Dancing Crow Vineyards Zinfandel (North Coast) 2023

 

Grapey purple hue with aromas of ash, somewhat unique fruit bouquet of perky red berry with an edge.  

Palate--Confusing first impression with solid fruit foundation.  Mid palate there is a pleasant "bitterness" but needs some air time.

This is my first exposure to this winery and while I was having a not so great day, my wife of 51 years came home with this for me. :) I think my wife probably paid around $20 for it.  It is a different style which is always a nice treat but not sure it should be in the $20 price range.  

Pairing it with my homemade venison chile and it will rock.  

Gabbiano Pinot Grigio 2022

Pale straw hue with aromas of wonderful summer fruit with baby powder, green apple and stone fruit, and sweet spice on the edge. 

Palate--Metallic first impression with rigid acidity, and loads of luscious mouth watering summer fruit mixed with tropical fruit compote and a palate cleansing acidity with a fletting finish.

Pairing this with Parmesan and garlic shrimp tonight and it should be great. 

I grabbed this for $9 and Gabbiano is a trusted name in Italian wine. This would be great in a warm clime with fresh fruit and light cheeses on the patio or all by itself at poolside. Here in Maine where we have been enjoying the "polar vortex" and below zero nights, we'll stick with a fireplace and spicy shrimp. Raise a glass!

Mohua Pinot Noir 2018

Lighter strawberry juice hue with slight signs of aging around the rim. Aromas of strawberry and raspberry juice, sweet red juice above the rim, and a spicy touch above the rim.   

Palate--Raspberry front palate first impression with sturdy juicy foundation, with raspberry pie on the end and a finish that hangs on for a bit. 

This Central Otago New Zealand Pinot has a pretty good pedigree. New Zealand produces some very nice Pinot Noirs and they will run you upwards of $20 and more. This 2018 is at its peak and will not hang on to much longer. If you have one I suggest drinking ASAP.

I am pairing it with oven roasted chicken thighs and root vegetables. It will be lovely match so raise a glass but look for a younger wine!

G3 Merlot Columbia Valley 2020

Garnet hue with aromas of tart raspberry, a subtle floral touch, and more fragrant dark cherry.

Palate--Tart first impression with a lively mid-palate, nice red berry fruit mid-palate, tannins that are still a bit harsh, with a somewhat smoky finish. Overall a nice quaff.

I paid $15 for this and it is a decent wine for price but nothing memorable which you really wouldn't expect anyway at this price point. 

Ceclia Beretta Valpolicella "Ripasso" Superiore 2022

Sweet cherry aroma highlights the sturdy garnet hue with hints of bath powder, a touch of rustic spices.

Palate--Lusty first impression with bold presentation of really nice dried berries, cherry, savory nuanced spices, and forest floor.  Finish is quick but makes you want to go back for more.

The "ripasso" method is special and you should Google it if interested.  

Another Trader Joe's super value at $12 which is a crazy price for this with such quality. Grab more if you can as it is young and will please for years to come.  Raise a glass!

Vignobles Lacheteau Vouvray 2023 (Loire) Vouvray

Pale straw with aromas of green apple, hints of lime, peach and tropical fruits.

Palate--Lovely first impression of balanced even if a little flabby, with immense fresh, summer fruit, tropical fruit medley, apple and while the finish is fleeting, it is present enough to tantalize you for another quaff. 

This is another Trader Joe's regular which is generally around $7-10 and it is a bargain at any price like this. Chenin Blanc is the grape of the Loire Valley in France and they know how to do it well.

I will be pairing this with my cumin, coriander rubbed pork chops and it should work very well so raise  a glass!

Susumaniello Ruggero Di Bardo 2022

 

Deep purple hue with fragrant bouquet of pomegranate, beautiful berry fruit with lovely floral notes, and sweet spice on the edges.

Palate--A bit tart with big fruit berry filled flavors, on a structured foundation that is youthful yet approachable now but will improve over the next few years. 

This previously reviewed (although a different vintage) Trader Joe's regular is a bargain at $10. I loved the 2021 and I love this one as well.  Needs another year or two to be at its optimum but it is swell with charcoal grilled rib-eye, lasagna, pasta and hearty cheeses. Raise a glass!

Nardone Taurasi Riserva 2015

Deep purple hue with inky intensity. Aromas of spicy hard fruit candies and oaky notes.

Palate--Silky presentation, with semi sweet impression although not sweet in the least. Textured, silky tannins, mouth filling red and dark cherry-berry flavors, with a sweet savory spiciness and a finish that lingers. 

A Christmas present from a relative who knows wine. This is lovely, well made, delicious and will pair well with my celebratory dinner of the inauguration of a new, lawful, America First President.  

This will run you around $35 and it is a treat so raise a glass!

Vidigal Porta 6 2022

 

A pretty purple hue with aromas of tart red apple, sour pomegranate, powder, pie crust, and a faint fouch of urea.

Palate--Mouth watering acidity with a juicy foundation, big minerally steel mid palaste, and puckery tannins. Fleeting finish.

This is a Trader Joe's Portuguese wine and at $6 I don't know what's not to like.  It would be wild with some strong cheeses, or a grilled hamburger, roasted, spiced chicken, pizza or my dinner tonight, my wife's homemade broccoli cheese soup.  I mean it is $6 so, why not give it a shot!  Raise a glass!

LeVigne winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Paso Robles)

Red slightly opaque garnet hue with aromas of ripe fruit but needs some time to open up to what's really there.

Palate--On opening: I like the first impression of a balanced, integrated, rich berry fruit with a lively acidity with a rich mid-palate of more plum and blackberries. Finishes with a slightly fruity intrigue.

Reference price on this Cab is $30 but I paid $15 on sale.  It's nice, food friendly but will be better in a couple more years.  Raise a glass.

Palazzo Vecchio Toscana Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Garnet hue with some agin showing already at the rim. Aromas of blackberry, tar, sweet spice above the rim and steely, savory spice at the edges with an enticing "something" that is eluding my identificacion.

Palate--Integrated profile with solid acidity, and dry crushed red berry mid palate, with rustic savory spice reminiscent of Tuscan Sangiovese.

Display price for this Tuscan Cabernet was $22 though I paid $11 for it. I will pair it with my wife's homemade lasagna and it will be lovely.  That it is already showing signs of age means it should be drank as soon as possible.  It will be tasty for another 8-16 mos.   Raise a glass! 

Alyan Family Ambassador Gran Cuvée 2017

Nice dark purple hue with big aromas of coffee, deep brooding berry fruit, inky ripe plum...

Palate-Bold profile with big fruit bomb with structured foundation and liveliness that demands more time in the bottle.  Cherry, dark berry, savory spice on the edges, never-the-less, inky dark fruit, maturing tannins but still youthful, and all the foundation of a wine that will age for many more years. Finish is a bit confusing with wood at the center.

A Chilean creation of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. This wine is marked at a $30 price point but I found it for $15. It will go with my charcoal grilled bone-in pork chops perfectly so if you find it for $15 definitely raise a glass and buy a couple more to lay down! 

Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Straw hue with aromas of atypical fruity, tropical fruit bouquet, sweet spice and summer fruit.    

Palate--Tart first impression with racy acidity and minerality accompanied by mild summer fruit and tropical fruit compote.

This is a very strange Sauvignon Blanc especially for California sourced fruit. The typical grassy Sauvignon Blanc profile is absent and I would never have guessed this was a S. Blanc.

Geyser Peak was one of my very early wine experiences going back 40+ years. Its juicy acidity will be passable with a buttery sauce or by itself for the non-discriminating palate. 

I paid $8 for this although the reference price was $15 which is not worth it. There are many S. Blancs around the $10 price point that have structure, character and taste like S. Blanc.  Even at $8 I would give this a pss!

Chateau Fontarabie "Premier" (Blayes Côtes de Bordeaux) 2020

Garnet hue with aromas of fresh red berries above the rim, raspberry notes, a touch of rose and black pepper.

Palate--Silky texture with big acidity, savory spice on the edges with rustic dark berry. Finish lingers a while leaving the dark berry to remind you to take another taste with whatever your dish is.  

This will be a good "food" wine which will be roasted root vegetable and salted chicken with crispy skin. It will be better in another two years if you can wait.

Reference price on this French creation is $26 but I snagged it for $11.  Raise a glass!

El Coto (semi-sweet) Rioja 2021

 

Light golden hue with aromas of tropical fruit, and gentle sweet spices with a hint of citrus.

Palate--I have never had a Rioja made from Chardonnay as this wine is and it is wonderful! Gentle sweetness but not sweet and lods of gentle tropical fruit and ripe pineapple. 

What is mind blowing is that this is a Spanish Chardonnay which I didn't even realize grew in the Rioja! It was running $16 but I found it for $7 and I wish I had bought a case, but the store I found it at is a couple hours away...   I paired this with our take-out Chinese and it was fabulous so raise a glass!

TXAKOLI PRIMO Zarautz 2022

Orange hue with strange aromas hard to pin down but seems like the liqueur called Aperol.

Palate--Slight carbonation with a slightly sour first impression, with of dry fruitiness again, hard to pin down as to its flavor...

I have never heard of this Spanish wine and bought it on a sale from $22 to $9.  I don't know what to think about it.  I paired it with sweet potato gnocchi and polish sausage and it worked rather well.  I don't really care for it but that's a matter of preference. The Wine Enthusiast gave it 91 points out of 100 which honestly seems absurd but...

I like new experiences and this one certainly fit the bill.  If you want to experiment raise a glass!

Green Fin "Red Table Wine" 2022

Purple hue with aromas of plum, blackberry and rich spices on the edge.

Palate--First impression is not bad at all. Fairly well balanced, loads of mouth watering berries and decent structure.  Finishes quickly but there is a tag note at the end...

This California "sourced" wine (which means it is made from grapes from anywhere in the state, and can be a blend of pretty much anything.) This is a $6 Trader Joe's wine and I like to grab these on occasion because occasionally you find one at this price point is actually quite good for the money. It is comprised of juice from a melange of grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Merlot, Tempranillo, and Zinfandel grapes. It is simple, straight forward, and honestly pretty easy to drink.  I will see how it stands up against my homemade venison chili. 

It does very well!!!

SYRAH "The Originals" 2020

Deep dark purple hue with big aromas of Dark berry pie, steely notes. 

Palate--Tasty first impression entering the palate, with robust acidity, dark plum, bitter chocolate mid palate, and a rich fruity but fleeting finish.    

Syrah also known as Shiraz in other parts of the world is a fruit bomb kind of wine and done properly is a wine I love for drinking all on its own or with bold sauces like italian cuisine and pizza which is what's on tap tonight.

Washington State makes good wine and this is a value though some won't like how fruity and big it is. I think I paid $10 for it and I would do it again so raise a glass!

Castle Rock Pinot Noir "Monterey County" 2021 (2 bottles; comparison)

Bottle #1        Light strawberry hue with slight bricking at the rim which is unusual for such a young wine. Aromas of cherry and raspberry with a ruby grapefruit note.

Palate--Tart first impression with unpleasant mouth feel and bitter mid-palate...Finishes with fleeting red grapefruit note.

Bottle #2   Light Cherry hue with aromas of relaxed cherry...

Palate--Tart first impression with light flavors of cherry, marginal texture with fleeting finish. 

Well then--Both bottles are less than Castle Rock's standard of solid production value wines. The second bottle I opened is slightly better than the first but it is possible that the difference may be due to the second bottle being 24 hours fresher. 

What to conclude?  The price of these bottles was $15 marked down to $8.  This may be a winery knowing their particular production was substandard and just decided to try and unload as many as they could.  A normal human being would never notice that these are not good wines. They would just conclude that they "just don't like Pinot Noir."  This is very unfortunate as Pinot Noir--the signature grape of the famed Burgundy region of France--are among the most expensive wines in the world! 

Castle Rock makes some really nice Pinot's at a very approachable price point. These just do not measure up.  Don't avoid the brand, avoid this vintage and region (Monterey) in this year. 

Il Barone La Amorosa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 New Years 2025

Nearly black in the bowel and deep magenta on the pour with immense aromas of rich ripe plum and blackberry, a suggestion of vanilla cream, and a thickish look to it on the swirl.

Palate-- (First impression on opening: Young, tart, supple tannins, vibrant acidity, mouth filling flavors of muscular dark berries, with oak notes and leather.)

(2nd tasting with some breathing: graphite and floral notes arising from the bouquet; Palate--Initial tartness has completely disappeared, leaving mouth filling blackberry and plum fruit galore on a rich luxurious bed.)

(3rd tasting: with dinner of charcoal grilled Prime Rib...Needless to say this was an amazing, elegant and gloriously perfect accompaniment.)

I can't afford this kind of wine (will run you around $100+)  so I am grateful for the wonderful gift that it was. Thanks Beege. :) 

López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia 2009

Opaqueish bricking at the rim with classic "aging" garnet hue and aromas of classy Tempranillo with cherry and plum notes with gentle spice.

Palate--Supple texture with steely foundation with savory spices mid palate, balanced all the way around but still not at its peak. Finish lingers in both texture and a blackberry trail.   

Even at this age it has time to grow but I wouldn't wait. Open it and raise glass! (about $40+)

Louis Eschenauer *Sauternes 2022

 

Light golden hue with aromas of mango, tropical fruit, hint of cinnamon and honey.

Palate--Ultra sweet first impression with a sufficient balance of acid to carry the immense sweetness.  Silky, thick texture in the mouth, like drinking velvet and a really nice honey finish although quick.  

I bought this finding it for $10 (375ml) which is a rare find. It certainly is not the classic Sauternes as made by Chateau D'Yquem but then I had one many years ago and it was $105 for the same size bottle.

Nevertheless it has been such a long time since I had any stripe of this wine so I am glad I grabbed it  Raise a glass!

*Wine geek stuff here:   The Sauternes region of France is world renown for dessert wines which can get very pricey. They are generally made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc grapes and Semillon which have been allowed to sit on the vine until they shrivel like raisins, concentrating the sugars into super sweet wine. As you can imagine, you don't get much juice out of a raisin hence part of the reason for the high price. Additionally the grapes are allowed to become infested (hopefully) by a fungus called Botrytis which also intensifies the residual sugars making an intensely sweet wine.  If the making of the wine does not allow for a high acidity the wine will be too sweet or "cloying" which makes for a syrupy kind of wine and not too enjoyable. 

Martellozzo Prosecco "*Vino Frizzante"

Pale straw hue with aromas of green melon, sweet spice, and tropical fruit cocktail and a touch of lime. 

Palate--Tepid bubbles, lacks depth but what's there is pleasant enough with everything you smell in the bouquet. Finishes before it starts and is a bit watery.

In some ways this sort of describers your typical "Prosecco" which while being an unremarkable wine is wildly popular.  There are so many alternatives that are much better but some how this generic wine sells well and, well, people like what they like!  This wine runs about $8 at Trader Joe's so all I will say, is "Caveat Emptor."            HAPPY NEW YEAR!

*Vino Frizzante means fizzy wine...