Mollydooker Gigglepot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

93
Mollydooker
Fanciful Name: Gigglepot
Varietal: Cabernet
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: Australia
Retail Price: $50

Tasting Notes: Rich and creamy with heaps of dark chocolate and vanilla. Nice toasty and spicy long finish that goes on forever.
Mollydooker Gigglepot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Tarima Hill Monastrell Red 2015

93
Tarima Hill Monastrell
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Spain
Appellation: Alicante D.O.
Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: Dry-farmed from old vines with strict organic practices and aged 12 months in French oak. The wine exudes spicy black cherry and leather aromas. On the palate, the wine shows full-bodied, balanced flavors of dark cherries, blackberry, plum and a light smoky character backed by a dark-cocoa finish.
Tarima Hill Monastrell Red 2015

Malabaila Barbera d’Alba Mezzavilla Barbera 2015

93
Malabaila Barbera d’Alba
Fanciful Name: Mezzavilla
Varietal: Barbera
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Barbera d'Alba
Retail Price: $21.99

Tasting Notes: Reminiscent of blueberry pie, this gem is exploding with dark fruit, blackberry and plum. The New World flavor is silky and jammy, with balanced acid and a lip-smacking never-ending berry finish.
Malabaila Barbera d’Alba Mezzavilla Barbera 2015

Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

93
Paul Hobbs Crossbarn
Varietal: Cabernet
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Napa Valley
Retail Price: $60

Tasting Notes: Plump and elegant, full, rich and concentrated with a touch of spice. Long finish. Enjoy now or cellar for a few years.
Paul Hobbs Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot 2015

93
Pride Mountain Vineyards
Varietal: Merlot
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: California
Retail Price: $62

Tasting Notes: Aromatics of licorice, leather and blackberries jump out of the glass. On the palate you get plum, raspberries and cocoa all up front, with a floral-and-cinnamon spice mid-palate lift. As the wine finishes you get a balanced acidity with wonderful silky tannins that deliver enough grip to please any bold-red drinker.
Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot 2015

Daou Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

93
Daou
Varietal: Cabernet
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Paso Robles
Retail Price: $29

Tasting Notes: A wonderfully balanced and yet complex wine. Rich berry fruit are complimented with a hint of cedar and a slight, yet pretty herbaceous note. This is a substantial cabernet that over delivers for the price. 
Daou Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Requiem Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

93
Requiem
Varietal: Cabernet
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: Washington
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: I’m not sure the guys at Banshee make a bad wine. Their new project out of Washington is setting the bar high. Somehow they have packed fruit from Champoux, Wallula, Sevein and Loess Vineyards into a $20 wine. Aromas of dark berry, cedar and plum on the nose with chocolate, blackberry and a nice earthy funk on the nose. Wow!
Requiem Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Butternut Chardonnay 2017

93
Butternut
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: California
Retail Price: $15.99

Tasting Notes: Apple, pear and buttercream on the nose lead to a creamy, buttery finish. The oak seems to be dialed back a touch this year and it really lets the fruit shine through.
Butternut Chardonnay 2017

Averaen Pinot Noir 2017

93
Averaen
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley
Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: This wine is loaded with dark cherry and earthy spice. Loads of acidity bring this insane value of a wine full circle and checks all the boxes.
Averaen Pinot Noir 2017

Vista Red Blend Red

94
Vista Red Blend
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Atlas Peak Napa Valley
Retail Price: $12.99

Tasting Notes: The nose screams dark chocolate and fresh blue fruits. The palate coats your mouth with black and blue fruits. The dusty minerality rounds out the medium finish on the wine. I don’t know how a $12.99 wine from Atlas Peak AVA exist, but I’m glad it does. This is hands down the deal of the year.
Vista Red Blend Red

Malleolus Tempranillo Red 2014

94
Malleolus Tempranillo
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: Spain
Retail Price: $46

Tasting Notes: Emilio Moro Bodegas has been around a long time. Still family owned, it generates some of the best tinto fino in Spain. Light earth, dark berries and perfectly integrated tannins carry this jewel to a long, lingering finish. Think clams and chorizo.
Malleolus Tempranillo Red 2014

La Serena Toscana Rosso Red 2015

94
La Serena Toscana Rosso
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $35

Tasting Notes: Intriguing aromas of wild berries, cherry and spice with inviting flavors of cherry, mocha and vanilla giving way to hints of black pepper and exotic spice. Full-bodied and well balanced. A lot to like for the price.
La Serena Toscana Rosso Red 2015