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Reviews

2023 Justin Sauvignon Blanc

We’re big fans of wines from Justin. They are one of those dependable names that consistently deliver a good wine for the money. We’ve reviewed several vintages of the Justin Cabernet for this site, and their higher end Isosceles bottling is a favorite, but this is the first time we’ve seen the Sauvignon Blanc at […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2023-justin-sauvignon-blanc/

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Vergelegen: 325-Year-Old Wine Estate Produces Fresh, Youthful Wines

Luke O’Cuinneagain(credit: drwinkler) Vergelegen is one of South Africa’s most historic vineyards dating from 1700 when Governor Van der Stel established his estate in what is now Somerset West and immediately began planting vines. Anglo-American purchased the estate in 1987 and began to re-establish the vineyards as well as remove alien vegetation and establish a 1900 ha nature preserve. Our …

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Massican Sauvignon Blanc California 2023 $32 (93 points)

Vibrant, aromatic and intense, with lemongrass, lemon balm and grilled lemon flavors up front giving way to supple expressions of lemon curd, mango puree and lime sherbet. Mouthwatering acidity keeps everything in focus, with extra passion fruit grace notes, ginger accents and a hint of green tea. Drink now. 2,546 cases made. Source : 31c285b60627774493d6523f8952514d

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Guillaume Gonnet Côtes du Rhône Le Rêveur 2023 $15 (90 points)

This is an exuberant, full-bodied Côtes du Rhône, with warm black plum and melted black licorice spiked with juniper and black pepper. Offers juicy deliciousness, with no rough edges, on an open-knit frame. There’s a burst of freshness and herbs on the bright finish. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now. 8,000 cases made, 4,000 cases imported. Source : b1c1c56119fd5579e228a601dc0767e4

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2021 Vina Ventisquero Heru Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley

A little something different here in this Chilean Pinot Noir. We are always trying to taste and review new wines, and this one was right up our alley. Costco’s price is $24.99 which is very good considering retail looks to be $35+. And the wine pulled down a whopping 94 point rating from Wine Spectator […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2021-vina-ventisquero-heru-pinot-noir-casablanca-valley/

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Le Rocher des Violettes Montlouis Sur Loire Le Grand Poirier 2022 $50 (94 points)

A gorgeous version of an off-dry style, offering supreme balance and energy. Kumquat, tangerine and persimmon notes reveal expressive floral perfume and build in concentration but not heaviness. The sweetness is offset by bitter white tea tannins and racy acidity. Smoke and flint hints linger on the drawn-out finish. Drink now through 2042. 2,100 cases made, 500 cases imported. Source …

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Tenuta Sant’Antonio Veneto SCAIA 2021 $15 (89 points)

Fragrant spice, floral and herb notes lace flavors of strawberry coulis and cherry glâcée in this bright, light-bodied red, with a touch of loamy earth and fine, taut tannins. Drink now through 2028. 16,700 cases made, 5,800 cases imported. Source : ec3b6d54ce19d189d31f7642d70a833b

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Wines of Samegrelo: Oda Family Marani

Keto Ninidze(credit drwinkler) The woman behind this small family winery located in village Targameuli in the municipality of Martvili is Keto Ninidze, a former journalist. [She is co-author of the book A Gently Fermenting Revolution: Women in the Georgian Wine Business.] Ten years ago, she and her husband, Zaza Gagua, decided to leave Tbilisi and return to the home of …

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Vincent Carême Vouvray Le Clos 2022 $21 (92 points)

Warm apple and quince are fleshy and round, infused with attractive spice notes and a quinine kick in this nicely concentrated Vouvray. Silky-textured and powered by succulent acidity through the savory, bitter lime peel–etched finish. Delicious, with a good balance of richness and freshness. Drink now through 2027. 8,000 cases made, 4,000 cases imported. Source : 48b3d41599726c64630a84b187523194

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Viña San Pedro Sideral Cachapoal Valley 2022 $25 (93 points)

An attractive version, with river stone and fresh floral details melding with red currant and raspberry flavors, all enlivened by fresh acidity. This unlocks additional layers of orange peel, rosemary and cassis and finishes with presence and length, adding subtle dark chocolate notes around refined tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032. 30,000 …

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2020 Stipulation Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

This is an interesting new find at Costco that we’re sure many of you are anxious to hear an opinion about. We love seeing a Howell Mountain wine hit Costco shelves, and the $39.99 price tag isn’t bad at all for a wine from this premier region of Napa. This bottle looks to be selling […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2020-stipulation-cabernet-sauvignon-howell-mountain/

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Quivira Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley 2022 $20 (93 points)

Distinctive and fragrant, with lemongrass, lemon verbena and sweetgrass notes complementing the Meyer lemon, yuzu and apple flavors at the core. Whiffs of honeysuckle, orange zest, litsea oil and candied ginger linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. 5,602 cases made. Source : 14d29ac6339f0787de6d579838ba9642

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Marelise Niemann: South Africa’s Grenache Champion

Marelise Niemann(credit drwinkler) Marelise Niemann has long been recognized for her Grenache Noir sourced from bush vines grown in granitic soils in the Swartland’s Paardeberg.  However, with the 2022 vintage she has expanded her menu to include three additional, single vineyard Grenaches from different sites and soils:  Bot River (schist soils), Swartland’s Piekenierskloof (sandstone soils), and Swartland’s Riebeekberg (schist soils …

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“Like a Memory of the Sea” (Ronchi di Castelluccio Recent Releases)

The post “Like a Memory of the Sea” (Ronchi di Castelluccio Recent Releases) appeared first on 1 Wine Dude. When describing what makes his family’s wines (and those from Italy’s Romagna in general) unique, Ronchi di Castelluccio‘s Aldo Mario Rametta keeps coming back to one thing: the soil. “The soil is like a memory of the sea,” he says (rather …

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Wines of Racha-Lechkhumi: Royal Khvanchkara Reborn

Royal Khvanchkara started out life in the 1870s as Kipiani, named after the Rachan nobles who started making a semi-sweet wine from Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grapes[1].  It was renamed Khvanchkara in 1927 when the Soviets expropriated the estate; they later built the Ambroulauri Wine Factory, which was again rebuilt in 2001.  Khvanchkara became very popular in Russia and was said …

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Casa Ferreirinha Douro Callabriga 2021 $35 (91 points)

This is sleek and well-knit, marrying sculpted tannins and a minerally underpinning of iron and smoke notes with flavors of blackberry paste, warm fig, green olive and rooibos tea. Tightly meshed through the racy finish. Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. Best from 2027 through 2035. 9,139 cases made, 500 cases imported. Source : 0c83222352970962e94b7af4b5981e95

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Wines of Imereti: Zurab Gvaladze Combines Old & New

Zurab Gvaladze(credit drwinkler) Zurab Gvaladze comes from a winemaking family in the municipality of Bagdati. His father was an agronomist for the Soviet collective farm in this area; the family has a 35-year-old vineyard.  And his niece Baia Gvaladze and her siblings make wine nearby at another vineyard and winery in Village Obcha called Baia’s Wine.  I visited Zurab and …

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