Shannon Ridge Wines "Urgency" 2019 Chardonnay

 

Shannon Ridge Wines "Urgency" 2019 Chardonnay, $6.34-$14.99, 83 points, was a dark straw-yellow color and clearing midway towards the rim.
Aromas of dusty orange peel, flinty minerality, and a hint of pine resin were uncomplicate and pleasant.
Urgency was a near full-bodied oaky white wine with fair acidity and dominated by flavors of wood and nuanced with hints of lemon oil and peach.
Finished very long on the trailing palate and a balanced 13.9% alcohol.
I did not like this wine; I think all big wine drinkers have proclivities, and mine is a distaste for "over" oaked wines.
I tried to pair this wine with a number of cuisines, but all failed to please me.

2019 Vintage California Chardonnay

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Parusso Perarmando 2018 Barolo

 

Parusso Perarmando 2018 Barolo, $53.54-$62.99, 96 points, poured a brandy copper/red color with a very broad clear wine ring and copious fat and stained legs.
Aromas of strawberries, Harvey's Bristol Cream, tar, bog peat, and black tea were powerful and enticing.
This Barolo is a massive red wine, intense flavors, acidity, alcohol, and tannin: might not be for the soft merlot lovers out there. But if full throttled edgy Piedmont/Montalcino wines are your thing, then give this one a try.
Finished long, hot, and spicy with a bit of caramel and that big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my beef and cheddar rolls.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Dry Creek Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Dry Creek Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, $16.14-$21.99, 90 points, was a light brass color and clearing towards the glass rim.
Grassy aroma dominated the nuanced floral notes, lemon zest, and white chocolate.
A light-bodied white wine with good acidity, crisp mouthfeel, and good flavors reflective of the aromas, which is typical for this well-established winery, and delivering excellent quality for a very competitive price.
Finished long on the fading palate, ginger notes, melon rind, and a well-balanced 14.1% alcohol.
Paired fine with our prosaic hotdogs.

Dry Creek Vineyard, why it's a "go to" winery.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Mayacamas Mount Veeder, Napa Valley 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Mayacamas Mount Veeder, Napa Valley 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, $106.24-$124.99, 96 points, poured core black grading to an unfiltered rosewood red with a broad clear meniscus and a neckless of stained tears.
A bouquet of currant fruit, floridity, mulling spice, and hints of milk chocolate were outstanding.
Mayacamas delivers class, subtlety, flavor complexity, a luscious yet lean character, and an irresistibly drinkable red wine; showed good acidity, supportive tannins, a full-body, and perfect red wine pair ability.
Finished long, finished beguiling, and on a spot-on 14% alcohol.
An expensive Cali Cabernet Sauvignon can be presumed to be "good", but this Mayacamas Mount Veeder, Napa Valley 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is an experienced Blue Ribbon celebratory wine (thirteen years of wine blogging), which was my intent when I bought this wine seven months ago.

2018 California Cabernet Sauvignon Wines Tasted

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas
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Cristom Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, 2020 Chardonnay

 

Cristom Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, 2020 Chardonnay, $29.74-$41.99, 92 points, was a light yellow-gold color and clearing midway towards the glass rim.
Aromas of white chocolate, apricots, a hint of wood, mint thyme, and Chardonnay-specific grape were outstanding.
This Willamette Valley Chardonnay was medium-bodied, showed surprisingly good acidity, and crisp flavors of lemon oil, Granny Smith apples, and developing ginger notes (a very "clean" white wine).
Finished long, perfectly tart with an accented lemon zest flavor, and a building ginger with a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spanakopita and fried clams.
The Northwest is my go-to US producers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Chronic Cellars "Spritzy and Giggles" NV Sparkling Wine

 

Chronic Cellars "Spritzy and Giggles" NV Sparkling Wine, $15.29-$16.99, 84 points, was a medium straw yellow color and graying towards the rim, but the spritz was less than most of my Prosecco wines; now with NV wines it's hard to say how long the bottle sat in the store, but I had just purchased it last week.
Aromas were a bit woody and grassy with a hint of apricot, but little else.
The label described flavors of pear and citrus, but to me it reflected the aromas with a slightly sour note. The texture was a bit flat, and the flavors had a continuity through the whole palate, acidity was fair.
Finished as it began, and with a fair 11.5% alcohol.
Paired okay with my loaded hotdogs.
I can't remember ever NOT like a Chronic Cellars wine, but there's a first time for everything.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Antica Masseria di Sigillo 2014 Primitivo di Manduria, Puglia, Italy (Revisited)

 

Antica Masseria di Sigillo 2014 Primitivo di Manduria, Puglia, Italy (Revisited), $9.99-$19.99, 89 points, poured broadly black grading to a purple/red towards the thin clear meniscus and fat-stained legs.
Aromas of prunes, slightly sour black cherry, Bordeaux lily, and a hint of shoe polish were just okay (generally I'm not a fan of older Zinfandels).
This has become a full-bodied red wine with fair acidity, soft tannins, and rich flavors of raisins, anise, plums, and citrus notes.
Finished long on the fading palate, hints of cayenne and mint with a big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my pepperoni pizza.
Having had this wine five years ago, I would say it has held-up well.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved Dennis Tsiorbas

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Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial (375ML) Champagne

 

Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial (375ML) Champagne, $23.20-$27.99, 90 points, was a light brass color with a typical eruptive spritz.
Aromas were dominated by a yeastiness with apples, white bread, and a lovely dusty floral vibe.
A spritzy medium-bodied dry bubbly with good acidity and delicious flavors reflective of the aromas with a developing ginger ale note.
Finished long on the trailing palate and a well-balanced 12% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Herederos Del Marqués De Riscal 2017 Rioja Reserva

 

Herederos Del Marqués De Riscal 2017 Rioja Reserva, 16.99-$19.99, 91 points, poured a deep rosewood red with a broad clear wine ring, and copious legs.
Aromas of anise, underbrush, cinnamon, clove, and hints of chocolate and black plums were excellent.
This Rioja Reserva was a near full-bodied red wine, showed good acidity, a firm underlayment of tannin, and good flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a hint of iron, citrus, and a balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our Pepperoni pizza.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas
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Paolo Saracco 2021 Moscato Bianco (d'Asti DOCG)

 

Paolo Saracco 2021 Moscato Bianco (d'Asti DOCG), $10.99-$16.99, 87 points, poured less effervescent than a frizzante wine, with a medium pale brass color and clearing only at the rim.
Lovely apple aroma with hints of light caramel, grass notes, and white chocolate were excellent.
This medium-bodied sweet white wine with a hint of bubbly and a neat contrasty tartness was delicious as a dessert wine should be, with a touch of apple, lemon, and banana flavors.
Finished long on "Rock candy" (a bit sticky) and a nuanced 6% alcohol.
Paired only okay with my spicy nachos but better with my Buffalo-wings.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas
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Seméli Feast 2020 Agiorgitiko Dry Red Wine (PGIP)

 

Seméli Feast 2020 Agiorgitiko Dry Red Wine (PGIP), $15.29-$16.99, 89 points, poured a light cranberry red color with a violet sheen, a broad clear meniscus, and light stained legs.
Aromas were dominated by a red raspberry Kool-aide smell nuanced by a slightly sour red cherry, and a softening floral vibe which tied a pretty red bow on the bouquet.
This Agiorgitiko red wine showed a restrained essence, a light to medium-body, fair acidity, soft tannins, and an almost neutral red-fruit flavor profile, perfect for almost any red wine demanding cuisine, or even salmon, duck, or pork cuisine which requires a non-intrusive pairing.
Finished as tasty as it began but added a touch of welcomed spiciness, iron, tartness, and a spot-on 13% alcohol.
A very unincumbered red wine, dry, tasty, straight-forward and not likely to get 95points from Robert Parker, but for its simplicity and purity I very much appreciated it.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Château de Landiras Grand Vin, Graves 2018 Bordeaux

 

Château de Landiras Grand Vin, Graves 2018 Bordeaux, $16.57-$19.49, 92 points, poured a dark rosewood red with a broad clear meniscus and light stained legs.
Aromas of currants, rose pedals, and underbrush were excellent.
This is my first Château de Landiras red wine (hopefully not my last), it was full-bodied with a satin texture, easy but supportive tannins, fair to good acidity, and heavenly if not complex flavors of the aromas with a hint of mint and red cherry.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a bit of red raspberry and cayenne pepper, and a well-balanced and welcomed 13% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my curry veggies and spice-rubbed rib eye.
Though "Left Bank" red wines are usually dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, this one is silky smooth Merlot-like.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2018

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Well, Columbia Valley, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Well, Columbia Valley, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, $14.99-$20.99, 86 points, poured a very dark ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and copious stained legs.
Aromas of black plums, earth notes, a hint of rose petals, cinnamon, and a whiff of funk were okay.
This Northwest Cab was full-bodied, showed fair acidity, an underlayment of tannin (a bit soft), and pleasant flavors reflective of the aromas with a touch of mint.
Finished fair on the trailing palate, black cherry syrup, a hint of white pepper, and a balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my Himalayan lentils with Mac and Cheese.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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K Vintners "Sundance Vineyard" Wahluke Slope, Washington, 2019 Syrah

 

K Vintners "Sundance Vineyard" Wahluke Slope, Washington, 2019 Syrah, $27.19-$31.99, 93 points, poured a deep purple/red with a broad clear meniscus and copious stained legs.
Aromas of warm cinnamon-spiced cherry fruit, loam, underbrush, and a floral vibe were outstanding.
"Sundance Vineyard" delivered a robust full-bodied red wine with a soft but spicy early palate, acidity was fair to good, tannins were a firm underlayment, and flavors of developing spearmint, plums, and black cherry were round and delicious.
Finished long on the trailing late palate, a hint of violets and eucalyptus, and a big but balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Texas burgers.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Tenute Silvio Nardi 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino

 

Tenute Silvio Nardi 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino, $55.79-$69.99, 95 points, poured a dark ruby red grading to an unfiltered Brandy red towards the broad clear meniscus and a downpour of stained legs.
Aromas of plums, a perfumed shoe polish, black tea, and underbrush were outstanding.
This estate has always impressed me, this is my seventh vintage, and the 2017 Brunello is no exception: was an unusual (for a Sangiovese) full-bodied red wine, was bone-dry, showed bright acidity, firm grainy tannins, and intense edgy flavors of a very warm, almost hot, rendition of the aromas with a slick Brandy flavor afterglow.
Finished long on a weak Crème brûlée, the trailing palate, white pepper, and a held-in-check 15.5% alcohol.
Paired well with our veggie taco pizza.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas
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Trefethen Oak Knoll Napa Valley Family Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Trefethen Oak Knoll Napa Valley Family Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, $59.69-$74.99, 94 points, poured an inky-black with a broad purple/red penumbra, a thin clear meniscus, and sticky-stained glass sheeting.
The lovely bouquet was very floral, showed hints of coffee bean, milk chocolate, cedar box, black plums, red fruit, and cinnamon.
This is only the second vintage of this wine I've tasted, and it is so much better than I remember from seven years ago. It was full-bodied, luxurious, showed good acidity, a supportive underlayment of tannin, and rich flavors reflective of the bouquet.
Finished long, showed subtle cayenne pepper and mint with a perfectly balanced 14.1% alcohol.
Paired well with my beef stew.
I try and keep my purchases under $50.00, but as I near my thirteenth anniversary of wine blogging, a few splurges will be warranted.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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