Reviews

The post Dizzying Heights… of Italian Cabernet (Highlights from VinoVIP Cortina 2024, Part 1) appeared first on 1 Wine Dude. This recap is nearly a decade in the making. I was lucky enough to have been invited to attend the 2024 incarnation of VinoVIP Cortina, held in the incredible locale of Cortina, Italy (which will host the 2026 Winter Olympic …

Poached pear, Fuji apple and pineapple notes are fresh and juicy on a medium body, with orange blossom, candied ginger and lemon drop hints. Shows firm acidity and a toasted sesame seed detail on the finish. Vermentino and Grenache Blanc. Drink now. 3,114 cases made. Source : 269c46f4e33035d6e1bcfbc172a23b45

This popular Kirkland Bordeaux is back. Always a good sign since we have only have seen two vintages so far. It’s nice to see Costco committed to these high quality, highly desirable wine regions with the Kirkland label. More good news, the price actually keeps coming down a little bit each year. It’s not much, … Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2021-kirkland-signature-saint-julien-bordeaux/

This one caught us off guard. We were expecting a run of the mill Sangiovese, but couldn’t be more impressed with what’s delivered here and for only $13.89. Morellino di Scansano is a wine region in Tuscany that’s not often talked about, but should be. These wines are predominantly (85%) Sangiovese (Morellino is the local … Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2022-fattoria-le-pupille-morellino-di-scansano-sangiovese/

Many of you have been wondering the same thing we have: where is the Costco wine advent calendar for 2024? For the past three years, we found it in stores in September. There were a few rumblings online about it for 2024, but not a lot of solid information or spottings in the wild. We … Source : https://costcowineblog.com/wheres-the-2024-costco-wine-advent-calendar/

The vintners of the Santa Cruz Mountains are making exciting, fresh wines from unique, wild mountain terroir. We’ve selected some of our favorites, described below.  They include excellent bottlings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. These wines give a good picture of the varied terroir and sophisticated viticulture and winemaking of the region.  Retail prices are listed when …

Fragrant hints of marjoram, incense and leather waft through the plumped cherry and wild strawberry flavors on display in this well-meshed red. Fine-grained tannins provide supple definition as this echoes with good tension and focus on the mineral-laced finish. Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. Drink now through 2036. 6,500 cases made. Source : 413f2ee4ad9cc19fd3d0f2b10e61d25d

Flute, Glasvin, & Zalto The International Wine Review recently compared Champagne served in a traditional flute and two tulip-shaped crystal glasses from Glasvin and Zalto. Champagne glasses have changed radically over the years.  Thomas Jefferson drank his wine in a flute-shaped glass (an elegant replica is sold at Monticello.org), but it’s unlikely he drank much sparkling Champagne. His preference (like that …

Fragrant and well-spiced, with apple peel acidity enlivening a silky range of baked peach, dried raspberry, dried mint and mandarin orange peel flavors. A rich hint of honeycomb shows on the finish. Drink now through 2028. 25,000 cases made, 4,000 cases imported. Source : 5e002d91bb0b898050d39cbd15bb2c40

The post Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for November 18, 2024 appeared first on 1 Wine Dude. 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) …

Keenly structured and elegantly detailed, this red offers currant and cherry flavors accented by hints of espresso and spices, gathering tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2029. 2,234 cases made. Source : 357e5eb9e524123d475ec7a1a4387c53

Offers an impressive mix of fruit flavors and oak influences, finding an expressive balance between framboise, cherry and pomegranate flavors that are ripe, fleshy and fresh. On the oak side, smooth vanilla, almond nougat and milk chocolate notes are showy, along with grace notes of cedar, Saigon cinnamon and clove. Drink now through 2033. 12,360 cases imported. Source : 6cc84e8df126556ee1c9109eb90bdbce

Yellow plum and nectarine notes are fresh and juicy in this tasty, medium-bodied white. Round on the palate, with a good spike of acidity, savory herb details and zesty mineral energy. Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier. Drink now. 45,000 cases made, 15,000 cases imported. Source : 24646d4b71dc8ca0f670052fdc20e597

Rich yet dynamic, with luscious baked apple and strawberry flavors that open to brioche, fresh ginger and roasted nut accents on the lingering finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now. 1,850 cases made. Source : 5fb3a6ff889c65b97c4462d7a46df04c

This article reviews some of the most popular one-size-fits-all, or universal, wine glasses. Some top producers (e.g., Zalto, Reidel) of wine glasses produce a large range of styles, each best suited to a particular type of wine.  These glasses are typically hand-blown crystal costing $75+ each.  Someone wanting separate glasses for different wines is looking at a large bill.   …

The post To Be the BEST!!! (Profiling Cult Wineries for BestWineries.com) appeared first on 1 Wine Dude. A quick-hit today (while I’m traveling) to let you know about a new gig: I’ve contributed a profile piece on Napa Valley cult classic Realm Cellars (yes, that Realm, the one who makes reds going for about $1,300 a bottle) for BestWineries.com, an …

Snappy and vibrant, with fresh cherry and raspberry flavors accented by toasty spices and cedar, finishing with refined tannins. Drink now through 2030. 14,500 cases made. Source : 74cd096ba7fde4596d82a99b2ffe3c18

An expressive version, offering a dynamic and juicy mix of peach, citrus and apple flavors, with notes of ginger, makrut lime leaf and lemon balm. Expands further on the finish, with notes of saline and lemon thyme. Drink now. 21,250 cases made. Source : fc570857bd5d0254e6f348ff3b91457e

This lush red has settled into a mellow stage where the plum, blackberry, earth and violet flavors have melded with the structure and texture. Shows fine balance and length, with time to give. Drink now through 2028. 380 cases made, 120 cases imported. Source : d7de9238d6082111360abd83277909f5

It’s been several years since we’ve seen this Riesling from Trimbach in Costco stores. And it’s too bad because it’s a delicious find from a consistently strong producer. We’ve enjoyed countless bottles from Trimbach over the years; this Riesling of course but also their Pinot Blanc; and then if you climb up in price, their … Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2021-trimbach-riesling-alsace/