Masciarelli Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2021

 

Deep dark eggplant hue with aromas of intense ripe red berry goodness and ripe plum  with rich sweet lovely bright fruit above the rim.   

Palate--Bright first impression with loads of rich berry compote, spicy zestiness, lip smacking structure and a finish that reminds you of why you bought this in the first place!

Masciarelli always produces an excellent value wine with the signature grape of D'Abruzzo.  I paid $8 for this wine but normally runs around $15.  At either price point is it a superior and is an excellent foro wine for all things Italian.  Raise a glass!

*Reviewed this past June and had a remarkably different impact on my taster. (It happens...)

OZV Old Vine Zinfandel (Lodi) 2021

 

Purple hue with aromas of spicy dark berry and plum.

Palate--Plummy first impression with big spiced front end that is quite invigorating. Structure is well done with nice acidity and a pretty decent integration for a young wine.  Finishes with all that's on the tongue.

This $15 (list) Zin picked up for $8 is a keeper and wish I have bought a lot more.  Raise a glass!

Casa Santos Lima Reserva 2015

Intense inky, black hue with aromas that come flowing out of the bottle with the extraction of the cork.  A bouquet of sophisticated and complex fruit nuances with perfumy, dark berry fruit full of mixed spices that

defy pinning down, a range of aromas that are seriously amazing I just want to keep sniffing this bottle.

Palate--The intensity of the hue carries though with a commensurate intensity of gargantuan mature fruit as a first impression with seductive complexities galore and again are confusing my senses! Raspberry and blueberry, blackberry trifle all in balance and begging for another quaff. Surprisingly, with all that is going on it has an unusually quick finish although there is a lingering subtle melange of wild berries at the very end. Dang!

I grabbed this at my fave wine store which is out of state sadly... If I had paid the list price of $26 for this I would NOT have been disappointed!  Tragically I bought only 1 bottle.  :( 

This is a blend of Syrah and some of the indigenous grapes of Portugal. It is AMAZING and here again the Wine Enthusiast misses the mark.  They tend to shoot to high on their reviews in recent years, but this one they amazingly really down played it giving it a mere 91 points.  I am being a bit facetious because 91 points out of 100 is a nice score but this wine deserves something special. I would give this wine 94 points. 

Despite its 9 years of age it will be drinking well for another 5-10 years so raise a glass.

Member's Martk "Old Vine" Zinfandel (Lodi) 2022

 

Light watermelon red hue with aromas of Zinfandel and light cinnamon.

Palate--Nice presentation with a slightly tart foundation that is actually kind of fun. Mouthwatering strawberry and spicy mid palate with a quick finish but never-the-less obviously Zinfandel.

Straightforward, not complex, but pleasant and and easy to drink.  This Sam's Club offering at under $7  is a decent quaff for the money so raise a glass!

Ballard Road Pinot Noir (Oregon) 2020

Lightly "bricked" hue with aromas of bread yeast with strawberry fruit.

Palate--Decent acidity and a front palate with steely strawberry, and a rear finish with light raspberry. Finish lingers a bit with an aftertaste of band-aids...

Unusual to have a Pinot showing the "brick" hue of aging at only four years of age. It is a bit awkward.  I bought it marked down from $19 to $8. It is not good even at $8.  The taste of "band-aids" is classic of a contaminant called brettanomyces. It is the scourge of any winery as it means something in the process is contaminated. Avoid this particular Pinot!

 

Beaulieu Vineyards Reserve "Tapestry" (NAPA) 2013

Substantial "bricking" on the garnet hue with lovely bouquet of mature, dark berries, cinnamon, leather and more.

Palate--First impression is a fully mature crafted wine with all the essentials of a wine with some capacity to age. Loads of red and dark berries with cinnamon, leather, and spice. Finishes with a graceful ending that is both enticing, lasting and seductive.

Expect to pay around $50 for this particular label and if you chance to see this 2013, open it immediately as it is head on its way out but it is drinking superbly now and can be enjoyed for another year if lucky!  Raise a glass!!!

This was a birthday present from my son who had just visited NAPA Valley. Me and BV's "Tapestry" have a romantic history with great memories as I have always been taken by this wine.  So much so that years ago I carried this wine to Tuscany and opened a bottle in the courtyard of Vignamaggio, a working vineyard/winery and the birthplace of Mona Lisa! My artist daughter immortalized it in an oil painting she did for me many years ago.

Thanks Beege!  <3

Javier San Pedro Randoz Tempranillo 2020 (Rioja)

 

Lovely garnet hue with really nice aromas of dried cherry, a touch of menthol,  and darker berry fruit with a hint of spice. 

Palate--Balanced, well structured, integrated with lively acidity, pie crust, ripe plum.

Another Trader Joe's spectacular value wine at $9 you have to buy more and raise a glass!

La Sonriente Garnacha 2022

Youthful deep purple with aromas of ripe plum 

Palate--Fruity front with lively acidity which tingles on the tongue, lots of spicy dark fruit of rich plum with a touch of a rustic finish.

Garnacha aka Grenache is one of Spains treasures and is always fruity, lively and fairly uncomplicated making it a nice quaff for appetizers, a main course or all by itself. At $7 ya gotta grab at least 6 of these for the versatility it brings and the economy as well.

Pairing it with charcoal grilled chicken so raise a glass!

SYRAH The Originals (Washington State) 2022

 

Deep purple with aromas of sweet berry pie or jam with gentle pie spicing.

Palate--Fruity first impression, made in a straight-forward manner, yet with big dark berry goodness that is rich and pleasing. Finishes quickly. 

I paid $10 for this at Trader Joe's thinking it was one of Charles Shaw's creations due to the Shaw-like labeling. It is uncomplicated and will pair well with a great variety of cheeses and cuisine. Tonight I am pairing it with a beef stir fry and it will work quite well.  Raise a glass!

NDP Red Blend (Vin de Pays d'Oc) 2012

 

Fairly intense *brickish red hue with aromas of grapefruit peel, subdued red berry fruit, slightest note of forest floor...

Palate--Big first impression with a blast of vibrant, lively fruit on a bold structure, with mid-palate of slightly sweet and savory spice albeit very gentle. Finishes quickly yet leaving a reminder that you might want another sip.

This is a non-vintage blend of I don't know what grapes. Which means it is a hodge podge of grape varieties as well as may be a hodge-podge of grapes or grape juice from one or more vintages. I think I paid about $8 for this at Trader Joe's and it is tasty enough and made well.  In general wines from the Pays d'Oc (region of France) tend to be value wines and tasty. I reviewed this wine back in Feb. of 2023 so you can see how the wine has fared over that time.  At $8 it's not a bad quaff at all so raise a glass.

Wine geek stuff:          *Brickish red hue--"Bricking" in wine terms refers to a brick red colored rim on the bowl of the wine indicative of a wine that is [potentially beginning] to show its age. However a grape like Nebiolo will show an appearance of bricking when in fact it is simply the color of the grape juice even when it is young.

Patôn-Clemente Tempranillo (La Mancha) 2021

Deep garnet hue with nice aromas of balanced cherry-berry fruit with gentle spices and other cherry berry notes.

Palate-Lively structure with youthful mouth feel and plenty of berry goodness but needs some time to ease up on the angularity of the it all.  Finishes abruptly.

This is a crazy $7 Trader Joe's wine and is worth the money for sure.  Should be a nice food wine so pairing it with homemade lasagna this evening.

"B" by Fonbadet 2019

Deep dark black cherry hue with amazing aromas of plum, black cherry, licorice, eucalyptus and probably more to emerge.

Palate-  Favorable first impression with rigid acidity, tannic backbone, steely front palate, impressive dark berry and plum fruit, with a lively finish that keeps on giving. 

OK this is somewhat surreal. I see this wine listed on line as high as $35 but I paid 
$8 for it from Trader Joe's.  What the heck is going on???  This is a hefty wine that will pair well with a large variety of foods but I am putting with charcoal grilled chuck eye steaks. I will also be hoping to grab a lot more of this fro TJ's as it has the gusto to age well for another decade so raise many glasses!!!