Fattoria Monsanto Fabrizio Bianchi 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva (DOCG)

 

Fattoria Monsanto Fabrizio Bianchi 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva (DOCG), $25.49-$31.99, 90 points, poured pomegranate red with a broad clear wine ring and a neckless of hanging legs.
Fist whiff showed a bit of funk followed by a cornucopia of red fruit and died cooking herbs.
This 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva was a bone-dry, near full-bodied, modestly tannic, brightly acidic red wine (Sangiovese), with a spicy flavor profile accented with black tea, strawberries, mint, and an underlayment of wood.
Finished long on the trailing palate, iron notes, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired fine with my sausage, green peppers, and red onion pizza.
This was my eighth vintage of this wine, and though a good Chianti, I keep hoping for a "very good year."

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Copyright 2010-2025, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Scagliola Primobacio 2023 Moscato D' Asti DOCG

 

Scagliola Primobacio 2023 Moscato D' Asti DOCG, $10.19-$21.99, 90 points, poured a handsomely frizzante effervescence, a light yellow/gold color, and a very broad graying penumbra.

Aromas quickly dissipated leaving me mute with just a hint of lemon and dusty vanilla.
This Moscato D' Asti was light-bodied, showed good acidity, and delivered delicious flavors of rock candy, green melon rind, and orange marmalade.
Finished long on the rock candy and a well-balanced 6.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spicy crabcakes.

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Neal Rutherford Dust Family Vineyard Napa Valley 2023 Zinfandel

 

Neal Rutherford Dust Family Vineyard Napa Valley 2023 Zinfandel, $38.54-$44.99, 93 points, poured a deep ruby red with slightly unfiltered maroon highlights, a clear meniscus, and copious-fat stained legs.
The lovely earthy aromas were escorted by perfumed warm briar fruit.
Neal Family has given me (us) a near full-bodied dry red wine with good acidity, soft round tannins, and a silky delicious rendition of the aromas on the palate.
Finished long on the trailing palate, juicy ripe mulberry, anise, a hint of spearmint, and a perfect 14.2% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my shepherd's pie.

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Domaine Alain Et Adrien Gautherin Premier Cru Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2021 Chablis

 

Domaine Alain Et Adrien Gautherin Premier Cru Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2021 Chablis, $40.79-$49.99, 94 points, was a dark straw-yellow color with a broad gray meniscus.
The lovely aromas were floral, crisp mountain stream-minerality, white-grapy, and nuanced with lemon zest.
A medium-bodied dry Chablis (Chardonnay), rich, robust, and stone fruity with floral/citrus flavors.
Finished long, tangy, and fresh with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my broiled Icelandic cod loin.

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Alta Classe Montepulciano 2022 D'Abruzzo DOC

 

Alta Classe Montepulciano 2022 D'Abruzzo DOC, $7.64-$19.99, 90 points, poured a light cranberry red with a broad clear meniscus and light legs.
Lively red fruit aromas nuanced with sweet-dried herbs were pleasant if a bit thin.
This Montepulciano D'Abruzzo was light-bodied more than medium-bodied, showed bright acidity, easy very grainy tannins, and delicious flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long on earth notes, red pepper, fig, iron, and a welcome 12.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Nadeau's spiced steak and cheese sub.
A light, delicious, and under $10 red wine, who could ask for anything more.

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Copyright 2020-2025, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Justin Sonoma County 2022 Chardonnay

 

Justin Sonoma County 2022 Chardonnay, $32.29-$39.99, 90 points, was a deep straw-yellow color with a broad clear meniscus.
Aromas of oak, cantaloupe, a hint of lemon juice, and orange zest were interesting and pleasant. 
This Justin Chardonnay was a good archetypical oaky rendition, though rather classy, a bit more wood than I prefer. It was near full-bodied, showed fair acidity, focused, with flavors dominated by oak notes, dusty hay, caramel, and good ginger.
Finished long on the ginger and a warm 14.2% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my chicken club sandwich.

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Rosa dell 'Olmo 2023 Gavi DOCG

 

Rosa dell 'Olmo 2023 Gavi DOCG, $9.99, 90 points, was a medium straw-yellow color with a thin clear meniscus.
The aromas were almost mute, but dusty citrus notes were pleasant with a more noteworthy lime and minerality coming through.
This Gavi was a dry light-bodied white wine with bright acidity, white grape, herbal, and good ginger flavors.
Paired well with my chicken/veggie stew, but perfectly with my fried Iceland Cod Loin.
Another great choice (Q/P/R) from Trader Joe's.

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Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

 

Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, $30.49-$37.99, 93 points, poured a deep cranberry red with a broad clear meniscus and a torrent of tearful legs.
Lovely aromas of spiced red fruit, cola, perfumed rose pedal, and sweet cooking herbs were outstanding.
This Gran Selezione was bone-dry, medium-bodied, showed sleek grainy tannins, and delicious flavors of black and rose teas, rarified red fruit, and robust wood and warm spices.
Finished rather long, clean, and spicy with a peat note and a well-balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my meatballs and spaghetti.

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Meadowcroft Napa Valley, Carneros, 2022 Chardonnay

 

Meadowcroft Napa Valley, Carneros, 2022 Chardonnay, $22.49-$29.99, 91 points, was a medium yellow/gold color with a gradual transition to clear towards the glass rim.
The lovely aromas were subtle lemon peel, dusty wood notes, cantaloupe, with hints of vanilla and a mountain stream.
Meadowcroft provided a robust dry Chardonnay with fair to good acidity, good flavors of caramel, wood, and lemon notes.
Finished long on the fading palate, a bit of ginger, tart Chardonnay specific grape, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my fried chicken wings.

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Zuccardi Q Valle De Uco, Mendoza 2021 Chardonnay

 

Zuccardi Q Valle De Uco, Mendoza 2021 Chardonnay, $17.99-$19.99, 92 points, was a medium yellow/gold color with a broad clear meniscus.
The lovely citrus aromas dominated by lemon zest and accented with stony minerality were excellent.
This dry and steely medium-bodied Chardonnay with good acidity and straight-forward flavors of citrus notes, minerality, and a hint of caramel were tasty and balanced.
Finished long on the spot-on 13% alcohol and refreshing trailing palate.
Paired perfectly with my rotisserie chicken and well with my Dungeness crab.
This Zuccardi Q Valle De Uco, Mendoza 2021 Chardonnay wasn't anything like an oaky California Chardonnay, was a bit more robust than a Chablis, but did remind me of some of the better Northwest Chardonnays I've had.

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Château Le Grand Faurie Grand Vin Saint-Émilion Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Le Grand Faurie Grand Vin Saint-Émilion Bordeaux Red Wine, $19.99, 90 points, poured a slightly unfiltered ruby red with amber highlights towards the broad clear meniscus and stained legs.
Aromas of sweet red currants, warm oak notes, and pine resin were lovely.
Typically full-bodied, showed good acidity, a firm underlayment of tannin, and good flavors reflective of the aromas with bright spicy pepper notes.
Finished long on the trailing palate, hints of mint, iron, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spiced Delmonico steak and okay with my cheese pizza.
Another great find at Trader Joe's, and as a winery's flagship or premier offering for under $20, a most reasonable Q/P/R. 

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Drylands Marlborough 2023 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Drylands Marlborough 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, $13.59-$18.99, 90 points, was a very light brass color and graying midway towards the glass rim.
Aromas of dusty fresh-cut hay, mango, passion fruit, and refreshing minerality were excellent.
Drylands was light-bodied, brightly acidic, and showed good flavors reflective of the aromas with hints of vanilla, Necco wafer, and green melon rind.
Finished refreshing, pairable with fish and chicken, and managed a spot-on 12.5% alcohol.

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Castello Banfi 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva

 

Castello Banfi 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva, $13.56-$20.99, 87 points, poured a deep pomegranate red with a clear wine ring and copious legs.
Smells of wood, black tea, subtle rose notes, and a bit of the farmyard were just okay for me.
Though it's been a few years since I've had the Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva (I've had three previous vintages), the 2019 fallows suite with the other vintages, a red table wine at a very fair price, showing a typical medium body, good acidity, supportive grainy tannins, and rather prosaic flavors reflective of the aromas with good red pepper notes.
Finished as it began, but with tasty red raspberry fruit flavor and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my Texas burger.

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Matanzas Creek Winery Sonoma County 2023 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Matanzas Creek Winery Sonoma County 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, $19.54-$24.99, 88 points, was a light brass color tinting shaded layers of gray midway towards the glass rim.
Aromas of sour passion fruit, dusty hay notes, and gooseberry would have had me guessing Kiwi SB.
It's been eleven years since Matanzas Creek's SB has graced my table (way overdue). The 2023 was bright, appropriately acidic, and with flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long on the fading palate and a remarkable 13% alcohol.
Paired fine with my fried clam strips.

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Viu Manent Estate Valle De Colchagua, Chile, 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Viu Manent Estate Valle De Colchagua, Chile, 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, $5.49-$9.99, 86 points, poured, a bright ruby red with a broad clear wine ring and thin glass sheeting.
Aromas of black licorice, mulberries, and toasty nondescript fruit were okay.
What I label as an International Cabernet Sauvignon for the purpose of categorizing was near full-bodied, dry, rather angular with slightly astringent tannins, a bit green, showing good acidity, and flavors reflective of the aromas with warm pepper notes.
Finished as it began with developing iron notes, a hint of citrus, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired okay with my Texas burger.
I suppose at under $10 one can't go wrong with this red wine from Chile.

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