I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format.
They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), so you can get right to the point and decide if they’re for you (or not). Cheers!
- 2020 Herdade do Rocim Mariana Branco (Vinho Regional Alentejano): Grilled citrus, tangerine, lemon meringue, and a savory good time. $16 B
- 2020 Quinta da Fonte Souto Branco (Alentejo): Big. And bigly good. Rich with apricot, white pear and minerals, all flowin’ thru the jasmine of my wiiiiiiiine… $26 A-
- 2008 Palazzo Vecchio Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Tuscany): Very, very, very juicy, and very, very, very tasty (still). $35 B+
- 2016 Marchesi Frescobaldi Castello di Nipozzano ‘Nipozzano’ (Chianti Rufina Riserva): Pretty classic Rufina, in pretty much every conceivable way. $22 B+
- 2020 Bertani Ripasso Valpolicella (Veneto): The lighter side of Ripasso reds. Spicy and ripe, but refreshingly understated about it. $25 B+
- 2017 Steele Wines Cabernet Franc (Lake County): Dark, silky, woody, funky, tasty, tangy. A performance that hits many right notes. $26 B+
- 2012 Sol Rouge Petite Sirah (Lake County): Boy, did the glossy mag critics ever get this one wrong. Going strong, in supple, potent, dark, black cherry fashion. $NA A-
- 2016 Olema Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County): Still a winner. Punching above its weight class with a blackcurrant and clove one-two combo. $25 B+
- 2005 Lindsay Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Rogue Valley): Daaaannnnnggg earthy. Not for the faint of heart! $NA B+
- 2019 Yering Station Pinot Noir (Yarra Valley): Can PN be too silky? This one’s trying to find out. Stick around for the lifted cherry fruit action. $30 B+