Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella 2019, Ripasso Superiore Veneto, Italy

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Medium ruby colored with copper highlights, slight staining and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, prune, black raisin, acacia tree planks, band aid, coffee, a medicinal note, blackberry jam and dried herbs.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins that are silky.  The flavors echo the nose and are medium in intensity but leaning more to the jammy blackberry, black plum and medicinal notes.  It’s delicious and far better than the last vintage I drank- this one is layered and inviting.  A perfect pairing for grilled Rosemary Lamb Chops methinks.  I’m going with 92 points on this $26 bottle, making it a 5 star effort to drink ill 2030.  Salut….

Ochavado Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Castilla, Spain

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Pale gold colored with low viscosity (12.2% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of white blossom, peach, nectarine, papaya and honeysuckle.  The palate is dry with a light body and is packed with tropical fruit flavors.  Mango, papaya, soursop with nectarine and peach present.  The white blossom was predominant on the nose but sorta wafted away.  It’s a very interesting wine that may be at or past peak (7 years old) but it is intriguing to say the least.  I am giving it 89 points and I paid $10 as a bin-end which makes it a 4 star wine to drink now.  I’m grilling Yuzu marinated chicken thighs to pair.  Salut….

Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2020, Marlborough, New Zealand

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of barnyard, roses, baking spices, dusty bramble, cherry and black raspberry.  On the  palate it is dry with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins and a medium body. I get flavors of funky barnyard, cherry, raspberry, roses and deft oak that lead to a medium length finish. 90 points from me for this $22 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2028.  (It got 86 pints on release but I feel it has developed nicely, if you like a meatier, heavier style of Pinot with lashings of oak).  Salut….

Groth Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Napa Valley, California

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Pale lime colored with platinum highlights and a watery sheen (14% ABV). The nose has intense aromas of cut grass, passion fruit, guava, papaya, lemon, jalapeno, lemon verbena and white blossom. The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body. Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the scents. A medium (+) length finish makes me reach for more. 91 points from me for this $34 bottle makes it a 4 star effort to drink till 2029.  Salut….

Gabriel Meffre Tavel Saint-Ferreol Rose 2022, Rhone, France

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Medium strawberry in color with high viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of strawberry, tangerine, cranberry, pomegranate and orange blossom.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and hint of tannic grip due to the slightly longer skin contact this region is known for (hence the darker color).  Strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate and a touch of orange/tangerine are the flavors I get that lead to a medium (-) length finish.  Rosé is a summer wine but the structure of the Tavel wines makes them more versatile with seasons and food.  Our pairing tonight is Tacos, should work nicely.  89 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 3 star effort to drink till 2027.  Salut….

Bodegas Balbas ‘Pagos de Balbas’ 2021, Ribera del Duero, Spain

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Deep ruby colored with light staining and a high viscosity (15% ABV).  Medium (-) intensity aromas of charred oak, black cherry, blackberry, coconut and dill plus a generous wafting of alcohol that is noticeable.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins that dissipate rapidly.  Flavors of black cherry, blackberry, coconut, dill, mint, coffee and some char lead to a medium (-) length finish.  This is a young wine but is drinking nicely now and will develop over time.  It gets 89 points from me as I feel the alcohol throws it out of balance.  This Tempranillo runs $23 and gets 4 stars.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Kysela Pere et Fils Picpoul de Pinet H.B. 2023, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

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Pale lemon/lime colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, white pear, sea salt, green apple, lemon zest, grapefruit and waxy lanolin.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Tart flavors of lemon zest, green apple, peach, sea spray and white pear.  The finish is tangy, zesty and medium in length.  This $9 stunner is a dead ringer for Albarino imo- cutting acidity, sea spray, peach and lemon zest remind me of that grape.  I am pairing it with steamed King Crab, seems like the natural thing to do.  89 points from me makes this a 5 star effort that I will pound this summer- after all it runs under a tenner.  Salut….

Vinedos y Bodegas Gormaz ‘Catania’ Reserva 2017, Ribera del Duero, Spain

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Deep ruby with some copper and orange highlights and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, vanilla, baking spice, coconut shavings, mint, tobacco, loam and leather.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are a still quite grippy after 7 years.  Ripe black fruit with healthy yet well done oak treatment which gives me vanilla, coconut, baking spice and coffee.  Dried herbs with loam, mint, leather and tobacco round out the flavor profile.  The finish is long yet a touch astringent and tangy from the acidity.  It’s still youthful in structure even thought the aromas and flavors are developing nicely- it’s a bit disjointed.  I would love to revisit in a year or two, I think it has lots of potential and will score it accordingly at 91 points.  For under $20 it’s worth stocking the cellar with this Spanish Tempranillo that gets 5 stars.  Drink from 2025 till 2030.  Salut….

Wagner Vineyards Caywood East Vineyard Dry Riesling 2014, Finger Lakes, New York

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Pale lemon colored with gold highlights and a watery sheen (12.3% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of petrol followed by waxy lanolin, white grapefruit, nectarine, lime zest and a hint of- dare I say, milk chocolate.  Bizarre, I know.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body.  Flavors of white grapefruit pith, lemon zest, petrol, peach, nectarine and a flinty note.  The finish is long and mouthwatering, simply delicious with wafts of petrol, something I love in developing/developed Rieslings.  The acidity is en pointe with this delicious bottle, it cuts, but makes me beg for another sip.  93 points for this wine which I purchased ex-cellar.  Newer vintages run $25, which would make this a 5 star wine.  It has loads of cellaring capacity left and should develop even more.  Lovely stuff.  Salut….

Muirwood Unoaked Chardonnay 2022, Arroyo Seco, California

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Pale lemon with some green highlights and a watery sheen (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, peach, pineapple, white grapefruit and orange blossom. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body. Flavors of white pear, pineapple, white grapefruit, orange blossom with a hint of lemon/lime. The finish has a touch of bitterness- perhaps a little bit of phenolics. It’s medium (+) in length and sits nicely on the palate. There are times when I feel like enjoying an un-oaked Chardonnay that hasn’t gone through any MLF or Sur Lie treatment, like today. We are pairing it with Chicken Divan after a hot day in the sun. 89 points.  This bottle ran me $15 and therefore it gets 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….