GIANNECCHINI Old Vine Zinfandel (Mendocino) 2019

Garnet hue with a slight bricking to the rim with aromas of deep dark ripe blackberries and plum. 

Palate--Nice texture, rich extracted dark berry flavors, with an elegant structure, a lingering focused fruit berry finish and a perky mouth feel on the end.

The Shannon Family of wines produced this lively Zinfandel which is supple in structure and just drinks elegantly. The Wine Enthusiast gives this wine 92 points and I would agree. 

I paid $19 for this bottle though it lists for $45-$50.  Candidly, that's a bit steep but for what I paid, I wish I would have grabbed several more. With it bricking right now, I would say drink it NOW but it will hold while changing in character as it ages.  Raise a glass!

Stark-Conde Syrah (Stellenbosch) 2020

 

Dark pigmented purple hue with a slight orange/brown tinge to it at the rim.  Deep brooding dark berry fruit with notes of cooked meat and slight floral notes at the edge.

Palate--Nice texture with a first impression of balanced structure with bold berry pie with a touch of bittersweet chocolate mid palate and a finish that lingers a bit.   

This Syrah from the storied region of "Stellenbosch" region of S. Africa is quite nice and bold and big which you would expect of this Syrah varietal.  It is always, huge, dark, inky, and delightful pairing well with my grilled lamb chops this evening. Originally $24 but found it for $12 so raise a glass!

JOSH "HEARTH" CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022

Deep rich purple hue with big aromas of ripe blackberry and plum a hint of yeast, 

Palate--Nicely textured with a balanced first impression with rich berry fruit and unsweetened baker's chocolate mid palate.

This is my last bottle of this bargain Cab I bought on closeout at a box store for $7. Normal price is $15. 

Even at $15 this is a well made Paso Robles Cabernet and worth seeking out.  As usual I am pairing it with our Sunday pizza routine so raise a glass!

Zinfinity Zinfandel (Sonoma) 2018

Dark garnet hue with aromas of cherry-berry with light savory spice at the edges and more...

Palate--Bold first impression with rich dark berry fruit, savory spices, with unsweetened dark chocolate and lingering finish. 

Recently reviewed this sonoma blend of Petite Sirah (a dark and inky bold blackberry wine grape) selling for $19 but grabbed it for $9 on sale.  A great buy at the lower end and a decent value at the higher end if you enjoy a "fruit bomb" kind of wine.  

Pair with bold grilled meats, italian cuisine, or all by itself with with some hefty cheeses.

This has a lot of time left on it and will only continue to mellow out and reveal some layers so raise a glass!

 

Richebois Cotes Du Rhone Villages 2023

 

Purple hue as one might expect with such a young wine expressing the Syrah skin color, and aromas of strawberry licorice, dark berry fruit, with black cherry bonbons above the rim.

Palate--Fruit forward first impression with lovely juicy structure that needs a few years to be fully appreciated, mouth watering acidity, somewhat stern fruit due to its youthfulness on a quickly diminishing finish.  

The classic GSM blend (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) is a classy wine that can go into the stratosphere of price in stellar years and chateau. But this Trader Joe's ultra value wine at $8 is a must buy.  Reviewed in the past with different profile but that's wine!  Raise a glass.

Spumante Del Castello BRUT 2022 (Castello de Amorosa)

Straw hue with a milky appearance due to the very fine bubbles forming an artistic swirl on the layer floating.  Lime curd and vanilla with sweet grape.

Palate-- Elegant front palate with a creamy texture, bone dry in the mod palate with nuanced sweet vanilla/lime pudding with a finish that is crisp, lingering gentle reminders of what you just drank.

My son sent me this for Father's Day from a winery he visited on a recent trip to Napa. It runs around $50 which is more than I pay for my wines but such a treat from my gentle son. :)   Raise a glass!

Old Soul Petite Sirah (Lodi) 2020

Super dark eggplant hue with aromas of intense black jammy fruit, with a hint of mint/eucalyptus and smoke!

Palate--Velvety smooth first impression with a fruit bomb mid papate, of blackberry compote, lip smacking structure, and a finessed finish that is surprisingly short.

I reviewed this same wine just in June and wrote a significantly different profile. Why? Could be my palate was a bit "off" when I reviewed it the first time, or it os a bit "off" this time. Or it could  be that both were accurate... 

At any rate, this was marked down on sale from $19 to $9 which was a steel!  I am grilling a pre-packaged BBQ'd pork tenderloin and this should be a perfect pairing so raise a glass!

Warres Late Bottled Vintage Port 2010

Inky dark purple with prune, ripe sweet plum, and rose petal at the edges.

Palate--First impression is you have a mouth full of VELVET! It is so thick and supple with lovely port intensity of sweet berry pie, aith prune notes. It is well made, balanced, delicious.

Port is a wonderful "fortified" dessert wine meaning the fermentation is stopped before all the sugar is turned to alcohol (hence the sweetness). Fermentation is stopped by adding a high alcohol liquor (usually brandy) which kills the yeast leaving the residual sugars to dance on your palate and also makes the wine higher in alcohol than normal read wine.

Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port is not to be confused with "Vintage Port." These have two vastly different processes and two vastly different wines with two vastly different price points!  Vintage ports need to age for YEARS to be fully enjoyed; some can improve for 40, 50 years or more whereas LBV is as good as it is going to get when it is released. 

Vintage port can run from $50 on release to the hundreds for an aged one.  Is it worth the difference? YES!  

For the modest of income LBV is a great way to experience the wonders of Port wine without going broke. 

Drink by itself; serve it with dark chocolate for a heavenly experience or strawberries, and whipped cream. Raise a glass!

Casa Primicia Rioja 2021

 

Beautiful bright cherry-red hue with aromas of tangy cherry, 

Palate--Juicy profile with mouth watering acidity, expansive fruit flavors across the palate, with sharp savory spice notes and a hin of pomegranate.  Finish hangs around a while.

This $22 bottle wine was on sale for $11 and I regret not having grabbed at least a half case. This is a wonderful expression of the "Tempranillo" grape, the signature grape of Rioja spain. 

This will pair well with a variety of tomato based sauces, some hearty beef dishes, and it is so good, drinking it on its own or with some cheese and crackers would be wonderful.c Raise a glass!

Porto Morgado (NV) "Bottled in Portugal" "Ruby"

Youthful dark purple hue with aromas of sweet floral bouquet, sweet spice and some berry goodness.

Palate--Thick, silky texture first impression with intense sweetness but balanced all in all given it's youthful release.  Very nice sweet mid palate with rich dark berry pie filling and a slightly lingering finish.

I have been drinking this port wine for years and years because it is such a great value. NO, it is not complex, NO it is not mouth filling with a mind blowing layering of emerging aromas and fruit, and NO it is not the best Port wine you can buy. LOL  But NO it does not cause you to have to take out a 2nd mortgage in order to buy it.  A Trader Joe's regular offering around $8 it is a wonderful "Raise a glass."

Porto* is a DESSERT wine! it is  VERY sweet because the wine making process is topped short by adding a high alcoholic (brandy) usually which stops fermentation of the wine leaving a residual mass of sugar.

You can pay upwards of $100 and beyond for "Vintage Port." And it is a treat!!! But serve this with dark chocolate, or strawberries, or numerous other sweet offerings and it is AMAZING.

*If there is no "O" in the name it is NOT actual Port wine and is to be avoided!  Raise a glass!

Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel 2022

Ruby garnet hue with aromas of light black cherry/berry fruit, spices and a touch of black licorice?

Palate--Supple first impression with "hot" fruit loads of Zinfandel spiciness, but finishes quickly.

This oft reviewed Zin is a favorite because of its price point and reliability. There are far better Zins out there but you will pay dearly for them. At $8 on sale this is a no brainer. Raise a glass!

Corvelia Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) Lot 22

Deep young purple hue with aromas of jammy ripe plum, 

Palate--Nice mouth feel and bold flavorful presentation with ripe fruit in supply with mid palate of cranberry jelly, blackberry and plum. Lingering fruity finish.

Reviewed many times in the past this bargain Cab from Paso Robles (California AVA) is $10 at Trader Joes and I will be picking up more tomorrow. Pizza here we come but this will go with bunches of italian food, stronger cheeses, pastas, even game so raise a glass!

Claire Patelin Sauvignon Blanc (Cotes de Gascogne) 2023

Pretty gentle straw hue with prominent pear and citrus with nice lime accent highlighting the bouquet of sweet powdery white melon.

Palate--Everything in the bouquet is right there on the front palate with a lip smacking, food friendly acidity with a grassy noe typical of many Sauvignon Blancs..

I reviewed this not long ago with consistent notes. This is an amazing value at $7 (Trader Joe's) and I will be pairing this evening with my own seafood chowder and my wife's homemade cheesy, herb bread and it will be outstanding so raise a glass.

REDPURO Malbec Reserva 2023

Deep aubergine hue to the rim, with big fruit bomb aromas of intense blackberry with savory spices and saw dust. A touch of "bottle stink" on opening but be sure to read the * below!

Palate-Mouth watering acidity is first impression with gobs of young dark berry fruit that needs a couple year at least to chill out with the structure of the wine being very angular at the moment. The hefty structure is all a product of this wine's young age. 

I bought this Mendoza Argentinian Malbec for $8 on special from $17. The wine has potential for better than the tasting is at this time. I will be pairing it with my charcoal grilled venison burgers and even though very young it will be just fine!  Raise a glass to the independence of the United States on this holiday weekend!

* "Bottle stink" is a benign phenomenon of opening a bottle of wine and smelling an unpleasant odor but this is NOT to be confused with a that is "Corked" or tainted/contaminated which means the wine is not drinkable.  When you have been smelling wines for a while you will KNOW the difference between a wine that is "corked" and bottle stink. How do you know the difference?  Easy--"bottle stink" is right on opening and it disappears quite quickly, like in minutes.  A wine that is "corked" will not dissipate and the wine is ruined. I could bore you with all the chemistry involved etc. but that is not what this blog is about.

 

What to serve on the 4th of July?

 

The big day of celebratory Fun, Food, and beverage! Grilling outdoors? Remember this--using charcoal opens up a little more consideration for your wine pairing. The flavors of open coal BBQing of red meats allows you to go with *Zinfandels, Sirahs, Syrahs (depends on the country of origin--same grape!)

Seafood? Again pair your wine to the sauce if there is one, and if not Zinfandel would still work but a nice chilled rosé might be more suitable to your hot summer fun! 

I am not being a snob here but Zinfandel means the robust red wine, NOT WHITE Zinfandel which is neither Zin, nor White. 

Confused with all the choices out there? Sparkling wines tend to go well with just about everything.

So remember the reason for the holiday if you're American and raise a glass to the Founding Fathers who gave us the most prosperous, and wondrous nation on Earth. Raise a glass! 

AND.....of course, there's always BEER!  

Castella di Amorosa La Castellana (Super Tuscan) 2018 Napa Valley

First review on opening:   Nearly black hue, with a "bouquet" on opening of a mixed flower bouquet! (Pun intended) *tightly wound fruit aromas bundled up waiting to release their charm and individualism. 

Palate--First review on opening is a silky foundation with a melange of fruit flavors--again--waiting to burst out. All you really know at this point is that this is a well crafted wine. *I had this wine in my temperature regulated fridge, which means the wine needs to "warm up" from its storage temp. of 56 degrees. The colder temperature closes down the volatilization of aromas which makes them harder to detect. And since taste is a function of smell, a wine will also seem rather uni-layered when cold. 

Only serve really cheap wines--red or white nice and cold!  The chill covers a multitude of sins... LOL.

My son bought me several wines for Father's Day from this winery out in NAPA he had visited in the recent past. 

Palate--2nd review about 20 minutes after opening. A juicy foundation with supple tannins is starting to give glimpses of what's laying underneath. Rich berry flavors with a black/strawberry licorice presence. The tannins are bordering on elegant and present enough to give a hope of more future aging.  Perhaps another 5-8 years???  This wine is balanced remarkably well with all things working harmoniously together. And it was of course perfect with my charcoal grilled bone in Strip steak.

So this wine will run you over $100... I know right?  But if you can afford it, Raise a glass!