Friday, March 15, 2024

Bogle Pinot Noir 2021 (California)

Cherry juice hue with aromas of cherry, pomegranate, raspberry with oak notes.

Palate--Somewhat acidic first impression with woody fruit front and center, oftart raspberry finishing a bit chewy and fleeting. 

Bogle is a reliable value winery!  Buy with confidence on everything they produce. I found this on closeout at a local box store for $7! I bought 2 bottles. No, this is not complex, exciting, or 
"must have" but C'mon, at $7?  It's a no brainer. Pairing with my wife's baked chicken thighs and root vegetables.  Raise a glass.


 


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Bogle Zinfandel (Old Vine) 2021

This oft reviewed, (Sept.) -- and imbibed--Zin was on sale for $7.00 so I grabbed what they had left. 

Nice garnet hue with aromas of spicy blackberry, licorice, and spicy big fruit.

Palate--Good first impression with a load of rich berries, brooding flavors of more dark berries, and stout structure.

This is a reliable production and if you love Zinfandel it can be found very reasonably for $8.00-$12.00, sometimes less!  I buy it when it's at the lower range.

Tonight pairing with leftover homemade lasagna which works very well with this nice wine so raise a glass!

Monday, March 11, 2024

Belhara Estate Single Vineyard Malbec 2021

Nice rich looking dark purple hie with fruity aromas with yeasty baked bread, lovely dark fruit, grapefruit at the edge, sweet pie spice and savory spice as well...

Palate--Nice texture with big fruit front with hefty structure, blueberry pie nuances with a finish that lingers.

Reviewed just this past September, this is drinking very well and at $10 for a Single Vineyard Malbec it is is legal robbery!  This is a Trader Joe's super value wine so grab some and raise a glass!

Saturday, March 09, 2024

Cave De Lugny Mâcon-Lugny "Les Charmes" Chardonnay 2021

 

Nice golden hue with big aromas of lemon, vanilla, baby powder, and a sweet fruit salad.

Palate--Tart first impression, with a slightly bitter mid palate, supporting loads of lemon and lip smacking acidity. Finishes with a subtle honey ending. 

I paid about $10 for this Burgundy and it is quite the wine.  Acidity is a bit over the top for most palates but I happen to love razor edge acidity. I will  be pairing it with my wife's broccoli cheese soup! Raise a glass!



Friday, March 08, 2024

Innocenti Brunello di Montalcino 2017

Bricking at the rim already with a nice deep garnet hue setting off aromas of Beautiful fresh cherry fruit up front with a rustic, forest floor bouquet and a hint of licorice...

Palate--Mouth watering structure with savory mid palate on top of deep dark rich cherry berry fruit, earthy,and chewy tannins. It finishes with more lovely, slightly lingering, red cherry happiness.

This pricey Brunello is Sangiovese through and through and crafted for some life. The bricking (slight browning) is a bit surprising  in that these should be age worthy for 15 years and beyond. I would drink this NOW to experience the lovely fruitiness still there although it will e a different wine in a couple years, it will be very pleasurable.

This was a gift but I see it at the $60-$70 price point. That's a little overshot for the wine but a nice treat. I will be serving it with my wife's lasagna! 

Thursday, March 07, 2024

Confidencial Reserva 2018

Intense, inky purple with sweet aromas up front, spicy red and bark berry fruit with nicely balanced spices, tar, baker's chocolate.

Palate--Integrated, structured pleasant filling fruit, berry pie filling, savory spice at the end with a lingering finish. 

A $10 (reference point $15) this multiple grape blend is delicious and priced below its value. It is drinking lovely and a  bargain even at $15 so raise a glass!

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

Joseph Händler Riesling 2022

 

Very pale straw hue with fruity aromas of spicy pear, apple, chinese five spice.

Palate--Lively spritzig (slight pin prick bubbles) with lovely tropical fruit flavors, subdue green apple and robust spicy pear.

This $7 Riesling from the Pfalz region of Germany is quite juicy a delicious. It is another Trader Joe's offering and is surprisingly good for the money.  Chill it down a bit, and serve it with asian cuisine or indian or all by itself and raise a glass.

Monday, March 04, 2024

Poco a Poco 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek Valley)

 

Intense dark black/purple with aromas of pine pitch, spicy black cherry, 

Palate--Juicy foundation, lively savory, dark cherry and blackberry, pine, and a touch of mint. Finishes with a slight chewiness, and flavors linger a while telling you to get more! 

For such a young cab from this AVA it is drinking quite well. It will be even better and more integrated in another 2-3 years. The Wine Enthusiast gave this a generous 93 points.

This was a gift from a special friend and it is a lovely Cabernet from Sonoma (Dry Creek Valley AVA) and sells for around $30. It will be paired with charcoal grilled short cut steak and it will be perfect.  

Raise  a glass!


 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Scotto Family Cellars Zinfandel (Lodi 2017)

 

Solid cherry red hue to the rim with aromas of sweet spicy Zinfandel fruit, spices and red berry through out.

Palate--Nicely made, relaxed profile, lovely Zin variertal fruit, everything in the bouquet shows up on the palate, with a nice finish that hangs on a bit saying "Drink More!"

This Lodi Calif. Zin is a fave of mine and you have seen it reviewed here many times. Trader Joes has a hard time keeping this in stock and the price has gone up from $7 to $10 in the past 3 years....... Still a value so raise a glass!



Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

 

Nice pigmented dark garnet hue with aromas of leather, spicy currant, cigar ash, with underlayer of fresher red cherry-berry fruit

Palate--Bold presentation with ample fruit, solid structure, mid-palate of ruby red grapefruit, toffee, rear palate of baked, burnt apple, chewy tannins, and a fleeting though fruity finish.

This Chilean Cab from the Colchagua is a nice example of how solid the Chilean Cabernet landscape has developed over the decades into a world class contender.  I paid $10 for this nice wine but expect to pay a bit more. 

I am pairing it with my wife's homemade beef pot pie and it will be just fine.