Domaine La Manarine Cotes-du-Rhone, Rouge 2021
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black currant, forest floor, and five spice with supporting notes of dried herbs, garrigue, leather, and black tea. The palate echoes the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, black plum, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with dry tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. $18 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Castelli del Grevepesa Coltifredi Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2020
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red currant, forest floor, and cedar with supporting notes of dried herbs, plum, cigar box, and rosemary. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black cherry, baking spices, iodine, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with chalky tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $25 – 4 Stars – 92 points
Domaine de Rombeau Le Botaniste Cotes Du Roussillon 2022
Brilliant, deep garnet color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of cassis, baking spices, and boysenberry with supporting notes of black tea, blueberry, and plum. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black cherry, five spice, red currant, and oak. The finish is long and lingering with firm tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. Made with a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. $35 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Decugnano Dei Barbi IL Rosso IGP Umbria 2020
Brilliant, dark ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of raspberry, garrigue, and mulberry with supporting notes of dried herbs, black tea, and cassis. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of boysenberry, red cherry, forest floor, and five spice. The finish is long and lingering with silky tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. Made with a blend of Syrah 40%, Sangiovese 30%, and Montepulciano 30%. $39 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2021
Brilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry, cranberry, and black tea with supporting notes of cocoa, dried herbs, and slate. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of raspberry, boysenberry, forest floor, and black cherry. The finish is long and lingering with silky tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $25 – 4 Stars – 92 points
Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Adelaida District 2022
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of boysenberry, blackberry, and forest floor with supporting notes of black currant, cigar box, tomato leaf, raspberry, and pomegranate. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of blackberry, red currant, earth, cured meat, and dark chocolate. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. Made with a blend of 40% Mourvedre, 28% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 4% Vaccarese, 3% Counoise, and 3% Cinsaut. $70 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Adelaida District 2023
Brilliant, deep ruby/purple color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of boysenberry, tamari, and lavender with supporting notes of black plum, anise, violet, and cola nut. The palate echoes the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of licorice, plum, sassafras, black cherry, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. Made with a blend of 45% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 23% Mourvedre, and 2% Counoise. $28 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Troon Vineyard Druid's Red Applegate Valley 2023
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of plum, raspberry, and dried herbs with supporting notes of leather, mineral, hibiscus flower, thyme, and hints of cigar box. The palate echoes the nose, delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, earth, red currant, and mocha. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. Made with a blend of 30% Syrah, 27% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 19% Mourvedre, and 4% Carignan. If drinking now, open an hour before drinking. $25 – 4.5 Stars – 96 points
Thunevin-Calvet Cuvee Constance Cotes Du Roussillon-Villages 2018
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black plum, cocoa, and graphite with supporting notes of slate, garrigue, and bramble. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of blackberry, raspberry, black tea, and licorice. The finish is long and lingering with silky tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a opulent texture. $24 – 4 Stars – 92 points
Urbión Reserva Rioja 2015
Brilliant, deep crimson color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black plum, forest floor, and violet with supporting notes of cassis, anise, slate, and black tea. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black cherry, lavender, and bramble. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $24 – 4 Stars – 93 points
