Red Tail Ridge Winery "Good Karma" Finger Lakes (Seneca) 2019 Riesling

 

Red Tail Ridge Winery "Good Karma" Finger Lakes (Seneca) 2019 Riesling, $12.74-$16.99, 89 points, was a light brass color with light gold highlights and clearing long before the rim.
Aromas were dominated by petrol, but muted black pepper, dusty apple pie, and apricots were good.
Red Tail Ridge gave us a medium-bodied off-dry white wine with good acidity and rich flavors reflective of the aromas and a hint of guava.
Finished well on the fading palate and a balanced 11% alcohol.
Paired nicely with my New England clam chowder and Greek spinach pie.

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Volver La Mancha 2018 Tempranillo (Spain)

 

Volver La Mancha 2018 Tempranillo (Spain), $15.99-$17.99, 89 points, poured with a localized core of near black but showed mostly a deep ruby red with sticky stained legs and a clear meniscus.
In a blind tasting I would not have understood this to be a be Tempranillo as it smelled of sour plums, pine resin, mulberry, and was a bit loamy.
This Volver was near full-bodied (which could be due to the 15% alcohol) with good acidity, fine grainy tannins, and rich flavors of cherry cola, mulberry, lingonberry and black tea.
Finished quite long on the trailing palate, white pepper, and citrus notes.
Paired fine with prosaic pizza.

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Château Lilian Ladouys Saint Estèphe 2016 Grand Vin Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Lilian Ladouys Saint Estèphe 2016 Grand Vin Bordeaux Red Wine, $23.37-$27.49, 90 points, poured mostly black with a deep purple/red penumbra, thin clear wine ring, and light stained legs.
Aromas of Damson plums, black pepper, hints of juniper, cedar, and spearmint were quite good.
This Bordeaux Red Wine was, at about seven years old, still fresh and young, grippy, nicely acidic, rich, edgy, and tasty with flavors reflective of the aromas throughout the palate.
Finished long and intensifying with juicy blackberry, cayenne, mushrooms, tobacco, a hint of tart citrus, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc.
Paired well with my spice-rubbed beef tenderloin.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2016

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Joseph Phelps Freestone Vineyards Sonoma Coast 2019 Pinot Noir

 

Joseph Phelps Freestone Vineyards Sonoma Coast 2019 Pinot Noir, $38.24-$49.99, 95 points, was a bright ruby/pomegranate red with a very broad clear meniscus and many transparent legs.
Aromas of cinnamon, clove, red cherry, autumn underbrush, and Pinot Noir specific grape were excellent.
This Freestone Vineyard PN was medium-bodied, juicy, dry, sleek, concentrated, nicely acidic, and filled with mesmerizing flavors of cherry fruit, mulling spice, mint, cocoa, and so much more.
Finished forever on the building palate, anise, Ferrara Pan "Hot Shots", red cherry, iron notes, and a spot-on 14.1% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my chicken smorgasbord.
The best of the four vintages of this wine I've tasted, and keep in mind that this was the same price that it was in 2015.

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Bucket-List- NV California Moscato

 

Bucket-List- NV California Moscato, $6.74-$7.49, 75 points, was a light pale brass color and clearing towards the rim.
Aromas of orange peel, pine needles, and pome blossoms were rather weak but pleasant.
Bucket-List- was a rather cloying sweet white wine, tart masqueraded for acidity which was, for me, insufficient to cut through the sugar.
Finished as it began. Alcohol was 10%.
Paired okay with my "hot" spicy nachos.

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Gehricke Sonoma Valley 2017 Petite Sirah

 

Gehricke Sonoma Valley 2017 Petite Sirah, $29.99-$59.99 (Restaurant price), 91 points, poured core black with a slightly unfiltered garnet red penumbra, bleeding meniscus, and copious stained legs.
Aromas were rich with mulberry, blueberry, cinnamon, clove, cedar, and a bit of funky underbrush.
This Petite Sirah (Durif) was sleek, full-bodied, dry, juicy, showed good acidity, and flavors of sweet anise, mint, Sambuca, and a touch herbal.
Finished quite long on the trailing palate, red pepper, sweet black licorice, and a well-balanced 14.3% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Texas-burger.

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Duck Pond, Oregon, 2021 Chardonnay

 

Duck Pond, Oregon, 2021 Chardonnay, $12.74-$14.99, 90 points, was a dull medium brass color with a large gray penumbra.
Aromas of apples, subtle peach, pome blossoms, and just a hint of lemon peel were quite pleasant.
Duck Pond has given us a very fresh, vibrant, barely medium-bodied white wine with fair to good acidity and surprisingly complex flavor nuances consisting of melon rind, tangerine zest, ginger, and lemon juice.
Finished fair on the fading palate and a well-balanced 13.2% alcohol.
Paired okay with my chicken smorgasbord.
I think this Chardonnay got a little lost in the intense flavors of salt and vinegar chicken wings, tempura chicken breast, and honey barbeque wings, ergo better with a delicate white fish, for example, much like a Gavi or a Soave. 

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Charly Nicolle Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2019 Chablis Premier Cru

 

Charly Nicolle Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2019 Chablis Premier Cru, $28.00-$32.99, 92+ points, was a rather pale brass color with a very broad gray penumbra.
Aromas of light lovely vanilla, pome blossoms, white chocolate, lime zest, wet stones, and white grape notes were outstanding.
This Chablis was tart, brightly acidic, bone-dry, and light-bodied; showed good up-front flavors, diminished mid-palate, but zoomed brightly flavored late palate with trailing flavors reflective of the aromas and nuanced by good lemon juice and ginger.
Finished long, juicy, and with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Was a surprisingly good pairing with our Asian cuisine.

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Clos Pegase Mitsuke's Vineyard Carneros-Napa Valley 2020 Chardonnay

 

Clos Pegase Mitsuke's Vineyard Carneros-Napa Valley 2020 Chardonnay, $22.94-$26.99, 89 points, was a medium yellow-gold color and clearing only at the rim.
Aromas were light and lively oak, caramel, white chocolate, white grape, and wet stone which were quite good.
This was a full-bodied white wine with fair acidity and a well-balanced oak flavor along with those reflective of the other aromas.
Finished long on a rather juicy caramel, an easy spiciness, and a big 14.2% alcohol.
Paired nicely with my spinach pie and battered chicken livers.
Note that the price was the same as it was seven years ago.

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Bertani 2017 Valpolicella Ripasso (DOC)

 

Bertani 2017 Valpolicella Ripasso (DOC), $10.19-$24.99, 88 points, was ruby red at the core and radiated a more cranberry red towards the clear wine ring while the legs were very light in appearance.
Aromas were delicate cinnamon, Orange-pekoe tea, red cherry, and not a hint of raisin which seems a bit unusual.
Bertani 2017 Valpolicella Ripasso was a medium-bodied dry red wine with good acidity and thin but grippy grainy tannins.
Flavors, though not typical, were tasty red cherry, black tea, and citrus notes.
Finished fair on a slowly fading palate without much change except a hint of anise and an easy 13.5% alcohol.
Commentary: Though atypical, this was still a tasty red wine, inexpensive, and paired nicely with my marinara and thick sliced mozzarella pizza. More like a Chianti than a Valpolicella Ripasso.

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Villa Vetti 2016 Amarone Della Valpolicella (D.O.C.G.)

 

Villa Vetti 2016 Amarone Della Valpolicella (D.O.C.G.), $25.49-$59.99, 92 points, poured a dark ruby red with orange highlights, a thin clear meniscus, and intense stained smudging on the glass wall terminating in a dense necklace of teardrops.
Aromas of Sambuca, black plums, alcohol, and herbaceous Lamiaceae were pleasant.
This Amarone is quintessential, it's dry, full-bodied, with fair acidity, and a raisin/anise flavor profile nuanced with plums, red pepper, and big (15%) alcohol, texture was rich and smooth with an edgy spice and alcohol.
Finished long on the fading palate with a developing muted mint.
Paired perfectly with my beef lasagna.

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Christophe Patrice Beauroy 1-er Cru 2020 Chablis

 

Christophe Patrice Beauroy 1-er Cru 2020 Chablis, $29.74-$34.99, 91 points, poured a rather dull medium golden color with a broad clear penumbra.
Aromas of subtle dusty fried tangerine peel, slightly sour cantaloupe, a hint of canned pear, and a deep artesian well were excellent.
This Chablis was a medium-bodied dry white wine with good acidity, a sleek mouthfeel, and rather austere sense of minerality, lemon juice, and a good building flavor of ginger.
Finished long on the fading palate, citrus, white chocolate, and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired fine with my spanakopita pie.

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Joseph Drouhin 2020 Pouilly-Vinzelles Burgundy White Wine (Chardonnay)

 

Joseph Drouhin 2020 Pouilly-Vinzelles Burgundy White Wine (Chardonnay), $23.79-$29.99, 91+ points, was a light-yellow gold color graying and changing to water clear at the glass rim.
Aromas of wet granite, white chocolate, and just a hint of dusty lemon zest were subtle but good.
A sleek and clean light-bodied white wine with good acidity and steely flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long and building on flavors of ginger, citrus, tart honeydew melon rind, a hint of Doublemint gum with a spot-on 13% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our barbequed chicken, feta cheese salad, and sesame seed dessert.

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Pouilly-Vinzelles

 

Pouilly-Vinzelles

(Burgundy)

Joseph Drouhin 2020 Pouilly-Vinzelles Burgundy White Wine (Chardonnay), $23.79-$29.99, 91+

See also: Pouilly Fuissé

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Tenuta di Nozzole D.O.C.G. 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva

 

Tenuta di Nozzole D.O.C.G. 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva, $15.99-$21.99, 92 points, poured a bright ruby red with a very light orange sheen, a massively broad clear meniscus, and sticky glass sheeting.
Interesting aromas of subtle lacquer, rose pedal, black tea, and cinnamon-spiced red cherry were excellent.
This Chianti Classico Riserva was just more than medium-bodied with bright acidity, a supportive plank of grainy tannin, and rich flavors of red fruit, black tea, and bright earthy herbal flavors all of which made for a wonderfully balanced red wine.
Finished long, showed a hint of mint, easy spiciness, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with both our pepperoni pizza and chicken parmesan.
This is a red wine with an edginess to it and may benefit by two or three years of bottle aging.

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Mastroberardino 2019 Fiano di Avellino (DOCG)

 

Mastroberardino 2019 Fiano di Avellino (DOCG), $14.44-$16.99, 88 points, was a dull medium yellow gold color and graying toward the rim.
Aromas of subtle lime juice, dusty stone fruit, and mango-tinged white chocolate were very interesting and pleasant.
This Fiano was dry and slightly more than light-bodied with good acidity and tart flavors of citrus, toasted lemon zest, and a spiced gelatin which were somewhat complex and tasty.
Finished anticlimactic but long on the fading palate and a soft 12.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my Maine lobster pie.

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Seaside Cellars 2019 Pinot Noir (New Zealand)

 

Seaside Cellars 2019 Pinot Noir (New Zealand), $11.89-$15.99, 88 points, poured a transparent orange/red with copious light legs and a broad clear meniscus.
Aromas began a bit funky showing hints of rubber transitioning to an earthy cherry fruit and a hint of citrus.
This Seaside Cellars Pinot Noir was barely medium-bodied, not quite a dry red wine, showed easy tannins, good acidity, and a rather tasty straight forward cherry fruit and black tea flavor profile.
Finished a bit tart, a slightly more pronounced tannic presence, subtle eucalyptus, and a tidy 13.5% alcohol.
Paired surprisingly well with my soft tacos.
Commentary: a tasty high QPR PN.

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Château Faugères, Saint-Émilion, Grand Cru Classé 2018 Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Faugères, Saint-Émilion, Grand Cru Classé 2018 Bordeaux Red Wine, $46.32-$54.49, 93 points, poured core black grading to a deep pomegranate red with heavy stained legs and a moderately broad clear wine ring.
Aromas of cinnamon, ripe black raspberries, cedar box, and Arabica toffee were excellent.
The 2018 Château Faugères was a dry full-bodied red wine with good acidity, firm grainy tannins, and rich fruity flavors with mint, red pepper, a bit of wood, herbal, and showing hints of tarragon and fennel.
Finished quite long on its spiciness, tartness, and a big but balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my prosaic cheeseburger with blue cheese tomatoes and kalmata olives. 

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2018

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Marqués de Griñón, Rueda, 2021 Verdejo

 

Marqués de Griñón, Rueda, 2021 Verdejo, $11.69-$12.99, 88 points, was a light-yellow gold color with a broad gray penumbra.
Aromas of dusty mandarin peel, white chocolate, and a floral pear were lovely.
This Verdejo was a bit viscus, thus medium-bodied, with fair acidity, showed robust stone fruit flavors and hints of those reflective of the aromas.
Finished tart, showed subtle flavors of lime juice and ginger, and was complemented by a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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