Corvelia Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Lot 23

 

Deep purple hue with aromas of bright expressive blackberry and plum and a floral bouquet.

Palate--Decent structure with decent blackberry and plum flavors on a decently structured foundation. 

At $10 Corvelia makes a nice product so raise a glass!

Gaetano D' Aquino Chianti Riserva 2023

Slightly opaque garnet hue with *bricking at the rim. Simple bouquet of cherry and dark berry both subtle.

Palate--Mouth watering acidity, with a relaxed structure, supple mouth feel, and essentially no finish.

This is a perennial Trader Joe's offering and in the past (many years ago) it was quite a steal at the $7 price point and I used to embibe of many bottles of it annually. If you are on a tight budget, go ahead and serve this with cheese and crackers with friends or even with light tomato based pasta dishes.  It is not going to enhance the food but it won't hurt it either.

*Bricking is the oxidation of red wine as it ages turning a light yellow to brown at the rim first and then increasingly more. A wine this young should not be bricking but then again, a Chianti really shouldn't run $7 a bottle.

Castello di Querceto "Quercetino" 2024

Deep Garnet with aromas of Cherry with art raspberry bouquet that is quite lovely.

Palate--Predictable acidic foundation, with subdued flavors all around. Nothing stands out at all but I just opened this so in its youth it probably needs to open up a great deal.

This blend is 40% Sangiovese, 40% Merlot and 20% Syrah which explains a LOT.  But in fairness my taster may be off today... It is soft and easy drinking but it's just not going it for me but then again I was expecting Sangiovese.

I probably paid around $12 for this and as it stands it is marginal, but again it could be ME...  Caveat Emptor!

TGA "Iconic Macedonian Red Wine" 2023

A lovely jellied cranberry hue sets off this aromatic fruit filled bouquet of sweet pomegranate, and a host of red fruits that are tantalizing out of the gate with a gentle sweet spice accompaniment. 

Palate--First impression is that this is well made, if a bit light in texture but with a nice line of acidity, leaving a somewhat sparse mid palate of red fruit (ripe raspberry?) that vanishes pretty quickly.   

I had no idea what to expect as I may have had 2 or 3 bottles from this part of the world in all my 50 years of wine experience. In one sense there "isn't much there" yet in another, it is so balanced as to be seductive and wanting to be imbibed. From the grape named "Vranec" again, unknown to me it is the signature grape of the region from what I read.

I am pairing it tonight with my wife's oven baked chicken with root vegetables. I paid $12 for it and I am glad I gave it a shot.  If you happen to stumble on it I think it is worthy of a try. Raise aglass!

Two Intriguing worlds: Enology and Horology!

 

Pictured is a stately bottle of Il Barone La Amorosa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. I reviewed this wine New Years 2025 and it was a gift from my son who at the outset of this blog was my I.T. Marketing genius.

Crowning the neck of this great wine is my new Atelier Loreti "Celestial Tourbillon with Aventurine dial.

Like the wine which was a gift, my new watch was also a gift from my wife of 53 years who has been battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia since Aug. 2025. Her care has been intense enduring 6 different chemos in preparation for an allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant. Since I am a watch collector she wanted to get me a "thank you" watch for all I am going through with her. (Her words not mine...) 

The Il Barone Cabernet took several years of expert productioncare, oversight and meticulous attention to detail yielding a memorable and special wine. Such bottles capture the event of the occasion yielding years of memories of their significance. 

The Atelier Loreti Celestial Tourbillon is the result of several years of production of this complicated movement first invented by Abraham-Louis Briguet in 1801 to counter the effect of gravity on the balance wheel of the pocket watch compromising its inherent accuracy.  The stunning beauty of this time piece reminds me of the love and life my wife and I have shared together since high school where we met.

Two different worlds: Enology (science of wine) and Horology (science of watch making). I think they blend extraordinarily well.  Raise a glass!

Kramer Vineyards "Pinot Gris" Estate 2023

Nearly translucent hue with aromas of very light lemon, a hint of melon, and a touch of pineapple and tropical fruit.

Palate--First impression is one of a very relaxed structure but with sufficient acidity to carry through.This is SO relaxed that there isn't a single over whelming burst of fruit that says, "HEY look at me" but if there were it would be lemon. 

I am pairing this tonight with Salmon and a lemon dill/butter sauce. I think it will work!  BTW the label of this wine is quite stately and attractive.  Well done! List price on this wine is $18 but I found it for $9 which is more reasonable as this is not a great pinot gris. 

Wente Cabernet Sauvignon "Southern Hills" 2023

Nicely pigmented with that bold Cab hue with aromas of bold blackberry above the rim with a nuanced gentler cherry berry underneath.

Palate--A rather stately or modest first impression well crafted as I would expect but really needs to open up. Integrated and silky tannins making this Cab go down OH SO easily. Finishes with a more robust blast of acid (in all the right ways.) With lingering plum trailing off.

Listed around $20, I found it for $13 and wish I would have bought more.  Pairing it with charcoal grilled short cut steak so Raise a Glass!

PETIOLE Pinot Noir "Willamette Valley" 2024

Lighter beautiful, crystalline ruby hue with aromas of subtle bouquet with light ripe raspberry, and sweet cherry & spice, again very subtle.

Palate--Elegant first impression with nice structure and balanced. There's just not a lot happening here. It is a delightful "wine" but as Pinot Noir, I am not sure I would have known that tasting it blind and Pinot is one of the easiest (for me) to identify.  Never-the-less at $9 (Trader Joe's)  I'd buy it again which means "Raise a glass!"

Javier San Pedro --Randez-- Tempranillo 2022

 

Dark garnet hue with nice bouquet of seductively slightly savory/sweet fragrance of light raspberry and black cherry. 

Palate-Stern acidity is the first impression with a relaxed mid-palate with a melange of berries that is surprisingly thin and fleeting. 

After a little more time to breath it is a bit relaxed overall but still relatively thin. Tempranillo is the signature grape of the Rioja and classic bottles can get quite expensive. I am pairing it with Sirloin Steak indoors because of rain and it will be a decent pairing even if a little disappointing at $10.  Never-the-less, raise a glass! 

Reggiano "Lambrusco" (NV)

 

Red wine (LOL) with sweet, berry aromas...

Palate--Simple, not offensive, sweet profile with light berry fruit and a refreshing sparkle in the mouth.

OK...This $6 "beverage" is the kind of "wine" someone who doesn't like wine might like!  Why? Because it doesn't really taste like wine...very much.  LOL  OK I am admittedly being a bit snobby but truthfully I enjoyed it with my wife's bacon, cheese, spinach quiche and it was quite delightful. 

At $6 from Trader Joe's chill it down, enjoy it poolside or at a BBQ in the glorious hot Summer and raise a glass!

Sheep Ranch "Matchbook" Malbec 2023

Garnet hue with aromas of subtle root beer, ripe berry with a slightly rustic twinge, and berry pie.

Palate--A burst of acidity first impression with bold tannins that need some time, tightly wound, restrained fruit all of which points to a wine not quite ready to be enjoyed as much as it could. 

This Malbec (not the usual grape you think of when you think California) but it is well constructed and just needs more time in bottle like a couple years... This wine lists around $18 and might be worth it if you have the time to try one now and lay a couple bottles down. I believe you would be rewarded if you have the inclination. 

RAIMUND PRÜM Riesling. "Essence" 2023

 

This German Riesling is a beautiful golden hue with a bouquet of nice tropical fruit hints, subtle citrus, with sweet baby powder notes on an apple pie crust bouquet.

Palate--A seductive first impression with a classic "off dry" presence with subtle tropical fruit melange that is more shallow than I would have expected. It finishes quickly and is very nice yet disappointingly "one dimensional." 

At $15 I would expect a bit more as Mosel (Germany) Riesling is one of my favorite white wines. It lacks the acidity that I look for in a nice Riesling but since it has been a while since I have had this grape I am sure it will pair well with my Chinese dinner take out so raise a glass!

EPICURO "Aglianico" Puglia 2024

Intense and beautiful, cytaline youthful purple hue with aromas of blackberry and a spicy presence.

Palate--First impression is rich and metallic with gobs of ripe blackberry through and through. 

This youthful Aglianico is a touch thin, and quickly fleeting but then again this is a $6 Trader Joe's offering which is a delicious casual, and affordable red wine for Pizza although I am pairing it with my homemade Beef stroganoff. 

Serve this when you need an affordable but reliable wine with casual company, and hors d'oeuvres with friends who are there for the company and not the food.  Raise a glass!