Falesco Montiano Merlot Lazio IGP 2012
Deep ruby to garnet red color. The nose is complex and expressive with dense black cherry and black berry notes supported by an exotic brown baking spice mélange, dark chocolate, and sexy oak accents. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush and dense fruit core with spice, oak, and subtle earth notes perfectly woven into the fabric. Full-bodied with the kind of power, grace, and balance found only in top class wines. Made with 100% Merlot. $50 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Kynsi Winery Precious Stone Pinot Noir Edna Valley 2012
Bright ruby red color. The nose is simply beautiful offering waves of ripe and semi-tart red berries with supporting notes of purple flowers, jasmine, raspberry compote, cranberry, and mineral with hints of vanilla soaked oak. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a very sophisticated fruit core with an abundance of spice, oak, and floral notes with long trailing tart cherry notes and sexy oak tones. Medium to full-bodied with perfect balance due to a fresh vein of bright acidity that greets you on the first sip and carries through to the finish. $62 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Helfrich Grand Cru Steinklotz Pinot Gris Alsace 2011
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBeautiful pale golden color with dozens of legs streaming down the glass. The aromatics leap from the glass offering a complex melange ranging from wild flowers to citrus, tropical, and stone fruits with a brilliant mineral edge. Delivers waves of ripe and semi-tart tropical and orchard fruits with candied ginger, mint, and exotic Asian spice notes. Like all great Alsace Grand Cru wines this one offers seductive, rich flavors while never losing its vibrancy. $25 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Barlow Barrouge Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga, Napa Valley 2012
Deep, garnet red with a good dose of purple as well. The nose is ever so charming with waves of cassis, blackberry, and plum with generous accents of leather, cigar box, allspice, clove, oak, and forest floor. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a silky, complex entry with a dense fruit-driven core that lingers on and on with vibrant notes of sweet oak and elegant brown baking spices on the finish. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with great length and depth that best reveals itself with an hour of aeration. $50 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Gundlach Bundschu Estate Gewürztraminer Sonoma Coast 2014
Beautiful pale straw color. The nose reveals a classic Gewürztraminer showcasing lovely orchard fruits with accents of jasmine, rose water, honeysuckle, lemon curd, and ginger. The palate echoes the nose delivering a complex fruit melange with white peach, apple, and pear in the lead supporting by generous spice, rose water, ginger, and jasmine with mineral and subtle citrus accents. Medium-bodied and incredibly delicate while filling the palate with waves of fruit and spice. Made with 100% Gewürztraminer. $22 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Mount Veeder Reserve Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep garnet to maroon color. The nose is wonderfully complex — imagine Bordeaux meeting Napa hillsides. Scents of blackberry, blueberry, plum, and cassis take the lead supported by fresh herbs, toasted oak, allspice, nutmeg, and hints of dark chocolate, leather, and licorice. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, fruit-driven core with a wildly complex mix of earth, cigar, brown baking spices, sweet herbs, and oak to add intrigue. It's certainly full-boded but this wine offers more nuance than heft as it's never brooding while constantly changing from sip to sip. $90 – 5 Stars – 98 points
Cornerstone Cellars Oakville Station Merlot Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep garnet to ruby red color. The aromatics are incredibly deep with layers of red and black cherry with hints of raspberry, blackberry, plum, cocoa nibs, allspice, anise, vanilla bean accented toasted oak, herbes de Provence, and black pepper. The palate is equal to the nose delivering an impossibly complex array of berry fruits with spice, earth, oak, and more subtle nuances than can be documented here. Full-bodied and wonderfully structured and silky with countless layers and perfectly integrated tannins. $75 – 5 Stars – 100 points
Cornerstone Cellars Michael's Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeepest, darkest ruby red color. The rich and dense fruit is the first thing that grabs your attention. Rich, concentrated black cherries take the lead followed by cassis, raspberry, black plum, and wild red berries are supported by a melange of brown spices, earth, and toasted oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, concentrated fruit core that is framed by spice, black pepper, leather, oak, and dusty tannins. It's simply gorgeous and what every Napa Cabernet lover is seeking. Full-bodied with deep, concentrated fruit and spice flavors displaying perfect balance and incredible length. The only down side is that this bold and wine drinks so well now that it won't be properly cellared allowing it to show its full character. $75 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Bargetto Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains 2013
Bright ruby red with a translucent center. The nose is complex and deep with scents of ripe and tart black cheery and cranberry supported by generous notes of mineral, plum, toasted oak, allspice, and hints of vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a charming melange of ripe and tart fruit with trailing spice and oak notes that linger on. Perfectly balanced with a vibrant dose of acidity that along with the seductive fruit core keeps you coming back for more. Made with 100% Pinot Noir. $28 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Cornerstone Cellars Corallina Rosé of Syrah Napa Valley 2014
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant pale salmon color. The aromatics are decidedly floral with generous scents of wild strawberries, white peach, red cherry, lavender, heather, and orange zest with accents of mineral in support. The palate echoes the nose delivering a complex and vibrant core of red berries and cherry, fresh herbs, spring flowers, orange, and mineral. Ultra vibrant with crisp acidity while offering generous portions of fruit with perfect balance and great length. $25 – 5 Stars – 97 points
