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+
