Monthly Tasting at Wine Wizards

Have missed a few tasting due to travel, was shopping for some Beaujolais and weeknight wines, success.

The Riofavara dry Muscat and the Hugal were the hits. It was good to check in on the Roederer Brut Rose, lovely as usual.

• NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Fresh and clean, good aromatics, great weight, balance and linger. For $20 a real value, wothnthe money.

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• 2018 Riofavara Moscato di Noto Mizzica 88 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Moscato di Noto

  Floral dry muscat. Very nicely balanced, very good linger. Perfect wine in the right food choice, but it has lots of competition for that niche.

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• 2018 Champalou Vouvray 84 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Mild almost vague nose, usual slight sweetness, slightly low acid, mildly tannic but enough to really detract and make the finish cloy. Passed

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• 2018 Pascal Janvier Jasnières 85 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Jasnières

  Clean nose but fairly vague, good weight and balance but tannic in the finish. Not that enticing.

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• 2016 Hugel Pinot Gris Classic 87 Points

  France, Alsace

  Classic is the right descriptor. Good aromatics, good weight and acid balance, very slightly sweet at a background level. The finish was long and slightly sweet. Lovely wine at a decent price.

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• 2017 Mastroberardino Greco di Tufo Nova Serra 87 Points

  Italy, Campania, Greco di Tufo DOCG

  Very attractive crisp white, mildly complex and exotic. Really needed food to show its best but it was good.

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Bought a case, six of Vacluse for weeknights, three each of the Thivin Reverdon and the Cornas for even more fun.

• 2017 Kermit Lynch Selections Cuvée Sélectionnée 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vaucluse

  Buttery fruit nose, very clean fruit and balance in the mouth, some decent tennis and nice weight. Fresh finish. Nice value.

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• 2018 Domaine de la Voute des Crozes Côte de Brouilly 85 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly

  Maybe it was an off bottle, I usually like this wine but it did not resonate with me. Mild color, vague nose, okay balance and weight but a short finish.
  Passed

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• 2018 Château Thivin Brouilly Reverdon 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Brouilly

  This wine had the lovely Gamay nose and fresh fruit I was looking for. good color, lovely balance, will be a real crowd pleaser.

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• 2018 Château de Rouanne Vinsobres 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vinsobres

  Big dark and complex and nowhere near ready to consume. My score is approximate, this wine needs at least 2 years of bottle time more. It appears to have all the elements of a rally nice wine, I passed on it because there was a Cornas later in the tasting that called to me more.

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• 2016 Domaine Courbis Cornas Champelrose 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

  Complex, thick but approachable. Very clean classic fruit with some complex notes but no signs of anything rustic. Great weight and balance, lovely finish. Would like to age this a couple of years then revisit so I will. Reasonable price for a Cornas at $39.

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• 2018 Domaine Faury Syrah Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes

  Buttery nose, big ripe fruit youthful Syrah. Very nice aging potential although drinkable right now. Bit pricy for an everyday and not nearly as seductive as the Cornas.

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• 2015 Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon Catena Alta Historic Rows 89 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza

  Nice aged claret style Cabernet. Not a bargain at $40 but not overpriced either. Really to go, it could age a bit more but not much. I don't need more aged claret style wines at this point so I passed.

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