Category: wine mini-reviews

NV Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs (Champagne): Like yellow apples and freshly baked goods; only, they’re being served in heaven. $95 A 2017 Fattoria di Calappiano Collegonzi Sangiovese (Toscana): Earthy, spicy, feisty, and almost too big… emphasis on the “almost.” $NA A- 2015 Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port (Portugal): The poor man’s VP? Maybe, but…

2017 Herdade de Servas ‘Sem Barrica’ Tinto (Alentejo): No barrels, but whole lot of other very good stuff – like pepper, black cherry, licorice, & leather. $NA B+ 2018 Herdade das Servas Monte das Servas Escolha Rose (Alentejo): The strawberries are wild, kicking up earth and rose petals in all their energetic mirth. $NA B…

NV Mionetto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Cartizze (Veneto): Crisp green apples, freshly baked bread, barrels full of fun. $35 A- NV Pizzolato Paloma Brut Rose Spumante (Italy): Blindingly-gaudy bling packaging aside, this has serious freshness & is a lot more refined on the inside. $17 B+ 2016 Cecchi ‘Valore di Famiglia’ (Chianti Classico Gran Selezione): Earthy,…

2017 Luce della Vite ‘Lucente’ (Tuscany): Tangy rusticity meets polished refinement. $29 A- 2016 Odfjell Armador Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley): Herbal, dark, and almost forcefully tasty. $NA B+ 2017 Concha y Toro ‘Terrunyo’ Block 27 Peumo Vineyard Carmenere (Cachapoal Valley): Big black cherry, big black tobacco, big black tongue stain, and big, full, happy belly….