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!

• 2014 Domaine Seror Syrah Ramat Hagdan (Israel): Large & in charge,; burly & balanced; gamey & bringing its A-game. $NA A-
• 2017 Ritual Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley): A perky, lemony fresh, tropical value just waiting to be exploited. $22 B+
• 2016 Vina Leyda Las Brisas Pinot Noir Single Vineyard (Leyda Valley): A study in successful contrasts; dark of fruit, and fresh of herbs. $30 B+
• 2017 Vina Ventisquero ‘Grey’ Glacier Apalta Vineyard Single Block Garnacha – Carinena – Mataro (Colchagua Valley): If only the fruitiness and finish were as long as the name… $20 B-
• 2014 Vina Ventisquero ‘Grey’ Glacier Trinidad Vineyard Single Block Carmenere (Maipo Valley): Very dark, very herbal, very deep, and very, very good. $20 B+
• 2015 Peachy Canyon Westside Zinfandel (Paso Robles): A silk-wearing, sexy, sultry west end girl. $24 B+
• 2016 Talbott Vineyards Kali Hart Pinot Noir (Monterey): For those times when you need a little grip with your rose hips. $25 B+
• 2016 Murrieta’s Well The Whip White (Livermore Valley): A floral grab bag, with all of its contents both pretty, and pretty pleasurable. $25 B+
• 2012 Rutherford Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Fortunately, there are minerals. Unfortunately, there ain’t much else. $50 B+
• 2015 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): A strong and classic example of why most of us still love – and should never full count out – Napa. $50 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 Catena Zapata ‘Catena Alta’ Historic Rows Malbec (Mendoza): All the haters who like to complain about Malbec being a “one note” grape can go suck it. $55 A-
• 2017 Pewsey Vale Dry Riesling (Eden Valley): Oh, how I have missed your electric touch! $20 B+
• 2016 Yangarra Estate Roussanne (McLaren Vale): Rich and complex, but not skimping on either the energy or the stone fruits. $34 A-
• 2014 Yangarra Estate Shiraz (McLaren Vale): To quote the late, great David Bowie, “leather, leather everywhere…” $34 A-
• NV Jansz Premium Cuvee Rose (Tasmania): Earthy red berries, brioche, and a sense of promising things to come. $28 B+
• 2014 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (Veneto): Densely packed, potent, and just the thing for long, cold Winter nights. $65 A-
• 2016 Windvane Chardonnay (Carneros): Is ti big? Well, yeah. But did it forget to bring the lemons? Hellz no! $40 A-
• 2014 Peachy Canyon Vortex Zinfandel (Paso Robles): Spicy, luxuriant, and demanding that you pay it some respect. $44 A-
• 2014 Bonterra Vineyards ‘The McNab’ McNab Ranch Vineyard Red (Mendocino County): Pepper and leather abound; crowds will be pleased ere this day is done. $50 A-
• 2016 Siduri Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands): ‘Highlanders’ like this will make you feel high on life all around. $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!

• 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-

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!

• 2010 Enrico Serafino Zero Sboccatura Tardiva Alta Langa Metodo Classico (Piedmont): Late disgorgement, and on-time for everything else, including crisp green apples, freshly-baked bread, and near-total awesomeness. $50 A-
• 2014 Villadoria Barolo (Piedmont): Old-school, nearly to a fault; but break out the smoked brisket, and all shall be right with its world. $40 B+
• 2015 Tenuta Sant’Antonio Selezione Antonio Castagnedi (Amarone della Valpolicella): With all of that heady incense, it’s like a liquid missa solemnis for raisins… $50 A-
• 2012 Weingut Claus Schneider ‘CS’ Weiler Schlipf Grauer Burgunder (Baden): Gently singing its swan song in nutty, honeyed, citric, tones. $NA B+
• 2012 Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port (Portugal): Classic presentation of passionate, sweet kisses for your dark chocolates. $24 B+
• 2014 Gordo Monastrell – Cabernet Sauvignon (Yecla): Putting the “heck yeah!” (along with the pepper, life, and openness) in Yecla. $15 B+
• 2015 Compania de Vinos del Atlantico Sierra de la Demanda Blanco (Rioja): Nuts and lemon rinds, and the beauty of an Old School style approach to things. $33 B+
• 2017 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Blanc (Cotes du Roussillon): Floral, broad, and thoroughly determined in its crowd-pleasing mission. $14 B
• 2015 Veramonte Primus “The Blend” Red (Colchagua Valley): Juicy, fresh, dark, and meaty, “The Blend” will likely hit “The Spot” when it comes to grilled burgers. $18 B
• 2016 Dutton Estate Winery Dutton Ranch Kyndall’s Reserve Chardonnay (Russian River Valley): Richly woven tapestry of light and heavy thread, with the result approaching a fine balance of refinement and richness. $45 A-