Vibrant and intense, with roasted nut and toasted spice overtones to the plush peach, lemon curd and marmalade notes. Smooth and supple, but there’s an elegant thread of acidity weaving in and out, plus a hint of rooibos tea on the finish. Drink now. 824 cases made. Source : ee65e0cb21b5d0b3a64b755bcd1df3b8
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Domaine de Fabrègues Languedoc Pézenas La Villa 2020 $30 (90 points)
Inky and dark, this concentrated, powerful red invites with black plum and blackberry preserves, then turns savory with incense, olive and peppercorn. Lush and rich through the finish, with a graphite edge. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2026. 5,000 cases made, 2,480 cases imported. Source : f460ef3ff88f3a5e8bb3aae173a09c98
Read More »Bodegas Sierra Cantabria Rioja Gran Reserva 2012 $50 (92 points)
An elegant, licorice-laced red, with a tarry underpinning to the focused flavors of baked black currant and black cherry fruit. Sculpted by sinewy tannins, this marries power with poise, revealing hints of bay leaf, olive and smoked paprika that extend on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 3,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported. Source : 5e6c066f30c57bf264c733ee0c2becdf
Read More »L’Ecole No. 41 Sémillon Columbia Valley 2021 $17 (89 points)
Fragrant and sleek, with delicate lemon custard, spice and jasmine flower accents that glide on a textured finish. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now. 4,500 cases made. Source : dafb61857d99024fada8213234caa17b
Read More »Wine In The Time of Coronavirus, Part 67: Here’s The Beef (Revisiting Uruguay Wines)
Longtime 1WD readers might remember Uruguay as the place where I met Pincho, a (technically wild) Capybara who was quite selective about who he did and did not let pet him (apparently, Capybara’s purr when they’re happy, by the way, which I can tell from first-hand experience that having an enormous rodent purr while you’re petting it is just as …
Read More »The Mercouri Estate in the Peloponnes
Greece has many historic wine estates, but few are as noteworthy as the Mercouri Estate. Located in the northwest corner of the Peloponnes, Mercouri has been operating since the middle of 19th century and today produces some of Greece’s finest wines from a forty acre estate following the finest farm management practices. The estate was founded in 1854 when Theodoros …
Read More »Avancia Mencía Valdeorras Nobleza Old Vines 2021 $40 (92 points)
A fresh, elegant red, offering juicy blackberry and black raspberry fruit notes paired with a savory thread of cured tobacco, milled pepper and mineral, with supple tannins. Floral finish. Drink now through 2028. 250 cases made, 125 cases imported. Source : 5d7b7b6d66ba0dc3d3ecb4d881bab469
Read More »Margerum Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara Sybarite 2021 $26 (90 points)
Sleek and elegant, with smooth notes of citrus, melon and Honeycrisp apple on a crisp frame, plus hints of fresh-clipped herbs and peppery white flowers that linger effortlessly. Drink now. 5,580 cases made. Source : 58c14452dc282e54afd037d0a9607bd8
Read More »Château Léoville Barton St.-Julien 2020 $89 (96 points)
A bold, strapping young wine, with vivid plum, cassis, kirsch and black licorice notes that meld steadily as they cruise through, carried by a bolt of graphite and finishing with a flourish of violet, anise and apple wood. Mouthwatering in the end. Built for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2030 through 2045. 9,100 cases made. Source : …
Read More »Cordero di Montezemolo Nebbiolo Langhe 2021 $30 (89 points)
An expressive red, exuding flavors of rose, cherry and raspberry. Juicy and balanced, with a fine edge of tannins lining the tar-tinged finish. Drink now through 2026. 4,600 cases made. Source : bea0ba0907e16a3937eb0dd47de3ebd5
Read More »Edetària Garnatxa Peluda Terra Alta Finca La Personal Vinyes Velles 2018 $55 (91 points)
A stylish red without being flashy, with chalky tannins fleshed out by flavors of bitter cherry and black plum, dried sage, mocha and graphite. Fresh, spiced finish. Best after 2024. 125 cases made, 25 cases imported. Source : 97c33223b9e8f0b7d4e81b2df33187c8
Read More »Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay Columbia Valley Indian Wells 2021 $17 (89 points)
A spry little white, with apple blossom aromas and sleek pear and citrus flavors that fan out on the finish. Drink now. 95,000 cases made. Source : e46efc41554a7fe2f04f9464b9ce2542
Read More »Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for February 13, 2023
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 …
Read More »Center of Effort: Outstanding Wines from the new SLO Coast AVA
Winemaker Nathan Carlson Center of Effort is a private wine estate located in the Edna Valley owned by Bill and Cheryl Swanson. The estate vineyard consists of some 80 acres under vine. Winemaker Nathan Carlson handcrafts outstanding Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and small quantities of other varieties. Edna Valley is among California’s coolest wine growing regions. It has a long growing …
Read More »Bodegas y Viñedos Pittacum Bierzo Aurea 2018 $36 (90 points)
A round, well-knit red, with supple tannins and orange peel acidity framing soft, juicy sun-dried black cherry and raspberry fruit and accents of mocha, anise and dried mint. Drink now through 2026. 400 cases made, 54 cases imported. Source : 9acd12b31389efd597c42def0170cd6b
Read More »Jean-Luc Colombo Côtes du Rhône White Les Abeilles 2021 $19 (88 points)
Fresh and straightforward, with up-front lemon, lime, white peach and floral highlights, plus zippy acidity. The palate is lined with chalky mineral. Clairette and Roussanne. Drink now. 5,800 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. Source : 34b4c63a2ec3e70db84d2f8f4edff8ce
Read More »Moussé Fils Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne Terre d’Illite 2018 $79 (91 points)
A lively Champagne, with dark and juicy cassis and blackberry fruit set on the creamy mousse. Delivers details of chalk, mandarin orange peel and blanched almond that lace the fruit profile, and mouthwatering acidity carries the flavor range on the finish. Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Disgorged February 2022. Drink now through 2028. Source : 9d83676c59ea68bed1a2ff7595bbb5b0
Read More »Massolino Barbera d’Alba 2021 $28 (90 points)
A linear, compact red marked by a mix of violet, blackberry and boysenberry aromas and flavors. Bolstered by vivid acidity, this glides to a long, intense aftertaste. Drink now through 2027. 4,200 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. Source : 25509534cac084058cae078d86fbae9d
Read More »Château du Moulin-à-Vent Moulin-à-Vent 2019 $39 (91 points)
Exuberant wild strawberry preserves and cherry coulis are bold and inviting in this elegant red, underscored by a chalky fine mineral element and an earthy, gamy note. Polished and pure on the well-integrated palate, this is open yet well-framed and vibrant. Drink now through 2026. 1,625 cases made, 325 cases imported. Source : 5ffb652768846d65b33bc705ba797715
Read More »L’Ecole No. 41 Merlot Columbia Valley 2019 $27 (88 points)
Tense in structure, with firm currant, spice and green olive flavors that finish with slightly prickly tannins. Best after 2023. 5,100 cases made. Source : 7e16881a60cf1f511f5090a71be0351d
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