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!
- 2017 Luce della Vite ‘Lucente’ (Tuscany): Tangy rusticity meets polished refinement. $29 A-
- 2016 Odfjell Armador Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley): Herbal, dark, and almost forcefully tasty. $NA B+
- 2017 Concha y Toro ‘Terrunyo’ Block 27 Peumo Vineyard Carmenere (Cachapoal Valley): Big black cherry, big black tobacco, big black tongue stain, and big, full, happy belly. $40 A-
- 2017 Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere (Peumo): Who’s afraid of a little minty-ness? Surely not you? $25 B+
- 2019 Troon Vineyard Kubli Bench Rose (Applegate Valley): Zest, pepper & substance all deliciously punching way above their weight class. $25 A-
- 2017 Mia Nipote Cabernet Sauvignon (Livermore Valley): Large, but the only thing bursting at the seems is fruity blackcurrant goodness. $50 A-
- 2017 Belden Barns Blanc de Noirs Sparkling (Sonoma Mountain): More rose than BdN. But a damned *good*, berry laden rose at that. $38 A-
- 2018 Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Chardonnay (Sonoma County): Peaches, toast, yellow apples, lemons and… well, and loveliness. 35 A-
- 2018 Dutton-Goldfield Freestone Hill Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Full of earthy spices and sniper-quality pinpoint accuracy and focus. One of the finer, drool-worthy Freestones in recent memory. $72 A
- 2016 Blackbird Vineyards Paramour (Napa Valley): Talk about prowess. And seductiveness. Sultry, spicy, and exceptional. $135 A