Tablas Creek Côtes de Tablas Adelaida District 2020
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of forest floor, bramble, and black tea with supporting notes of baking spices, laurel leaf, dried fruits, slate, graphite, and black plum. The palate is in substantial agreement with the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of boysenberry, black currant, mocha, wet stones, and raspberry. The finish is long and lingering with chalky tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. Made with a unique blend of 43% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 19% Counoise, and 5% Mourvedre. This is a complex and luscious beast of wine with a massive potential to age and develop. $40 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
Flambeaux Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2019
Brilliant, medium golden color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of lychee and apple with supporting notes of honeysuckle, lemon curd, and oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, meringue, candied ginger, and blanched almonds. The finish is long and lingering. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. $50 – 4 Stars – 92 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2020
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, medium gold/green color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of apricot stone, honeysuckle, and custard with supporting notes of lemon curd, meringue, candied ginger, and lychee. The palate confirms the nose delivering a tropical fruits-driven core with flavors of pineapple, white peach, quince, honey, with hints of wild mint, and citrus zest. The finish is long and lingering with lemon zest lingering for minutes. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent yet vibrant texture. $55 – 4.5 Stars – 96 points
The Departure Unti Vineyard Sangiovese Dry Creek Valley 2020
Brilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black currant and raspberry with supporting notes of black cherry, dried herbs, earth, and leather. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of tomato, balsamic, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and nicely balanced with an opulent texture. $50 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Castello Nipozzano Vecchie Viti Chianti Rufina 2016
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of violet and balsamic with supporting notes of black plum, forest floor, black tea, and baking spices. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black cherry, raspberry, dried herbs, and dark espresso accents. The finish is long and lingering with silky tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $32.99 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
Troon Vineyard Kubli Bench Rosé Applegate Valley 2021
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekHazy, light salmon color. The nose is moderately intense, offering scents of red plum and kumquat with supporting notes of strawberry, rhubarb, and cranberry with hints of sweet cigar box. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of raspberry, red currant, and wet stones. The finish is tart with lovely tart berries emerging. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture. Made with a unique blend of 55% Malbec, 35% Tinta Roriz and 10% Counoise. $25 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Troon Vineyard Kubli Bench Amber Applegate Valley 2021
Hazy, medium gold color. The nose is moderately intense, offering scents of spring flowers and orange blossoms with supporting notes of baked apple, hay, and hard cheese. The palate echoes the nose delivering a tropical and orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of tropical fruit, hints of apple cider, and peach. The finish is tart with dry tannins and citrus zest. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced with a vibrant texture. $35 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Pratt Vyd Irwin Lane Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2020
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, golden color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of lemon curd, lychee, and lime with supporting notes of meringue, orange peel, bees wax, and hints of apricot stone. The palate confirms the nose delivering a tropical fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, pineapple, quince, and slate. The finish lingers with crisp citrus accents. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant yet expansive texture. Just as good as last year's classic release. $42 – 4.5 Stars – 96 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2020
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black cherry, five spice, and anise with supporting notes of boysenberry, black tea, forest floor, violet, and rhubarb. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of blackberry, black plum, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins and tart red fruits. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent yet vibrant texture. A bit of a different animal than their previous Sonoma Coast Pinots but it's our favorite to date. $55 – 5 Stars – 98 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2021
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep coral color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry and boysenberry with supporting notes of mineral, hibiscus flower, raspberry, and kumquat. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of juicy, wild strawberry, red plum, slate, and orange peel. The finish is long and lingering with tart cherries and citrus zest rising on the finish. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant yet opulent texture. An annual favorite — this is one of our favorite vintages yet. $22 – 4.5 Stars – 96 points
