100% Hondaribi Zuri planted from 1918 to 2008 in limestone soils; "Fermented with indigenous yeasts in temp-controlled s/s tanks, & bottled with residual carbonic acid that gives the wine its natural spritz."
N: A fragrant melding of minerals slightly atop tropical frt?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a spritzy acidity which morphs into a fairly LONG, delightfully TANGY/swt finish which DOES fall off a bit. 10.5% ABV; VG+. For now & into Spring '20. [This vendor's $18.99 puts it in the top 20% of wine-searcher's listings.]
Italy, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano
WAY too cold
100% Vernaccia di San Gimignano from 15 yr old vines planted in sandy/clay terrain @ 985 ft elev; Typically, "Cryomaceration (maceration on the skins at low temp) followed by temp-controlled vinification in s/s tanks. Aged 8 mos in the bottle before release;" 750 cases made.
N: CLOSED; Guessing minerals & pears?
P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with nice frt met by an acidity which becomes the "face" of this somewhat non-descript wine into & through the LONG, balanced, VERY slightly bitterish finish. For now & through '20, though MIGHT improve for a tad? 12.5% ABV; My VG. 90 pts ea Suckling & WS. [This vendor's $11.99 is $2 < wine-searcher's lowest.]
"Cinsault, Syrah, & Grenache with a touch of Mourvèdre, harvested separately during the night when temperatures are coolest, then destemmed & pressed. After fermentation they are aged in s/s vats."
N: *Attractive* FLOWERS with notes of minerals, grapes underneath
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by firming acidity which evolves into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with a very, VERY slight bitterness which verges upon being a +. A food style for now & probably through '21. 12.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. [This vendor's $18.99 puts it @ the bottom of wine-searcher's TOP quartile.]
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by astringent pucker which only somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with a bitter/swtness (60:40) to the dusty tannins. NEEDS a yr or so, then drinking for the ff 3, poss 4, yrs. 13.5% ABV; My VG+. [This vendor's $13.99 is slightly < wine-searcher's next lowest.]
Typically, 60% Merlot, 30% C.S., & 10% C.F. from the Bolgheri zone & Magliano in Tuscany; Aged in various types of oak barrels for 12 mos, then for 6 mos in bottle;
N: Creamy vanilla & earth slightly atop cherries
P: LM body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a VERY slightly astringent PUCKER which evolves into a LONG, poss very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a TANGY/swtness (65:35) to the dusty tannins. IF you like high acidity & pizza, go for it! DESERVES 6-12 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs more. 14.5% ABV; My VG+, poss VG+/EXC- for QPR. 87 pts Suckling; [This vendor's $12.99 puts it in the top 20% of wine-searcher's postings.]
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Adelaida District
"100% Destemmed, whole berry fermentation, then aged in neutral puncheon for 16 months;" 105 cases produced.
N: FRAGRANT flowers SLIGHTLY beneath RIPE berries
P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which slowly, somewhat seamlessly only PARTIALLY resolves by the LONG, balanced, ult pleasant finish, yet clearly with remnants of the underlying structure. Obviously a wine of breeding, but deserves/NEEDS through '20 (poss '21?), then drinking for 4 yrs more? Impressive! 14.7% ABV; My EXC. [This vendor's (closeout?) $19.99 is an ASTOUNDING $25 < either of wine-searcher's 2 entries!]
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt fairly quickly met by an astringent pucker which, while staying within hailing distance of the init frt, morphs into a LONG, balanced finish with an elegant bitter/swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '21, & assuming the frt holds, a potential sleeper. 14% ABV; My EXC-/EXC, & not at ALL "Parkerized"! [I saw no other source with which to compare this vendor's $29.99.]
Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
75% Tempranillo, 15% C.S., & 10% "Other"; "After sorting, the grapes were cool-fermented with native yeasts in s/s tanks for around 1-3 wks. During this time gentle extraction was performed by 'delestage' & 'remontage'. After a spontaneous malolactic in tank, the wine was moved to 'IFO' steel mini-vats. A unique system, devised by consulting oenologist Pascal Delbeck, allowed for pump-free racking, without moving the barrels. Aged for 13 mos in FR & AM oak barrels." 14.50% ABV, <2 g/L R.S., 5.2 g/L, & 3.77 pH;
N: Slightly closed; Smoke with red rasps coming on, pyrazines underneath? Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt fairly quickly met by astringent pucker which, while never quite losing touch with the initial frt, morphs into a very LONG, poss still a BIT puckerish, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a discrete swtness to the DUSTY tannins. LOTS here for the $, but NEEDS 2 yrs, then at least approaching its 10th. VERY nicely done! My EXC-/EXC, & I'm leaning towards the higher, particularly down the line. [I saw no other current U.S. source with which to compare this vendor's $25.99.]
P: Med, poss MF, body; Very RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (suspect threshold R.S.) off-set by an acidity which reasonably keeps things in check into the LONG, reasonably balanced finish with a decided swtness & OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of a very, VERY slight bitterness to the FEW dusty tannins. NOT an UNreasonable wine -- in the threshold swtness style, though it MAY be a TOUGH fit with food. Drink *now* & POSS into '20? 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC- in its niche style -- & particularly considering the QPR of this vendor's (closeout?) $5.99, which is $3 < wine-searcher's next lowest. 87 pts WE (3/1/17) @ $16, & 3 "interesting" contest results on wine-searcher's "Tasting Notes" pg.
2018 Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina
Spain, País Vasco, Getariako Txakolina
WAY too cold
100% Hondaribi Zuri planted from 1918 to 2008 in limestone soils; "Fermented with indigenous yeasts in temp-controlled s/s tanks, & bottled with residual carbonic acid that gives the wine its natural spritz."
N: A fragrant melding of minerals slightly atop tropical frt?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a spritzy acidity which morphs into a fairly LONG, delightfully TANGY/swt finish which DOES fall off a bit. 10.5% ABV; VG+. For now & into Spring '20. [This vendor's $18.99 puts it in the top 20% of wine-searcher's listings.]
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2017 Toscolo Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Italy, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano
WAY too cold
100% Vernaccia di San Gimignano from 15 yr old vines planted in sandy/clay terrain @ 985 ft elev; Typically, "Cryomaceration (maceration on the skins at low temp) followed by temp-controlled vinification in s/s tanks. Aged 8 mos in the bottle before release;" 750 cases made.
N: CLOSED; Guessing minerals & pears?
P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with nice frt met by an acidity which becomes the "face" of this somewhat non-descript wine into & through the LONG, balanced, VERY slightly bitterish finish. For now & through '20, though MIGHT improve for a tad? 12.5% ABV; My VG. 90 pts ea Suckling & WS. [This vendor's $11.99 is $2 < wine-searcher's lowest.]
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2018 Château de Peyrassol Côtes de Provence Commanderie de Peyrassol
France, Provence, Côtes de Provence
WAY too cold
"Cinsault, Syrah, & Grenache with a touch of Mourvèdre, harvested separately during the night when temperatures are coolest, then destemmed & pressed. After fermentation they are aged in s/s vats."
N: *Attractive* FLOWERS with notes of minerals, grapes underneath
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by firming acidity which evolves into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with a very, VERY slight bitterness which verges upon being a +. A food style for now & probably through '21. 12.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. [This vendor's $18.99 puts it @ the bottom of wine-searcher's TOP quartile.]
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2017 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Generation Red
USA, California, Central Coast
32% ea Sangiovese & Valdiguie, 17% Tempranillo, 10% Merlot, & 9% Nebbiolo
N: Attractive vanilla, poss dill, atop berries & spice
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by astringent pucker which only somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with a bitter/swtness (60:40) to the dusty tannins. NEEDS a yr or so, then drinking for the ff 3, poss 4, yrs. 13.5% ABV; My VG+. [This vendor's $13.99 is slightly < wine-searcher's next lowest.]
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2016 Aia Vecchia Lagone Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Typically, 60% Merlot, 30% C.S., & 10% C.F. from the Bolgheri zone & Magliano in Tuscany; Aged in various types of oak barrels for 12 mos, then for 6 mos in bottle;
N: Creamy vanilla & earth slightly atop cherries
P: LM body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a VERY slightly astringent PUCKER which evolves into a LONG, poss very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a TANGY/swtness (65:35) to the dusty tannins. IF you like high acidity & pizza, go for it! DESERVES 6-12 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs more. 14.5% ABV; My VG+, poss VG+/EXC- for QPR. 87 pts Suckling; [This vendor's $12.99 puts it in the top 20% of wine-searcher's postings.]
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2016 Sona Syrah Alta Colina Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Adelaida District
"100% Destemmed, whole berry fermentation, then aged in neutral puncheon for 16 months;" 105 cases produced.
N: FRAGRANT flowers SLIGHTLY beneath RIPE berries
P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which slowly, somewhat seamlessly only PARTIALLY resolves by the LONG, balanced, ult pleasant finish, yet clearly with remnants of the underlying structure. Obviously a wine of breeding, but deserves/NEEDS through '20 (poss '21?), then drinking for 4 yrs more? Impressive! 14.7% ABV; My EXC. [This vendor's (closeout?) $19.99 is an ASTOUNDING $25 < either of wine-searcher's 2 entries!]
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2016 La Croix de Boyd-Cantenac
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
N: TOAST atop earth & cherries, poss choc
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt fairly quickly met by an astringent pucker which, while staying within hailing distance of the init frt, morphs into a LONG, balanced finish with an elegant bitter/swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '21, & assuming the frt holds, a potential sleeper. 14% ABV; My EXC-/EXC, & not at ALL "Parkerized"! [I saw no other source with which to compare this vendor's $29.99.]
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2015 Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial Sardon de Duero
Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
75% Tempranillo, 15% C.S., & 10% "Other"; "After sorting, the grapes were cool-fermented with native yeasts in s/s tanks for around 1-3 wks. During this time gentle extraction was performed by 'delestage' & 'remontage'. After a spontaneous malolactic in tank, the wine was moved to 'IFO' steel mini-vats. A unique system, devised by consulting oenologist Pascal Delbeck, allowed for pump-free racking, without moving the barrels. Aged for 13 mos in FR & AM oak barrels." 14.50% ABV, <2 g/L R.S., 5.2 g/L, & 3.77 pH;
N: Slightly closed; Smoke with red rasps coming on, pyrazines underneath? Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt fairly quickly met by astringent pucker which, while never quite losing touch with the initial frt, morphs into a very LONG, poss still a BIT puckerish, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a discrete swtness to the DUSTY tannins. LOTS here for the $, but NEEDS 2 yrs, then at least approaching its 10th. VERY nicely done! My EXC-/EXC, & I'm leaning towards the higher, particularly down the line. [I saw no other current U.S. source with which to compare this vendor's $25.99.]
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2013 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel The Great American Wine Company
USA, California
N: RIPE berries
P: Med, poss MF, body; Very RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (suspect threshold R.S.) off-set by an acidity which reasonably keeps things in check into the LONG, reasonably balanced finish with a decided swtness & OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of a very, VERY slight bitterness to the FEW dusty tannins. NOT an UNreasonable wine -- in the threshold swtness style, though it MAY be a TOUGH fit with food. Drink *now* & POSS into '20? 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC- in its niche style -- & particularly considering the QPR of this vendor's (closeout?) $5.99, which is $3 < wine-searcher's next lowest. 87 pts WE (3/1/17) @ $16, & 3 "interesting" contest results on wine-searcher's "Tasting Notes" pg.
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