Proemio, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022 Chardonnay

 

Proemio, Mendoza, Argentina, 2022 Chardonnay, $7.99-$16.99, 91 points, was a medium yellow-gold color with a broad clear penumbra and noticeable fat legs.
Aromas of heated Mandarin orange peel, fresh ginger, a hint of wood and minerality were excellent.
This unusual Chardonnay just might be the blind-taster's nemesis: light-bodied, dry, bright acidity, relatively low alcohol (12.4%), citrusy, and spicy.
Finished long, tangy, gingery, almost like an intense Chablis.
Paired well with my rotisserie chicken. 

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Castellare 2022 Chianti Classico (DOCG)

 

Castellare 2022 Chianti Classico (DOCG), $21.99-$24.99, 92 points, poured a bright ruby red with orange highlights in the shallows, a medium-sized clear meniscus, and copious stained legs.
Aromas of perfumed strawberries, red cherry, black tea, subtle blueberry syrup, and sweet cooking herbs were lovely if a bit soft.
The 2022 Castellare Chianti Classico was typically medium-bodied, dry, showing bright acidity and spiciness, fine grainy tannins, and delicious flavors reflecting much of the aromas.
Finished long, a tad tight, tart, and tangy with a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with Mister Mac's taco mac and cheese.
This is my twelfth vintage of this wonderful Tuscan gem.

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Benmar Springbok, Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley 2023 Pinot Noir

 

Benmar Springbok, Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley 2023 Pinot Noir, $22.99-$31.99, 90 points, poured a deep ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and copious thin legs.
Aromas were herbaceous with good cherry-fruit notes.
This Willamette Valley Pinot was atypically lively with spiciness, good acidity, grainy tannins, and typically with a dry medium body.
Finished long, tart, with that intense spiciness, red fruit notes, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spaghetti and meatballs. 

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Te Mata Estate Hawke's Bay 2023 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Te Mata Estate Hawke's Bay 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, $19.99-$27.99, 91 points, was a very light brass color with a graying penumbra.
Aromas were dominated by passion fruit with citrus and grassy notes.
This Kiwi SB was light-bodied, showed bright acidity and lively flavors reflective of the aromas with white grapefruit and a whisper of ginger.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a bit tart, and with a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my baked Icelandic cod, and our fried chicken.

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Ruffino Riserva Ducale 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva

 

Ruffino Riserva Ducale 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva, $19.99-$23.99, 93 points, poured a bright ruby red with orange highlights, a clear meniscus, and thick sicky legs.
The bouquet of perfumed red fruit with black tea, rose pedal, and a hint of licorice were lovely.
This Riserva was medium-full-bodied, bone-dry, showed bright acidity, grainy tannins, and tasty flavors reflective of the bouquet plus an intense alcohol (14%) infused spiciness.
Finished long on the fading palate, spearmint, and oak.
Paired perfectly with my prosaic hamburger.

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Matanzas Creek Winery, California, 2024 Chenin Blanc

 

Matanzas Creek Winery, California, 2024 Chenin Blanc, $18.99-$21.99, 87 points, was a very light brass color with a broad graying penumbra.
The faint aromas of mandarin peel, mint leaf, and lime juice were just okay for me.
This light-bodied Cali Chenin Blanc had surprising flavors of black pepper and Necco wafer to accent citrus and ginger notes; showing good acidity with a lean mouthfeel.
Finished long on the fading palate, a bit tart, and with a well-balanced 11.5% alcohol.
Paired only fair with my fried chicken but better with my Dungeness crab salad.
I found this Chenin Blanc to be competent, but a tad pricy.

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Pampa Estate Mendoza 2022 Malbec

 

Pampa Estate Mendoza 2022 Malbec, $9.99-$14.99, 88 points, poured a somewhat debris ridden deep pomegranate red with a thin clear wine ring and fat legs.
Aromas of smoky black fruit, cedar notes, and petrichor were pleasant.
Typically, a South American full-bodied Malbec with fair acidity soft round tannins, and lush fruit flavors with a hint of anise.
Finished long on hints of anise, mint, and iron with a comfortable 12.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my roast beef and goat's cheese sandwich.
A tasty straight-forward easy to drink red wine.

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Caymus Napa Valley 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Caymus Napa Valley 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, $67.99-$79.99, 94 points, poured core black grading to a deep purple/red similar to a rich Shiraz, and a bleeding meniscus with dense copious legs.
A bouquet of black fruit, coffee, chocolate, and subtle cedar notes were typical, for Caymus, complex and a bit overwhelming.
A Big, unctuous, dry Cabernet Sauvignon, almost like drinking a vanilla pudding covered in a chocolate sauce smothered in over ripe blackberries and a dash of thyme.
This Caymus showed fair acidity, was rather soft and round, and was supported by a rather gentle underlayment of tannin; just maybe a Merlot-lovers Cab.
Finished long on the fading palate with a hint of iron and a very well-balanced 14.6% alcohol.
Not typically my style of Cabernet Sauvignon but was better than I remembered.
Paired perfectly with my Texas burger.

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Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne

 

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne, $56.79-$74.99, 94 points poured a rich glossy yellow gold color with a coppery sheen and ferocious bubbles.
Aromas of pome fruit, sun-dried hay, and hops were outstanding.
This Brut Reserve was a complex medium-bodied dry bubbly with bright acidity and great depth of character, flavors rich in pome fruit, citrus notes, and fermented hops and grape notes influenced by Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay.
Finished long on ginger ale, a non-descript spiciness, and a welcome 12% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my fried clams.
I don't drink Champagne often, but this sure was a treat.

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Castello Del Poggio 2021 Barbera D'Asti DOCG

 

Castello Del Poggio 2021 Barbera D'Asti DOCG, $11.89-$28.99, 90 points, poured a bright cranberry red with a broad clear wine ring and fat sticky legs.
The interesting spicy cinnamon red cherry was nuanced with comforting linin and evergreen notes.
Another medium-bodied, bone-dry, and spicy red wine with bright acidity, fine grainy tannins, and tasty flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long on spearmint and a big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my roast beef and goat's cheese sub.

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G.D. Vajra-ALBE, 2021 Barolo DOCG

G.D. Vajra-ALBE, 2021 Barolo DOCG, $34.99-$41.99, 93 points, poured a rustic pomegranate red with copious sticky and stained legs and a broad clear meniscus.
The aromas vacillated between competing notes of flowers, perfume, red fruit, and hints of mint and milk chocolate.
This 2021 Barolo was medium-bodied, bone-dry, showed bright acidity, supportive fine grain tannins, very hot and spicy, and a tasty red cherry, lentils, black tea, and mint leaf flavors.
Finished long and spicy with a big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my grass-fed burger.
This is not a wine I recommend for soft Malbec/Merlot lovers stuck on soft round easy gulping red wines.

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Château De PEZ 2ND Saint- Estèphe 2019 Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château De PEZ 2ND Saint- Estèphe 2019 Bordeaux Red Wine, $29.74-$34.99, 89 points, poured a rich cranberry red with a broad clear wine ring and sticky glass sheeting.
Soft, almost dumb aromas of funk, wood, cedar, and plum were just okay for me.
This wineries 2nd was a tasty near full-bodied dry red wine showing flavors of red fruit, mint, wood, and warm spices, good acidity, fine grainy tannins, and a balanced 14% alcohol.
Finished long on the trailing palate with spearmint most noticeable.
Paired fine with my meatball sub.

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Château Apogée Lalande-de-Pomerol 2019 Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Apogée Lalande-de-Pomerol 2019 Bordeaux Red Wine, $27.99-$54.99, 90 points, poured deep ruby red with copper highlights, a cloudy meniscus. and fat-stained legs.
The aromas of plums, cinnamon, clove, and hints of mint and red fruit were quite nice.
Upfront silky full-bodied dry red wine showed soft tannins excited by the 13.5% alcohol and spice notes; showed good acidity and tasty anise, plum, and dried cooking herbs.
Finished long on the trailing palate with a hint of iron.
Paired perfectly with my beef and cheese enchiladas. 

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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