Archives: Wine Reviews

Chateau La Rose de Vitrac Bordeaux-style White Blend 2024

90
Chateau La Rose de Vitrac
Varietal: Bordeaux-style White Blend
Vintage: 2024
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Bordeaux
Retail Price: $13.99

Tasting Notes: Concentrated flavors of green apple and pear are layered with subtle hints of parmesan and lifted by a flash of lemon and green bell pepper. The result is a distinctive wine that retains balance through to a clean, crisp finish.
Chateau La Rose de Vitrac Bordeaux-style White Blend 2024

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Château de Nages Red Rhone Blend Rosé Buti Nages 2024

90
Château de Nages
Fanciful Name: Rosé Buti Nages
Varietal: Red Rhone Blend
Vintage: 2024
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Costières-de-Nîmes
Retail Price: $13.99

Tasting Notes: Fresh aromas of raspberry and rose petals lead into a crisp palate showcasing notes of raspberry and strawberry, complemented by hints of lemon and mineral character, creating a bright, refreshing finish. Certified regenerative and organic.
Château de Nages Red Rhone Blend Rosé Buti Nages 2024

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Bodegas Peñafiel Tempranillo Miros de Ribera

90
Bodegas Peñafiel
Fanciful Name: Miros de Ribera
Varietal: Tempranillo
Country of Origin: Spain
Appellation: Ribera del Duero
Retail Price: $45.00

Tasting Notes: Tinto fino, a clone of tempranillo, known for its powerful, structured wines, is at home in Ribero del Duero. Woody spice, balsamic, mineral, blackberry and raspberry all mingle to produce a complex red with great aging potential. Any grilled meat will do!
Bodegas Peñafiel Tempranillo Miros de Ribera

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Domaine du Grangeon Syrah 2023

90
Domaine du Grangeon
Varietal: Syrah
Vintage: 2023
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Côteaux de l'Ardèche
Retail Price: $90.00

Tasting Notes: From west of the Rhone Valley hails a meaty and peppery complex red composed of 100% syrah. Lifted aromatics remind the taster of a Cote-Rotie that would likely cost three to four times this price. Imported by Chloe Imports.
Domaine du Grangeon Syrah 2023

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d’Autrefois Sauvignon Blanc 2024

90
d'Autrefois
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2024
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Vin de Pays d'Oc
Retail Price: $14.99

Tasting Notes: Juicy and expressive, showcasing pear, green apple, elderflower and honeysuckle. The palate offers a touch more richness than expected, balanced by fresh acidity that keeps the wine energetic and approachable.
d’Autrefois Sauvignon Blanc 2024

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Seastone White Blend

90
Seastone
Varietal: White Blend
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Vinho Verde
Retail Price: $9.99

Tasting Notes: Crisp lemon and lime flavors glide across a light, refreshing palate. Bright acidity and subtle minerality make this an effortlessly charming wine perfect for warm-weather sipping with friends.
Seastone White Blend

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Pardon & Fils Gamay Cuvée P 2024

87
Pardon & Fils
Fanciful Name: Cuvée P
Varietal: Gamay
Vintage: 2024
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Beaujolais-Villages
Retail Price: $14.99

Tasting Notes: Concentrated aromas of cherry kirsch, baking spices and a hint of bubble gum lead into a fruit‑driven palate. Fresh red fruit, soft tannins and lively acidity combine to create a smooth, approachable and highly drinkable wine.
Pardon & Fils Gamay Cuvée P 2024

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Chateau Musar Red Blend 2018

89
Chateau Musar
Varietal: Red Blend
Vintage: 2018
Country of Origin: Lebanon
Appellation: Bekaa Valley
Retail Price: $70.00

Tasting Notes: Crafted from equal parts cabernet sauvignon, cinsault and carignan. A rustic old-school style with dried red fruits, clove and cedar. A wine with serious ageability.
Chateau Musar Red Blend 2018

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Bodegas El Nido Red Blend Clio 2022

92
Bodegas El Nido
Fanciful Name: Clio
Varietal: Red Blend
Vintage: 2022
Country of Origin: Spain
Appellation: Jumilla
Retail Price: $48.00

Tasting Notes: Rich and heady, crafted from old vines, monastrell and cabernet sauvignon. Aged in new French and American oak. Blackberry, blueberry and black plum flavors with notes of mocha and vanilla.
Bodegas El Nido Red Blend Clio 2022

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Château Smith Haut-Lafitte Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Cru Classé

95
Château Smith Haut-Lafitte
Fanciful Name: Grand Cru Classé
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Pessac-Léognan
Retail Price: $199

Tasting Notes: Regarded by many as the best white Bordeaux of this vintage that will turn the heads of red lovers. The combination of creamy texture, velvety tannins, crisp salinity and clean acidity makes for a firm, bold wine. Warm a Crottin de Chavignol with baguette. Voila!
Château Smith Haut-Lafitte Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Cru Classé

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J. Lohr Chardonnay Riverstone 2023

96
J. Lohr
Fanciful Name: Riverstone
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2023
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Arroyo Seco
Retail Price: $12.99

Tasting Notes: Kristen Barnhisel continues her winning streak with subtle fine-tuning to her classic chardonnay. She lets the vines truly speak, utilizing eight different clones, including the famed Wente clone. 62% Malolactic fermentation. Barrel fermentation in a regimented program with American, Hungarian and French oak in addition to hand-stirring the lees. Rich pear and peach notes with hints of spice and honey. This wine consistently overdelivers for the money, offering AVA quality at “California” designation pricing. A mainstay for all holiday dinners.
J. Lohr Chardonnay Riverstone 2023

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Alexander Valley Vineyards Sin Zin 2021

96
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Fanciful Name: Sin Zin
Varietal: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2021
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Alexander Valley
Retail Price: $24.99

Tasting Notes: One of the original cult zin’s from the late 70’s, and still evolving. 100% zin from their best lots, picked and fermented separately. The final product is a big, juicy fruit bomb, with dark fruit hints of cherry, cassis and dark chocolate. Sixteen months in American oak smooths out the tannins with balanced acidity. Perfect for that big thick pizza with all the toppings!
Alexander Valley Vineyards Sin Zin 2021

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