Bench, Sonoma Coast, 2019 Pinot Noir

 

Bench, Sonoma Coast, 2019 Pinot Noir, $18.99-$22.99, 90 points, poured a bright cranberry red with a broad clear meniscus and light transparent legs.
Soft aromas of cinnamon, spicy red cherry, and jasmine tea were thin, but quite good.
This off-dry red wine barely made the threshold of a medium-bodied wine, but that was integral to its charm; showed a substantial underlayment of tannin, fine flavors of red cherry spiciness and Pinot Noir specific grape.
Finished long on the trailing palate, white pepper, and a well-balanced 13.8% alcohol.
I believe that one can pair this Pinot Noir with almost anything (a very versatile wine). 

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas
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Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley 2019 Sauvignon Blanc

Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley 2019 Sauvignon, $22.09-$28.99, 90 points, was a light brass color and water-clear towards the rim.

Aromas began with crisp apple, a faint hint of white chocolate, and non-carbonated Perrier, but developed a lovely lemon meringue pie aroma.

A light-bodied not quite bone-dry white wine with good acidity and rich black-peppery accented flavors of lime zest and green melon rind.
Finished long and very ginger-spicy, a bit tart with various citrus notes and a spot-on 13.9% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our Peruvian cuisine from the sea.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Darioush Napa Valley 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Darioush Napa Valley 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, $84.99-$109.99, 92 points, poured core black grading to a Shiraz purple/red with ruby and clear penumbras surrounded by heavy stained legs.
Aromas of rich black grapes, plums, cassis, and a hint of chocolate were pleasant.
A full-bodied bone-dry red wine with firm grainy tannins, good acidity, and rich excellent flavors reflective of the aromas with black pepper made for an impressive and memorable wine tasting and pairing.
Finished very long on the fading palate, iron, and a well-balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with steak and cheese subs.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas
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Stags' Leap Napa Valley 2019 Chardonnay

 

Stags' Leap Napa Valley 2019 Chardonnay, $26.99-$32.99, 93 points, was a medium straw-yellow color and clearing only at the rim.
The bouquet was a balance of passion fruit, green melon rind, Chardonnay grapes lingering in the sun, and a cornucopia of citrus fruit.
A not quite medium-bodied dry white wine with good acidity, minerality, evolutionary flavors with the barest whisper of oak.
Finished long, a bit tart, lean, and with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spinach pie, and okay with my Moroccan sardines.

2019 Vintage California Chardonnay

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Frog's Leap Rutherford-Napa Valley 2014 Merlot (Revisited)

 

Frog's Leap Rutherford-Napa Valley 2014 Merlot (Revisited), $26.99-$39.99, 92 points, poured a deep garnet red with moderate stained legs and a thin clear meniscus.
Aromas of roses, juniper berries, ripe mulberry, and a hint of milk chocolate were excellent.
A full-bodied dry red wine with a firm underlayment of grainy tannins, good acidity, and a tart mirror image of the aromas covered my palate from stem-to-stern.
Finished long, spicy, warm, and with a well-balanced 13.4% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spiced-rubbed rare rib eye.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-21021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Duckhorn Napa Valley 2019 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Duckhorn Napa Valley 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, $21.24-$29.99, 93 points, was a very light brass color and water clear towards the rim.
Wonderful robust aromas of tropical fruit crowded-out all others.
A light-bodied dry white wine with bright acidity and rich tropical fruit flavors accented with lemon, melon rind, and straw were complex and delightful.
Finished long on its richness, lemon zest, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Best Sauvignon Blanc I've had this year.
Varietals were 81% Sauvignon Blanc and 19% Sémillon.
Paired well with our Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Château De Ribebon Bordeaux Supérieur 2016 Cabernet Franc

 

Château De Ribebon Bordeaux Supérieur 2016 Cabernet Franc, $21.99-$54.99, 90 points, poured a slightly cloudy pomegranate red with moderate stained legs and a thin clear wine ring.
Aromas of smokey plum, red raspberry, and dry cooking herbs with a hint of tobacco were quite good.
A bone-dry full-bodied red wine with firm drying tannins and good acidity which managed to carry flavors of bell pepper, black pepper, and a cornucopia of fruit.
Finished a bit austere, but long and satisfying on the trailing palate and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my classic bacon burger.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2016

Cabernet Franc (International)

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Domaine Du Grand Montmirail 2017 Gigondas (Rhône) Red Wine

 

Domaine Du Grand Montmirail 2017 Gigondas (Rhône) Red Wine, $25.99-$59.99, 92 points, had an unfiltered garnet red appearance with a broad clear wine ring and dense, sticky, and stained legs.
A bouquet consisting of a cornucopia of fruit, juniper berry, and a hint of the barnyard were good.
Bordering on a full-bodied dry red wine with good acidity and a firm underlayment of tannin managed to deliver the aromas onto the palate with an orangey citrus, white pepper, and eucalyptus.
Finished long on the fading palate and a warm 15% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spice-rubbed rare ribeye and mocha torte.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Château Prieurs De La Commanderie Grand Vin Pomerol 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Prieurs De La Commanderie Grand Vin Pomerol 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine, $25.49-$29.99, 91 points, poured a garnet red with a broad clear meniscus and copious stained legs.
Aromas of plum, cinnamon, allspice, red cherry, and a floral vibe were excellent.
This not quite full-bodied dry red wine showed good acidity, a grainy underlayment of tannin, and flavors that righteously mirrored the aromas.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a bit of iron and red pepper, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my classic cheeseburger with tomatoes and lettuce.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Cloudline Willamette Valley 2019 Pinot Noir

 

Cloudline Willamette Valley 2019 Pinot Noir, $15.52-$21.55, 88 points, poured a deep ruby red with purple highlights, a broad clear meniscus, and moderate stained legs.
Aromas of underbrush, mulberry, and rose were soft but pleasant.
A medium-bodied dry red wine with a slick moth-feel, fair acidity, and nondescript fruit flavors accented by subtle hints of coffee and tobacco.
Finished long on the trailing palate, iron, white pepper, citrus, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my BLT, but I think you could pair this chameleon-character red wine with almost anything.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Jean Chaplain Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2019 Pouilly-Fuissé

 

Jean Chaplain Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2019 Pouilly-Fuissé, $16.99, 89 points, was a light yellow-gold color and graying towards the rim.
Light aromas of lemon, white grape, and apple were pleasant.
A medium-bodied off-dry white wine with fair acidity and clean flavors of minerality, muted tart grapefruit, black pepper, and hints of lemon oil, Necco wafers, and lime were totally alien to say an oaked Cali Chardonnay, and for my tastes as a usual rule, preferred.
Finished long and steely on the fading palate and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Fried Ipswich clams.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Willamette Valley Vineyards Oregon 2020 Pinot Noir

 

Willamette Valley Vineyards Oregon 2020 Pinot Noir, $17.99-$22.99, 90 points, poured a light and bright ruby red with purple flashes, a broad clear meniscus, and fleeting stained legs.
Aromas of profuse blueberry with hints of red cherry, allspice, and cinnamon were quite good.
More than a medium-bodied not quite dry red wine that was softly textured with easy tannins and excellent flavors reflective of the aromas tinged with wood throughout.
Finished long on the trailing palate and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired nicely with my honey-fried chicken wings.
Proof once again that a great bottle of Pinot Noir can be had for less than $40.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Château Belle-Vue Haut-Medoc 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Belle-Vue Haut-Medoc 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine, $17.84-$20.99, 90 points, poured a dark purple/red with a violet penumbra, broad clear wine ring, and a sticky crowded necklace of tears.
Aromas were a bit funky, floral, fruity, and earthy.
A full-bodied bone-dry red wine with good acidity, firm grainy tannins, and a rich cornucopia of black fruit, red raspberry, dry cooking herbs, and citrus notes.
Finished long on the trailing palate, black pepper, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spice-rubbed strip steak and a chocolate/coconut desert.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2016

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Three By Wade 2020 Chenin Blanc

 

Three By Wade 2020 Chenin Blanc, $17.09-$20.99, 88 points, was a copper/gold color and graying midway to the rim.
Aromas of minty apple with a hint of peach were pleasant.
A light-bodied dry white wine with good acidity and good flavors of Granny-smith apple, peach, and Necco wafer candy worked as a substantial combination. 
Finished long, but a bit tart, a bit sour, and with a balanced 13.1% alcohol.
Paired surprisingly well with my all beef and loaded hotdogs, though I'm not going to say that Chenin blanc is the best fit for hotdogs.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas
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Barbanera Gigino 80 Anniversario 2018 Toscana Red Wine

 

Barbanera Gigino 80 Anniversario 2018 Toscana Red Wine, $21.54-$55.99, 88 points, poured core black grading to purple/red with a blood-red penumbra, a clear wine ring, and heavy stained legs.
Aromas of fruit, flowers, tea, and a hint of citrus were good.
A full-bodied fruit-forward dry red wine with soft round tannins, fair acidity, and flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished okay on the fading palate, a bit tart, easy pepper spices, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired fine with my spice-rubbed strip steak
Varietals consisted of Sangiovese, Merlot, Sirah, and Petit Verdot.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Castello Banfi 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva

 

Castello Banfi 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva, $13.57-$19.99, 88 points, poured a cranberry red with a symmetrical ring of tears and a broad clear wine ring.
Aromas consisted of bits of funk, flowers, black cherry, and tea (not particularly memorable).
A medium-bodied bone-dry acidic red wine with firm grainy tannins supported unremarkable, but pleasant flavors of mint, black tea, cherry fruit, and oak.
Finished long on spearmint, oak, red pepper, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with our Buffalo-wings.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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