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 Pitcher-Krutzler Riesling Ried Durnsteiner Kellerberg (Wachau): Hints of herbs and roundness; way more than a hint of total refreshment. $60 A-
• 2016 Gritsch Ried Kalkofen Riesling Smaragd (Wachau): A fine line of acidity that will lead you to a steely, austere promised land. $NA A-
• 2016 Josef Fischer Ried Steiger Gruner Veltliner Smaragd (Wachau): That time when Grapefruit got all concentrated and then lit up a cigar. $NA B+
• 2013 Weingut Eder Riesling Smaragd (Wachau): Everything about this, from its petrol nose to its pear and lime palate to its undervalued price tag – makes me happy. $26 A-
• 2017 Vietti Tre Vigne (Barbera d’Asti): Cherries for daaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyysssssssss… $20 B+
• 2016 Steele Wines ‘Steele Stymie’ Founder’s Reserve Merlot (Lake County): What’s not at all stymied is all of that black olive and fig action. $40 B+
• 2016 Fossil Point Pinot Noir (Edna Valley): Easy at the table, easy in your mouth, easy on the wallet. $20 B+
• 2017 Jordan Winery Chardonnay (Russian River Valley): Lemon zest heart, peach soul. $34 A-
• 2017 Bannister Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley): Deliciously figgy, and body-warmingly biggie. $36 B+
• 2016 Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek Valley): Welcome to the smoked meat BBQ, where things are friggin’ delicious. $22 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 Weingut Frischengruber Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Zanzl (Wachau): GV goes deep and complex, wearing tropical garb. $37 A-
• 2008 Rudi Pichler Wösendorfer Hochrain Grüner Veltliner Smaragd (Wachau): Peachy creaminess, flinty freshness, electric everything. $NA A-
• 2018 Engelbrecht Ried Engabrunner Stein Grüner Veltliner (Kamptal): Not blood from a stone, but lovely stone fruits from a stone. $NA B+
• 2018 Johannes Holzer Ried Engabrunner Stein Grüner Veltliner (Kamptal): Racy, bracing, elegance that doesn’t care one whiff if you dig it or not. $NA B+
• 2017 Reinhard Topf Ried Strasser Gaisberg Grüner Veltliner Reserve (Kamptal): Delicacy is the order of the day, and it’s served with lemon peel. $NA B+
• 2016 Szigeti Pinot Noir Rose Brut (Burgenland): Tart red berries and rose petals, both with an aggressive streak. $22 B+
• 2018 Vietti Roero Arneis (Piedmont): You won’t find more lovely, lively lanolin for your buck. $20 A-
• 2018 Pfendler Vineyards Chardonnay (Petaluma Gap): Balancing between both broad and bouncy. $27 B+
• 2017 Dutton-Goldfield McDougall Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast): The thinking person’s Pinot; pay attention, and it’ll teach you something. $68 A-
• 2018 Domaine Bousquet Gaia Red Blend (Tupungato): Herbal, dark, delicious, and carrying its weight with poise. $20 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 Quinta do Vallado Tinto (Douro): Peppery purple passion and possibility. $23 B+
• 2017 P+S Prats & Symington Post Scriptum de Chryseia (Douro): Bursting at the seams this vintage, oozing dark and spicy richness. $27 B+
• NV W & J Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port (Portugal): The only reservation you should have here is whether or not you want to share any with your dinner guests. $25 B+
• NV Cantina di Carpi e Sorbara ‘Il Duomo’ Lambrusco di Modena (Emilia-Romagna): Like a visit to the cathedral; maybe a bit reserved, but still plenty of fun. $13 B
• 2014 Villadoria Bricco Magno Langhe Nebbiolo (Piedmont): Earthy meets tangy, and everyone gets along splendidly. $23 B+
• NV Adriano Adami Dei Casel Extra Dry Prosecco Superiore (Valdobbiadene): Elegance without the complexity, but also without the fuss. $20 B
• NV Faire La Fete Cremant de Limoux Brut (Languedoc-Roussillon): Apples, guava, and an instant upgrade for Tuesday night dinner. $20 B
• 2018 La Paca Sonriente Garnacha (Spain): Plummy power, decent depth, and a grab-bag of grit. $10 B-
• 2016 Bodegas Caro ‘Caro’ (Mendoza): True to its namesake, it’s pricey; but then, so is exquisite, fine leather. $60 A-
• 2017 Tongue Dancer Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley): Gorgeous, heady, and delicious; just keep that baked apple/apricot/peach pie coming… $39 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!

• 2017 Buchegger Moosburgerin Reserve Riesling (Kremstal): Apples, apricots, and an aggressive attitude. $36 A-
• 2017 Weingut Stadt Krems Grillenparz Riesling Erste OTW Lage Reserve (Kremstal): Austere, glassy-eyed gazes seldom come with this much soulful depth behind them. $44 A-
• 2017 Weingut Nigl Ried Hochacker “1OTW Privat” Riesling (Kremstal): Dig lemons? I think I just found your new church, and it’s portable! $NA A-
• 2017 Weingut Franz & Andrea Proidl Ried Hochacker 1OTW Riesling Reserve (Kremstal): Baking your lemons, ripening your mandarins, and blowing your mind. $NA A-
• 2017 Weingut Winzer Krems ‘Kremser Pfaffenberg’ Riesling Reserve (Kremstal): The armor around this buffed-up quince specimen is juuuust starting to crack. $NA A-
• NV Le Colture Fagher Brut Spumante (Prosecco di Valdobbiadene): Tropical notes to make it friendly, almonds to show that things are gonna turn serious any minute now. $16 B+
• 2017 Dry Creek Vineyard Heritage Vines Zinfandel (Sonoma County): The juicy, chewy traditional lives on, in affordable fashion. $19 B+
• 2017 Dutton-Goldfield Freestone Hill Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): A veritable funhouse ride that’s long, dark, and full of the unexpected; buckle up! $72 A-
• 2017 Dutton-Goldfield Docker Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Mendocino County): Comes in pairs – red & black currants; peat and herbs; depth and liveliness. $68 A-
• 2016 Anaba Bismark Vineyard Syrah (Moon Mountain District): What’s an oaky indiscretion or two when that white pepper is soooooooo good? $48 A-