WARRE'S Warrior Porto Finest Reserve

 

Intense deep purple nearly black hue with aromas of thick aromas of intense plum, blackberry, raisin, strawberry patch nearing harvest, and espresso.

Palate--Intense deep penetrating sweetness on the tongue yet with balanced, silky, presentation, with gobs of jammy lovely intense fruit with a silky lasting finish.

This Port is around $16 and worth every penny. Ya need to know how to drink Porto however.  It is a dessert wine and fantastic with some surprising pairings like strawberries, dark chocolate, bleu cheese, Stilton, and basically almost any desert you might serve but chocolate and fudge are the quintessential pairings. At this price point it is a NO brainer and wonderful so raise a glass!

Sky Side Red blend 2020 (North Coast)

Very cherry hue with aromas of sweet and spicy cranberry fruit with  a rustic touch to it. 

Palate--Acidic first impression that is over the top, with again, spicy cranberry fruit that is diminished with the raging acidity.  

I paid $12 (maybe) for this and it is to angular and with six years of age already done it is not going to relax.  I would skip this wine!

KungFu Girl Riesling. (Washington State) 2024

Pale straw hue with lovely Riesling aromas of sweet baby powder and lime above the rim, Christmas pudding in the bowl with vanilla bean on the edge.

Palate--*Off-dry first impression with sweet spice nuances surrounding a vanilla citrus note, and white not-quite-ripe melon and pineapple suggestions.  

Charles Smith has been creating Washington State wine at a bargain level for decades and he does it better than anyone!  This is a Trader Joe's regular offering around $12 and it is better than most wines like this at twice the price. I will be pairing this with salmon in a lemon dill sauce for my wife of 53 years who has endured the past 11 months of AML --Acute Myeloid Leukemia resulting in a Stem Cell Transplant at the renowned Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Ma. This birthday is quite special!

No matter how you pour it--raise a glass!

*Off dry is a description of white wines which people tend to say taste "sweet" and they don't like sweet wines so they have determined NOT to like the wine.  BUT--An "off-dry" wine is a wine like this which gives the impression of tasting sweet but is actually bone dry because the definition of a sweet wine is one which has residual sugar left behind that has not been fermented into alcohol. 

Layer Cake Shiraz 2021

Nice rich looking dark purple hue with aromas of thick black berry compote, blue flowers, and a hint of cola.

Palate--Supple mouth feel with integrated body and fruit forward, with gobby dark fruit jam. Finish is nearly non-existent.

Shiraz is a BIG wine and Australia knows how to do it up from the $10 price point to over $1000 a bottle (Penfolds "Grange..." for example.)

Well, this is not THAT wine but it also isn't anything like that price point. LOL...  I think I may have paid around $12 and it is what you would expect at that price point.  

I am serving it with my homemade venison chili with spicy cinnamon, toasted cumin seed, and garlic,bacon and onion topped with shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream. It is to die for so raise a glass!

BUEHLER Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022

 

Light golden hue with a slight touch of green with aromas of sweet vanilla, lemon lime, and tropical fruit.

Palate-- Mouth watering acidity, and tropical fruit, subdued lemon lime, vanilla hints, a touch of elegance with last finish but a mite shallow over all.

I have reviewed different vintages of this wine and I always find the bargains of this Russian gem. Priced at over $20, I find it for half that routinely when it is available. 

I am making shrimp pasta and it will be a nice pairing. It is not up to a $20 price point and a bit off for Russian River but a bargain nerve-the-less! Raise a glass!

"Sin Zin" Sonoma County 2021

Deep ruby hue with expressive aromas of rustic wild dark berry and plum fruit with a spicy herbal nuance at the rim. Lovely!

Palate-Textured, pure fruit with velvety presence with bold dark berry flavors, tart raspberry, with a lasting finish. The lively structure finishes well with a touch of pucker.

Not sure if I have had this but it is a keeper at the $20 I paid for it whereas it runs about twice that. Pairing with Omaha Steaks bacon wrapped pork medallions.  Raise a glass!

Wachau Grüner Veltliner FEDERSPIEL "Himmelstiege" 2024

Pale straw hue with very light pineapple, lime, vanilla, and a mysterious sweet spice on the rim.

Palate--Tart first impression with off dry presentation, and all the fruits listed above in the bouquet are there on the palate with a light white pepper suggestion although subdued.

I probably paid $10 or less for this Austrian production. I have not had a "Grüner in years as it reminds me of Prosecco which I am not a fan of.  Grüner Veltliner is the signature grape of Austrian wine and I do not feel qualified to comment on it beyond my own personal preference. I am glad I bought as I have not had Grüner in years. I will be pairing it with my wife's new creation of chicken breast with spinach and parmigiano cheese. Not sure how it will pair but I will let you know!  

Freixenet Prosecco

Straw hue with a touch of green with subtle sweetened lime and green apple...ish

Palate--nondescript, subtle  citrus but pretty vacuous with a dry finish. 

Freixenet is about my fave inexpensive but delightful Cava. So I was out f state and needed an off dry light wine to pair with indian takeout... Prosecco is NOT a wine that I seek out--ever.  But I grabbed this and chilled it down a lot.

With my indian cuisine it was not good and and as a wine it is not good.  My conclusion after not a bunch of Prosecco's admittedly is that they are sort of "drinkable" but that's about it.  This one is pourable--down the sink. 

Sadly  I paid $15 for this and that was $16 too much.  I think I'm done with Prosecco...

Tortoise Creek Zinfandel 2022 (LODI)

Cranberry jelly hue with aromas of finessed spicy ripe plum and something elusive that is intriguing.

Palate--Consistent texture from beginning to end with balanced and finessed complexion.  Mouth watering acidity carried to the end with a rather fleeting finish.

I found this a couple years ago the first time at an out of state liquor store I frequent when enroute to Boston. It was on sale for $7 which is ridiculous so I grabbed a half case I think, and once I tasted it over the intervening months I probably consumed a couple cases until they ran out. Then there was a couple year hiatus and then BOOM, another production year of this bargain Zin at $7.  As usual, it will be accompanying our Sunday night Pizza ritual after church. Raise a glass!

Broadbent Late Bottled Vintage Porto 2017

Nearly black hue with lovely deep, dark aromas of sweet ripe rasiny, jammy dark berry, and plum goodness.

Palate--Thickish, gorgeous, intense, ripe, jammy blackberry and plum pie with a mid-palate presence of more rich wondrous dark fruit.

Late Bottled Vintage Port is a glorious best kept secret in the world of Port wine. It is a fraction of "Vintage Port" which is another world all together and you pay dearly for it. Late Bottled Vintage Port or LBV Porto is a value porto that normal people can afford and this one is SUPER.  At the price point of under $20 it is a MUST BUY.  I am pairing this tonight with ripe fresh home grown garden strawberries and semi-sweet dark chocolate which is a decadent pairing.  So raise a glass! 

JOSH Zinfandel Reserve 2021

Still some pigmentation of a more youthful Zin with big aromas of gloriously bold Zinfandel fruit, gentle spice, even a touch of floral nuances.

Palate--Gentle first impression with balanced structure, relaxes tannins, bold dark berry fruit, some unsweetened baker's cocoa mid palate, and a please yet subtle finish.

Previously last reviewed in December of 25 with similar notes. I paid $7 for this on close out and bought nearly a case but alas this is my last bottle. It is a very nice Zin at its normal price of $15 and even better at $7.  Pairing with bacon, onion french tart.  Raise a galss!