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 Berta Paolo 1842 “175 Vendemmie” (Barbera d’Asti Superiore): Classically trained, and laying down the Old School style funk, resplendent in cloves & cedar. $NA B+
- 2016 Franco Roero “Sichei” (Barbera d’Asti Superiore): You’ll feel the breadth, herbs, and spices, and just about every single individual percent of its powerful 16% abv. $NA B+
- 2014 Stewart Cellars Merlot (Napa Valley): Spiced plums, a heaping helping of wood, and more than a heaping helping of dead-sexiness. $40 A-
- 2016 Flora Springs Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Fearing nothing, including the showing off of both its dark fruit and vibrant, herbal sides. $50 A-
- 2016 Dutton-Goldfield Devils Gulch Vineyard Pinot Noir (Marin County): Perfume, flowers, berry pie, baking spices, earth… and, well, that’s just the nose. I forgot the Tea, meat, and smoke, and… Just… F*cking. Wow. $72 A
- 2015 Bonterra ‘The Roost’ Blue Heron Vineyards Chardonnay (Mendocino County): Cranks the volume and then struts to the tune of ‘Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy.” $45 A-
- 2016 Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay (Chalk Hill): Engages the
nitrous oxide engine at full throttle right out of the gate. $42 A- - 2017 Cinder Dry Viognier (Washington): Stone and tropical fruits that decided not to argue and instead began parting together. $23 B+
- 2016 Telaya ‘Turas’ (Columbia Valley): Red assemblage on the cusp of great things; young, leathery, reserved, and not fooling around. $32 B+
- 2015 Two Paddocks Pinot Noir (Central Otago): Apparently, they keep Elegance in one paddock, and loveliness in the other. $50 A-