Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For March 17, 2014

So, like, what is this stuff, anyway?
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 with you via twitter (limited to 140 characters). They are meant to be quirky, fun, and easily-digestible reviews of currently available wines. Below is a wrap-up of those twitter wine reviews from the past week (click here for the skinny on how to read them), along with links to help you find these wines, so that you can try them for yourself. Cheers!

11 Donnafugata Sedara (Sicily): A reminder that appreciating life's simple pleasures is key to keeping us from ever being truly lost. $14 B >>find this wine<<
12 Poggio Tondo Vermentino (Toscana): Pears, grass, flowers, hay, a refreshing attitude, and an honest, pure, down-to-earth delivery. $11 B >>find this wine<<
09 Cinnabar Winery Amber Knolls Vineyard Malbec (Clear Lake): Lake County heat, California fruitiness, South American grip and soul. $65 B+ >>find this wine<<
10 Chimney Rock Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Knows it takes vibrancy to leap ahead of a pack of hungry Cabs. $68 A- >>find this wine<<
11 John Duval Wines Entity Shiraz (Barossa): Displaying Texas barbeque levels of sweet, savory and all-around, easy-going tasty. $40 B+ >>find this wine<<
12 Gundlach Bundschu Estate Vineyard Gewurztraminer (Sonoma Coast): Iron fist, tropical glove, along with floral & spice baubles. $23 B+ >>find this wine<<
11 Gundlach Bundschu Estate Vineyard Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast): Key lime pie, only without the cloying bits & eaten as a main course. $27 B+ >>find this wine<<
11 Castello di Amorosa Bien Nacido Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County): Well born of power, toast, and butter. And toast. And butter. $38 B >>find this wine<<
11 Castello di Amorosa Napa Valley Chardonnay (Napa Valley): Unabashedly toasty beverage currently seeking tryst with crabs & butter. $28 B+ >>find this wine<<
12 Castello di Amorosa Dry Gewürztraminer (Anderson Valley): High end, pungent, spicy lychees to satisfy lumberjack-sized thirsts. $25 B+ >>find this wine<<
12 J Vineyards Misterra Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): With a splash of Pinotage, a splash of Meunier, & a splash of potential $50 B+ >>find this wine<<

Comments

Edna

Monday, 17 March, 2014 at 13:34

I hear people referring to Porto wine as Oporto. Is this correct?

1WineDude

Monday, 17 March, 2014 at 13:56

Oporto is the place, Port is the style.

Monday, 17 March, 2014 at 14:15

I'm going to Tuscany May 2014. What would be a "most do" wine tour/tasting you recommend?

1WineDude

Monday, 17 March, 2014 at 14:21

Edna – oh, man, there are waaaay too many Tuscan producers for that list! It depends on what you like, since stylistically there are so many potential destinations there.
- Edna
  
  Monday, 17 March, 2014 at 22:13
  
  I like red, full body wines! I'm not a big fan of Chiantis; maybe I haven't tasted the right one…
  - 1WineDude
    
    Monday, 17 March, 2014 at 22:39
    
    Edna, well if you don't like Chianti then you might be headed to the wrong place :-) . Sounds like you should plan on hitting Montalcino and Montepulciano.

Solomon Mengeu

Saturday, 22 March, 2014 at 22:57

Edna, if you want an experience in Toscana outside Chianti then in addition to Montalcion & Montepulciano then you probably should to the Maremma as well as that gives you quite a different Toscana experience. Of course we can't forget to mention Bolgheri which gave birth to then now famous Super Tuscans and you can enjoy a Franco/Italian wine right near the coast. Bon voyage & happy trails!

Solomon