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 Weingut Richard Bocking Privat Riesling Sekt (Mosel): Hallmark sentiment alert! Refreshing as a walk through a flower garden on a sunny, breezy Spring afternoon. $NA B
- 2016 Brigaldara Case Vecie (Amarone della Valpolicella): There are times when it’s fashionable to crap on powerful Amarone reds. This is NOT one of those times. $75 A-
- 2017 Brigaldara Cavolo (Amarone della Valpolicella): When you need your burliness to come with a generous side of elegance & restraint. $NA A-
- 2019 Flambeaux Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley): Now THAT is a spicy meatball!!! $50 A-
- 2018 Flambeaux Flambeaux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek Valley): A sweet disposition that’s ready to make a lot of smiles. $70 A-
- 2020 Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay (Chalk Hill): Few others can pull it off this big, this well. $45 A-
- 2020 Rodney Strong Rosé of Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Floral, fresh, and fabulously fruity. $20 B+
- 2019 Papapietro Perry Leras Family Vineyards Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Earthy, peaty, deep with brambly red fruits & game. So it’s basically an upscale hunting excursion in a bottle. $65 A-
- 2019 Papapietro Perry Nunes Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Delicate and vivacious, enticing over & over with gorgeous spices and ready-to-rock red berry action. $64 A-
- 2020 Domaine Bousquet ‘Virgen’ Natural Malbec (Tupungato): Entering the no-sulfites-added game in their typically high-quality, crowd pleasing way. $13 B