Reviews

There’s a pure core of fresh blackberry, crunchy plum and violet in this vibrant version, with the subtlest brushing of vanilla. Layers of graphite and fine-grained tannins provide a solid framework. Compact, with savory details emerging toward the solid, medium-bodied finish, which is grounded in salty mineral notes and a waft of alder smoke. Drink now through 2028. 27,000 cases …

The post Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for December 16, 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) …

A delicate style, this rosé offers strawberry, rhubarb and spice flavors. Dry and succulent, leaving a mouthwatering finish. Drink now. 6,660 cases made, 2,600 cases imported. Source : b53085508425be00ec0e39ef1fce5a5a

Lithe and graceful, this bright sipper dances across the palate with flavors of Honeycrisp apple, peach skin, blanched almond, orchard blossoms and pickled ginger. Drink now. 16,000 cases made, 2,850 cases imported. Source : 8ec742f6123fb585d3f5f4b621a7863b

We love doing our Cellar Selection series, where we revisit classic Kirkland bottles from years ago that we stashed away in the cellar. We’ve been sitting on some of the old, and now retired, Kirkland Pauillac Bordeaux for 6-7 years. Last year we cracked open the 2014 Kirkland Pauillac bottle, and found it to be … Source : https://costcowineblog.com/cellar-selection-2015-kirkland-signature-pauillac-bordeaux/

Hints of tar, smoke and grilled herbs are a subtle, savory underpinning for flavors of black raspberry coulis, cherry pâte de fruit and spice box, plus a touch of red licorice. This rich, medium- to full-bodied red is well-knit and harmonious, with a lively frame of acidity and sculpted tannins. Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. Drink now through 2035. 2,000 cases …

A beautiful, harmonious white, with a round core of honeycomb, white flowers, ripe melon and chamomile cruising alongside fresh green herbs and bitter white tea tannins. Almost waxy in feel, with a buttercream note lingering on the well-framed finish. Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc and Clairette. Drink now through 2028. 2,500 cases made, 500 cases imported. Source : 8d401b7dc5151790d5f34a1b476fa936

The post Wine, Art, Compost, and Apprenticeship, Not Necessarily in That Order (Donum Estate 2022 Releases) appeared first on 1 Wine Dude. I’ve had only fleeting encounters with Carneros stalwart Donum’s excellent wines over the years. So when I was invited to taste with Donum‘s current winemaker Dan Fishman in the late summer (of 2024), I jumped at that chance …

This is fleshy and seductive in feel, with gently mulled black currant and blackberry fruit holding sway over savory, smoldering charcoal, just-tilled humus and worn cedar notes on the finish. Shows range and character. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2026 through 2035. 9,000 cases made. Source : 15400e2eb1ca5a9d16acb66156175051

This popular Kirkland wine is arriving right on schedule. We called it landing in December. The last vintage arrived in November and then we had some January drops before that. December was splitting the difference. The Rutherford Cab is also one of our favorites every year, right alongside to the Oakville, Suscol and Stags Leap. … Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2022-kirkland-signature-rutherford-cabernet-sauvignon/

Offers a plump, friendly feel, with cherries jubilee, singed cinnamon, red and black tea, and candied pecan notes all swirling through together. There’s a juicy underlay on the finish. Drink now. 13,000 cases imported. Source : ec8f8005e56b79b691ec544fe011b50b

This light- to medium-bodied red is lightly chewy and lively, offering notes of cherry, anise hyssop, warm brown bread and milled pepper. Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Garnacha and Maturana Tinta. Drink now. 30,000 cases made, 5,000 cases imported. Source : 1602940ace8a7af91d44792def71cb2a

The post Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for December 9, 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) …

Fresh and focused, with fragrant notes of chive blossoms, grapefruit peel and peach skin accenting poached quince, persimmon and iodine flavors. Well-cut, but creamy and lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2028. 8,000 cases made, 1,575 cases imported. Source : 21f9d73b5bef8979e7ebaa04586e5009

There’s no better way to celebrate the Holidays and the beginning of a New Year than sharing sparkling wine or Champagne with friends.  Over the past year, we’ve tasted excellent sparklers from Champagne, California, Italy, Spain and South Africa.  Reviews of our favorites are given below. French Champagne Founded in Aÿ over 150 years ago, Ayala was purchased by the …

Shows a nice mix of elegance and muscle, with grilled rosemary and singed orange peel notes up front, plus graphite-laced blackberry at the center. Offers savory olive and meaty undertones on the finish around polished tannins. Drink now through 2036. 21,000 cases made, 800 cases imported. Source : 47e43aa8e738feb11ee5725c9d4b13ec

This is a solid new find in the Costco wine aisle and one that we enjoyed quite a bit. This bottle is $17.19 at Costco which looks to be at least $5 or so less than other outlets, and it received 92 points from Wine Advocate. Once we got into it we found a wine … Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2022-alkina-kin-shiraz-barossa-valley/

An up-front and inviting style, with alluring ripe fruit and a zippy, vivacious side. Apple and melon notes are cut with a chalky, zesty mineral streak, while dried herbs play out on the fresh, medium-bodied finish. Drink now. 33,333 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. Source : f56c1590e2abda6700b561b90c44f683

An approachable wine that captures the essence of Willamette Valley, with supple raspberry and cherry flavors that are laced with cinnamon and smoky spices as this persists toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032. 26,250 cases made. Source : de4ede9da407aaa703a8cd519cfb0969

Cabernet Sauvignon is often the wine lover’s favorite wine, and Napa Valley is America’s most famous region for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, but excellent wines are also grown elsewhere.  Paso Robles, especially, has come to the fore as reflected in the jaw-dropping $1 billion sale of Daou Vineyards earlier this year. And outstanding mountain wines are produced in the Santa Cruz …