Dubost
The Glenrose Vineyard Roussanne 2021
Best served at red wine temp
Nose is kind of musty. Is that mousy?
Under that there is some interesting spice concoction - cinnamon, cardamom, white pepper. Fresh tobacco leaves and coconut tanning lotion. Was this in American oak?
On the tongue there's a little acridness. Like biting into fresh cut oak. Also some nice things there like white peach.
Interesting to try once but not something that you would want to repeat.
8.8 — a month ago
Loimer
Lois Niederösterreich Grüner Veltliner 2022
What's this? Now I LIKE Grüner? I haven't tried any in the last couple years after I decided I really wasn't a fan.
This one has reisling like diesel notes, granite loke minerality, well balanced acids.
Definitely makes me re-think my stance on the breed. — 8 days ago
Dubost
White Heart Grenache 2022
This is not the Roussane - it's a Grenache Noir that is lightly pressed and then immediately removed from the skins to make a 'white Grenache' which the Paso Robles grower/owners think is the only one made, anywhere. Who knows but it is interesting - on the nose there is a mineral quality but also lemon or grapefruit, baking spices, and something like salted caramel. It definitely makes me salivate when I really get my nose in there.
After breathing for a good long time it has some nice layering of those baking spices and pears dancing in a soft maloactic, almost velvet texture. Light to medium acids, short finish leaving a touch of bitterness behind.
Extra points for uniqueness. — 16 days ago
Tenuta di Vaira
Caccia al Palazzo Bolgheri Vermentino 2024
The best Vermentino so far.
This one has the floral essences I've come to expect of Tuscan Vermentino but it also has an earthy depth mixed with a lemon custardness that I haven't seen until now. I've heard it described of other wines as 'sweet mushrooms'. That plus the smell of the sea.
On the pallette it's distinctly salty (unless that's the ocean air on my lips?) and has the most rounded, soft acids, but not flabby at all, taught and racy but with an elegant and refined edges. — a month ago
Bodegas Federico
Ribera del Duero Tinto Roble 2023
This is good!
Most notable is a real softness, the kind of softness you get from a limestone grown grape.
The nose has rose hips, dried blue and red fruits, some dark earth.
At $19 retail I think this is one of the best deals on a solid drinkable red I've found this year. — 10 days ago
Chalmers
Mother Block Red Blend 2022
I have a feeling that this varies year to year but tbhs Aussie '22 oddball blend at $16 a bottle is a great table wine.
A simple approachable blend of red and black fruits on the nose. The Nero D'Avola is the only thing I can pick out as familiar.
Mouth feel is good - rounded and balanced with medium acids and medium tannins. A wine that offends no one but wows no one. Like I said - a perfect table red. — a month ago
Marchesi Antinori
Tenuta Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Vermentino 2024
Has Vermentino fallen out of favour with Italians and is being replaced by a taste for Chardonnay?
Maybe but I don't want to believe it yet.
On hot summer days there is not much more refreshing than a well chilled glass of Vermentino. Chilled is a must - it still has enough oomph in the nose to release its floral essence. Once it comes up to room temp it can be overwhelmingly perfumey IMHO. Good acid balance.
I'm pretty convinced that you can trust anything from Fontori to be a solid choice. — a month ago
Seth Masterson
This 21 is really starting to get good. A deeply layered nose of spices and garigue and stewed fruits or maybe it's more fruit leather plus mushroom. It's got all that and more flowing out of the glass.
It sits high on the pallette - meaning you really need to slurp, suck and swish to get everything out of it. Fairly low acids, which I think is good because any more acid would mask the subtle flavors. Maybe a little restrained but it makes you want to come back for more and more. — 2 days ago