Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for July 3, 2023

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!

2011 Holman Ranch Vineyards Estate Grown Heather’s Hill Pinot Noir (Carmel Valley): In fine, meaty, and bright fighting-fit form. $37 A-
2020 Smith & Hook Proprietary Red Blend (Central Coast): In your face, but in an entertaining way. $22 B+
2018 Bannister Riesling (Cole Ranch): While not varietally all that recognizable, this is a delight—fresh, floral, and full of quince goodness. $30 A-
2021 Rombauer Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands): Ripe enough to please the Rombauer faithful, nuanced enough to convince the rest of us that this was a very, very good idea. $65 A-
2022 Cattleya ‘Alma de Cattleya’ Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County): This is clearly the work of a winemaking wizard. Tropical, zesty, pithy, and also, at turns, even supple. $25 A-
2020 Tongue Dancer Rose of Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast): The mouthfeel indicates this one is NOT fooling around! Very ripe—and quite serious—strawberry and watermelon fruit. $22 B+
2021 Chalk Hill Windy Ridge Suavignon Blanc (Chalk Hill): Honeysuckle, grapefruit, starfruit, very ripe melon, all in seriously substantial out-rigging. $52 A-
2020 Oak Ridge Winery Moss Roxx Ancient Vine Reserve Zinfandel (Lodi): Big. VERY BIG. Almost TOO VERY BIG. Long and spicy, tho, and that combo ultimately wins the day. $24 B+
2014 Northstar Winery Columbia Valley Merlot (Washington): Still managing to be both buxom and elegant. $25 B+
2014 Ledger David Cabernet Franc (Rogue Valley): The scaffolding remains intact! Gamey, earthy, & sporting very dark cherry fruit action. $30 B+

Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for July 3, 2023

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