Tortoise Creek Zinfandel 2022 (LODI)

Lovely deep eggplant hue with big aromas of spicy dark berry and a deeper darkl floral note that mimics strawberry cream bon bons.

Palate--Clean presentation on the palate with intense flavors of all that is in the nose. It is supple, vibrantly spicy and delicious! 

Yes I have reviewed this recently and I always re-review my wines because the simplest change in the room where you are reviewing, the simplest change in your health (on coming cold) cooking odors, you never know. 

This Lodi California AVA produces lots of Zinfandels and honestly, while Sonoma was always my favorite AVA, what I am tasting out of Lodi is winning me over and often times they are close to half the price of a Sonoma Zin. 

I just ground some marginal beef to make bacon cheese burgers with mac N cheese. This will be perfect! At under $8 raise a glass!

Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) 2023

Straw hue with aromas of grassy goodness, lemon/lime, and wet stones.

Palate--Classic S. Blanc profile (New World) with racy acidity, loads of grass, lemon, and lime with palate cleansing freshness.

I had this tonight with Maine lobster and steamers with my wife of 52 years celebrating her end of her current chemo therapy due to a hideous blood dyscrasia called AML--Acute Myeloid Leukemia... 

We have a long road ahead but we grab all the victories when we can. I found this nice Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand--a powerhouse New World wine region--and this is a great example of the grape which is vastly different from the French version that goes back centuries...

At $12, it was perfect with steamer clams and lobster so raise a glass!

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier (White blend) 2024

Gentle golden touched hue with aromas of Lemon, creme brulee, Granny Smith green apple.

Palate--Lightly dancing on your tongue with a slight sparkle, off dry, with loads of tropical fruit, lovely balanced acidity and a creamy finish.

Chenin Blanc used to be a jug wine back in the 70's and was considered "plonk" a cheap wine barely palatable but enough alcohol to give one a buzz. It was the "Rodney Dangerfield" of wine grapes and got No Respect--rightly so...As time went on this grape which was and is a staple of the Loire Valley of France. It is a beautiful grape making a wonderfully seductive wine. 

Viognier-pronounced Vee-Ohn-YAY, was a blending grape for all kinds of wine. It is in its own right another very nice floral known for its beautiful bouquet. At around the $12 price point you cannot beat it!  I am pairing it with baked chicken legs with root vegetables and I know from experience it will be GREAT--so raise a glass!

Sin Zin Sonoma 2020. (Sonoma)

Purple with garnet tint hue and aromas of red berries, dried cranberries.

Palate--Balanced first impression with prominent berry goodness and  Zin spice with a finish of darker berries.

Previously reviewed I do not remember what I paid for it but I know it wasn't the listed price of $16-20. It is a decent Zin worth grabbing if you can find it under $16. Pairing it with Sunday night pizza ala the iconic "Lou Malnati's" deep dish pizza.  Living in Maine but being Chicago born and bred, we crave "real" pizza... Raise a glass and a pizza from Lou's aka "A Taste of Chicago."  

Please note--I get NOTHING for this endorsement! :) 

Corvelia Zinfandel (Paso Robles) 2023

 

Deep rich eggplant hue with aromas of saltines, charred wood, and blackberry pie with gentle spice.

Palate-- Rich, spicy, fruit forward with deep dark black berry, lip smacking tannins and a fleeting finish. 

Corvelia has been one of my Trader Joe's faves since it arrived. Their Cabernet is also one of my faves and both at $10 cannot be beaten.  Reviewed before numerous times, I am having this my wife's homemade beef stew so raise a glass!

Tortoise Creek Zinfandel (LODI) 2022

Dense aubergine hue with aromas of dark berry fruit, maybe a note of root beer, red berries, and cherry.

Palate-- Wonderful mouth feel on opening with lovely dark fruit and rich spices galore, well made and a rich textured finish. 

It isn't just a lovely Lodi Zin it is well made and I found it for $7.50 a bottle so I bought a case! It sells for twice that and is a buy at that price! 

Tonya Pitts of the Wine Enthusiast nails the review! A great wine for the price and even nice if twice the price!  Raise a glass!

Conundrum 2022

Nice purple hue with aromas of brooding berries with a gentle spiciness and a more light hearted cherry presence.

Palate--Relaxed structure on first impression with a elange of red fruit, where nothing stands out yet is integrated with a nice mouth feel and flavor profile. 

This is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon which is a popular blend for California. They are always lively, fruit forward and east to drink. 

I am winging a pasta dish with store bought 4 cheese tortellini. I will create some kind of tomato based sauce which will pair well with this fruity wine.

I paid $15 for this and it is a decent value so raise a glass!

Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Porto 2019

Inky dark blackish eggplant hue with aromas of sweetly spiced stewed raisins with a sweet above-the-rim punch.

Palate--Silky texture with a lovely bed of seductive, thickish gorgeous, intense, spiced currants with a velvety finish that lingers.  

Roger Voss of the Wine Enthusiast gives this $14 LBV 93 points. I was sceptical until I tasted this. Wowing at this price point so raise a glass and asip this followed by dark semi-sweet chocolate and ENJOY!

Roth Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) 2022

Garnet hue with aromas of Cranberry and red berries with cherry cream bon bon notes.

Palate--Nice first impression with balanced flavors, integrated structure, mouth watering acidity and a tightly wound core that needs age and breathing. 

I see a reference price on this wine for $30 but I found it for $20.  It is unremarkable due ot its age but will improve for at least 5 years and will reward hanging on to one.  I am paring it with charcoal grilled NY Strip and it will be wonderful I am sure.

At $30 I would be disappointed; at $20 It is a raise a glass kind of value from Sonoma.  

Masciarelli Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2022

 

Deep dark purple with aromas of dense brooding dark berry with yeast and touches of cherry! 

Palate--Mouth watering, acidity with stringent structure and nice dense dark fruit mid palate...with a slightly metallic finish.

Masciarelli is a reliable name with a great history and a proven track record over many decades. Thi is a nice food wine and I am serving with a very simple pasta and tomato sauce. At $13 you can't go wrong so raise a glass!

Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2023

 

Light golden hue with aromas of lemon-lime and pineapple, tropical fruit salad and powder.

Palate-Nice first impression with balanced acidity and *off dry structure and fruitiness that is luscious and mouth watering.

Charles Smith has been creating Washington State wine at a bargain level for decades and he does it better than anyone!  I obtain the wine at Trader Joe's for around $10 and it is better than most wines like this at twice the price. 2023 is one of the better vintages so 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.