Brancatelli Valle Delle Stelle 2020- great Italian red but needs decanting!

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon- 89% with just a splash of Cabernet Franc- 11%. from Tuscany that is dominated by cherries with little room for a hint of floral and spices. The palate is silky smooth (I must point out that I allowed 2-3 hours decanting) with tannins evident but not obtrusive. ThisContinue reading “Brancatelli Valle Delle Stelle 2020- great Italian red but needs decanting!”

Clos de Fafall Red Blend- Priorat 2021. A must try wine for early week drinking.

Located on gently rolling hills in the northeast of Spain, not far from the coast, this family-owned winery consists of only 7 hectares of old vines and focuses on estate-grown wines that are worthy of carrying the Priorat name. There is pride and commitment to making the best wines possible here. The winery is locatedContinue reading “Clos de Fafall Red Blend- Priorat 2021. A must try wine for early week drinking.”

Leviathan Red Wine 2021- Andy Erickson Does it Again!

Andy Erickson is the founder and winemaker for this impressive blend and is considered by many to be one of the finest winemakers in Napa. His resume is a list of who’s who including Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Staglin, Dalla Valle, Ovid, and Favia- an up-and-coming winery owned by his wife, in Coombsville. This is theContinue reading “Leviathan Red Wine 2021- Andy Erickson Does it Again!”

From the Cellar- Quintessa 2016.

Quintessa 2016 A generous pour into a glass will reveal stunning deep purple almost black in color, shimmering in the glass. Seductive aromas of fresh blackberries, crème of cassis, blueberries, dark cherries, cigar box and rich earth pours from the glass. Elegance, refinement, and sophistication exude from the glass establishing boundaries of expectation. One sipContinue reading “From the Cellar- Quintessa 2016.”

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: Aveta Sauvignon Blanc & Artemis Cabernet- made to Impress.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Aveta’ Sauvignon Blanc 2022 This is an awesome example of what I have been saying for 5 plus years. How good are Napa Sauvignon Blancs getting? Welcome this like a refreshing tropical breeze. Loads of enticing notes of grapefruit, tangerine, lychee, and peach will emphasize your anticipation until you take aContinue reading “Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: Aveta Sauvignon Blanc & Artemis Cabernet- made to Impress.”

Two Tuscan Gems- one from the descendants of the Father of Chianti plus …

Morellino Di Scansano Tuscan Red 2021 This delightful Italian Red comes from Morellino di Scansano which lies in the Maremma region of coastal Tuscany. This region of Tuscany could just be the most over looked, underappreciated wine regions in all of Italy. It must be a minimum of 85% Sangiovese which is the basis forContinue reading “Two Tuscan Gems- one from the descendants of the Father of Chianti plus …”

Four Excellent Wines from a 600-year-old Winery- Mazzei.

There is so much history with this family, it’s crazy. Established in 1435, they have been making wine in Tuscany for nearly 600 years. Can you imagine for a minute the same family nurturing the same vineyards for 25 generations? That is a serious commitment. As a matter of interest, their ancestors were the firstContinue reading “Four Excellent Wines from a 600-year-old Winery- Mazzei.”

Yering Station Wines

This is the oldest, and original Winery in Victoria established in 1838 by the Scottish Ryrie brothers after acquiring 43,000 acres. They planted grapes and ran a cattle farm. The vineyard changed hands in 1850 and was expanded by 50 acres sourcing some of their cuttings from Chateau Lafite and, in 1859 built the OldContinue reading “Yering Station Wines”

Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2019- One of the best value Cabernets you will ever drink.

Those of you who know me, know that I am a huge fan of the Margaret River region. Medium-bodied, elegant, restrained, and unique pretty much sums it up. This is a totally enjoyable wine that over-delivers and could just be the best-value Cabernet you drink all year. Established in 1977, a decade after Vasse FelixContinue reading “Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2019- One of the best value Cabernets you will ever drink.”

Leviathan- Andy Erickson’s Red Blend Project.

So much has been written about this wine but I think big, bold, and beautiful pretty much covers it. Andy Erickson is the founder and winemaker for this impressive blend and is considered by many to be one of the finest winemakers in Napa. His resume is a list of who’s who including Screaming Eagle,Continue reading “Leviathan- Andy Erickson’s Red Blend Project.”