Chris Zitzman

9.2

I’m a huge fan of Matt Dees; the wine-maker of the Paring wines. The 2023 Pinot Noir sourced from Santa Barbara County fruit, is in the running for ‘best under $30’ that I’ve come across. Its color is a remarkably deep crimson and its nose is stuffed with smoked cherries and raspberries. The body is rich, smooth, and silky, and the finish (while mildly abbreviated) reminds you to get back to it. — 9 days ago

with Beth

Chris Zitzman

9.2

Dramatic on the nose, lush as can be on the palate and juicy to satisfaction on the finish. Arinto, Roupeiro, and Fernão Pires, makes up this delightful Portuguese white a bright discovery during… snow-storms straight from Valhalla. — 3 months ago

with Beth

Chris Zitzman

9.3

The 2022 Cameron Winery “Dundee Hills” Pinot Noir is a fun-loving, juicy example of Pinot Noir from Oregon’s renown Dundee Hills appellation just within Yamhill County. While openly expressive, youthful and playful; there’s a surprisingly serious amount of depth and character to be found within it. While its brother from Cameron (“Ribbon Ridge”) is much more of an earthy, classically “Burgundian” representation of the variety- the Dundee Hills - the latter is a remarkly playful and light-footed example of how much fun the wines from this grape can produce. — 4 months ago

with Beth

Chris Zitzman

9.2

The 2023 Ottoventi Nerello Mascalese is a deep ruby-hued, single varietal from Sicily that should not be overlooked.

In fact, if you’re not familiar with the grape itself you can look for it within an easy majority of any of the reds that come from Sicily. To me- and I’ve been in a major Sicilian phase- this example of the variety goes right to the nature that appeals so distinctly to its fans worldwide.

While Nero d’Avola seems to be the grape that dominates the wines that we in the US- know that this is not that.

Of all the wines I’ve had made from Nerello Mascalese, I’ve thought of them far more approachable, more complex, and at times in a league of their own on a global stage. — 2 months ago

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Chris Zitzman

9.0

The 2023 Degani ‘Ciciolo’, Valpolicella Ripasso shows an almost-opaque shade of black cherry that brightens on the edges. The nose, as it breathes, is ripe with deep and rich, smoked cherry tobacco that softly opens onto another plane of intensity, but this wine is much about the finish.

The palate is rich, lush, and loaded with all kinds of levels of texture, and the finish follows all of that up gracefully. — 3 months ago

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Chris Zitzman

9.2

The color of the Cantina del Pino “Gallina” Barbaresco, swear it, is “ruby squared”. While initially the nose was surprisingly muted, a quick decant seemed to turn the key to much greater depth. Stewed red fruits lead to a ‘growingly’ remarkable palate of bot power as well as finesse. While the tannins are obvious, evident, and young- it seems with every minute that goes by it relaxes. While doing so, revealing layer after layer of evolution and new experience. Like a lot of other Barbarescos: please be patient. Doing so will only reward you. — 4 months ago

Chris Zitzman

9.1

Want a great example of what Montepulciano de Abruzzo can be?
#looknofurrher — 3 months ago

Chris Zitzman

9.3

How do I say it with grace, poise, and within the bounds of decorum… The Dundee Hills of Oregon are calling to me. In speaking with my work-make Tommy, who has lived in Oregon and has proven to be a more than reliable source of insight concerning every & anything from Oregon: the Dundee Hills have me. Hell I think he’s warned me more than once about their playful nature yet their powerful foundations… add the 2023 Artberry Maresh ‘Dundee Hills” Pinot Noir out of the Willametter Valley to it all. From the start, the ruby color is mesmerising. The nose seems to wake up with every instance of dropping my own within it. The palate is mildly chewy and lush. As it warms in the glass and starts to tell of its true nature, deep notes of hibiscus and bramble-berry that only expand ring true. — 3 months ago

with Beth

Chris Zitzman

9.3

The 2023 Cameron Winery “Ribbon Ridge” Pinot Noir is a completely different animal from its sibling from the ‘Dundee Hills”. The latter is fat, juicy, and stuffed with fruit. The Ribbon Ridge, to me, comes off as the much more mature older brother. Not austere: but it takes a bit of conversation to really get to know him. Far more depth and structure- and while maybe not as playful as the Dundee Hills- the Ribbon Ridge, to me, is undoubtedly the first born. — 4 months ago

with Beth

Chris Zitzman

8.7

A light-bodied, delightful blend of Sangiovese and Sagrantino- a grape I’m really starting to warm to. This particular wine is kind of the ‘baby’ of the family of the Umbrian producer Col Santo. Rich ruby color that leads to a relaxed but bright nose of red berries. The palate, too, is very light but still brings a playful exuberance along with it and would pair with a broad range of food from chicken-based dishes to a good, greasy cheeseburger. While so may not rate the wine as highly as it may deserve- I’m encouraged enough to make a run through the rest of the estate’s offerings… with my eyes pinned squarely on their Sagrantino. So still: thumbs-up all the way, especially for the price. — 4 months ago

with Beth