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), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

• 2017 Domaine Elodie Balme Côtes du Rhône (Rhône): A bit funky, a lot peppery, and even more fruity, friendly, and crowd-pleasing. $NA B+
• 2016 Domaine Combe Juliere (Rasteau): Sexy, grippy, and with the kind of density that requires advanced physics calculations. $30 B+
• 2016 Domaine du Trapadis ‘Les Adrés’ (Rasteau): Red fruits and spices, tied together with leather straps that are still tightening. $NA B+
• 2013 Cave de Rasteau Ortas Rasteau Prestige (Rasteau): Licorice, lavender, and power, in an easy to appreciate package. $18 B
• 2017 Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel ‘Autrement Tavel’ (Tavel): A modern take on the Tavel power structure, and one that’s dangerously easy to imbibe. $NA B+
• 2016 Youngberg Hill ‘J Block’ Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): Apparently the “J” is short for “jubilantly spicy.” $60 A-
• 2013 Jamieson Ranch Vineyards Double Lariat Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Getting earthy; as in, roots-to-branches earthy. $40 A-
• 2017 Halter Ranch Estate Adelaida District Picpoul Blanc (Paso Robles): Underrated region, underrated grape, damned good wine. $28 B+
• 2016 Wrath Wines Ex Dolio Falanghina (Monterey): Well, that’ll teach me about formulating premature hating notions on orange wines… $29 A-
• 2013 Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley): Nearing the end? Dunno about that; there’s a lot of leathery, perky goodness left… $34 A-

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), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

• 2015 Ravenswood Winery Angeli Carignan (Sonoma County): High-toned, perfumed, and about as large-and-in-charge as Carignan can possibly get. $42 B+
• 2016 Turley Wine Cellars Hayne Vineyard Petite Sirah (Napa Valley): When the Valley puts on its best Mountain Man impersonation, & it’s a good one. $75 A-
• 2017 St. Amant Winery Alicante Bouschet (Lodi): Linear, brambly, and sporting ample florals that belie the OOMPH! your mouth is about to receive. $21 B+
• 2016 Hartford Family Winery Hartford Dina’s Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley): For all of its sexy polish, there’s no denying it’s a wild child deep at heart. $60 A-
• 2015 La Pandolfa ‘Pandolfo’ Romagna Sangiovese Superiore Riserva (Emilia-Romagna): Smokes tobacco. Also smokes oragne peel, herbs, and if it could, it would smoke mineral rocks, too. $NA B+
• 2016 La Pandolfa ‘Godenza’ (Romagna Sangiovese Predappio): Dark cherries that have a firm grip on their tobacco pipe, as well as on your gums. $NA B+
• 2016 Domaine Brusset ‘Les Travers’ (Cairanne): A hipster’s paradise of black pepper, low abv, and floral vibrancy. $17 B+
• 2017 Brotte ‘Les Eglantiers’ Rosé (Tavel): So in touch with both its masculine and feminine sides, it might as well be called Tiresias… $NA B+
• 2016 Brotte ‘La Marasque’ (Gigondas): Dark blue sexiness, about as far as the eye [tongue?] can see. $23 B+
• 2015 Brotte ‘Bouvencourt’ (Vacqueyras): Brought to you by the letter “L” – for Leathery, Lithe, Long, and Lovely. $NA B+

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), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

• 2017 Tenuta St Lucia ‘AlbaRara’ (Albana di Romagna Secco): Eating apricots & edible flowers while sitting on a rock at the seashore. $NA B+
• 2012 Fattoria Paradiso Vigna delle Lepri Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore Riserva (Emilia-Romagna): Harmonious, powerful, and gorgeous, and… wait, how much is this again?!?? $25 A-
• 2012 Fattoria Paradiso ‘Il Dosso’ Barbarossa (Emilia-Romagna): Mint and chewiness that sticks to your ribs, gums, teeth, and soul. $NA B+
• 2015 Piccolo Brunelli ‘Dante1872’ (Romagna Sangiovese Superiore Riserva): Pure, tight, sinewy, and smoking tobacco while peeling fresh oranges. $NA A-
• NV J Vineyards & Winery Brut Rosé (Russian River Valley): Perennially berry, berry good… I know, I know… sorry… $45 A-
• 2016 Lenne Estate Pinot Noir (Yamhill-Carlton District): Mature enough that it likes meat, young enough that it still likes cocoa. $40 A-
• 2016 Youngberg Hill Vineyards Cuvée Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): Witness when WV gets super-fruity, in crowd-inspiring ways. $35 B+
• 2016 Alloro Vineyard Estate Chardonnay (Chehalem Mountains): Brought to you by the letter ‘A’ – in this case, also for “Alluring.” $39 A-
• 2015 Alloro Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains): Just dark and handsome enough to add an air of intrigue to your weekend dinner plans. $40 A-
• 2018 Bells Up ‘Helios’ Estate Seyval Blanc (Chehalem Mountains): Inaugural effort that’s punchy, grounded, and not fooling around. $38 B+

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), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

• 2016 Poderi dal Nespoli Prugneto Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore (Emilia-Romagna): For when you need your red to stay spicy & juicy down to the last drop. $17 B+
• 2016 Fattoria Nicolucci ‘Tre Rocche’ Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore (Emilia-Romagna): Apparently the 3 castles here are named “Lovely,” “Lithe,” and “Overachieving.” $12 B+
• NV Caviro Bole NOVEBOLE (Romagna Trebbiano Spumante): Pear-apple-mineral party in a bounce house. $NA B
• 2018 Settesoli Mandrarossa Perricone Rose (Terre Siciliane): Fresh as a briny breeze by the waterway. $NA B
• 2014 Compania de Vinos del Atlantico Sierra de la Demanda (Rioja): Fresh, funky, and probably thoroughly misunderstood without food. $35 B+
• 2016 Ritual Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley): Things are just getting toasty and very, very interesting around here… $20 B+
• 2016 Youngberg Hill Vineyards Natasha Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): You’ll need to like your game meat rubbed with sage and blackberry jus. $60 A-
• 2016 Miner Family Winery Chardonnay (Napa Valley): Rich tropical fruit and citrus peel that don’t at all mind getting their hands a little dirty. $30 B+
• 2017 Chalk Hill Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County): Melons, cream, and a garnish of freshly cut grass. $23 B+
• 2014 Oso Libre ‘Bendicion’ Mourvedre (Paso Robles): Pepper, heft, and enough gushing, ripe red fruit to fill a farm stand. $80 A-