Marchesi Antinori La Braccesca Bramasole Cortona Syrah 2021, Tuscany, Italy

09 Tuesday Jun 2026

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Very deep ruby colored, bordering on iodine, with medium viscosity (14.5%ABV).   The nose has medium intensity aromas of charcoal, black plum, dried herb, very ripe cassis, açai berry, Brambleberry, a hint of spice, and some vanilla. The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity, medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins. Flavor intensity is higher than on the nose, really reaching for the dark fruit, some spice and finally a bit of game and iron. The finish is medium (+) in length. Delicious. 92 points for this $51 bottle makes it a 5 star wine to enjoy till 2032.   Salut….

Marchesi Antinori La Braccesca Bramasole Cortona Syrah

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascon 1884 Gran Reserva Malbec 2022, Mendoza, Argentina

03 Wednesday Jun 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14.3% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, smoke, licorice, vanilla, spice box, and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are slightly green and edgy.  Medium intensity flavors match the aromas except the medicinal note.  The fruit is ripe but not overly so, the tannins are still young and hit my gums aggressively.  The finish is medium in length.  Overall, not a bad drop, just not my favorite.  It gets 89 points from me and for the $20 fee it gets 4 stars.  Drink till 2030.   Salut….

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascon 1884 Gran Reserva Malbec

Paso A Paso Verdejo 2025, Tierra de la Castilla, Spain

01 Monday Jun 2026

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Very pale lemon colored with medium (-) viscosity (12% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of saline, apricot, tangerine, and blossom.. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a light body. It’s a very charming wine that gives me apricots, tangerine, white blossom, little hints of sea salt spray- with a citrus undertone. The finish is a touch tart, which is very refreshing. It ends on a medium length. 89 points for this $16 bottle makes it a four star one. Drink in the near term.  Salut….

PASO A PASO ORGANIC VERDEJO

Dr. Hans VonMüller Riesling Dry 2023, Rheinessen, Germany

23 Saturday May 2026

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Pale lemon colored, with medium viscosity (11.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon curd, lemon zest, petrol, lanolin, white blossom, pink grapefruit, apricot, and some fresh green herbs.  The palate is dry, with high acidity and a medium body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors are citrus driven, with less emphasis on the petrol and herbs.  The finish has a nice refreshing cut to it which lingers mid length.  A very pleasant bottle of dry German Riesling that gets 90 points.  It has some cellaring capacity, but drinks beautifully now.  At the $11 price point, this is a porch pounder to stock up on that gets 5 stars.  I’m pairing it with Cornish Hens and pasta.  Salut….

Dr. Hans VonMüller Riesling Dry

Firefly Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Stephanie 2012, Coombsville, California

11 Monday May 2026

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Deep ruby, inky, opaque… with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.9% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, black plum, mint, oak, smoke, licorice, acai berry, and alcohol.  It’s quite potent.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are melding into a powdery texture.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of dark berries, blackcurrant jam, mint, oak nuance and licorice.  The heat is noticeable on the back end.  The finish, whilst a bit hot, is medium in length and laced with dark fruit and silky tannins.  I like this wine’s flavor but the alcohol is out of balance, it takes over the nose and the palate and costs the score a point or two.  It retails for around $65.  I give it 91 points, which makes it a 4 star effort in my books.  Drink till 2035 with a hearty steak or braised beef dish.  Salut….

Firefly Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Stephanie

Fritz Windisch Dornfelder 2024, Rheinhessen, Germany

08 Friday May 2026

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Deep purple colored, with a watery sheen (8% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of candied red cherry, ripe black raspberry, red plum, violets, acai berry, and petrichor.  The palate is semi-sweet, with medium (-) acidity, medium (+) body, and low tannins.  Medium (-) intensity flavors of a red fruit cocktail with some herbal notes.  The weight comes from the residual sugar, whilst the low tannins make it a relatively easy drinking sweetie.  The lowish acidity adds to the weight, making it a bit cloying.  The finish is medium (-) in length.  It’s not my style, nor did I mean to buy a semi-sweet red wine.  I have had others, which balance the sweetness with some acidity, making the mouthfeel less heavy.  It’s not a refreshing wine, nor is it sweet enough to be a stickie, it’s probably a decent aperitif for some.  84 points from me for this $14 effort makes it a 2 star wine in my books.  Drink now.  Salut….

Fritz Windisch Dornfelder

Tiefenbrunner Merus Chardonnay Sudtirol-Alto Adige 2023, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

03 Sunday May 2026

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Pale lemon colored, with a green tinge, and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, tangerine, lanolin, garden herbs, white grapefruit, a hint of peach, and white blossom. The palate is dry, with medium acidity, and a medium body.  Medium intensity flavors with a medium length finish.  Delicious, making me grab the glass for another sip.  It is youthful and shows some cellaring potential.  I like this style of Chardonnay- unoaked, with minimal interference and no MLF.  91 points from me for this $21 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Tiefenbrunner Merus Chardonnay Sudtirol - Alto Adige

Havens Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Mendocino County, California

01 Friday May 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, charred cedar plank, eucalyptus, mint, powdery dirt/dust, acai berry, blueberry, black plum, and baking spice.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins that are melding nicely.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit, with some charred wood notes, and a herbal twist.  No sign of eucalyptus or mint, but there is a green note.  The finish is medium (+) in length and very pleasing.  A nice Cabernet from Mendocino County that gets 91 points from me and for the $52 price point, 4 stars.  Drink till 2030 with Beef and Lamb dishes.  Salut….

Havens Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino

St. Giorgio Super Tuscan 2020, Toscana IGT, Italy

30 Thursday Apr 2026

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Medium purple colored, with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of cherry, pomegranate, candied red licorice, oak, and a green vegetal hint.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are pretty grippy.  Medium intensity flavors of black cherry, ripe pomegranate, rhubarb, and a touch of oak.  The finish is medium (-) in length and the tannins hang on past the fruit- they are rather aggressive, indicating youth and possibly more cellaring capacity.  I picked this Tuscan blend (Sangiovese, perhaps Cabernet Sauvignon, and maybe Merlot) up for $16.  It gets 89 points from me making it a 4 star effort.  Think pasta with Ragu, or a hunk of beef to pair with.  Salut…..

St. Giorgio Toscana

Firefly Vineyards Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Napa Valley, California

29 Wednesday Apr 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.8% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry jam, cassis, eucalyptus, mint, oak, smoke, leather, tobacco, black plum, baking spice, and vanilla.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose and finish on a long note.  The potent alcohol is well masked, so buyer beware.  The ripeness of the fruit is evident and very rich but starting to meld into the background whilst the tertiary development is beginning.  The silky nature of this wine is very alluring, a rather heavy yet seductive mouthfeel. 92 points from me for this aged bottle, pricing is unknown.  Drink with a hearty steak over the next decade.   Salut….

Firefly Vineyards Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon