Cantina Montalcino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino (DOCG)

 

Cantina Montalcino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino (DOCG), $33.99-$42.99, 94 points, poured garnet red with a clear meniscus and a neckless of hanging legs.
The lovely bouquet was filled with perfumed floral, bourbon, red fruit, and tea notes.
This was a medium-bodied, bone-dry, brightly acidic red wine with fine grainy tannins and delicious flavors which mirrored the bouquet.
Finished long on the fading palate, cayenne, and a warm well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our spaghetti and sweet Italian sausage.

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Domaine Alain Et Adrien Gautherin Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2022 Chablis

 

Domaine Alain Et Adrien Gautherin Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2022 Chablis, $28.89-$36.99, 90 points, was a medium straw yellow color with a clear meniscus.
Aromas of subtle apple, lemon, and minerality were lovely.
I'm no stranger to Domaine Alain Et Adrien Gautherin, and that's why I continue to buy from this vineyard.
This vintage was clear, lean, tasty, and quite pairable. I paired this one with my baked in-bone pork loin chops, Spanakopita, and focaccia.
A light-bodied, dry, and brightly acidic Chardonnay with a mineral flavored profile nuanced with lemon and pome blossoms.
Finished long on a hint of ginger, lime notes, and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.

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Arreio Vinho Regional Lisboa 2021 Red Wine

 

Arreio Vinho Regional Lisboa 2021 Red Wine, $7.31-$16.99, 89 points, poured a deep ruby red, what I think of colloquially as "Bear-brook blood red", and showing a broad clear meniscus and thin stained legs.
The fruity aromas were nicely nuanced with flowers, cooking herbs, cocoa, and pine.
This Touriga Nacional/Cabernet Sauvignon red wine was brightly acidic, medium-bodied, dry, lean yet sleek, and delivered a very tasty fruit-forward flavor profile.
Finished long on hints of citrus, cayenne pepper, and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Not a "cerebral red wine, but the Q/P/R was way above its price level, even at $16.99.
Paired perfectly with my double cheeseburger.

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Batasiolo 2023 Gavi DOCG

Batasiolo 2023 Gavi DOCG, $11.04-$15.99, 86 points, was a medium yellow-gold color with a graying meniscus.
The citrus and stone fruit aromas were nicely nuanced with white blossoms.
This Gavi was not quite dry, showed good acidity with crisp ginger spiciness and quite white grapey flavors, was a bit weak otherwise, but served well as a white table wine with our Dungeness crab and better with our sea scallops.
Alcohol was a well-balanced 12.5%.

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Domaine du Grand Tinel 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

 

Domaine du Grand Tinel 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, $38.24-$44.99, 93 points, poured a glossy rosewood red with a broad clear meniscus and copious, stained, fat-legs.
Smells of sweet black plums, a warm kiln, wood notes, and hints of black pepper and cocoa were pleasant.
Typically, full-bodied with a substantial textual mouthfeel, good acidity, fine grainy tannins, and tasty flavors which mirrored the nose with hints of mint and iron.
Finished very long on the trailing palate and a hot 15.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah.
Paired perfectly with our meat-lovers pizza.

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Luiano 2021 Chianti Classico

 

Luiano 2021 Chianti Classico, $13.99-$21.99, 91 points, poured a bright cranberry red with a broad meniscus and many legs.
Aromas of perfumed red fruit. black tea, and earth notes were pleasant.
Luiano gave me a dry medium-bodied Chianti with 5% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon each, acidity was bright and crisp, tannins sweet and grainy, flavors were red fruity delicious nuanced with tea, dried cooking herbs, red pepper, and floral notes.
Finished long on the fading palate, hints of iron and eucalyptus with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my sweet Italian sausage and spaghetti.
The 2021 vintage is surprising great!

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Casaponte 2023 Soave Classico DOC

 

Casaponte 2023 Soave Classico DOC, $5.99, 86 points, was a dark straw-yellow with a gray meniscus.
The lemony/honey aroma was nicely nuanced with a hint of vanilla and dusty Mandarin zest.
This Soave had no faults, unless you want to claim this tasty tipple wasn't cerebral, magnificent, and/or deep, but with fair acidity, tasty flavors reflective of the aromas, and a price not usual for a good white table-wine, how can one go wrong!?
Finished fair and with a well-balanced 12% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my fried Icelandic Cod, but okay with our Asian cuisine.
Found this at Trader Joe's.

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Stonestreet Estate Vineyards Alexander Valley 2022 Chardonnay

 

Stonestreet Estate Vineyards Alexander Valley 2022 Chardonnay, $35.69-$44.99, 93 points, was a light to medium yellow/gold color with a dark gray penumbra.
Aromas were lovely warm white chocolate, pome blossoms, citrus and dusty oak notes.
More than medium-bodied, not quite dry, fair acidity, luscious, beautifully balanced oak, and great flavors reflective of the aromas with apple and white pepper notes.
Finished long on the trailing palate, accelerating ginger, and a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my fried chicken.
Worth every penny!!!

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Château Grand-Pontet Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion 2020 Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Grand-Pontet Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion 2020 Bordeaux Red Wine, $28.99, 93 points, poured an opaque pomegranate red with a bright pomegranate penumbra, broad clear meniscus, and sticky-stained legs.
Perfumed cinnamon/clove aromas were nuanced with black fruit and soft loam notes, all of which were excellent.
This Left-bank Grand Vin offering was dark and brooding, full-bodied, firmly structured, dry, showed good acidity and rich flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished quite long on black plums, iron, ripe black raspberry, warm spices, and earth notes, plus a warm 14.5% alcohol.
This was another great offering from Trade Joe's!

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Villa Antinori 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

 

Villa Antinori 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, $31.44-$39.99, 94 points, poured a deep ruby red color with a thin penumbra of amber/red, clear meniscus, and a torrent of hanging legs.
The bouquet was smoky, savory, chocolatey and red-fruity with perfumed dried cooking herbs.
A near full-bodied Chianti, dry, brightly acidic, sporting fine grainy tannins delivering an apropos leanness and delicious flavors reflective of the aromas with black and red pepper notes.
Finished long on the trailing palate, iron, a refined oak, red pepper, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Marinara pizza.
This Chianti ventured into Brunello quality. 

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Rossino Veneto 2023 Chardonnay IGT

 

Rossino Veneto 2023 Chardonnay IGT, $6.37-$16.99, 87 points, was a rainbow of light lemony-gold colors.
Aromas of pome blossoms, orange zest, and a hint of lime juice were uncharacteristic of Chardonnay, but simple and yet lovely.
This Italian Chardonnay was light-bodied, showed good acidity, and delivered deliciously straightforward white wine with subtle flavors reflective of the nose.
Finished as it began but with a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my baked porkchops, but only okay with my chicken-breast sub.
At under $10, a steal and suitable white table wine.

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Villa Cerna Primocolle 2021 Chianti Classico

 

Villa Cerna Primocolle 2021 Chianti Classico, $11.38-$24.99, 89 points, poured a blood red with an amber penumbra, clear meniscus, and copious small legs.
Aromas were soft wood, black tea, and perfumed floral notes.
This 2021 Chianti Classico was dry, lean, slightly tannic, and quite acidic. Flavors were dominated by tea and iron, but hints of mint, red raspberry-cream, earth, and dried herbs were tasty.
Finished very long on the trailing palate and a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my wife's chili. 

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Ken Wright Cellars Willamette Valley 2023 Chardonnay

 

Ken Wright Cellars Willamette Valley 2023 Chardonnay, $23.79-$29.99, 87 points, was a light brass color with a very broad graying penumbra.
Aromas of apples, cantaloupe, a hint of sour apricot, and dusty citrus notes were okay.
Another Willamette Valley medium-bodied off dry Chardonnay, and this showed fair acidity and rich flavors of caramel, white grape, nuanced with lemon zest, hint of oak, and crème brulée.
Finished slightly weak, but tasty and with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my baked chicken and great with my crusty fruit tarts.

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Secoli 2021 Valpolicella Ripasso

 

Secoli 2021 Valpolicella Ripasso, $11.42-$29.99, 86 points, poured a deep ruby red with orange highlights and bleeding thin meniscus.
Aromas were dominated by funk notes (slightly faulted wine) with subtle cinnamon, raisin, and perfumed black fruit.
This close-out Valpolicella suffered a bit early on, but after two days actually improved sufficiently to pair just fine with my Texas burger.
Full-bodied, showed good acidity, plank of firm tannin, and rebounding flavors reflective of the aromas with mint and cayenne pepper.
Finished long on the fading palate, a bit tart, and with a well-balanced 14% alcohol. 

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Bersano 'Nirvasco' 2019 Barolo (DOCG)

 

Bersano 'Nirvasco' 2019 Barolo (DOCG), $23.79-$48.99, 90 points, poured a burnt orange color with a cloudy meniscus and copious stained legs.
Aromas of shoe polish, black tea, and ripe red raspberry were pleasant.
This 2019 Barolo was light-medium-bodied, brightly acidic, showed fine-grainy tannins, and flavors of red cherry, oak notes, and cayenne infused Crème Brûlée.
Finished long on the trailing palate, cinnamon, iron, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spaghetti and meatballs.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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