Villa Guelpa Sizzano 2018
Brilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry and five spice with supporting notes of dried herbs, rose petals, and slate. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of black cherry, plum, star anise, and orange peel. The finish is long and lingering with silky tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. Made with a blend of 70% Nebbiolo and 30% Vespolina. $29 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
Flavs Valpolicella Ripasso 2018
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry and five spice with supporting notes of dried fruits, mocha, and sour cherry. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black cherry, cocoa, clove, graphite, and dried herbs. The finish is long and lingering with silky tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. $22 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Flavs Rosso IGP Veneto 2018
Brilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of strawberry and red currant with supporting notes of hibiscus flower, cigar box, raspberry, and oak. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of red cherry, wild berries, and hints of baking spices. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and nicely balanced with a supple texture. $14.99 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Henry's Drive - Vintage Longbottom Shriaz/Grenache/Mourvedre McLaren Vale 2020
Brilliant, dark ruby/purple color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of boysenberry and dried herbs with supporting notes of black tea, cassis, five spice, and cigar box. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of blackberry, plum, mineral, and cocoa. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with an opulent texture. Made with a blend of 60% Shriaz, 23% Grenache, and 17% Mourvedre. $49.99 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Henry's Drive - Vintage Longbottom Shriaz/Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale 2020
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of mulberry and five spice with supporting notes of fruitcake, plum, and cedar. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black currant, boysenberry, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins with tart black fruits. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with an opulent but vibrant texture. Made with a blend of 55% Shriaz and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. $49.99 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Camille Cayran Le Chene Noir Cotes-du-Rhone, Rouge 2019
Brilliant, dark ruby/purple color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of raspberry and black currant with supporting notes of lavender, boysenberry, five spice, and dried herbs. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black fruits, violet, hibiscus flower, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. Made with a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Carignan, 20% Syrah. $25 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Troon Vineyard Druid's Fluid Red Applegate Valley 2020
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are very intense, offering scents of raspberry and wild strawberry with supporting notes of mineral, baking spices, cocoa, red currant, black tea, and hints of graphite. The palate confirms the nose delivering a generous, ripe red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of wild berries, black plum, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with juicy, ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. $25 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Paso Robles 2019
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of black plum and boysenberry with supporting notes of black tea, forest floor, violet, and five spice. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black cherry, graphite, balsamic, cocoa, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a dense, meaty texture. $60 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Avignonesi Cantaloro IGT Toscano 2017
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of red cherry and forest floor with supporting notes of cocoa, boysenberry, and violet. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of red currant, red plum, and mineral and hints of wild mint. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. Made with a blend of 57% Sangiovese, 31% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. $11.99 – 4 Stars – 92 points
Casa de Vila Nova Red Douro 2018
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of raspberry, plum, and mineral with supporting notes of dried violet and hibiscus flower. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of boysenberry jam, red currant, and hints of rhubarb. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and nicely balanced with a opulent texture. Made with a blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 40% Tinta Roriz, and 40% Touriga Franca. $11.99 – 3.5 Stars – 89 points
