Brett Vanderbrook

8.8

Without knowing the grape or region when first tasting this, I pegged it as possibly Grenache. It’s light in body and color, has bright, bright red fruit and a subtle white pepper note. Light and easy drinking. — a month ago

with Raina

Brett Vanderbrook

8.6

Took a chance on this on an auction site because it was fairly cheap. Definitely past its prime but not dead yet! Hallmark black cherry notes. Surprisingly fresh and fruity without much in the way of tertiary notes. Maybe a touch “dusty” but certainly doesn’t taste old. — 2 months ago

with Raina

Brett Vanderbrook

8.8

Grenache dominant CDR. Bright, bright strawberry notes with a hint of pepper on the finish. Very approachable and drinkable right after opening. — 2 months ago

Brett Vanderbrook

8.7

Green, flinty, zippy. Very dry. Good aperitif wine. — a month ago

Brett Vanderbrook

8.8

So interesting! The nose is herbal and dried and reminds me of potpourri. There’s a faint hint of rubber that you often find in Pugliese wine. The body is medium, with less tannin than I’m used to from the style, but still present. Maybe even a little pepper? This is really lovely. — a month ago

with Raina

Brett Vanderbrook

8.4

We probably held onto this bottle a little too long. While it’s certainly not turned or anything, it seems a little over the hill. There’s a cooked/jammy red fruit character along with some pepper. No tannins to speak of. Would be nice to compare it against a more recent vintage. — 2 months ago

with Raina

Brett Vanderbrook

8.9

Smells like lime peel, flint, chalk. Palate is mineral, saline, acidic. Some might call this wine “racy.” I call it “the perfect food wine. — 3 months ago

Brett Vanderbrook

8.8

A little different from its Piedmontese counterpart, but certainly bears the hallmarks of Nebbiolo. Acidity, tannic structure, and bright red fruit. This bottle has been open for 3 days now and it’s still drinking nicely. The oak was far more prominent early on, but it has faded into the background and is much more subdued now. — a month ago

with Raina

Brett Vanderbrook

8.7

Kind of surprising for a Finger Lakes wine. Riesling sure. Cabernet Franc and Merlot maybe. But Cab Sauv? Not typical at all. But this is good! It’s barrel aged for 2 years, which definitely gives it a backbone. Pencil shavings and dill on the nose. It takes a little while to open up, but you get very ripe fruit for a cold region. Raspberry and plum. Decent tannic structure. It’s surprisingly reminiscent of Bordeaux, more so than any Cab blend from California. — 2 months ago

with Raina

Brett Vanderbrook

8.5

Decent entry level Pinot. Very light color. Almost like Italian Rosato. All bright, primary fruit. Raspberry, cherry, blueberry. Maybe a touch of something spicy. Very easy to drink. — 2 months ago