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 Herdade de Servas ‘Sem Barrica’ Tinto (Alentejo): No barrels, but whole lot of other very good stuff – like pepper, black cherry, licorice, & leather. $NA B+
- 2018 Herdade das Servas Monte das Servas Escolha Rose (Alentejo): The strawberries are wild, kicking up earth and rose petals in all their energetic mirth. $NA B
- NV Dow’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port (Porto): You know what keeps running through my mind right now? ‘Where’s my pecan pie?!??’ $36 A-
- 2015 Travaglino ‘Poggio della Buttinera’ Riserva Oltrepo Pavese (Lombardy): An earthy, tightly-wound, misunderstood Pinot gem (that’s ok, more for the rest of us!). $42 A-
- NV Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut (Champagne): This piper is calling a friendly, elegant tune entitled “Baked Red Apples…” $55 A-
- 2017 Hickinbotham The Revivalist Merlot (McLaren Vale): Their best in recent memory will revive your faith in both Australia & Merlot. $75 A
- 2018 The Larsen Projekt Grenache Rose (Dry Creek Valley): Savory, spicy, delicious, and – alas – now an extinct species. $NA A-
- 2018 Merry Edwards Flax Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Berry pie, baking spices, and generosity; so basically, it’s like Christmas. $63 A-
- 2019 Chalk Hill Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County): Like a postcard – showing both lush greenery and bold tropical scenery. $26 B+
- 2019 Beau Marchais Clos Pepe Vineyard Est Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills): How do you get a debut more bombastic and finely crafted then this? Simple: you don’t. $95 A