Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for December 11, 2023
I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format.
They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), so you can get right to the point and decide if they’re for you (or not). Cheers!
- 2021 La Sabbiona ‘Guilia’ Passito (Albana di Romagna): A light, lithe showing of Romagna’s sweet honeyed dessert goodness. $37 A-
- 2021 Merlotta ‘Ombre di Luna’ (Albana di Romagna Passito): A floral explosion of lemon blossom & Bergamot, with a beguilingly soft and balanced palate landing. $NA A-
- 2021 Fattoria Zerbina AR Passito Riserva (Albana di Romagna): Jasmine and mandarins usher in this decadent, expressive, and expertly crafted sticky. $NA A-
- 2021 Branchini D’Or Luce Passito (Albana di Romagna): If you like your dessert wines honeyed, toasty, & understated, this is the bottle for you. $45 B+
- 2021 Umberto Cesari Colle del Re Passito (Albana di Romagna): Think mesquite honey, ripe tropical fruit syrup, and mouth-filling voluptuousness. $NA A-
- NV Caves Arcos do Rei ‘Issimo’ Baga Brut (Bairrada): Refreshment, it seems, is in the Bag(a)! $25 B+
- 2021 Quinta do Cardo ‘Vinha do Lomedo’ Siria (Beira Interior): A creamy yet crisp tribute to high-altitude know-how. $50 A-
- 2019 Rutherford Hill Merlot (Napa Valley): Lots of brambly, dark plummy flavor here for the price. $32 A-
- 2020 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Artemis’ Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): A really nice rendition—dark, silky, structured, & complex. $80 A-
- 2018 Los Vascos ‘Cromas’ Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley): This is well executed stuff, my friends! Dark, spicy, woody, and expressive. $22 B+
