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!
- 2021 Piera Martellozzo Terre Magre Merlot Friuli Grave (Friuli-Venezia Giulia): A little dark, a little oaky, a little spicy, a lot tasty. $NA B+
- 2021 Piera Martellozzo Terre Magre Ribolla Gialla Colli Orientali del Friuli (Friuli-Venezia Giulia): Maybe this is a screaming bargain in the making. Maybe I just reeeaaalllyyyy like Ribolla. I think it’s both… $NA A-
- 2017 Bela (Ribera del Duero): Fans of the dark and the quite-ripe will want to start buying cases of this one. $16 B+
- 2021 Lucy Wines Rose of Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands): Think of it as kind of PN lite, in all of the best ways. $21 B+
- 2017 Rodney Strong Merlot (Sonoma County): Prominent wood tones can’t drag down those abundant, buoyant black plums. $16 B
- 2019 Quivira Vineyards Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley): Spicy, succulent, and thoroughly on-point. $27 B
- 2019 Sonoma-Cutrer Grand Brut Rose (Russian River Valley): Classy, classically framed, and calling all the bubbly fans to the yard. $55 A-
- 2017 J. Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot (Paso Robles): Come for Merlot’s signature silky breadth, stay for the jolt of palate freshness. $16 B+
- 2015 Mercer Estates ‘Sharp Sisters’ Red Blend (Columbia Valley): Still sexehhhh!! Plush, dark, and self-assured. $28 B+
- 2018 Artesana Reserva Cabernet Franc – Merlot (Canelones): A smokey, gamey, spicy, and savory treat from an unexpected spot. $24 B+