star rating: Five Stars (92-100)

Bending Branch Winery Rousanne 2015

92
Bending Branch Winery
Fanciful Name: Comfortage
Varietal: Rousanne
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Texas
Appellation: Texas Hill Country
Retail Price: $32.99

Tasting Notes: Named after their hometown of Comfort, Texas, this 100% Rousanne excels. Clean crisp, with very balanced acids. Hints of peach, spice and apple. Aging is 50/50 in oak and stainless steel. Great food wine for grilled seafood or chicken.
Bending Branch Winery Rousanne 2015

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Bending Branch Winery Tempranillo 2012

92
Bending Branch Winery
Varietal: Tempranillo
Vintage: 2012
Country of Origin: Texas
Appellation: Texas High Plains AVA
Retail Price: $34.99

Tasting Notes: Sourced from the legendary Newsom vineyards in the Texas High Plains, this is one the best interpretations of Tempranillo in the U.S. Full bodied, bursting with bright fruit flavors. Aged 24 months in American oak. Black fruit, dark chocolate and cigar box notes lead to a long lingering finish.
Bending Branch Winery Tempranillo 2012

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Bending Branch Winery Tannat 2012

94
Bending Branch Winery
Varietal: Tannat
Vintage: 2012
Country of Origin: Texas
Appellation: Texas High Plains AVA
Retail Price: $34.99

Tasting Notes: This is Bending Branch’s signature red. All high plains fruit. This is a “big gun.” Robust, full-bodied, chewy. Black fruit dominates with a hint of vanilla and smoke. Perfect with beef fresh off the grill. Will only get better with cellaring if you can be that patient.
Bending Branch Winery Tannat 2012

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Ritual Pinot Noir 2014

92
Ritual
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: Chile
Appellation: Casablanca Valley
Retail Price: $20

Tasting Notes: Based on a collaboration between Agustin Huneeus and Paul Hobbs, this pinot noir reveals the potential for producing world-class wines in the Casablanca Valley. Red and black fruits, with hints of spice, contribute to the wine’s appeal and complexity. An excellent value and example of Chilean winemaking.
Ritual Pinot Noir 2014

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Millbrook White 2015

92
Millbrook
Fanciful Name: Tocai Friulano Proprietor's Special Reserve
Varietal: White
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: New York
Appellation: Hudson River Region
Retail Price: $15

Tasting Notes: Nicely balanced: not too dry, not too sweet. It's like a Pinot Grigio on steroids. Very food friendly: filled with refreshing aromas of pear, apricot and citrus.
Millbrook White 2015

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Dr. Konstantin Frank Pinot Gris 2012

92
Dr. Konstantin Frank
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vintage: 2012
Country of Origin: New York
Appellation: Finger Lakes
Retail Price: $15.99

Tasting Notes: We have to go to New York to find one of the most impressive Pinot Gris made in America. Dr. Konstantin Frank epitomizes the style and gives the Finger Lakes region something to brag about. A wine highlighted by notes of pear and peach on both the nose and the palate, delivering enough acidity for a crisp, clean finish.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Pinot Gris 2012

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Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Rosé 2014

92
Dr. Konstantin Frank
Varietal: Sparkling
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: New York
Appellation: Finger Lakes
Retail Price: $15

Tasting Notes: The darker pink color showcases the blend of different varieties, as the wine is composed of Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc. Ripe and attractive, berry fruit on the nose is followed by a taste that’s clean and bright, with a refreshing and satisfying finish.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Rosé 2014

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Gruet Brut Rosé

93
Gruet
Varietal: Sparkling
Country of Origin: New Mexico
Retail Price: $17

Tasting Notes: Always a favorite; fresh, dry and rich, with hints of strawberries, raspberries and cherry; consistent quality. Great with ham, Indian food and appetizers.
Gruet Brut Rosé

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Gruet Brut Rosé

93
Gruet
Varietal: Sparkling
Country of Origin: New Mexico
Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: If I told you one of the top sparkling wines made in America was made in New Mexico, would you believe me? I didn’t at first either, but once I tried the wines from Gruet I was a believer immediately. Booming with pink and red fruits, this rosé brings you to Champagne if you close your eyes. One of the top wineries in America blows away the competition at the price point they are at and even a couple above it. If you want Methode Champeniose sparkling wines, Gruet should be your next stop.
Gruet Brut Rosé

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Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2014

92
Whitehaven
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Appellation: Marlborough
Retail Price: $19

Tasting Notes: Pale gold in the glass, this is a delicious example of a New Zealand sauvignon blanc. Citrus fruit is accented by typical grassiness. Fresh and bright on the palate; the finish is long and balanced.
Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2014

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Mt. Beautiful Chardonnay 2014

95
Mt. Beautiful
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Appellation: Canterbury
Retail Price: $19

Tasting Notes: This will draw attention to the lovely Chardonnays produced in New Zealand that haven’t received accolades they deserve. From certified-sustainable vineyards, this is a rather New World/Old World style. It has nuances of wildflowers, mineral and under-ripe fruit on the nose. These nuances continue on the palate, but then fruit flavors become lush and mouth filling. The finish is long and lively with racy sweet/tart acidity and a hint of lemon/grapefruit. Pair this with pork or fowl with a fruit glaze, or enjoy it as an aperitif.
Mt. Beautiful Chardonnay 2014

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Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2013

93
Loveblock
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Appellation: Marlborough
Retail Price: $24

Tasting Notes: This new effort from Kim Crawford’s hilltop vineyards has a welcoming appeal. It is not the one-note, citrus/grapefruit style that pervades New Zealand sauvignon blancs, but rather a lush, aromatic quaff with notes of passion fruit, peach and mandarin orange. A perfect accompaniment to Thai dishes, sushi and soft-shell crabs.
Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2013

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