Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for February 5, 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!
- 2022 Umberto Cesari ‘Colle del Re ‘(Albana di Romagna): A burst of passion fruit; a lack of subtlety is far exceeded by undeniable purity. $NA A-
- 2022 Tenuta Masselina ‘Masselina’ (Albana di Romagna Secco): Incredible consistency of citric, pithy expression in this fine vintage. $NA A-
- 2022 Poderi delle Rocche ‘Drusiana’ (Albana di Romagna Secco): A short journey on a fine, mineral-laden pathway. $NA B+
- 2022 Zavalloni ‘Amedeo’ (Albana di Romagna Secco): Not sure what went down to give this such a honeyed, ripe, mandarin-tinged feel, but whatever it was, it largely works. $NA B+
- 2022 Tenute Tozzi ‘Tantalilli’ (Albana di Romagna Secco): Equal parts rich fig and vibrant, floral approachability. $NA B+
- 2019 Vignamaggio Cabernet Franc (Toscana): Fantastic combo of dark fruit/cassis, herbal fun, funky earth, and meaty chewiness. $125 A-
- 2018 Vignamaggio ‘Gherardino’ Riserva (Chianti Classico): Dark fruit, dark herbs, dark earth, dark soul. $35 A-
- 2017 Vignamaggio ‘Monna Lisa’ Gran Selezione (Chianti Classico): Chewy, earthy, muscular, and so very, very good. $60 A-
- 2020 Vignamaggio Terre di Prenzano (Chianti Classico): Dark, black cherries, dried herbs, grilled orange peel… so, basically, yum! $23 B+
- 2018 Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port (Portugal): A complete package—blue, plummy fruit, nice Xmas spices, & surprising structure. $30 B+
