Domaine Faiveley Mercurey "Vieilles Vignes" 2020 Pinot Noir

Domaine Faiveley Mercurey "Vieilles Vignes" 2020 Pinot Noir, $33.99-$35.99, 93 points, poured a lovely rose-pedal red with violet highlights, copious stained legs, and a broad clear meniscus.
Aromas of Pinot noir specific grape, flint, cinnamon raisin toast, orange pekoe tea, and black cherry pie were outstanding.
This was a medium to full-bodied red wine with a righteous rendition from the aromas to the universal palate, rather sleek mouthfeel, fair to good acidity, and a supportive underlayment of tannin.
Finished long, slightly tart, hinting at tantalizingly tasty cherry fruit, easy white pepper spice, and a balanced 15% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with an early Thanksgiving dinner.

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Vignobles and Compagnie Réserve des Chastelles 2020 Tavel (Rhone Valley) Rosé

 

Vignobles and Compagnie Réserve des Chastelles 2020 Tavel (Rhone Valley) Rosé, $9.99, 85 points, was a dark apricot orange/red with warm peach pink highlights and graying towards the rim with considerable legs.
Aromas of dusty stone fruit, minerality, and a hint of brandy were good.
A near medium-bodied Rosé with fair acidity and somewhat muted red fruit flavors made for a fair table Rosé wine without any fanfare of flare.
Finished as it began but with subtle strawberry, red cherry, and red licorice flavors with a balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Varietals were Grenache Noir plus Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, Syrah and Carignan.
Paired only okay with my Asian cuisine, but better with my spicy Mexican cuisine.

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Merriam Vineyards Russian River Danielle's Estate 2020 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Merriam Vineyards Russian River Danielle's Estate 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, $17.99-$21.99, 89 points, was a light brass color with yellow highlights and clear towards the rim.
Aromas of fresh-cut grass, lemon zest, and dusty orange peel were pleasant.
This was a light-bodied white wine with bright acidity, an edgy mouthfeel, and good flavors of intense ginger, tart lemon, unripe honeydew melon rind, and earthy grass notes which were all quite good.
Finished very long on the trailing palate, accelerating tart-tinged lemon meringue pie, grass/hay notes, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my fried Icelandic cod filet.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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VOSS, Napa Valley, 2019 Sauvignon Blanc

 

VOSS, Napa Valley, 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, $8.99-$21.99, 88 points, was a light yellow/gold color grading lighter towards the rim.
The hayfield aromas were nuanced with pear, lemon zest, and pome blossoms (very nice).
This was a light-bodied acidic white wine with good up-front aroma reflective flavors that struggled to impact the middle and late palate.
Finished quite tart, lemony, with lime notes, and a very comfortable 11% alcohol.
Paired well with my North Atlantic lobster salad.
Being such a bright and inexpensive sauvignon Blanc won me over on this wine, and for 2022, it is a buy with a good QPR.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Trump 2019 Meritage Monticello Red Wine

 

Trump 2019 Meritage Monticello Red Wine, $19.54-$24.99, 89 points, poured an opaque rosewood red with a purple sheen, a broad clear meniscus, and lightly stained moderate legs.
Aromas of mulling spice, black plums, and perfumed floral notes were lovely.
This was less than a full-bodied dry red wine, showed good acidity with an early velvety texture followed by an increasing tannic presence and flavors of Kirsch, hints of mint and cocoa, and ended on a flat cherry cola.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a whisper of iron, and a very European 13.1% alcohol.
Paired well with my Porterhouse steak.
Varietals were 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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PEJU Legacy Collection North Coast (Cali) 2021 Sauvignon Blanc

 

PEJU Legacy Collection North Coast (Cali) 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, $19.99-$25.99, 90 points, was a light brass color with yellow gold highlights and clearing midway towards the rim.
Aromas of tropical fruit with passion fruit, lemon, and white citrus were outstanding.
This was a light-bodied white wine with bright acidity, a snappy mouthfeel, and a tart flavor rendition of the aromas that builds well into mid-palate.
Finishes fair on a slightly sour passion fruit, good citrus notes, a hint of white grapefruit, and a balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my Ollies Fisherman's plater.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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St. Francis Sonoma County 2019 Chardonnay

 

St. Francis Sonoma County 2019 Chardonnay, $10.99-$12.99, 88 points, was a medium straw yellow and clearing only near the rim.
Aromas of sweet apple, cantaloupe, fennel, catmint, and perfumed pome blossoms were quite good.
This was a medium-bodied white wine with fair acidity, clean mouthfeel, and weak but interesting flavors of lemon zest, cantaloupe rind, sour apple, and just a hint of ginger ale.
Finished long on the fading palate, a bit tart, a tad sour, showing a whisper of oak, and a potent 14.1% alcohol.
Paired well with a number of recipes with chicken as the central ingredient.
This St. Francis Chardonnay has a high QPR (quality/price/ratio), not for the Chablisphiles, but for those who might be looking for nicely priced Chardonnay with a bit of oak, this is an outstanding choice.

2019 Vintage California Chardonnay

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Bodega Catena Zapata High Mountain Vines, Medoza 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Bodega Catena Zapata High Mountain Vines, Medoza 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, $17.10-$19.99, 88 points, had a purple/red appearance with a broad clear wine ring and moderate fat legs.
This was a full-bodied red wine with a classy mouthfeel, supportive tannins, good acidity, and competent flavors of cassis, blackberry, plums, and subliminal tertiary notes of underbrush and hints of the farm.
Finished long on the fading palate, easy pepper spices, and well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with a number of cuisines including barbecue Porterhouse as well as spicy Mexican.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley 2020 "Sweet" Harvest Select Riesling

 

Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley 2020 "Sweet" Harvest Select Riesling, $9.99-$13.99, 88 points, was a pale straw yellow color and clear only at the rim.
Apple, white chocolate, and hints of lemon zest and petrol on the nose were very good.
A white wine which was slightly heavier than light-bodied wine and showing good acidity, a lush mouthfeel, and a white grape juicy flavor profile accented with flavors reflective of the aromas were also very good.
Finished on an accelerating petrol, ginger, honey, and the easy-going 10.5% alcohol.
This was just slightly sweeter than an off-dry Riesling and paired nicely with my spicy Mexican cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Château Pédesclaux Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 2018 Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Pédesclaux Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 2018 Bordeaux Red Wine, $47.17-$55.49, 92 points, poured core black grading to an opaque pomegranate red with a clear meniscus and stained copious legs.
Aromas were a cornucopia of black and red fruit, cinnamon, clove, and multiple floral notes were rich and inviting.
This was a full-bodied dry red wine with good acidity firm and a bit grippy tannins, and a deep mirror image of flavors translate onto the palate quite evenly.
Finished long, a bit tart, developing Kirsch notes, a hint of chocolate, a whisper of oak, easy pepper spice, and a balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my barbecued bone-in rib eye.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2018

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Justin Central Coast 2020 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Justin Central Coast 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, $16.99-$19.99, 88 points, was a very light brass color with a broad water clear penumbra.
Aromas were dominated by a fresh-cut grass accented by lemon oil and passion fruit.
This was a light-bodied dry white wine with good acidity, a rather sleek mouthfeel, and a rather prosaic rendition of the aromas translated onto an early palate and concluding on a ginger/alcohol (13.5%) finish.
Paired fine with my North Atlantic lobster salad.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Château Tour Maillet Pomerol 2017 Grand Vin De Bordeaux

 

Château Tour Maillet Pomerol 2017 Grand Vin De Bordeaux, $39.09-$45.99, 94 points, poured core black with a deep and broad blood-red penumbra, a clear wine ring, and copious stained legs.
Aromas wafted big on mulling spices, milk chocolate, lily flowers, and ripe black plums.
Full-bodied luscious and dry red wine with good acidity, a sound underlayment of tannin, and rich unctuous flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished very long on an explosion of pepper-spiced red cherry fruit, a metal-minerality, and a complementary 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my beef stew. 

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2022, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Willamette Valley 2020 White Pinot Noir

 

Willamette Valley 2020 White Pinot Noir, $21.24-$28.99, 86 points, was a very light platinum-white color throughout.
Aromas were dominated by apple notes with white chocolate, lemon zest, and other citrus notes.
A light to medium-bodied dry white wine with a sleek mouthfeel, fair acidity, and a flavor profile reflective of the aromas but a bit muted.
Finished fair on a rather boring finish and a well-balanced 13.2% alcohol.
Paired okay with my Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Château Cap De Mourlin Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2017 Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Cap De Mourlin Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2017 Bordeaux Red Wine, $39.10-$46.00, 92 points, poured core black grading to a rich pomegranate red with a broad clear wine ring and copious stained legs.
Aromas of cinnamon, clove, ripe figs, loam, plums, and red raspberry were pleasant.
A full-bodied bone-dry red wine with astringent tannins and good acidity layered with pepper spices, red fruit juiciness, and accented with other flavors of mulling spice and plums made for a perfect companion to my chili on Mexican-cheesed tostadas.
Finished quite long on the trailing palate, a hint of iron, and a commentary 14.5% alcohol.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Cantina Terlano Alto Adige 2020 Pinot Grigio DOC

 

Cantina Terlano Alto Adige 2020 Pinot Grigio DOC, $16.99-$21.99, 88 points, was a medium straw yellow color and graying towards the rim.
Aromas of sour apple, Nepeta Mussini, and dusty Clemetine peel were just okay for me.
A light to medium-bodied dry white wine with fair to good acidity and flavors of flat ginger ale, apple skins, and lemon sours were quite good.
Finished long, tart, a bit sour, and on a formidable 13.5% alcohol.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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