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 Larry Hyde Hyde Vineyard Estate Syrah (Carneros): A smooth – and fruity – character, who’s surprising in ways that are pretty much entirely good. $60 A-
- 2015 Clos du Val Hirondelle Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District): Basically, this is Cab that’s as big as life ina ll of the ways that you will either love or hate, depending on your tolerance for the mystique of The Valley. $120 A
- NV J Vineyards CA Cuvee (California): An invigorating stroll through apple and pear orchards, sunny day included. $27 B+
- 2016 Herzog Wine Cellars Late Harvest Orange Muscat (California): Irresistible, just like those chewy mandarin orange candies that it so successfully evokes. $20 B-
- 2016 Halter Ranch Vineyard Ancestor Estate Reserve (Paso Robles): Drop. Dead. Sexxxxxxyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! $60 A-
- 2014 Enrico Serafino Rose (Alta Langa): That crowd-pleasing, cherry-and-flowers alternative to Champers for your NYE festivities. $26 B+
- NV Palmer & Co Brut Reserve (Champagne): Dry, elegant, and someone got almost the entire bread loaf stuffed into that glass. $40 A-
- 2014 Hugel & Fils Pinot Gris Classic (Alsace): If this were any more on-point, it would be fired in the air as part of an archery contest. $17 B+
- 2012 Tenuta Carretta Barolo Vigneti in Cannubi (Barolo): Aiming for Old School, but delivering more like Ancient School. $75 B+
- 2015 Stemmari Hedonis Riserva Nero d’Avola (Sicilia): Hedonistic, nearly to a fault; but also authentic, nearly to a saving grace. $50 B+