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!
- NV Fiol Prosecco Rose (Veneto): Sweet red berry kiss wrapped in rose petals and fresh breezes. $20 B+
- 2023 Stinson Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (Monticello): Making a spicy statement, with green herbs, lots of lemony lift, and a long, mineral finish. $28 B+
- 2023 Stinson Vineyards Cabernet Franc (Virginia): Eschewing complexity in favor of delivering direct, very good spices, herbs, and dark cherry fruit flavor. $33 B+
- 2022 Lucia Vineyards Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands): Lemon zest, candied ginger, red and yellow apples, peaches, pears, toast, lemon curd, and incredible minerality to balance all of the heft. Serious contender for their best vintage ever. $65 A
- 2023 Sonoma-Cutrer Rose of Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Perky AF! Bright red berries to be found all over in this elegant and refreshing sipper. $25 B+
- 2022 Oak Ridge Winery Three Girls “The Instigator” Sauvignon Blanc (Lodi): Achieving exactly what it set out to do: be tropical, herbal, zesty and—above all—fun. $15 B
- 2018 Be Human Red Blend (Columbia Valley): Savory, tangy, woody, and holding up exceedingly well. $20 B+
- 2019 Koyle Gran Reserva Carmenere (Colchagua Valley): Leafy, chewy, robust, and chock full of dark, spic Carm goodness. Remember when these Chilean reds were bargains? This one remembers. $20 B+
- 2018 Familia Traversa ‘Traversa’ Cabernet Sauvignon (Montevideo): Heavy on the savory and spicy elements while being textural-ly light on its feet. $15 B+
- 2019 Hardy’s Tintara Cabernet Sauvignon (McLaren Vale): Leathery, dark, peppery exterior belies a lively soul beneath. $20 B