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 Masselina ‘Masselina Albana’ (Romagna Albana): Whie peach, white blossom, and a penchant for pairing with fine cheeses. $NA B+
• 2013 Tenuta Masselina Sangiovese di Romagna Riserva (Emilia-Romagna): Making bramble and tobacco seem fresh, elegant, and – above all – full of potential. $NA A-
• 2016 Tre Monti ‘Thea’ Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore Riserva (Emilia-Romagna): Just like a laser – taught, linear, and focused. $29 B+
• 2016 Tenuta St Lucia Taibo Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore (Emilia-Romagna): Brighter as a valedictorian, tasty as a bushel of fresh cherries. $NA B+
• 2015 Tenuta del Gelso Braschi ‘Monte Sasso’ San Vicino Sangiovese Romagna (Emilia-Romagna): A pit of dark, deep fruity depths, ringed with rustic, earthy edges at the precipice. $NA B+
• 2016 Pedroncelli Pedroni-Bushnell Vineyard Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley): A pendulum swinging between deep black berries and red currants, with big, bold swings. $24 B+
• 2017 Robert Biale Vineyards R.W. Moore Vineyard Zinfandel (Coombsville): From soils like the surface of the moon come dense, dusty, dark fruitiness that’s out of this world. $70 A-
• 2016 Rodney Strong Estate ‘Old Vines’ Zinfandel (Northern Sonoma): Herbs, cedar, cocoa, and juicy plums takes you on a wild ride, then share a cigar with you when it’s over. $25 B+
• 2015 Tres Sabores Rutherford Perspective Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Singing Napa’s favorite tune, and the performance is pretty much pitch-perfect. Also, there’s more pencil lead here than in a grade school classroom trashcan. $124 A
• NV Bodega Amalaya Brut Nature (Cafayate): Flowers and blossoms to spare, with sides of apple slices and brioche. $12 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!

• 2014 Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner Meritage (Dry Creek Valley): Both classy and, one could argue, now classic in a Fitz Henry Lane painting kind of way. $40 A-
• 2016 Hess Collection Panthera Chardonnay (Russian River Valley): A promising start, for sure, though still needs to rise above the inevitable cougar-juice cheap shots that are headed its way. $41 B+
• 2016 Dutton-Goldfield Freestone Hill Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): A stunning still-life in earth, spice, and dark fruits; give it 8 years, then stand back… $72 A
• 2017 Tasca d’Almerita Tascante ‘Buonora’ Carricante Etna Bianco (Sicily): We now present to you the fresher side of Sicily’s best white grape… ok, Sicily’s best grape, period. $24 B+
• 2017 Poderi dal Nespoli Campodora Secco (Albana di Romagna): Your daily does of rich, heady apricot goodness. $NA B+
• 2015 Fattoria Nicolucci ‘Predappio di Predappio Vigna del Generale’ Rosso Riserva (Emilia-Romagna): This General is both powerful and elegant, the kind that you’d likely follow anywhere. $NA A-
• 2013 Piccolo-Brunelli ‘Cesco 1938’ Romagna Sangiovese Predappio
  (Emilia-Romagna): Sporting those appealing salt-and-pepper temple streaks, silver-fox style. $NA A-
• 2016 Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir ‘Les Jardins’ (Alsace): The gardens are full of svelte folks making almost embarrassingly finky dance moves. $35 B
• 2016 Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett (Mosel): Apple, pear, lemon, and, well, just a bunch of sunshine and happiness. $26 B+
• 2017 Odfjell ‘Orzada’ Carignan (Maule Valley): Dark, handsome, and mysterious, and making seductive eyes at you from across the room. $23 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 Sidebar Kerner (Mokelumne River): Probably more richness and intrigue than we mere mortals deserve from this kind of price-point… $28 A-
• 2011 LangeTwins Centennial Zinfandel (Lodi): Tender and succulent slabs of smoked brisket IN YO FACE!!! $55 B+
• 2013 Brack Mountain Cyprus Cabernet Sauvignon (Knights Valley): An embarrassment of riches in soft, herbal-tinged blackcurrant kisses. $35 A-
• 2015 Grgich Hills Estate Grown Merlot (Napa Valley): Plummy, spicy, and, yeah, oaky… but also very, very damned tasty. $43 A-
• 2016 Weingut Fitz-Ritter Gewurztraminer Spatlese (Pfalz): Delivering stone fruits and white flowers in a zesty frenzy. $23 B+
• 2014 Joseph Drouhin Macon-Villages (Burgundy): Juuuuust perky/tasty/toasty/spritly enough. $15 B+
• 2015 Villa Papiano ‘I Probi di Papiano’ Sangiovese di Romagna Riserva (Emilia-Romagna): Sangio that likes to flex is strong, sinewy, gritty musculature. $25 B+
• 2017 Agrintesa ‘Poderi delle Rose’ (Romagna Albana Secco): Crowd-pleasing dance number between ripe stone fruits and candied citrus. $NA B+
• 2012 Poderi Morini ‘Nonno Rico’ Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore Riserva (Emilia-Romagna): Orange peel, dried herbs, black cherry, ample dashes of loveliness. $NA B+
• 2015 Trere ‘Amarcord d’un Ross’ Romagna Sangiovese Superiore Riserva (Emilia-Romagna): About as fantastical and earthy as the Fellini film that inspired its name. $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!

• 2016 Renato Ratti Barbera d’Asti (Piedmont): Brash, bold, and beautifully bountiful of brambly, berry fruit. $25 B+
• 2014 Tenute Cisa Asinari Marchesi di Gresy Martinenga (Barbaresco): Perkily picking itself up and confidently wiping the topsoil from its leather jacket sleeve. $60 A-
• 2017 Donnafugata Bell’Assai Frappato Vittoria (Sicily): Floral, friendly, and fun, and capable of holding its own while discussing topics with surprising depth. $28 B+
• NV Juve y Camps Pinot Noir Brut Rose Cava (Catalonia): Downright aggressive about pushing its earthy red-berry agenda. $17 B
• NV Osborne Capuchino Palo Cortado VORS Sherry (Andalucia): Nuts, cedar, dried fig, herbs… someone has been burning the midnight oil, working in seclusion on something outstanding… $85 A
• 2013 Herdade do Esporao ‘AB’ Alicante Bouschet (Alentejo): Floral, funky, forceful, finely tuned, and free of spirit. $45 A-
• 2013 Herdade do Mouchao Tinto (Alentejo): AB in its deepest, darkest, and decidedly best-dressed form. $65 A
• 2017 Steele Wines Durell Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros): Focused, floral, and probably under-priced… maybe we should keep that last part just between us…? $36 A-
• 2017 Fields Family Wines Grenache Blanc (Lodi): Managing to be both svelte and sexy. $24 B+
• 2016 Bouchard Pere & Fils ‘Beaune du Chateau’ Beaune Premier Cru Rouge (Cote de Beaune): Bright, earthy, and elegant, though its dress is looking a bit threadbare and thin. $45 B+