Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for February 19, 2024
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!
- NV Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port (Portugal): Solid stuff. A bit more dried fruit than compote, but this is a go-to if you want your Port dark and ready to roll. $20 B
- NV Sandeman 10 Year Old Tawny Port (Portugal): Lots of delicious caramel and somewhat less-delicious heat, but it’s still the total easy-drinking Tawny package. $32 B+
- 2019 Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite Les Legendes ‘R’ Blanc (Bordeaux): A serious, approachable bargain. Delightful, tropical, and zesty. $17 B+
- 2018 Stone Castle Reserve Chardonnay (Kosovo): Ripe, peachy, viscous, sporting bruised yellow and red apple and astringent structure. $24 B+
- 2022 Goosecross Cellars Chardonnay (Napa Valley): Excellently balanced between richness and freshness. $46 A-
- 2019 Goosecross Cellars State Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Dark of fruit, plummy, juicy, structured and loaded to bear with camphor, black cherry, wood, vanilla, graphite and dark chocolate spice on a long finish. What more do you want from the Valley? $90 A
- 2017 Geyser Peak Winery Block Collection Walking Tree Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley): Tangy red and black currant, oak spices, black licorice, chocolate; take a bow, for Pete’s sake! $25 B+
- 2022 Domaine Bousquet Alavida Malbec (Tupungato): Not surprisingly, this is tasty, for sure. Surprisingly structured, though! $19 B+
- 2017 Artesana Tannat -Merlot – Zinfandel Reserva (Canelones): Plummy, smoky, earthy, and robust take on the kitchen-sink red style. $20 B+
- 2021 Henry’s Drive – Vintage Longbottom H Sauvignon Blanc (Adelaide Hills): Just the right mix of herbal, tropical, and zesty! $30 A-
