Sea Slopes, Fort Ross Winery, Sonoma Coast 2019 Pinot Noir

 

Sea Slopes, Fort Ross Winery, Sonoma Coast 2019 Pinot Noir, $27.19-$33.99, 88 points, poured a beautiful ruby red with orange highlights, a broad clear wine ring, and copious legs.
Aromas of black cherry, dried cooking herbs, and black tea were soft, but pleasant.
This was a medium-bodied dry Pinot with the Pinot Noir grape specific flavor dominating cherry fruit, the black tea notes, the cooking herbs, and a steely minerality.
Finished long, tart, a bit spicy, and with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my BLT.  

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved; Dennis Tsiorbas
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Château Larose-Trintaudon Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2015 Bordeaux

 

Château Larose-Trintaudon Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2015 Bordeaux, $22.99-$26.99, 89 points, poured a faded purple/red behind a tinted glass appearance with a broad clear meniscus and copious stained legs.
Aromas were rich black plums, cinnamon, juniper berry, and blackberry cordial.
A near full-bodied red wine with good acidity, firm grainy tannins, and slightly weak flavors of blueberry, black fruit, unripe mulberry, and citrus notes.
Finished long, tart, a bit astringent, whispers of mint and red raspberry with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol were quite good.
Paired perfectly with my baby-backed ribs.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2015

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved; Dennis Tsiorbas

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Casa al Vento "ARIA" 2016 Chianti Classico (DOCG) Revisited

Casa al Vento "ARIA" 2016 Chianti Classico (DOCG) Revisited, $14.44-$32.99, 89 points, poured a dark purple/red with copper highlights, a clear wine ring, and light glass sheeting.
Aromas of cinnamon, black cherry, and a whisper of lavender were quite good.
A medium to medium-plus body carried balanced flavors of black cherry, plum, and black tea all buoyed by supportive tannin and acidity.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a touch of red pepper, minerality, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my provolone meatball sub.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved; Dennis Tsiorbas

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Tiefenbrunner 2019 Pinot Grigio (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy)

 

Tiefenbrunner 2019 Pinot Grigio (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy), $14.99-$16.99, 89 points was a dark straw-yellow color and clear only at the rim.
Aromas were soft white chocolate, juniper, and peach skin.
A near medium-bodied dry white wine with fair to good acidity and good flavors of tangerine zest, lemon oil, and ginger.
Finished long on the trailing palate, melon rind, and a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired nicely with my baked battered Haddock.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved; Dennis Tsiorbas
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Trefethen Oak Knoll, Napa Valley, 2019 Chardonnay

 

Trefethen Oak Knoll, Napa Valley, 2019 Chardonnay, $32,29-$39.99, 93 points, was a light-yellow gold color and clear towards the rim.
Aromas of pome blossoms, lemon zest, and tropical fruit were outstanding.
This light/lean-bodied dry white wine showed bright acidity and balanced citrus flavors with hints of pineapple and grapefruit.
Finished long on the fading palate, lime, a hint of passion fruit, and a perfectly modest 13.2% alcohol.
Paired fine with our Asian cuisine.
Nothing like most Cali Chardonnays; more like a robust less mineralized Chablis.
I loved it!

2019 Vintage California Chardonnay

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved; Dennis Tsiorbas
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Mirassou California 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Mirassou California 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, $5.72-$$7.95, 85 points, poured a dark cranberry red with a clear meniscus and moderate stained legs.
The quiet bouquet of floral and woody notes was pleasant enough.
This was a full-bodied "industrial" red wine without much character, but without any offense; a well-suited wine for large groups as a red table wine or for the low-budget everyday tipple; showed a soft underlayment of tannin, fair acidity, red fruit, plum, and a bit of licorice flavors.
A fair conclusion with a well-balanced 13.9% alcohol on the finish; a super-priced but uneventful Cabernet.
Paired okay with our deep-dish pepperoni pizza.

2018 California Cabernet Sauvignon Wines Tasted

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved; Dennis Tsiorbas
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Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley 2018 Merlot

 

Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley 2018 Merlot, $49.99-$56.99, 94 points, poured a deep ruby red grading to a slightly unfiltered red garnet towards a "rainbow" penumbra and thick stained sheeting on the glass bowl.
Aromas were softly floral with an abundance of ripe fruit, mulling spice, and a hint of juniper.
A full-bodied dry and round Merlot with deeply interwoven flavors of fruit, cocoa, and spice.
Finished long on the trailing palate, white pepper, limestone, and a spot-on 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Nedeau's steak tips and cheese sub.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2021, All rights reserved; Dennis Tsiorbas

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