Orfila Reserva Red Blend Uco Valley 2018
Brilliant, deep ruby/lilac color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of raspberry and blueberry with supporting notes of hibiscus flower, red beet, tomato leaf, hints of sumac, and baking spices. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of red cherry, bramble, graphite, and cocoa. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. Made with 50% Malbec and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. $20 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Paso Robles 2021
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of blackberry and mineral with supporting notes of licorice, black tea, forest floor, and violet. The palate echoes the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black cherry, black currant, dark chocolate, and graphite. The finish is tart with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a chewy texture. Made with a blend of 36% Syrah, 34% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre, 8% Tannat, and 3% Counoise. Their Patelin rouge is meant to tackle young but this one has a strong future and will likely improve with 5+ years in the cellar. $28 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Paso Robles 2020
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of boysenberry and bramble with supporting notes of black currant, tamari, forest floor, and tapenade. The palate echoes the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black cherry, mulberry, leather, slate, and graphite. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. Made with a unique blend of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 21% Syrah, 5% Counoise, 3% Vaccarese, and 1% Cinsaut. Our favorite Esprit de Tablas yet. $65 – 5 Stars – 98 points
Veramonte Primus, The Blend Apalta, Colchagua 2018
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black currant, dried herbs, and bramble with supporting notes of iodine, mineral, cedar, and black tea. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black plum, boysenberry, and hints of hibiscus tea. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. Made with a unique blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carménère, 10% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. $18.99 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Zenato Alanera Rosso IGP Verona 2018
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black cherry, boysenberry, and five spice with supporting notes of black plum, cigar box, hibiscus flower, and leather. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, mocha, and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture. Made with a classic Veneto blend of 55% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone, 5% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. $18 – 4 Stars – 92 points
Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso 2018
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of blackberry and cassis with supporting notes of baking spices, hibiscus flower, boysenberry, and forest floor. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black currant, dark chocolate, leather, and hints of pink peppercorns. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a velvety texture. $30 – 4 Stars – 93 points
Domaine Notre Dame des Pallieres - Les Rieus Cotes-du-Rhone, Rouge 2019
Brilliant, deep scarlet color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry and wild berries with supporting notes of fresh herbs, hibiscus flower, vanilla, and black pepper. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of black plum and strawberry. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. $14.99 – 4 Stars – 92 points
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Paso Robles 2020
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of dense blackberry, dark soy, and five spice with supporting notes of black tea, forest floor, and tapenade. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of boysenberry, mulberry, cocoa, black plum, and graphite. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture. Made with a blend of 36% Syrah, 34% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre, 8% Tannat, and 3% Counoise. Our favorite Patelin de Tablas yet. $28 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
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
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
