90 + Very Good Wine

Jan 232013
 
2011 Giordano Fiano “Apulia Collection”, Puglia, Italy, $12.50 (S) – Rating 90

A super value white patio sipper with a delightful floral nose with notes of citrus and green apple. The palate offers flavors of pear, citrus and apricot with crisp acidity and a pleasing tartness. Pair with Asian food, sushi or a summer salad with poppy seed dressing. Buy This Wine

Jan 222013
 
2010 Van Duzer Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR, $30 (S) – Rating 91

An extremely approachable and eminently enjoyable Pinot Noir. The nose offers aromas of dark fruit, spice and just the tiniest hint of campfire smoke. The palate is treated to bright berry flavors, dark cherry, blueberry and ripe raspberry with subtle notes of cola and smoke. The wine is very well-balanced with soft tannins and enough acidity to pair well with the chicken in wild mushrooms we served. Buy This wine

Wine Guerrilla Conte Vineyard Zinfandel 2010

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Jan 132013
 
2010 Wine Guerrilla Conte Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, CA, $35 (S) – Rating 4.2

A delicious field blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Grenache, and Carignane with a deep nose of spicy cherry pie offering notes of tobacco and leather. Give the wine at 15 minutes to open and you’ll be rewarded with well-integrated tannins and rich complex flavors of dark cherry, dark spice and ripe plum with pleasing notes of espresso and leather in the long finish. This wine screams out for a cold snowy night, a warm fireplace and a good book. Buy This Wine

Silver Buckle Lodi Chardonnay 2011

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Jan 132013
 
2011 Silver Buckle Lodi Chardonnay, CA, $18 (S) – Rating 90

Served at a get-together of wine lovers, this Chardonnay was a big hit. Creamy without being flabby. Lush tropicals on the nose, pineapple, ripe pear and a hint of green apple. A round mouth-feel with a subtle hint of sweetness and zippy acidity. Flavors of tropicals,  green apple, ripe pineapple and pear with notes of minerality. Buy This Wine

Buena Vista Winery Chardonnay 2009

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Jan 132013
 
2009 Buena Vista Winery Chardonnay, Carneros, CA, $20 (S) – Rating 4.0

A lush full mouth-feel (typical Carneros Chardonnay body) with plenty of acidity to keep things interesting, especially at the $20 price point. An intriguing nose of apple, pear and citrus with notes of caramel and a hint of nuttiness. The palate is treated to flavors of pear and pineapple with added notes of caramel and minerality. Great with food or as a stand-alone sipper. Buy This Wine