine of Paternoster, one of the top producers in the "arch of the boot".  Although this is showing some age, their top bottlings are still quite young as Aglianico is a grape that ages quite well.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, wild thyme and char.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this seems fully mature.  Cherry and dried cherry fruit.  Moderate finish.  It needs some food.  A great choice for mid-week Pizza.  Drink up.

2019 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese, Germany, Nahe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Another of my favorite German producers and this is possibly my favorite of all of his wines.  This was better than a bottle I had a couple of years ago.  Light golden in color, with slight silvery hues, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lots of minerality/"wet rocks" along with a touch of pineapple and some salinity.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is sweet.  It is also deep and delicious.  As it ages it will develop a complexity but lost some of the vibrancy.  The answer of course is to drink some young and some old.  Flavors of pineapple and minerals.  Lon

2015 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Certainly one of the top wineries in Germany (or anywhere) and still "reasonably" affordable.  Light golden in color.  The nose is clean with no noticeable sulfur or petrol.  Aromas of peaches and "wet stones".  Medium bodied.  Great acidity.  Lively.  On the palate, this is sweet.  Peaches with minerality.  Long finish.  This is perfect with Roasted beets and goat cheese.  Also, nice on its own.  It is evolving nicely but still will drink well for another twenty years or more.  

2018 Lunarossa Quartara Colli di Salerno IGT, Italy, Campagna, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a really interesting white wine from southern Italy.  It is 100% Fiano grapes.  They are vinified in buried amphora lined with beeswax with their skins.  They are then aged for a time in wood barrels before being bottled.  Light golden in color with a touch of deeper hues.  The nose is different with dried flowers, some earthiness, and a bit of lemony notes.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, this has a round mouthfeel but good acidity.  Lemony notes with a bit of funk.  Long finish.  This would be excellent with most fresh seafoods.  As for ageing, it should go another few ye

2012 Jaffurs Syrah, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is the basic Jaffur's Syrah.  One of the better value is the fine wine world.  Normally, these get consumed early on, so it was fun to taste one with some age.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight char, black pepper and roasted meats.  Also, a bit earthy.  Full bodied.  Mild tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this seems mature.  Drinking well.  Nice depth with a bit of complexity.  Flavors of black raspberries, with char and a nice earthiness.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  It went very well with Indian takeout.  

2018 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

Beautiful bottle.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, dark chocolate, slight graphite and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Great balance.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, dark chocolate and spice.  Long finish.  This is young but drinks nicely with a bit of air.  It will get better.  Drink over the next twenty to thirty years.  Great on its own, for now, stick to rich or fatty meats, but also roasted vegies will work.

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