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!
- 2016 Feudo Cavaliere ‘Millemetri’ Bianco Etna (Sicily): Hitting its latter years with a heady, herbal grace. $NA A-
- 2020 Palmento Costanzo Contrada Cavaliere Etna Bianco (Sicily): Tropical fruit, with the skins still bearing char marks from the grill. $60 A-
- 2021 Tenute Foti Randazzese ‘Gaga’ Etna Bianco (Sicily): A lithe, approachable white that’s worth going at least a little gaga over. $NA B+
- 2020 Tenute dei Ciclopi Etna Bianco (Sicily): Has its (lone?) eye focused on an appealingly austere texture, more than on fruitiness. $NA B+
- 2020 Calcagno Primazappa Etna Bianco Superiore (Sicily): Soaked the lemon peels in brine, then grilled them to near perfection. $NA B+
- 2015 El Vinculo Alejairen Crianza (Castilla La Mancha): Like your reds mature and eccentric? This is for you. $30 B+
- 2021 Chateau de Berne ‘Romance’ Rose (Cotes de Provence): A sexy assemblage of dried flower petals and strawberries. $20 B
- 2013 Tin Barn Vineyards Gilsson Vineyards Zinfandel (Russian River Valley): Simply put, this has no business being this good and this savory with this kind of age (and abv) on it… $NA A-
- 2021 Balletto Rose of Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Solid—if slightly soft—rendition. Love the rose petal action! $20 B
- 2021 Sokol Blosser Kalita Vineyard Pinot Noir (Yamhill-Carlton District): This is spicy, vibrant, and big for these guys. They bring a deft, earthy touch to this riper take. $45 A-