Kelley Raymond

9.3

Really smooth and a bit grassy like I like — a month ago

Vanessa

9.1

Here’s the Ottella Lugana Le Creete (2021) hailing from the small DOC of Lugana on the edge of Lake Garda calling both Veneto and Lombardy its home.

It’s made with 100% Trebbiano di Lugana (aka Turbiana) and is pale lemon with medium(+) intensity of grapefruit peel, honeydew, passion fruit, green apple, gooseberry, white blossom, honeysuckle, wet stones, Italian parsley, fennel, boxwood, toast, and delicate aged, hard cheese notes…

It has mouthwatering acidity to balance the medium alcohol (13% ABV) and rich mouthfeel and aromatic/ flavor intensity. It’s positively delicious!! — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Dave Teal

9.0

Really tasty, exceeded my expectations. I’ll buy again. — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Liguria is a coastal region in Italy, nestled in the northwestern corner of the country, hugging the Ligurian Sea, with steep mountains defining the landscape.

It offers an ideal mix of warm, dry conditions, moderating influences from the coast and varying altitudes, and nutrient-poor soils (which is good for vine growing!). However, its dramatic topography limits the amount of wine that can be produced from this region…

With that background, we were thrilled to be sipping a glass of this beautiful Ligurian white wine made from the Vermentino grape. What a pleasure to envision us sitting on a terrace overlooking the sea!

Leaping out of the glass was tangerine peel, grapefruit, green apple, passion fruit, pineapple, boxwood, white citrus blossom, elderflower, and wet stone -- a delicious confluence of pronounced fruit and floral aromas and flavors.

It was vibrant, youthful, and fresh, yet also concentrated and juicy, adding a level of richness to the mouthfeel.

Lvnae, Colli di Luni D.O.C., Vermentino, ABV 12.5. Vintage 2019. A fantastic value at $25 / bottle.

Salute! — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Fredrik Finn

8.9

Ronco del Gnemiz Serena Palazzolo Sauvignon 2019. Plenty of varietal character with lime, boxwood, gooseberries, elderberries and kiwi fruit with an oyster shell minerality in the background giving complexity and dimension. The palate is driven by a linear and persistent acidity that is amped up on the treble and focused through the mid palate with a solid finish. As an entry level wine there is no denying this is an overachiever.
Paired with seared Pike Perch with a rough potato mash and a simple sauce made with reduced creme (creme double) flavoured with plenty of lemon and dill.
— 5 years ago

Justin Wade

9.6

Another great Orin Swift wine! Nose of green pepper, black pepper, boxwood, red currant. Dark Marron in color. Full bodied. Taste of black pepper, blueberries, red currant. Good amount of tannins. — 6 years ago

Justin Wade

9.5

An excellent Napa Malbec, which you don't see often. Dark purple color. Light, but nice nose of strawberries, black current, and boxwood. Slightly spicy, white pepper, slightly jammy. Great full body. — 6 years ago

Ivor

9.0

Young fresh and almost Sauvignon Blanc like with kitty urine and boxwood. Chunky acidity but you can feel the depth and substance behind it. A testdrive, the remaining sixer can wait till summer. — 7 months ago

Jack Petras

9.2

This 2022 is a really great Sancerre. Green notes like beach peas and boxwood with a full mid palate rich with melon, underripe peaches and Bosc pear. A hint of tarragon and chives and other herbs. Just shy of $40 a bottle but worth it. — 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Cheers to old-vine Chenin Blanc from South Africa! 🇿🇦 In South Africa, Chenin Blanc also goes by the name “Steen.”

It’s such a versatile grape and wine, capable of producing beautiful sweet, dry, still, and sparkling wines.

This wine is still and dry. We’ve paired it with sushi and it’s a delightful duet.

The grapes for this wine were grown organically in the Citrusdal Mountain district, north of Cape Town, west of the Olifants River, on the Western Cape. The bush vines were originally planted in 1957 (old!!), contributing to an intensity and a concentration of primary aromas and flavors in the grapes.

Indeed, the nose and palate offer medium(+) aromas and flavors of ripe pear, yellow apple, white peach, vegetal, boxwood, white blossom, crushed stone, and aged cheese rind notes. Lively acidity gives it lift and balances the high alcohol and intensity of fruit.

This wine was produced by Ginny Povall, American-born proprietor and self-taught winemaker of Botanica Wines. I love the botanical images on her labels, each an homage to the flower farm on which she began her wine production journey in South Africa.   

Botanica Wines, Chenin Blanc (Mary Delany Collection), 2019, ABV 14%. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.0

Golden hue and aroma and flavor notes of ripe peach, apricot, and nectarine 🍑 as well as cantaloupe, wet stone, boxwood, butter, cream, butterscotch, and vanilla. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Fredrik Finn

9.5

Holy cow, what a home run! This my friends its the taste of terroir. Dense and muscular, with a focused minerality that is keeping the beat.
Despite its youth it is very expressive and not holding back on its complexity. François Cotat La Grande Côte, a marvelous piece and an act in the magic of wine.
Pronounced intense aromas with a layered depth Lemon juice, kiwi, boxwood, dandelions almost reaching towards honey with a prominent Limestone mineraliy that is keeping the beat.
High piercing acidiy that cuts through the smooth and ripe edges. Dense and athletic on the mid palate with a layered complexity, salty backbone as it expands before closing up in a long tightening finish. — 5 years ago

Justin Wade

9.2

Very good, but slightly more tannic than I'd like. Nose of boxwood and slightly floral. Unique. Taste - very earthy. Medium to full bodied. — 6 years ago

Justin Wade

9.2

A great Colorado red blend. Dark red color. Nose of boxwood and cherries, somewhat light. Medium bodied. Slightly jammy, taste of berries and slight bit of spice. Finish diminishes quickly. — 6 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

Vibrant lemon hue…

Ripe expression of papaya, mango, kumquat, pineapple rind, white peach, apricot, tarragon, lemon verbena, anise, boxwood, wet stones, flint, smoke, white pepper spice, cheese rind, oak, vanilla, and cream…

On the palate is bracing acidity; it’s precise, balanced, with a medium body, a mouth coating texture, medium 12.5% alcohol, & a long, elegant finish. — a year ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.1

Here’s a lovely, vibrant, crisp wine with green (apple, gooseberry) and tropical (just ripe passion fruit, mango, kiwi, cantaloupe) fruit notes next to wet stone, flint, white blossom, delicate herbaceous (boxwood), lemon peel, and grapefruit rind characteristics.

It’s 100% delicious and really hitting the spot on this hot, sunny evening. — 3 years ago

with Deked1

KD

9.1

Pale gold with notes of citrus, lemongrass, boxwood, apricot, gooseberry and a touch of honey. Medium body with fresh acidity balanced. On the palate some lime, key lime pie, passionfruit, kiwis, good minerality with a touch of creaminess and savory spice. Nice! The addition of the sémillon really lends a nice body and exotic notes to this wine. — 4 years ago

KD

9.1

Pale lemon with a fragrant nose of lemon, pink grapefruit, kefir lime leaves, pear and some boxwood/cat pee. Medium light body with crisp acidity and intense flavours of lemon, grapefruit, pear, ataulfo mango and some green grass on the palate with a medium finish. A nice zippy sauvignon blanc that would go well with shellfish (oysters!) and cut through a cream sauce. — 5 years ago

Justin Wade

9.3

Love Cosentino! This one doesn't fail to deliver. Nose - blackberries, casis, little bit of boxwood, and a note from the Bourbon barrel. Taste - bit of black pepper, blackberries, strawberries, cherries. Slight influence of the Bourbon Barrel aging, but not the sweetness that often comes with that.

Very good, especially for the price. — 5 years ago

Justin Wade

9.6

An excellent California cab! Nose of black pepper, raspberry, and strawberries. Taste - great balance of tannins and mouth feel. Taste of slight pepper, boxwood and slight under ripened vegetables. — 6 years ago