This wine rocked with a big fish fry. Big crowd and everyone who tasted it ranted about its goodness. I'm loving the fruit, and these salty, chalky, tea elements. Really fun juice.
I brought a bottle down to a family reunion in the woods. Everyone looked at the bottle (classic 1L and crown cap closure), wondering what the hell I was opening. But I declared, "It's not summer until you bust out the Berger" and poured everyone a glass on a hot day. Hit the spot. This isn't a super complex wine, but it's a good intro to Austrian Gruner and the price/1L deal makes it worth exploring and pouring for friends/family who might not know about this grape, region, etc. 2014 was holding up well - a nice contrast between the honey and tropical fruits with a white pepper and river rock element. Classic porch pounder scenario.
Just as delicious, complex and stoke-inducing as the bottle in June. Another example of the high quality Pinot La Pitchoune puts out. Across the board, their 2013s are lip-smackingly good.
Wow - really impressive juice. Floral and airy on the nose with some complex spice and earth elements. Bright and pretty but structured well, full of vibrant red fruit, backed up by a host of spicy, savory and floral complexities. Definitely has a lot to unpack in the cellar.
Same situation as last note. This is a really fun wine that worked well slightly chilled on a summer evening. The family enjoyed it and the California family was impressed when I showed them it was a Virginia Merlot-based blend. Good wines, straightforward but reliable. Will seek out other vintages.
"Last glass of the night" comment is on point. Someone brought this and cracked it late. I had a glass and was actually surprised - not expecting much. Fun, fruity, straightforward, a bit jammy and simple but a few steps above the big-name, off-dry, generic Cali red blends.
This bottle tasted a bit more jammy than the other I remember, but still a decent Pinot in this price range (which is rare). My aunt had found this on clearance for $9, so that is the rare sub-$10 Pinot that is worthy of consuming.
Another very pretty bottle. A big hit with the whole family. Sipping this, nicely chilled, on a hot day by the pond with family and good - good memories.
2014 Barboursville Vineyards Vermentino Reserve
USA, Virginia, Central Virginia, Monticello
This wine rocked with a big fish fry. Big crowd and everyone who tasted it ranted about its goodness. I'm loving the fruit, and these salty, chalky, tea elements. Really fun juice.
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2013 La Pitchoune Chardonnay Chenoweth Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Fantastic Russian River Chardonnay. Huge hit with a diverse group of palates. Excellent pairing with a fish fry and various sides.
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2014 Weingut Berger Grüner Veltliner 86 Points
Austria, Niederösterreich, Kremstal
I brought a bottle down to a family reunion in the woods. Everyone looked at the bottle (classic 1L and crown cap closure), wondering what the hell I was opening. But I declared, "It's not summer until you bust out the Berger" and poured everyone a glass on a hot day. Hit the spot. This isn't a super complex wine, but it's a good intro to Austrian Gruner and the price/1L deal makes it worth exploring and pouring for friends/family who might not know about this grape, region, etc. 2014 was holding up well - a nice contrast between the honey and tropical fruits with a white pepper and river rock element. Classic porch pounder scenario.
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2013 La Pitchoune Pinot Noir
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Just as delicious, complex and stoke-inducing as the bottle in June. Another example of the high quality Pinot La Pitchoune puts out. Across the board, their 2013s are lip-smackingly good.
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2014 Franny Beck Pinot Noir Johan Vineyards
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Wow - really impressive juice. Floral and airy on the nose with some complex spice and earth elements. Bright and pretty but structured well, full of vibrant red fruit, backed up by a host of spicy, savory and floral complexities. Definitely has a lot to unpack in the cellar.
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2010 Granite Heights Vineyard Evening Serenade 87 Points
USA, Virginia, Northern Virginia, Fauquier County
Same situation as last note. This is a really fun wine that worked well slightly chilled on a summer evening. The family enjoyed it and the California family was impressed when I showed them it was a Virginia Merlot-based blend. Good wines, straightforward but reliable. Will seek out other vintages.
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2014 Chariot Gypsy
USA, California
"Last glass of the night" comment is on point. Someone brought this and cracked it late. I had a glass and was actually surprised - not expecting much. Fun, fruity, straightforward, a bit jammy and simple but a few steps above the big-name, off-dry, generic Cali red blends.
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2013 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir Central Coast
USA, California, Central Coast
This bottle tasted a bit more jammy than the other I remember, but still a decent Pinot in this price range (which is rare). My aunt had found this on clearance for $9, so that is the rare sub-$10 Pinot that is worthy of consuming.
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1997 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Another very pretty bottle. A big hit with the whole family. Sipping this, nicely chilled, on a hot day by the pond with family and good - good memories.
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