Graffigna' (San Juan Argentina) 2013 Pinot Grigio Reserve

 

Graffigna Centenario (San Juan Argentina) 2013 Pinot Grigio Reserve, $11.99, 85+ points, was a light glossy brass color trending gray toward the glass shallows.

If I had smelled this blind, I would have guessed Sauvignon Blanc, as this Pinot Grigio had aromas of grass, cantaloupe, and a hint of flowers (just okay for me).

Light-bodied with fair-plus acidity, quite dry, and flavors reflective of the aromas, but with a slightly burnt vanilla late palate.

Finished fair with a ginger note, tart citrus, and the 13.5% alcohol.

Paired fine with my broccoli in cheddar-cheese soup.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Tommasi Vigneto Le Rosse 2013 Pinot Grigio

Tommasi Vigneto Le Rosse 2013 Pinot Grigio, $14.99-$16.99, 90 points, poured a light gold color trending near water clear at the glass shallows.
Smells of sweet beech-wood and subtle melon with a floral component were good.
Light-bodied, crisp, dry, and with good acidity carried by flavors reflective of the nose in addition to lime notes.
Finished quite long on expressive ginger and a well integrated 12% alcohol.
Food friendly as is typical of Italian wines; pair with fish, lobster or shrimp, oysters, pasta in white sauce or butter (this is a more robust PG than many I've had).


Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

 

Panther Creek Willamette Valley 2013 Pinot Gris

 

Panther Creek Willamette Valley 2013 Pinot Gris, $15.99, 88 points, appeared to be a light brass color with flecks of orange reflected.
Different and interesting nose of tangerine and subtle orchard blossoms.
The light body was refreshing as it carried fair acidity and flavors reflective of the nose with a more citrusy profile than the others, almost similar to a near bite-less Sauvignon Blanc.
Finished unremarkably on the trailing palate with a hint of the 13.5% alcohol.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Domaine Gérard Metz Alsace 2013 Pinot Gris

 

 

Domaine Gérard Metz Alsace 2013 Pinot Gris, $16.99-$18.99, 89 points, was a bold polished gold color.
Aromatic pear, flowers, and Lychee were beautiful.
The light-plus body was full of subterranean magic, notes of pear and subtle apple flavors with a slightly oily texture and fair acidity were quite good.
Finished well on the 13% alcohol and white pepper.
Though not a quaffing white wine (typical of many PG), its complexity was conducive to sipping, while it paired well with fried whole clams, chef-salad, and a baked potato.
Noticeably drier than the "Flight Song" from New Zealand.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Brancott Estate Flight Song 2013 Pinot Grigio

Brancott Estate Flight Song 2013 Pinot Grigio, $11.99-$13.99, 88 points, poured a light glossy brass color trending gray toward the glass shallows.
Orchard fruit on the nose was soft and inconspicuous.
Light-bodied with fair-plus acidity, bright and quaffable with subtle, but good flavors of quince and lemon.
Finished okay with a well integrated 13% alcohol and slightly sweet citrus notes.
This was the only New Zealand Pinot Grigio I could find, but I wanted (not disappointed at all) to get a sense of just what the people down-under were doing with this varietal.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Rosenblum Monte Rosso Vineyard Sonoma Valley 2010 Zinfandel Reserve

Rosenblum Monte Rosso Vineyard Sonoma Valley 2010 Zinfandel Reserve, $21.99-$43.99, 91+ points, was a deep rectory red with a clear rim at the heavily draped glass wall.
Aromatic smoky blackberry, juniper-berry, oak, clove, truffle, and a whiff of the 15.9% alcohol were outstanding!
Medium-plus body managed good acidity with tight, yet comfortable tannin.
Flavors paralleled the aromas faithfully with the addition of licorice notes.
Finished long on an acceptable alcohol heat with good spiciness.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Greg Norman Estates Eden Valley Australia 2013 Chardonnay

 

Greg Norman Estates Eden Valley Australia 2013 Chardonnay, $10.99-$14.99, 91+ points, poured a light polished gold color.

Smells like Chardonnay, but brighter-lighter, with just a hint of citrus and butter with a wet stoniness; was one of the best I've experienced.

The body was Chablis-like light to medium having better acidity than most, and with lovely flavors of lemon meringue, pineapple, hazel nut, minerality, and a kiss of oak.

Finished fair on the trailing palate, a well integrated 13% alcohol, and a touch of ginger.

 

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
 

Punto y Coma Calatayud 2009 Old Vine Garnacha

Punto y Coma Calatayud 2009 Old Vine Garnacha, $7.99-$12.99, 87+ points, was a very dark maroon with a crystal clear rim-ring with a fair amount of draping.
Aromatic mushrooms, chocolate, blackberries, and a whiff of the 14% alcohol were good.
Medium-plus body carried fair acidity, mellow to moderate tannin, and straight-forward flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished okay on the trailing palate and mild spice notes.
This is a good table wine, and for the price you won't break the bank!

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Tuck Beckstoffer The Seventy Five Wine Company, The Sum Red Wine

Tuck Beckstoffer The Seventy Five Wine Company, The Sum Red Wine, $10.34-$22.99, 88 points, poured deep ruby trending burgundy red with a broad clear rim-ring.
Smells of black current with a hint of bell pepper were just okay for me.
Medium-plus body carried good acidity and a mellow underlayment of tannin.
Flavors were grape, boysenberry, and a hint of pomegranate.
Finished long on a well integrated 13.9% alcohol, spearmint, and paprika spiciness.
Paired perfectly with my rare porterhouse, butternut squash, and red-skinned mash potatoes with gravy.
 Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Bodegas Breca Calatayud 2011 100% Garnacha Red Wine

Bodegas Breca Calatayud 2011 100% Garnacha Red Wine, $10.79-$14.99, 90+ points, poured a deep ruby with flashes of maroon and a clear rim at the heavily draped glass wall.
Cinnamon, clove, cedar, violets, blueberry, and blackberry on the nose were excellent.
Medium-plus body carried good acidity, accelerating firm tannin, flavors reflective of the nose with mint, pomegranate, licorice, and kirsch.
Finished long on the trailing palate, spice, and a noticeable 14.5% alcohol.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
 

Tomaiolo 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva (I love a surprise)

Tomaiolo 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva, $7.99-$14.99, 88+ points, poured a cranberry red with flashes of maroon toward the broad clear rim-ring.
Aromatic strawberry, blackberry, mint, oregano, with a hint of carnation were outstanding.
Medium-bodied with good acidity, moderately supportive tannin (dry red wine), and flavors that mirrored the aromas were quite good.
Finished a bit oaky on the fading palate, an almost unnoticeable 12% alcohol, and mellow spice notes all of which topped-off a remarkable $8 bottle of Chianti Riserva.
I must admit that I had expected to be disappointed, but just the opposite, and do I love a surprise.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Viognier My Global list

Viognier

My Global list

 

 

 

 

Bonterra 2012 Viognier,  $11.89-$16.99, 86 points (USA)

Calera MT. Harlan 2014 Viognier, $30.59-$35.99, 93 points (USA)

Carol Shelton Wild Thing, Placer County, CA, 2021 Viognier, $18.69-$21.99, 88 points

Cinquante Cinq 2014 Viognier, $15.29-$16.99, 90 points (France)

Cinquante Cinq 2016 Viognier (France), $13.59-$16.99, 90 points
 

Cline North Coast 2011 Viognier,  $7.64-$11.99, 89 points (USA)

Cline North Coast 2021 Viognier, $8.49-$11.99 (same price as ten years ago), 86 points USA

Couleurs Du Sud 2013 Viognier, $9.99-$16.99, 87 points (France)

Cristom Eola-Amity Hills Willamette Valley 2014 Viognier, $23.79-$27.99, 91 points (USA)

Darioush Napa Valley 2014 Viognier, $55.95-$57.95, 94 points (USA)

Dobbes Estate Sundown Vineyard, Rogue Valley, Oregon 2016 Viognier, $16.99-$19.99, 89 points (USA)

Domaine de Dionysos "Clementine" Vin e Pays De Vaucluse Principaute D'Orange 2017 Viognier, $13.99-$16.99, 90 points (France)

Domaine Massiac 2014 Viognier, $16.99, 85 points (France)

Don Pascual 2013 Viognier Reserve (Juanico, Uruguay), $12.56-$13.95, 89+ points

Fess Parker's Marcella's Santa Barbara White Wine (Viognier) $15.99-$18.99, 91 points (USA)
 

Graff Family Vineyards Chalone 2009 Viognier, $12.74-$22.99, 88 points (USA)

Jean-Luc Colombo Terroirs du Vent La Violette 2022 Viognier (France), $16.99, 87 points

K Vineyards Yakima Valley, Washington, 2022 Viognier, $15.99-$19.99, 90 points

Penner~Ash 2014 Viognier, $23.79-$29.99, 90 points (USA)

Trader Moon co., Honey Moon 2020 Viognier, $4.99, 86 points (USA-California)

Vignals Pays D'OC 2020 Viognier, $6.99, 87 points

Yalumba 2009 Viognier, $10.99-$15.99 (I paid $11.99), 88 points (Australia)

Yalumba South Australia 2013 Viognier, $10.19-$13.99, 88 points

Yalumba South Australia 2014 Viognier, $15.99 (gift), 85 points

 

 

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2024 Dennis Tsiorbas, all rights reserved, Template provided by Google Blogger

Yalumba South Australia 2013 Viognier

Yalumba South Australia 2013 Viognier,  $10.19-$13.99, 88 points, was a straw yellow color.
Smells of melon with hints of smoky nuttiness were pretty good.
The near full body carried amazingly good acidity with complex flavors that not only reflected the aromas, but added notes of bacon fat, cantaloupe, lemon oil and finished with loads of ginger, a well integrated 14.1% alcohol, and black pepper.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Two Hands Bella's Garden 2009 Shiraz

Bella's (Beautiful) Garden of the vine is always wonderful!

If there is one wine that always stands out as remarkable, it is Bella's Garden from Two Hands vineyards.

Two Hands Bella's Garden 2009 Shiraz,  $57.79-$,67.99, 95 points, poured black at the core with a brilliant purple/red toward the clear rim and leggy glass wall.
The nose was a bit saline with rich blackberries, cedar, and dried cooking herbs.
The near medium body carried good acidity with layered, grainy, and persistent sweet tannin.
Flavors of truffle, black fruit, licorice, and plum were well balanced and delicious.
Finished long on the trailing palate, mint, eucalyptus, spice, and a bit of heat from the 14.8% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my rack of Australian lamb and even the pecan pie for dessert!

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
 

Steele 2013 Chardonnay

Steele 2013 Chardonnay,  $15.99-$17.99, 90 points, poured a bright straw yellow.
A soft toasty melon on the nose was quite good.
Just over the threshold of a medium body with fair to good acidity and managing a tightrope-balance of a soft texture with a remarkable crispness, as well as moderate buttery oak notes with melon flavors.
Finished long on the trailing palate, black pepper, mint, and a well integrated 14.5% alcohol.

 Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Kenneth Volk Santa Barbara 2008 Chardonnay

Kenneth Volk Santa Barbara 2008 Chardonnay, $17.99-$22.99, 87 points,
was a glossy gold color.
Smells of butter, oak, and a slightly sour cantaloupe were just okay for me.
Medium-bodied with fair acidity, early flavors of sweet apples and late palate aroma-reflective notes were good, but the highlight was the fair finish of black pepper, the trailing palate, and a well integrated 14.2% alcohol.  


Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Sterling Vineyards 2011 Platinum Red Wine (Meritage)

Sterling Vineyards 2011 Platinum Red Wine (Meritage), $34.99-$45.99, 91 points, poured inky black at the core and trended a lovely purple/red toward the clear rim-ring.
Mulling spices and toasty black fruit on the nose were rich and full.
Full-bodied with a slight astringency, firm, but manageable tannin, good acidity and plentiful aroma-mirrored flavors with a floral component were complex and interesting.
Finished long on the trailing palate, mint, warm spices, and a well integrated 14.6% alcohol.
Varietals were 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger