Raul Pérez
Las Gundiñas Lomas de Valtuille Bierzo Mencia 2017
Wow! Seriously good! If you ever wanted to know what ‘white pepper’ means in a wine review, this is it. Beautiful red fruit with white pepper and spice. Absolutely a terroir driven wine. All of Raul’s Mencias are good, but the unique character of this one stands out. 2017 vintage on May 21, 2020 — 5 years ago
Renato Ratti
Marcenasco Barolo Nebbiolo 2015
Exquisite, precise single vineyard Barolo from a great vintage and well known winery. Bouquet is to die for - black cherry, rose petal. Mouthfeel is smooth and brings succulent black cherry fruit, strong, yet approachable tannins with tar and roses evident on the finish. Beautifully balanced - the perfectly nurtured acidity leaves you craving the next sip. New World style Barolo doesn’t get any better than this. Beautiful now, but will improve with proper cellaring. 2015 vintage on May 16, 2020 — 5 years ago
La Rioja Alta
Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2010
Mini vertical of Rioja Alta - tasting ‘09 and ‘10 side by side. This is the’10. Both are great vintages, but the ‘10 is more intense and concentrated. Ripe red fruit with layers of smoke, vanilla, spice, and earth. Incredibly long and complex finish. This has years ahead of it. Exquisite and classic Rioja. 2010 vintage on June 6, 2020 — 5 years ago
W. & J. Graham's
Aged 20 Years Tawny Port Blend
Liquid dessert! For me, the 20 year Tawnies are the sweet spot and always a special treat. I like the 20 years because you get the intense caramel, toffee, and hazelnut, but can still taste the fruit. Grahams always makes consistent Tawnies - the style leans towards full-bodied and opulent. This batch bottled in March 2018 with 111 g/L RS. Love! NV on March 16, 2020 — 5 years ago
Col Solare
Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Stunning stuff! Fruit from Red Mountain delivers a deep and intense, yet pure and elegant, wine. Strong aromas of blackberry and ripe black cherry. On the palate, dense layers of cassis, black fruit, elegant spice, and cedar oak, all perfectly balanced. I really need to drink more Washington state cabernet. 2016 vintage on May 13, 2020 — 5 years ago
Niepoort (Vinhos) S.A.
Colheita Porto Port Blend 2004
I love Niepoort’s wines. Family-owned, meticulous viticulture, precise wine-making. The style here is freshness and purity of fruit. Niepoort’s Colheitas are baby Tawnies with 7 year minimum in oak. In this case the 2004 vintage was exceptional, so extra aging in oak was done. This was bottled in 2018. Fresh, vibrant red fruit - you can taste the sunshine of Douro - with subtle hints of nuanced oak. The tannins are like velvet and the RS complements everything perfectly. This wine is delicious now but will also cellar for a very long time. 2004 vintage on April 15, 2020 — 5 years ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Rosé Champagne Chardonnay Blend
Iconic spring season champagne. There are many reasons everyone loves this stuff - Grand Cru fruit, 36 months on lees, Billecart’s unique vinification process - but the best reason is that it is just so darn delicious. Tonight, the bouquet was intense and very much like a Chablis Grand Cru. Upon pouring into the glass, one notices the fine, elegant mousse rising from the bottom. Then the first sip - strawberries and pear with undertones of nuanced brioche and yeast. The style here is elegant and finessed. Beautiful juice! Tonight’s bottle disgorged in May, 2018. 50/30/20 chard/PN/PM, 9g/l dosage, 40% reserve wine. You will be hard pressed to find a better bottle of champagne in the $75-$90 price range. Well done! NV on May 8, 2020 — 5 years ago
Jeff Hasmann
Wow! High acidity, medium bodied, and flavorful. The ultimate wine for clams, oysters, and seafood. Made from Catarratto, the indigenous Sicilian grape grown in rocky and mineral-laden soil. Grapefruit and orange peel with hints of volcanic minerality. Lively and fresh. Excellent. 2018 vintage on Jun 7, 2020 — 5 years ago