Chairman's Selection Wine Reviews

2 hours ago
20 min read

Dear friends,

I am happy to provide you a new post with my review of Chairman's Selection wines presently at the store. I have focussed on affordable wines and, in fact, currently there are many with excellent quality / price ratio. I am not sure about the reason. Maybe the present imbalance between supply and demand is favoring low prices or maybe the PLCB is doing a wonderful job at getting us good wines at competitive prices. In any case this is welcome!

I am starting this review with a white wine that does not have the highest rating, but it is so good that it has afforded me the infrequent possibility of showcasing a white. It has become, in fact, Sally's and my "wine to go" this season.

Enjoy and do not hesitate to leave likes and comments at the bottom of the post.

Ricardo Llovet

Tennuta Sant'Helena Pinot Grigio 2024, Collio

This wine has an intense aroma of cherimolla. I know. Some with ask, and what’s that? This is my favorite fruit after a good Valencia orange. It’s a tropical fruit that grows in South America and Costa del Sol in Spain. It's also called custard apple. I am so sad I cannot find it in Pittsburgh! Well, if you want to know how it tastes, just get this wine.

In addition, this wine has lemon rind, light fresh yellow pear, and multiple herbal notes. Look for dill, lots of fennel, and lavender aromas reminiscent of bathroom soap. And when you taste it, you will notice the soapy feeling of its body and structure. Smooth, silky, lubricated, glyceric, and oily. Soothing. And with far more persistence in the aftertaste that other pinot grigios. I do not think this wine has oak exposure but the effect of some aging over lees makes its mark.

In my opinion, Collio stands out as the best region for Pinot Grigio. Once you’ve discovered it you’ll never go back to Pinot Grigio della Venezia.

I remember a day trip through Collio with my friend Mason. We could see the best vineyards in terraces just meters above the flat vineyards in the Valley. He was living in Udine at the time. We shared the best risotto of my live in his favorite restaurant near the main plaza. Unfortunately, I do not remember its name!

$13.99 13% ABV My Rating: 92 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Ardal Roble 2023, Tempranillo 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, Ribera de Duero

Aromas of ripe blackberry, dry strawberries, Mediterranean garrigue but, above all, petunia. The more I got into this wine the deeper I walked into a petunia garden.

In mouth it just played in harmony. Plentiful tannins but not rough. Fresh acidity but not aggressive. High alcohol level but not burning. Medium to full body. Medium length clean aftertaste. The Cab contribution was noticeable. I thought this wine had its act together. The quality / price ratio was extraordinary and I will be getting more.

93 pts. And Best Buy WE

$14.99 14.5% ABV My Rating: 93 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Jardin de la Emperatriz Crianza 2021, Tempranillo, Rioja

You have to treat this wine appropriately. If you do, it will amaze you. If you try to drink it right after opening, you may chock. Please, decant it and wait for 2 hours. The huge chalky tannins will have mellowed. The aromas of ripe plum, blueberry, dry strawberry, chocolate and mountain flowers will still be there but you will actually be able to drink it and enjoy its very looooong and deep aftertaste. From their own vineyard and aged for 15 months in American and French oak. This is one of those wines that stays with you still several minutes after the last sip. I am not going to say anything else about this wine other than BALANCE. Utterly balanced. Equilibrium. Ooooohm!

92 pts. JS, 91 pts. WA

$17.99 14.5% ABV My Rating: 92+ pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Perusini, Ronchi di Gramogliano 2021, Merlot, Friuli Colli Orientali

Winemaker notes: Bright aroma of wild forest berries. Notes of plumbs and black currant. Full-bodied, with a fruity character that combines the fruitiness and acidity of wild berries. It has great intensity, persistence and balance. French oak.

I fully agree. I would add lots of violets, fresh blackberry, quince paste, chocolate, cinnamon and alcohol.

In mouth it was dense but silky. Herbs (probably dill and dry thyme) provide some slight bitterness. The high alcoholic grade persists in the long aftertaste.

Great version of Merlot! Friuli is extremely versatile. From the hills to the valley, they can grow anything in there.

$19.99 discounted to $15.53 14.5% ABV My Rating: 92+ pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

(Not in Chairman's Selection)

Airfield 2021 Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, WA

Winemaker’s notes (I thought they presented an accurate description of this wine): Aromas of fresh golden pear, spiced apple butter and roasted almond. A silky, slightly creamy mouthfeel unfolds on the palate, showcasing a harmonious balance of acidity with flavors of caramelized apples, golden raisins and marzipan. The finish is elegant, featuring delicate notes of toasted oak, a hint of minerality and lingering impressions of stone fruit.

I would add: Hay, ginger and herbal for a Chardonnay. Sally said lily of the valley. Mineral/salty, veering towards Chablis style. We both loved this wine and got more.

60% of the juice was fermented in stainless steel and 40% fermented and aged in French oak (21% new and 79% seasoned 2 to 6-year-old). Aged separately for 8 months with monthly steering of the lees followed by blending. I believe this process allowed this wine to achieve both freshness and complexity. Great winemaking!

Wines from this denomination seldom disappoint me. There has been a lot of outsider investment in the last decades but this one is made by the 4th generation of a family. Jerry and Kim, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and I are planning a trip to that region and may end up visiting this winery!

$14.99 13.1% ABV My Rating: 92 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

La Viña de Madaras 2022 Giró, Monastrell, Alicante

This was one of those wines that I have the pleasure to call “big”. It was also different, special., …

Aromas and taste of quince paste and ripe blackberries with notes of Mediterranean herbs, perhaps petunia, turmeric and umami.

Full body with plentiful but mellowed tannins and still sufficient acidity to provide balance.

The main varietal, Giró, is quintessential mediterranean. It can be found in wines from Sardinia, Girona, Mallorca and Alicante. This varietal grows in their own vineyard at 150 ft (50 m) above sea level while their Monastrell (Mourvèdre)grows at 2,100 ft (700 m). I think the latter may be bringing the freshness necessary to balance this wine. What a blend!

The owner, Pepe Mendoza, was Enrique Mendoza’s winery enologist for 30 years but started to create his own wines in 2017. The first Spanish Syrah I tasted was from that former winery which was known from bringing innovation to the Spanish wine scene. I also remember their delicious sweet Moscatel wine. See below Pepe Mendoza;s wines and their excellent ratings.

91 pts. WA

$14.99 14% ABV My Rating: 91 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

OVIS Betsy’s Vineyard 2020 Petite Sirah, High Valley, Lake County, CA

Very dark color. Opaque and deep. Plentyful legs announcing high alcohol content. So many aromas coming to my nose while I looked at it! This was one of those wines that I keep smelling, and smelling, and do not find the moment when I actually start drinking it. Pansies, cherry, cream pie, crème brûlée, turmeric, thyme, sage, cinnamon, …

In mouth it was so thick and pasty that it actually felt to me like porridge. Live with sufficient acidity. It had such a huge body in a rough structure that after the first and only sip I decided to decant it and leave it for the next day.

Remember when the state stores closed for COVID? I resorted to ordering my wine from Shannon Ridge. And I distributed some bottles to several friends. That was our saver!

After watching the following video from Shannon Ridge’s founder/owner everything will make sense: https://shannonfamilyofwines.com/our-story/sustainability/

$21.99 15% ABV My Rating: 92 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Correntoso 2024 Malbec, Patagonia

This wine presents an immediate and intense splash of fruits and flowers. Peach, strawberry, violet and rose. Also, chocolate pie (Saher Tort) with ripe plum and blackberry jam on top.

The first two sips were very acidic but by the third one the wine had become just refreshing and the acidity highlighted the fruitiness.

Thick and pasty tannins in full body and plush structure. Deep aftertaste. This wine is very expressive.

It is radically different from the Malbec from Patagonia I reviewed in https://www.wineandfriends.net/post/malbec-from-cahors-mendoza-and-patagonia

Great aging potential. I think a little bit more oak aging would have benefited it. In any case, an excellent wine and great value!

$10.99 14% ABV My Rating: 91+ pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Talo San Marzano 2023 Primitivo, Primitivo di Manduria

Intense and complex aroma of fruits: nectarine, strawberry, red cherry and red plum but also powerful flowers. I close my eyes and find myself in an evening at the garden after watering a garden of pansies and petunias. Some rose in there too. Primitivo (Zinfandel) is about that: fruits and flowers. Some people’s favorite wines.

This wine also offers vanilla, cinnamon and cocoa notes from oak barrel aging. In mouth it is medium to full body with velvety tannins and perfect acidity. This wine is elegant and balanced.

91 pts. JS

$10.99 14% ABV My Rating: 91+ pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Rocca Torri d’Oro 2023 Primitivo, Primitivo di Manduria

This is a bold and fruity wine. Aromas of prune and dry fruits. Ripe but the acidity keeps it fresh. Full body and thick tannins. Very fulfilling in mouth. Maraschino cherries come out in mouth. Balsamic and medium length.

JS 91 pts.

$14.99 14.5% ABV My Rating: 91+ pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Rocca Amornero 2023 Primitivo, Puglia

One of the many Primitivo wines at Chairman’s this season. And a very good one! Aromas of dark plum, strawberry jam and, believe it or not, mango. In mouth chocolate pastry with silky tannins, medium body and bright acidity perfectly balancing the ripeness and keeping it alive. Yes, that’s it! This wine seems alive.

I agree with the ratings. Allen, I know you like Primitivo. Get some and let me know what you think.

JS 91 pts.

$8.99 13.5% ABV My Rating: 91 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Silver Trail 2023 Chardonnay, Lodi

Shy aromas in the nose but intense, complex and enveloping in mouth. Baked yellow apple, ripe lemon and apricot with hints of cake, loquat, turmeric and fennel. The feeling was viscous with an unctuous and glyceric structure while retaining refreshing acidity. Not long but soothing aftertaste.

This wine shows in my opinion a very judicious use of oak. Another great quality to price ratio wine from Lodi Valley.

$10.99 13% ABV My Rating: 91 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Primus, The Blend 2020 Carménère 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%, Petit Verdot 10%, Shiraz 10%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Apalta, Chile

This is a powerful wine with aromas of red and black fruits, dry rose petals, and with prevalent characteristics from Carménère. In mouth, for instance, it shows this slight bitterness I have observed in this varietal. Medium to full body with very alive pasty tannins and bright acidity begging for decanting. The second half of the bottle the next day had opened up and evolved to a more friendly texture. Medium length. A wine to age for a good number of years in your basement.

$12.99 14% ABV My Rating: 91 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

El Goru 38 Barriles 2018 75% Monastrell, 15% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, Jumilla

Monastrell is originally from this region. It is called Mourvèdre in France and Mataro in Australia. It is one of Sally’s and my favorite red varietals. Underestimated and sold as cardboard wine for a long time, Jumilla has become thanks to technical improvements in winemaking in one of the stellar Spanish wine regions.

Intense dark garnet color with abundant and thick legs. Aromas of ripe plum, ripe blackberry, ripe peach and an intensely aromatic flower (hyacinth according to Ricardo or petunia according to Sally) enveloped in intense milk chocolate. Although already very aromatic, this wine opened up in mouth adding taste of Mediterranean herbs and cranberry jam in a dense, thick and silky structure with abundant but soft tannins from a long oak aging. In spite of the very hot climate of Jumilla this wine maintains sufficient acidity to balance the ripeness. Long and deep aftertaste.

This wine sells in Spain for about $20.

In summary an intense wine that provides a lot for the price.

I believe that more people would purchase and taste this wine if it had a different label. Positive feedback trying to help.

93 pts. WE

$13.99 14.5% ABV My Rating: 91 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Château Haut-Maurac 2022, Cru Bourgeois, Médoc

Aroma of raspberry, cherry, blackcurrant pie hinting gentle roast French oak aging. Acidic, medium to full body and abundant dusty tannins enveloped in a structure with some unctuosity that softens the experience. The aftertaste has some level of depth and length. In summary, a serious and well-crafted wine the delivers above its price level.

91 pts. WS

$14.99 14% ABV My Rating: 91 pts.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Casa la Gatta 2020 Nebbiolo, Valtellina Superiore DOCG

I discovered this wine at The Waterfront Friday’s free wine tasting and since then I have purchased 2 bottles.

Herman Hesse was my favorite writer when I was in college and I remember he talked in a book about his beloved Valtellina wine.

A Nebbiolo that is not from Langhe (Barolo, Barbaresco) and thus more affordable.

Winemaker's notes: Bright ruby red; intensely winy, fresh, with fruity notes of raspberry; dry, vibrant, sophisticated, with a balanced tannin content. A linear and tastefully aromatic wine.

Wine Enthusiast: Chalk-dusted green-apple slice, green pear and daisy-blossom aromas swirl in your glass. The palate is juicy with mouthwatering fruit and acidity washing across crushed stone that provides a pleasing saline counterbalance before completing with a long finish.

90 pts. WE and Best Buy

$19.99 13% ABV My Rating: 91 pts.

Château Fleur Badon 2020 Merlot 70%, Cabernet Franc 30%, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Aromas of ripe blackberry, black currant, pomegranate, blood orange, … very fruity. Also, violets, rosemary and nutmeg. Mushrooms and underbrush.

Tannic, I decided to decant it and wait for two hours. It opened up.

This is a good vintage and this wine, at this price, offers an excellent opportunity to get exposed to Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation.

$21.99 13.5% ABV My Rating: 91 pts.

Château Beaumont les Perrières 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 25%, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

Maria and her son strongly recommended it to me so that I went to the store and purchased it. I loved it too. I found it heavy body, clearly oaked, and typical Bordeaux right bank, and I agreed with the expert notes:

Winemaker’s notes: Notes of black currant, raspberry and undergrowth from cabernet sauvignon. A soft mouth from merlot, with a hint of prune and silky tannins.

Wine Enthusiast: The quick wood aging has given this wine a fine, polished character. ... Tannins are already fully integrated into the wine with its smoky aroma. It is likely to develop well.

Great quality/price ratio in my opinion. A lot of vineyards were planted in this appellation in the past decades and they have overproduction, hence the very attractive pricing.

92 pts. WE

$10.99 14% ABV My Rating: 90 pts.

Feind 2024 60% Királyleányka, 28% Zenit, 11% Sárgamuskotály, 1% Cserszegi Füszeres, Balatonfured Csopak Hungary

I learnt about this wine at the 5956 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, wine store free tasting. And I want to congratulate them for bringing it up to our attention. First wine I have from this denomination and varietals, and a real discovery.

Above all, this wine was mineral. Pure mineral! I felt like in front of a large beautiful quartz crystal. In addition, there was fresh, almost green lemon in there. It cut through our throats like a melting piece of ice. At a point in time it felt like a stainless steel surface.

Availability: A few dozens of bottles left at Centre, Waterfront, Waterworks and Smallman stores.

$17.99 12.5% ABV My Rating: 90 pts.

Layer Cake 2022, Cabernet Sauvignon, CA

This is a wine that appears cheap, no AVA but has some professional winemaking behind. Fruity and daring. Fresh, with predominance of red fruits such as raspberry, strawberry and stone fruits. Very young and flashy but simultaneously with signs of oak influence in a layer cake as its name says.

Sally and I both loved it as t brought a sense of festivity home.

Amazing price.

$6.99 14.5% ABV My Rating: 89 pts. taking into account the price

Lodi Avenue 2022 Petite Sirah, Lodi

Although Lodi Valley is located within dry and sunny California’s Central Valley, some San Pablo Bay fog enters it through a discontinuity in the Coastal Ranges. That make it is suitable for quality wine production. Wines from Lodi Valley usually have very competitive prices. Sun-loving varietals such as Zinfandel and Petite Sirah is one of their hallmarks. Try their Tempranillo and let me know what you think.

Aromas of red cherry, geranium flowers, dry Mediterranean herbs and ash.

Full body and intense mouth it resembles cherry juice. Perfect acidity and dusty tannins in their way to silky. Medium aftertaste depth and length. Fulfilling.

Limited availability. Look for store in https://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com/

$8.99 13.9% ABV My Rating: 89 pts.

Poggio Alto, Piccini 2021 Mostly Sangiovese with Colorino, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Toscana IGT

Very pleasant aroma of cherry pie. Medium body with soft powdery tannins and bright acidity. Medium length aftertaste. A very friendly wine brought by Chairman’s at an unbelievable price. Great for thrifty afficionados.

I remember when Sally went to Rome to study Italian and I visited her Chianti Piccini was her friend’s to go red wine.

90 pts. WE

$8.99 13% ABV My Rating: 89 pts.

Athenaeum 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

This wine took some time to open up. This is one of few wines that I would aerate. It would have also gained from decanting. Finally, the following aromas came out: nectarine, sweet black cherries, turmeric, shy pansies and chocolate.

In mouth it was dusty tannins, full body with correct acidity in a plush fulfilling structure. Medium length. A correct Cab that I rated higher than the experts.

88 pts. WE

$11.99 14% ABV My Rating: 89 pts.

Gran Alanis Castes Blancas 2023 Godello, Treixadura, Loureira and Albariño, Ribeiro

Aromas of golden apple, lemon peel, dill and asparagus. Very bright acidity, refreshing, herbal, with the bitterness of celery and fennel in the aftertaste. Definitively a wine with pronounced vegetable component (some would associate this with a defect but I do not think this is the case – it is a characteristic that provides it distinct personality),

Another incentive for trying this wine is the varietals, all indigenous from North-Western Spain and Portugal. Tke the opportunity to try something different.

Vinous 92 pts.

$12.99 12.5% ABV My Rating: 89 pts.

Le Haut Des Ruettes 2023 Chenin Blanc, Vouvray

Both Sally and I enjoyed this wine. Of course, I did not tell her where it was from because that might have biassed her opinion.

In agreement with WE we detected peach and quince. Also apricot and intense orange blossom, although we remembered later that our two indoor orange trees were blooming. In any case it was fruity, floral and expressive. Medium-dry, light body. Medium length. Very pleasant.

90 pts. WE

$13.99 13% ABV My Rating: 89 pts.

Tenuta Le Colonne 2021 Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, Costa Toscana IGT

Very shy aroma to start with. A “closed” wine. In mouth we could feel it was packing something inside but it was still secluded, like a volt and silent like a Benedictine monk. It was medium to full body with thick pasty tannins and bitterness showing up all possibly from high extraction during the winemaking process. We decided to leave it in the glass, decant the entire bottle and wait. Hour later it could have been taken for a right bank Bordeaux. Enjoy with a beef stew.

Excerpt from Winemaker Notes (I agreed with): Aromas of black cherry, blueberries and plums, complemented by subtle hints of coffee, licorice and leather. On the palate, it's powerful and well-structured, with smooth tannins and a vibrant freshness. The aftertaste reveals lingering nuances of plum, licorice and a hint of cocoa.

It is the entry level of super Tuscans from the same winery.

90 pts. WS and WA

$19.99 14% ABV My Rating: 89 pts.

Conte Lorenzo Sormani 2020 Nebbiolo, Barolo

This was a very low-price Barolo so that I could afford it and decided to give it a chance.

Rose petals and ripe cherries, dusty tannins in a medium to light body and crisp acidity. Sally identified some shoemaker’s glue and I responded that supposedly Barolo has tar aroma.

I will continue my life long quest to find an affordable “wine of kings and king of wines” that impresses me.

91 pts. JS

$24.99 14.% ABV My Rating: 89 pts

RECOMMENDED BECAUSE OF THE PRICE (FOR A BAROLO)

McBride Sisters’ Collection, Sparkling Rosé N/V Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Hawke's Bay, NZ

I opened this sparkling wine with low expectations, given its price. However, as soon as I looked at it in the glass with a beautiful light salmon color and a constant stream of small bubbles creating a consistent crown I decided to take my first sip with interest. And it truly delivered! Beautiful and delicate taste of a strawberry pastry cream. Sally loved it too and told me to go for more. I obeyed, as always.

I love wines from Marlborough Co. but I was always intrigued about this other denomination of Hawke’s Bay in the North Island. They are difficult to get in PA but I will keep looking for more.

I am adding the winemaker’s notes because I fully agree with them: Gentle floral notes of rose petals, strawberries and cream, and freshly crushed red berries. The red fruits carry through to the palate where cranberry, peach, strawberry and raspberry take center stage. A hint of toasty complexity and some creamy richness from time on lees leads to a dry finish with lingering hints of spice.

And, finally, why this price? Quoted at $25, the October 2023 date of WS’ review brings up a possible hypothesis is that they are trying to get rid of stock. Well, … Sally and I am going to help them!

91 pts. WS

$7.99 12.5% ABV My Rating: 88 pts.

Sin Zin 2020, Zinfandel, Sonoma County

Fruit jam and spice as expected in a CA Zin. Red fruits with perhaps some peach or even mango in there. And certainly, lots of black pepper.

Dusty tannins and good acidity level in a medium body structure. The effect of oak aging was very mild. The aftertaste was bitter and smoky. Sally identified smoked paprika and actually like it more than I.

I am adding the two expert reviews below to illustrate how each of us three can diverge. After all, a lot is science, but a lot is your own experience, and even the day and moment when you taste it, and the food pairing.

Wine Spectator: This savory red’s zesty black cherry, anise and pepper flavors end with briary tannins.

James Suckling: An array of ripe black and blue fruit with hints of leather, nuts and sweet spices. Full-bodied with taut tannins, that are ripe with fine texture. Deep, dark-fruited character with notes of wet stones and bark coming through in the finish.

WS 87 pts. JS 91 pts.

$8.99 14.5% ABV My Rating: 88 pts.

Misfits and Mavens 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, CA

Wine Enthusiast: Aromas of black cherry, boysenberry, cola, and vanilla segue into creamy dark chocolate and supple dusty tannins.

91 pts. and Best Buy WE

I was unable to find many of above attributes. It appeared to me like a fresh light body for a CA Cab, light tannin, uncomplicated wine that reminded me of grape juice. Sally liked it much more. She said strong background of blackberry, with ripe cherry, ash and moss. Our discrepancy was so large that I bought a second bottle. Sally opened it thinking it was a new wine and after a while she came to be excited about how much she liked it. I tried to be open minded and tried it again, with the same result. I think we found our breaking point in here. What should we do next?

$9.99 14.5% ABV My Rating: 88 pts. (avg. of Ricardo’s 85 and Sally’s 91)!

Jean Francois Roy 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine

Aromas of lemon water, dill and straw. Perhaps some hint of green apple. Certainly, very citrusy. Dry and light with refreshing acidity and minerality.

Winemaker’s notes: Chalk-dusted green-apple slice, green pear and daisy-blossom aromas swirl in your glass. The palate is juicy with mouthwatering fruit and acidity washing across crushed stone that provides a pleasing saline counterbalance before completing with a long finish.

WE 90 pts. and Best Buy

$10.99 13% ABV My Rating: 88 pts

RECOMMENDED

Cricket Farms N/V 65% Zinfandel, 34% Mourvèdre and 1% Chardonnay, Lake County

Sparkling rosé with a few continuous columns of mid-sized bubbles forming a permanent crown which told me the protein had not denaturalized (well kept). Aromas of Aragón peach, strawberry and fresh almond. Pleasant texture in a light to medium body showing in mouth some slight residual sugar, although still a dry wine, a little bit like many Prossecos. I thought it was correct but I could not give it a rating like WE’s.

92 pts. WE

$14.99 10.5% ABV My Rating: 88 pts

Gearbox 2021 Pinot Noir, CA

Shy aroma of fresh red cherry. In mouth it was fulfilling with fresh acidity that made me salivate. Light to medium body. A real bargain.

90 WE pts.

$6.99 13.8% ABV My Rating: 87 pts

RECOMMENDED BECAUSE OF THE PRICE

Le Contesse N/V Glear, Prosecco

Lively foam that disappears quickly giving way to a continuous flow of few very small bubbles. Aromas of lemon juice and rind, yellow apple, and really, typically, unmistakably Prosecco. In mouth it is like many Proseccos dry but with some noticeable residual sugar. The bubbles feel like needles.

In my opinion, a correct Prosecco out of many.

90 Pts and Best Buy WE

$11.99 11% ABV My Rating: 87 pts

Domaine de Belle Mare 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, Pays D'Oc

Aromas of fresh pear, yellow apple, dill and oregano.

Precise acidity level with light to medium body and clean aftertaste, not long, as expected, for this unoaked white. Sally liked it more than I.

I found it correct but far from the expert’s rating. I am included it below and you be the judge:

Wine Enthusiast: A light hue in the glass, this bottling pops on the nose with makrut lime leaf, dried grass, wet stone and delicate guava peel aromas. The palate is tense in texture and vivid in flavors of green apple, lime and more chiseled stone.

92 pts. WE

$9.99 13% ABV My Rating: 86 pts

Les Vignerons de la Calade 2023 Syrah 60%, Grenache 40%, Côtes du Rhône

More than fruit, I saw in this wine Mediterranean herbs such as dry thyme and rosemary, cigarette smoke and, finally, strawberry. Peppery. Acidic, medium body with chalky tannins (really chalky). Medium length with a remaining feeling of bitterness, like chewing dry cooking herbs. It feels like more Grenache than Syrah in my opinion.

When I look for wines from the Rhône I usually look for the small denominations like Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac, Girondas, … or for the Villages. Wines under just Côtes du Rhône are the ones that do not make it into those better denominations.

I am including below the evaluation and rating from a prestigious magazine. Mine is rather different. I may be wrong.

Juicy and vibrant, ... a bouquet of blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, mushroom, and lavender. On the palate, lively acidity refreshes the senses, balancing bold dark fruits with earthy depth. Fruit-forward and accessible, it’s ready to be enjoyed now.

91 pts. And Best Buy WE

$10.99 14% ABV My Rating: 86 pts

Boomtown 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

Shy aroma probably of fresh blackberry, cinnamon and sage. Right acidity. Medium body with thick, dusty and drying tannins. Short aftertaste. This wine may open up and evolve positively with more bottle aging and, in my opinion, would have benefited from more oak aging.

90 pts. WE

$11.99 13.2% ABV My Rating: 85 pts

Wilhelm Walch Prendo 2024 Pinot Grigio, Vignetti delle Dolomite

This wine is from Tramin, in the German-speaking Italian region of Alto Adige. Same place where the atypical Italian Janick Sinner is from. Gewürztraminer is a cross of Traminer.

Light color and light aromas of lemon water, a cooking herb (probably dill) and vegetable (probably fennel and celery). In mouth it is light body, diluted, with bright acidity. Short length in the aftertaste, as could be expected for this type of wine.

This is a highly reputed winery with wines much better than this one, although pricier too.

The Alto Adige wine region is something my brother-in-law Jerry and I are looking forward to exploring (by foot and with a backpack, if possible). What a beautiful place!

Vignetti delle Dolomite from Wilhelm Walch's Website

$13.99 12.5% ABV My Rating: 85 pts

Vecchia Modena Lambrusco di Sorbara

Light color and body, lively foam, with unmistakable aroma of maraschino cherry. Dry wine but with some noticeable residual sugar. With minimal tannins it felt in mouth almost like a white. And that was it!

Lambrusco is a big seller in Spain and bears extremely low prices. In the last decade it has become old ladies’ favorite wine.

$17.99 11% ABV My Rating: 85 pts

Santa Julia 2024 Chenin Blanc, Mendoza

Natural Sweet. The low alcohol level denotes that the fermentation was cut early to produce a wine with significant level of residual sugar.

I, personally, do not like this style, and Sally actually refused to even taste it. I, however, refrain from providing judgement since there are people with sweet tooth who might like it.

Aromas of ripe lemon, grapefruit and apricot. Enough acidity to balance the sugar. Light body.

$9.99 13% ABV My Rating: 86 pts

Black Girl Magic, from McBride Sisters N/V Chenin Blanc, California

This sparkling wine is crafted employing the Charmat method. This is the method used for Prosecco and consists on doing the second fermentation in a tank instead of individual bottles. It is much faster and lower cost than Methode Champenois. And usually produces simpler fruity wines.

Aromas of citrus, pineapple and pear.

This CA sparkling is produced by the American McBride half-sister. The New Zealand half-sister produced the far more interesting in my opinion rose sparkling evaluate in this report.

The McBride half-sisters grew up in CA and NZ not aware of each other’s existence. Their father’s will requested that they met. And that is how their association started. They are the largest black woman-owner winery in the US. If you are interested in the story, there are more details in their Website.

$7.99 13 ABV My Rating: 84 pts

Duca di Salaparuta Oniris 2024 Grillo, Sicilia

Citrusy, refreshing acidity but sort of diluted. My interpretation (may be wrong) is that in such a hot climate in order to preserve grape acidity they had to harvest early with still low aromatic development and sugar (notice the alcoholic level).

Sally and I may have been unfortunate or not purchased the expensive Grillo wines but we are still waiting for one that will excite us.

Decades ago, Sally, Begoña, Alessandro and I had a glass in the patio of Donnafugatta. We really loved that one but the ambiance and the company may have had something to do with it.

$10.99 11% ABV My Rating: 83 pts

Sfigato 2024 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC

Sally did not want any more after her first sip. I was able to identify lemon water and tarragon. In mouth it felt a bit diluted. I ended up adding fruit juice to it to make a kind of wine cooler.

Now, somebody can tell me "but what can you expect for this price?" And that's true. The price was honest and according to the quality.

Typically, if you are looking for the best Pinot Grigio, I would recommend Collio, Colli Orientaly del Friuli, Alto Adige, … . When I see delle Venezie I know it is not from one of those regions.