Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for March 11, 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 Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Rose Brut (Alsace): Mouthful after mouthful of bright red berry fruit, citrus peel, and floral loveliness in a dangerously drinkable package. $24 B+
- 2013 Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico (Tuscany): Tangy, savory, lively, and punching above its weight class. $25 B+
- 2020 Badia di Morrona ‘N’Antia’ (Toscana): Currants, red plums, black cherry, tomato leaf, vanilla, power, and structure… A spa-level Tuscan red indulgence package. $40 A-
- 2019 Badia di Morrona VignAalta Sangiovese di Toscana (Tuscany): This is a BIG, structured Sangio, with a lot of power on a dark fruit finish. Bring your grown-up pants for this one. $35 B+
- 2009 Quinta dos Avidagos Vista da Regua Vinhas Velhas (Douro): Spicy, dark, tangy, and deep. Still big-boned, and still has some youthful pep in its step. $35 A-
- NV Lustau East India Solera Sherry (Andalucia): Very good complexity here. Nuts, candied orange peel, toast, rancio, toffee sweetness… This is what’s for dessert. $26 A-
- NV Piper Sonoma Brut (Sonoma County): Simple, rich, fruity, and now arguably a bit of a modern classic. $20 B
- 2021 Three Sticks Monarch Pinot Noir (Sonoma County): Vibrant, fabulous, enticing, and Rhubarb-rich red seemingly gifted by the old gods from the heavens above. $75 A
- NV Marietta Cellars OVR Old Vine Red (California): Nice and fruity, nice and friendly, nice and spicy, and nice and inexpensive. $20 B
- 2023 Zilzie Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Victoria): Pineapple, pepper, perky herbs, and perky personality. $16 B
