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!
- NV Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs (Champagne): Like yellow apples and freshly baked goods; only, they’re being served in heaven. $95 A
- 2017 Fattoria di Calappiano Collegonzi Sangiovese (Toscana): Earthy, spicy, feisty, and almost too big… emphasis on the “almost.” $NA A-
- 2015 Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port (Portugal): The poor man’s VP? Maybe, but this is hardly qualifies as slumming it! $24 B+
- 2014 Carmim ‘Reguengos’ Garrafeira dos Socios (Alentejo): Grip and grit, but also tanginess in alllll the right places. $NA B+
- 2016 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Mostly a fun, floral, juicy – and decidedly guilty – pleasure. $50 A-
- 2016 Blackbird Vineyards Contrarian (Napa Valley): Black cherry, cassis, and a metric ton of pencil shavings all in a deep, sultry, structured mélange. $135 A
- 2016 Clos du Val Estate Pinot Noir (Carneros): Black tea, black fruits, and obvious sex appeal. $38 A-
- 2018 Tongue Dancer Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley): Toast, lemon curd, citrus, melons, spices… I think the whole package is accounted for here! $50 A-
- 2019 Beau Marchais Clos Pepe Vineyard Oest Pinot Noir (Santa Rita Hills): Enormous. Also fabulous. Also, nearly flawless. $95 A
- 2019 Beau Marchais Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands): We’re talking depth on Marianas Trench scales here, folks. $95 A