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 Pierre Amadieu Cairanne Les Hautes Rives (Rhone): Fruitiness, finesse, freshness, and a f*ck-load of fresh pepper. $20 B+
• 2015 Pierre Amadieu Vinsobres Les Piallats (Rhone): Chewy smoked game meat, topped with raspberries, dried herbs, and spices. $20 B+
• 2016 Pierre Amadieu Vacqueyras La Grangeliere (Rhone): Grab this bargain by the case if you like your S. Rhone grippy, gritty, and graphitic. $25 A-
• 2016 Pierre Amadieu Gigondas Domaine Grand Romane (Rhone): A mountain of mineral impenetrability now, rewarding the patient in… well, some time that’s a long time from now. $32 A-
• 2016 Domaine Saint Gayan Sablet Blanc (Cotes du Rhone Villages): For when you *need* your almonds garnished with white flower petals. $NA B+
• NV Pasqua ‘Famiglia Pasqua’ Prosecco (Veneto): Things don’t get a whole lot more easy-going than this; the only difficult thing will be waiting for it to chill. $15 B
• 2017 Niner Wine Estates Grenache Blanc Reserve (Paso Robles): Tropical, rich, long, and with an ample supply of the “WOW!” factor. $30 A-
• 2016 Newton Vineyard Unfiltered Chardonnay (Napa Valley): Not the brightest, but certainly among the downright yummiest. $55 A-
• 2016 Newton Vineyard Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): An unflinching gaze in a stare-down contest that says more in nuanced glances than words ever could. $59 A-
• 2014 Priest Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Sexy, silky, dark, and already wearing its advancing age better than most people predicted. $42 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!

• NV Gratien & Meyer Brut (Cremant de Loire): Bubbles for Now. Which ought to suit most of you gorgeous lushes just fine, right? $20 B
• NV Ruhlmann Harmonie de Rose (Cremant d’Alsace): Usually, balanced mixes of earthy and fruity like this only happen in orchards. $22 B
• 2017 M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut ‘L’Esquerda’ (Cotes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde): Spicy, fun, classy, and HOW THE ACTUAL F*CK do they keep doing this so well for the money?!?? $28 A-
• NV Segura Viudas Brut Cava (Catalonia): Fresh, floral, anda friend to both your mouth, your friends’ mouths, and your bank account. $10 B-
• 2015 Bodegas Virgen del Aguila – Paniza Agoston-Jabali Garnacha – Syrah (Carinena): Capable sipping, ringed by sweet plums and fresh violets. $10 B-
• 2016 Morgadio Legado del Conde (Rias Baixas): Still mineral, still kicking, still delightful, still a little under-priced. $17 B+
• 2014 Rodney Strong Symmetry Meritage (Alexander Valley): Bord’x blend, done big; Big, done right. $50 A-
• 2016 Sidebar Cellars Old Vines Zinfandel (Russian River Valley): Deep, dark, complex, and punching above its weight class. $28 A-
• 2016 Brooks ‘Sweet P’ Riesling (Willamette Valley): Tangerine dream, in bottled format. $25 B+
• 2017 Siduri Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Oregon): Like a fine steak with the deepest, darkest, earthiest sauce you can muster. $29 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!

• 2018 Berryessa Gap Chardonnay (Yolo County): Toasted nut and zesty lemon curd, dancing a bit of an irresistible jig. $27 B+
• 2018 Berryessa Gap Dry Rose (Yolo County): The lively, floral result of some strange grape variety bedfellows. $19 B
• 2018 Berryessa Gap Sauvignon Blanc (Yolo County): Mostly tropical; also, also mostly excellent. $24 B+
• 2018 Youngberg Hill Vineyards Aspen Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley): Grapefruit, flowers, lemongrass… wait, what is this again? $27 B+
• 2015 Iris Vineyards Chalice Estate Chardonnay (Willamette Valley): A few delicious years young, and still wiping the earthy dust from its kid pants. $25 B+
• 2017 Iris Vineyards Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley): Mineral, and refreshingly refreshing for OR PG these days. $16 B+
• 2018 Bodega Colome Torrontes (Salta): Quite happy to be floral, and also quite happy to be in your face about it. $14 B
• 2017 Inama Vigneti di Foscarino Soave Classico (Veneto): A heavy hand, married with a perky, pretty attitude. $24 B+
• 2018 Famille Combard Figuière Première Rosé (Côtes-de-Provence): Wild berries; ecstatic tastiness; tame pleasantness. $23 B+
• 2017 Bodegas Forjas del Salnes Leirana Albarino (Rias Baixas): Lemon zest and wet stones, forging a small path of delightfulness. $29 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 Le Cadeau Vineyard ‘Cote Est’ Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): For those blessed times when perkiness is considered to be a virtue. $50 A-
• 2016 Youngberg Hill Vineyards Bailey Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): Well… *that* little slice of pure loveliness isn’t likely to be forgotten anytime too soon. $75 A
• 2017 Iris Vineyards ‘D Block’ Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): At once both boldly fruity and light on its feet. $40 A-
• 2016 Iris Vineyards ‘Arete’ Pinot Noir (Oregon): Dark of wood, dark of cherry, and dark of soul. $60 A-
• 2016 Lenne Estate ‘Le Nez’ Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): Spicy, earthy, and forcefully sticking its nose into all of yo’ palate’s bizness. $30 B+
• 2017 Siduri Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County): Plums, mint, deliciousness, and a postcard reminder of why we all should love SBC. $35 A-
• 2017 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (Sonoma County): Earthy, meaty, fruity, lively, and all delivered with a determined sense of “Oomph!” $35 A-
• 2016 Moshin Vineyards Rosalina Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Digging in this dirt will get you violets, rocks, truffles, and substance. $55 A-
• 2018 Vina Leyda Reserva Classic Pinot Noir Rose (Leyda Valley): A red raspberry party, just begging for a CA-style salad. $15 B
• 2017 Mari Vineyards Gamay Noir (Old Mission Peninsula): Peppery, bright, funky, vibrant, and ridiculously, almost improbably, delicious. $NA A-