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Domaine Gérard Duplessis Chablis Premier Cru

Tasting: Some wines are a revelation, a true expression of the place they were grown. This wine was white Burgundy - without oak, without manipulation - and with a quality of grapes that is apparent at first sip. Immediately, the nose is perfumed and floral and there are hints of citrus as well. There is a distinct taste of limestone, chalk and even possibly flint - gunpowder, citrus and floral notes gives way to tropical fruit, melons and peaches (Wine Folly 97). There is little to no vanilla or butter (Wine Folly 96) here, but rather some ripe pears, and subtle baking spices (Wine Folly 97).  Looking at the Wine Folly description on page 97 of Chablis chardonnay, this wine fits it perfectly. Acidity balanced with alcohol, body, fruit flavor and floral aroma. The texture is driven by its high minerality and acid content, and it almost seems silky on the palette. 

Review: “100% Chardonnay from a south west facing plot. The vines emerge from clay soils. It is suggested that this wine aged for 2 to 8 years in bottle. Once again a beautiful expression of a specific plot from Lilian Duplessis. Vaugiraut, Lilian’s youngest vineyard in the Premier Cru holdings, is the only one he feels doesn’t require wood elévage and recommends aging 2 to 8 years.” - Selection Massale

My Review: The best Chablis chardonnay I’ve ever had. This wine brings all of the acid necessary to stand up to the mineral backbone of the Kimmeridgean soils it was grown on. It has a beautiful balance, a sweet floral aroma that gives way to tropical fruit and crisp citrus as it glides across the tongue. 

Name: Domaine Gérard Duplessis

Grape Varietals: Chardonnay

Country of Origin: France

Region of Origin: Burgundy

Vintage Year: 2018

Price: $51

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Les Grives Soûles Vouvray

Immediately aromatic, light and acidic - this wine is refreshing. There are certainly some of the pear and yellow apple notes associated with Chenin Blanc, but I note quince even more (Wine Folly 98) - there is a citrusy richness to this wine. I also note the aroma and flavor of honey - there are so many floral and herbaceous aromas such as jasmine, chamomile and honeysuckle (Wine Folly 99). This brings up the body and intensity of the wine and adds to the richness of the wine. This is certainly the “lean and dry” style described on page 99 of Wine Folly, which is most often associated with the Loire Valley. This tartness and citrus that accompanies the classic apple and pear flavors elevates and accentuates the light and floral aromas. There is maybe even some honeydew and brioche (Wine Folly 99) in this wine, as the citrus and floral primary characteristics almost mask what is possibly a bready, yeasty, leesy undertone. 

Review: "100% Chenin from 40 to 50-year-old vines located in Noizay and Vouvray, planted on both clay soil with limestone bedrock, as well as flint soils. Organic. Grapes are direct pressed and fermented spontaneously in 1/2 tank and 1/2 barrels, ranging in age from one to ten years old. Bottled in August 2019. While this cuvee usually sees just a bit of SO2, Tanguy and Anne-Cecile felt that none was needed in 2018. A bone-dry Chenin with lovely green-apple and floral notes with hints of crushed shells and a touch of smoky minerality. This is medium textured with terrific minerality and freshness.” 

- Field Blend Selections

My Review: Floral meets tree fruit and citrus in this beautifully balanced wine from the Loire Valley. Refreshing and light, with a gentle body and bright acidity. Drink on its own, or with seafood.

Name: Les Grives Soûles

Grape Varietals: Chenin Blanc

Country of Origin: France

Region of Origin: Loire Valley (Vouvray)

Vintage Year: 2019

Price: $26

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Visit: JBR Vineyards & Winery

On March 20, my family visited JBR Vineyards & Winery, a relatively new vineyard in Pearisburg. Because the Vineyard located in Giles County and is not part of an AVA, the winemaker there is working on quite a new territory, venturing out and growing Pinot Noir and Riesling grapes on the same plot of land. The operation is very new and there is quite a lot of experimentation. As you can see above, the winery outside looks rather like a garage. Inside the winery are many sizes of plastic and glass containers holding wines of various hues and in various stages of production. 

Making wines like Pinot Noir and Riesling are quite challenging, especially in Virginia. Wasps, pests, deer, and frost all pose issues for these grapes in this climate. JBR has only been able to realize a few vintages of finished wines because of frost and the young age of their vines. 

We tasted two kinds of wines from JBR - one was produced from grapes grown on the property (the Country Gentleman Red and White wines) and the other is produced from grapes grown in California. This is labeled as simply “American” wine, and is processed in JBR’s winery. We also tasted a Sutter Home Riesling to compare the style of Riesling often made in California to the style made at JBR - which typically follows the Süssreserve method of production where some juice is reserved to add sweetness at the end of the process. The Country Gentleman red blend was earthy and unique - there was bitterness, tannin and some sediment. The American Red Wine was more similar to other Pinot Noirs that I had tasted, but both wines had some peppery notes and the American red wine was generally more full-bodied. In terms of the Riesling wines, the Country Gentleman wine was somewhere between dry and sweet, and had subdued melon and citrus notes. The American White Wine was a bit sweeter and a richer color, again with a bit more body than the Virginia grapes produced. 

A comparison in color between the three Riesling wines - the Country Gentleman, American White Wine, and Sutter Home. The only difficulty I had was smelling the wines in these small shot-glass style cups. Comparing these wines to Sutter Home, the difference was night and day: handcrafted wine made in small batches in the winery and vineyard will always stand strong to big box jug wine. The uniqueness and care that went into the production of the wines that JBR offered created a more complex product.

The small winery at JBR, with experimental wines on the left and cases of finished wine on the right. In the back left corner of the room is a small cold room to control the speed of fermentation. A line of duct tape on the floor separates the retail “tasting room” from the winery. 

Another picture of the vines at JBR vineyards from behind the deer fence. The buds have not quite broken yet, but the spring will bring back the buds, flowers and (hopefully) grapes! My family and I enjoyed the tour and conversation about some of the experimentation going on at JBR in both the vineyard and winery.

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L’Être Magique Bordeaux

Tasting: This wine smells jammy, peppery, and tannic - there is so much preserved fruit smell that the wine initially opens almost like a deep cabernet sauvignon or syrah. I get some cherries and berries in terms of fruit (similar to the black cherry and currant notes on Wine Folly p. 83), there is a strong body and a nice backbone of tannins and some acid. This strong body and tannin component is noted in Wine Folly for Bordeaux. The finish is dry and peppery, and leaves no sweetness as the fruit flavors mellow out. The body is full and smooth, but not creamy or viscous. There is a little bit of vanilla, or maybe some butter, so I could understand where the dried herbs note comes from in Wine Folly (p. 83). This wine is around 6 years old, so it has had some time for the tannins to calm down. The notes of graphite and chocolate are harder to detect, but there is lots of fruit. I noted berries and bright cherries, as well as juicy syrupy notes. 

Review: “A mélange of traditional and modern vinification techniques has given this wine a supple and moreish character. A truly wonderful example of a classic medium bodied Bordeaux.” - L’Être Magique

My Review: This wine was awesome. Subtle, complex, and it was better after each day on the counter. A good value for a Bordeaux with lots of fruit and some peppery complexity. Mellow and smooth. 

Name: L’Être Magique

Grape Varietals: 76% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Carménère

Country of Origin: France

Region of Origin: Bordeaux

Vintage Year: 2016

Price: $15

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Sterling Dark Red Blend

This wine is fruit forward, which seems to make sense as it’s a lower quality red blend that is also a few years old. It has opened up a bit with a little age, the plum and cherry notes typical of Merlot (Wine Folly 131) are followed up by a light tannic component on the back end. I thought the wine was totally flabby (probably because the grapes are lower quality and the acid profile is not so sharp). I didn’t taste any of the dried herbs or chocolate (Whine Folly 131) secondary characteristics associated with Merlot. I might have gotten some vanilla somewhere, but I’d be surprised if this wine had ever seen a barrel. For me, this just fell totally flat. I tasted Merlot strongly in the blend. The fruit was strong, and if I pretended that it was Beaujolais, I started to really enjoy the plums, cherry and even apple notes. It’s almost like a cherry coke or sangria in a bottle. I wouldn’t recommend buying this one.

Review: “The Sterling Vintner’s Collection Dark Red is a decadent blend of two of the most alluring and rich red varieties: Merlot and Petit Sirah. The deep garnet-colored wine opens with vibrant aromas of black plum, blackberry and warm cardamom spice. The velvety-textured palate is expansive with intense flavors of baked boysenberry, mocha and layers of mouthwatering juicy fruit. The well-integrated oak influence gives toasted vanillin notes and adds to the lengthy, flavorful finish.” - We Speak Wine

My Review: If you like big, blended, fruity reds, you’ll love this. Personally, I had to imagine it was Sangria. Made for the Coca-Cola palette. 

Name:  Sterling Vintner’s Collection

Grape Varietals: Merlot, Petit Syrah

Country of Origin: United States (California)

Region of Origin: Sonoma

Vintage Year: 2018

Price: $9.99

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Mad Fish Shiraz

Tasting: Earthy, layered and complex. There are notes here I’m having trouble detecting after the first sip. The wine is jammy, fruit forward, with almost more of an earthy bitterness than acidity. Wine Folly notes that souther Australian Syrah is intense: blackberry sauce, fruit cake, sassafras, camphor and sweet tobacco (p.173). I think that that bitter, earthy flavor I’m getting is something like leather, tobbacco smoke, or espresso - something that is bitter, earthy and unconventional. There is also some beautiful preserved and jammy fruit flavor, and layers of complex tannins. I get some of the blueberries and plums (p.172), but mostly I get a fruit jam with lots of earthy, bitter and tannic backbone. 

Review: “Cheery ruby color in the glass, this Shiraz offers fresh aromas of black cherry, plums and fruit cake spice. A little licorice and chocolate compliment the fruit on the palate, with a gentle tannic structure that ensures drinkability with or without food.A natural choice to pair with meats – try matching with spicy venison sausages, beef bourguignon or lamb moussaka.” - wine.com

My Review: This wine is layered and complex. A beautiful mix of earthy bitterness and jammy preserved fruit, Mad Fish Shiraz is the perfect compliment to a dark chocolate chip cookie. 

Name:  Mad Fish Shiraz

Grape Varietals: Shiraz (Syrah)

Country of Origin: Australia

Region of Origin: Western Australia

Vintage Year: 2017

Price: $13

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wine & cheese tasting

At the beginning of spring break, I hauled these bottles of wine up to Roxbury, CT to taste some wines with friends and to pair them with some cheeses. I chose 4 white wines for the tasting: Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG (Tenuta Roletto, Italy), Chablis (Domaine Vicoret & Fils, France), Macon-Villages Chardonnay (Louis Jadot, France) and Hondarrabi Zuri Getaraiko Txakolina (Hirutza, Spain). All of the wines were old-world style, and I organized the tasting from dry to sweet.

We began with the Erbaluce (front left) - it was crisp, dry, acidic and fruit-forward. This wine was immediately a hit - Erbaluce is really a special grape and this was something I had not tasted before. We then moved on to the Txakolina (back left). This wine was also quite unique. I love spanish wines, and the linearity and unique flavor profile here was a hit. This was so much more than a light, fruity wine - it packed an acidic punch. This is a must buy, especially for other lovers of Spanish wine. Next we moved on to the Chardonnays - the Macon-Villages from Louis Jadot left quite a lot to be desired. It had hints of vanilla and a subtlety that just didn’t stand up to the other wines in the tasting. If it tastes like almost nothing, it’s probably a mass-market Chardonnay. Finally, we moved on to a Chardonnay with character, the Chablis from Domaine Vicoret & Fils. This wine was fantastic. It was truly a deal at the Vintage Cellar - and I regret not buying more. It’s unusual to get a Chablis at this price point that has evolved so well with just a little age. This wine really came into its own, a pure expression of the Chardonnay grape with earthiness, acidity and minerality to bring out all of the smooth and supple fruit flavor in the wine. The star of the show!

And here were the cheeses, which were all purchased from the loal natural food store in Roxbury. To start, we had a manchego al tartufo (left). The salty and earthy flavors here were perfect as a foil to some of the lighter, fruitier wines and also went well with the chardonnays - this paired perfectly with the Erbaluce. Next was one of my favorite cheeses - Humboldt Fog from Cypress Grove. I love the bitter, funky rind of this cheese. It was always a favorite of mine growing up. In general, I really like goat’s milk cheeses, but this is quite the specialty. The texture of the center is reminiscent of the logs of spreadable goat cheese you find all over - but close to the rind the cheese takes on the most fantastic creamy, soft texture. I like to take a bit of both the center and outside together, as I find the flavors and mouthfeel perfectly compliment each other. The third cheese was another goat’s milk based cheese - but with a bitter, bloomy rind that almost reminded me of Jasper Hill’s Harbison. This was recommended at the market and had almost the texture of a harder brie. I really enjoyed this cheese and felt that its bitterness brought out a lot of the fruit character in the Chardonnay wines. The Txakolina was excellent with all of the cheeses, but especially with the Humboldt fog. As for crackers - we went with one sweet cracker (baked with dried stonefruit and seeded) and one salty (simple flatbread with rosemary & flake salt).

Here is a picture of some fantastic people enjoying the tasting in CT. Afterwards, we walked around the grounds of Alexander Calder’s studio (which is on the same property in CT!). It was a beautiful day, certainly enhanced by these wines and the beautiful lawns and outdoor sculptures.

A candid picture of the star of the show - this wine was a favorite around the table!

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brand Riesling

I love dry Riesling.... especially when paired with good company. Picked up this wine in Ridgewood, Queens at a natural wine shop around the corner from my friends new apartment. 1L bottle might be my favorite format for a 3 person dinner. This wine was fantastic. Dry, with a crisp apple and citrus flavor profile and lots of floral, herbaceous notes. I definitely got Jasmine (p. 158) as well as beeswax (p.158) - however, the wine was not the least bit sweet! I really love Riesling, and looking at the flavor wheel there was something like honeysuckle of white flowers, or maybe even thai basil (p.159). Very light, a bit of minerality and earth, and a strong citrus and floral component. For the price, this Riesling brought quite a lot to the table. 

Review: “The Brand brother's Riesling Trocken is from the estate's young vines grown on soils of limestone, loess and loam around the village of Bockenheimer. An unbelievable value that delivers pure, electric dry Riesling with a richness and zing that is captivating. It's a great that this is a liter bottle! Unfined and unfiltered with low amounts of sulfur. Perfect with a roast pork sandwich served alongside fried potatoes.” - Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop

My Review: This wine was a fantastic buy, and impressed everyone at the table. The minerality and floral notes play incredibly well together - this is truly a mark of what dry Riesling can do. We enjoyed this with some mild butter chicken, the citrus notes and crisp acidity of the wine paired well with the rich, creamy curry. Truly an awesome wine - can’t wait to taste more dry German Riesling.

Name: brand

Grape Varietals: Riesling

Country of Origin: Germany

Region of Origin: Bockenheim (Pfalz)

Vintage Year: 2020

Price: $20

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Campuget Rose 2020

Yes, this was a fun day... and yes, we drank this one out of the bottle! Tasted this at the bottom of the ski slopes at Big Sky in Montana, and this was a fantastic wine! My first Rhône Rosé - and it did not disappoint. I certainly got the Raspberry and Blackberry mentioned in Wine Folly (p.158). I remember taking the mental note: all berries, fruit, and spice! I also distinctly identify with the lavender notes (p.156) associated with this blend. I think that the floral, herbaceous notes really came out in this wine, as did the berries. This was a hit, especially among the après ski crowd. Being a rose, I definitely got all of the fruit and only some of the tannin, which made it much easier to identify the lavender, baking spices and rosemary notes in the wine. It was also just a fantastic time to be drinking Rhône Rosé.

Review: “With its bright pink color, this rosé wine spells pleasure and easy drinking. Fine scents of red berries add to overall enjoyment and make it the perfect accompaniment to picnics, barbecues, and refreshing salads.” - Deyfus Ashby & Co, Importer

My Review: This wine was awesome - unpretentious, fruity and herbaceous, with just the right amount of tannins and acids to balance it all out. I can’t believe they were selling this right in the convenience store at the bottom of the mountain. Perfect ending to a perfect day. 

Name: Campuget

Grape Varietals: Grenache Noir (30%), Syrah (70%)

Country of Origin: France

Region of Origin: Costières de Nîmes Contrôlée

Vintage Year: 2020

Price: $14 (I think?)

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The Charmer Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting: This wine was quite unusual, and so it stood out in this week’s tasting at the Vintage Cellar. It has almost a salty or cheesy smell to it, something that I noticed immediately as almost similar to the aroma of blue cheese. The flavors that come through directly are rich, smoky vanilla and sweet berries and fruits. There is something unusual going on with the aromas and flavors that seem to combine almost some element of wild yeast or funk into the wine. This could be the unusual addition of American bourbon barrels to this medium ABV, slightly sweet Chilean Cabernet. Wine Folly notes black cherry, black currant, cedar, baking spices and graphite as some of the primary flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon (p. 88). While I had difficulty identifying the baking spices, cedar and graphite, I can certainly see the presence of red fruit in this wine. Wine Folly also gives notes specific to Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (p.89), although it does not mention the “central valley” named here. The flavors identified are blackberry, black cherry, fig paste, baking spices and green peppercorn. I can see many of these in the wine, especially the fig paste and other bold berry and dried fruit flavors.What is missing, however, is a summary of the impact of the bourbon barrels, which may actually impart an additional vanilla flavor (beyond that of normal oak barrels) from residual impacts of the bourbon-making process. 

Review: Aged in bourbon barrels, this bold Cabernet invokes wild blueberry, cardamom and toasted vanilla flavors to create a dynamic and complex red wine. With a distinct undercurrent of oak and ripe tannins, this is the wine for a T-bone and a fine cigar. - Winemaker 

My Review: At first I found this wine interesting and funky, and it piqued my curiosity. But then, I was surprised by the smooth and syrupy body. The aromas are interesting, and not what I would expect for Cabernet Sauvignon, but they quickly give way to a flabby balance that desperately needs both acid and tannin. While the label advertises baking spices, I have difficulty pinning these down - I taste mostly jammy, honeyed berry and vanilla notes.   

Name: The Charmer

Grape Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon

Country of Origin: Chile

Region of Origin: Central Valley

Vintage Year: 2021

Price: $19

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Picpoul de Pinet

Tasting: This wine is linear, with aromas beginning and ending in swift succession. Tree fruit, apricot, apple and pear all present themselves with little subtleties and complexities to hide behind. There is a crisp minerality to the wine and a strong acidic backbone. As I continue to drink I am starting to get maybe some additional hints of dried apricot, tropical fruit, dried mango or maybe some pineapples. The wine is medium dry, so not too sweet - but there is plenty of fruit flavor to suggest sweetness. Wine Folly identifies this grape as rare (p.153), grown overwhelmingly in France (Languedoc-Roussilon, Rhône valley) with a few exceptions being Spain and the US. The name Picpoul means “stings the lip” (p.153), and some of what I had detected previously as acidity is called “saline” in the wine folly note. This seems to be a good example of Picpoul, demonstrating some aromas and flavors listed as green apple, citrus blossom, lemon, thyme and saline (p.153). I’m not sure if I was able to pin down exactly what the saline was, but the aroma that I was unsure about could certainly be described as “citrus blossom” or a citrus note. I certainly got the green apple, and I’m surprised that Wine Folly didn’t mention additional flavors of apricot. 

Review: “The color is a superb pale yellow with bright hues. The nose is elegant, with aromas of fresh fruit and citrus fruit especially grapefruit. Well-balanced with typical focusing and zesty acidity. A pure expression of the grape varietal, the wine shows how good Picpoul can be when grown on its favorite terroir. Our best value, this wine impresses novices and hardened geeks equally.” - Winemaker, kysela.com

My Review: This wine is a great value and an easy drinker. It has some crisp acidity and bold green apple and apricot flavors. It was difficult to smell and taste some of the more herbaceous notes in this wine, however I may have not known what to look for. I would certainly enjoy this wine with fresh summer seafood. 

Name: Picpoul de Pinet

Grape Varietals: Picpoul

Country of Origin: France

Region of Origin: Languedoc-Roussillon

Vintage Year: 2020

Price: $9

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Airfield Estates - Syrah

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David Finlayson - The Pepper Pot

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Allegrini Valpolicella

Tasting: Immediate aroma of currants, dark berries and blackberries. There is maybe some stone fruit buried somewhere in here (maybe plums?). The taste immediately verifies these dried & dark fruit flavors, and brings nuttiness followed by a distinct and powerful spice. It’s almost like tasting wild berries followed by earthy bitterness. This is an alcoholic spice - the alcohol is left bare in the blend as it far overpowers any tannic or acidic component. The nutty flavor is that of walnut, hazelnut, toasted almond or even toasted coconut - the toasty, nutty flavor mixes well with the hot, peppery, spicy quality. Wine Folly (p.180) calls these flavors tart cherry, cinnamon, chocolate, green peppercorn and almond. I think that the tart cherry flavor is probably the dark fruit flavor that I’m detecting (and can’t seem to pin down). I also think that cinnamon and green peppercorn accurately describe this spice that I’m tasting that lingers on the finish. I don’t get much chocolate. For entry level Valpolicella wines, Wine Folly (p.180) describes tart cherry and ash as the distinguishing flavors. 

Review: Well-structured wine, with a soft, long and persistent finish. Brilliant ruby red in color, with a pleasant scent of wild berries. Dry and velvety on the palate, it is characterized by a bitter almond finish. Pairs perfectly with roasted meats, particularly guinea fowl, pork, goat and lamb. Delicious with mushroom-based dishes and medium-aged cheeses. - Winemaker, wine.com

My Review: Dark, tart berries and stone fruit give way to a distinct nuttiness and a hot, peppery finish. These three distinct phases of flavor give this wine a powerful and complex presence. This would compliment a sweet tomato sauce or anything with roasted red peppers. Enjoy with chocolate.

Name: Allegrini Valpolicella

Grape Varietals: Unlisted - Valpolicella Blend (likely Corvina, Corvinone, Molinara, Rondinella)

Country of Origin: Italy

Region of Origin: Valpolicella

Vintage Year: 2019

Price: $16

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Sassaia Alfa Rosé

Tasting: I was surprised by the dry, delicate character of this wine. The fruit flavors on first taste are more similar to those of the big reds that Nebbiolo grapes are usually used to produce -  blackberries, raspberries and currants. This tartness and bitterness opens up to a lingering flavor of fresh strawberry with floral notes. I could also see what is potentially some crisp yellow apple or peach flavors as well. Wine Folly (p. 141) discusses Nebbiolo primarily by mentioning the Barolo region (which is also in Piedmont, the broader area where this wine is from). This wine, however is a bit more unusual (as a rosé) - I don’t get any of the leather, cherry, anise or clay pot flavors usually associated with this grape. Looking at the wine wheel (p. 142), however, I start to notice the origin of some of the more delicate flavors I was tasting: red fruit (strawberry, raspberry, cranberry) and flower (rose, potpourri) dominate the flavors of this wine. 

Review: Made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, this rose is light and refreshing with red citrus notes and balanced acidity. It has undertones of grapefruit and red roses. - Sassaia Wines

My Review: This wine is light and gentle, with floral and red fruit notes. This rosé brings a variety of berry flavors from blackberry to a bright strawberry finish. It would make an excellent aperitif or as accompaniment to some dried fruit and nuts. Summer can’t come soon enough.

Name: Sassaia Alfa Rosé

Grape Varietals: Nebbiolo

Country of Origin: Italy

Region of Origin: Monferrato (in Piedmont)

Vintage Year: 2020

Price: $20

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Schmitt Söhne Riesling

Tasting: I immediately smell and taste the honeyed character of this wine - it is almost overwhelming at first, hindering my ability to pick out any fruit flavors. While the body seems on the thinner side, the sweetness brings much-needed body and texture. As I finish my first sip, acid coats the back of my throat and brings balance to the wine. While initially dominated by sweetness, I begin to notice the fruit flavors underneath: underripe pear, fruity and crisp golden apple. Asian pear would be an excellent fruit descriptor for this flavor. The smell here is now somewhat astringent.. but I can’t make it out? The sweet smell has also given way to this astringency and some apricot notes as well. Maybe there is some Meyer lemon also, a hint of some citrus somewhere between the sweetness and acid. Wine Folly (p.158) mentions beeswax, jasmine and petroleum (or diesel) as some of the more complex notes associated with Riesling - but I’m getting none of those. I can see the green apple and lime, however in this wine these flavors have been muted by the residual sugars (hence the asian pear and Meyer lemon flavors I’m getting). German Riesling is noted to have this Meyer lemon flavor (p.159) - so this is definitely something that is common in this kind of wine. I am also getting some tree fruit flavors from the wine wheel (p.159) such as the pear, apricot and apple. A lot of the herbal, spicy, and floral flavors are (unfortunately) los. 

Review: This medium bodied Riesling has peach and fine apple aromas, a firm and fruity palate, and crisp acidity that results in a well balanced, easy to drink wine. It is perfect as an aperitif or to complement a wide array of foods from pork and ham to fish and poultry. - Winery, wespeakwine.com

My Review: A solidly sweet white wine with a nice acidity and strong tree fruit flavors to back it up, this wine is an easy drinker and not very complex. Notes of asian pear and Meyer lemon compliment the sweetness, which provides most of the body of this wine. This sweet-tart effect works well - I would have to agree with the label that this would be great with spicy food. 

Name: Schmitt Söhne Riesling

Grape Varietals: Riesling

Country of Origin: Germany

Region of Origin: Rheinhessen

Vintage Year: 2020

Price: $10

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Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone

Tasting: At first, I noticed a distinct and dark smell of dried fruit, especially plums, red raisins, and cassis. I can taste a distinct tannic character, which is well balanced by the slight dryness and sweetness of the wine. The bold, fruity flavors of morello cherry, blackcurrant and plum also add to this balance. After sitting with this wine for a bit, I was able to describe the other taste that I was getting - blackberries! I also noticed a slight spicy aroma as well, which reminded me of black pepper. Wine Folly has an entire page (p.156) to describe what they call the Rhône/GSM blend, which includes a laundry list of grapes that can be put into a Côtes-du-Rhône in this region. From the Rhône/GSM whine wheel (p.157), I got some red fruit (cherry), spice (pepper), black fruit (blackberry) however I wasn’t able to notice any oak or aging qualities in the wine (which makes sense, as this wine was probably lightly oaked and is only around 2 years old). Wine Folly notes black olive, dried cranberry, dried herbs, cinnamon and leather as notes for Côtes-du-Rhône wines in particular (p.157) however I was unable to pick up any of those notes in this wine! Maybe another Côtes-du-Rhone, possibly an older or oakier one, will have some of these characteristics. 

Review: A solidly built version, with crushed cherry and plum puree notes that meld with melted red licorice before singed juniper takes over on the finish. This has guts and range. Drink now through 2023. - Wine Spectator, wine.com

My Review: A very well balanced wine with layers of fruity flavor, this Côtes-du-Rhone does not disappoint. I enjoyed this wine with a Beef Bourguignon that I made with 2 cups of Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages and 1 cup of Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhone! It’s layered, fruity flavor and strong plum and blackberry notes, as well as a hint of spice, were the perfect pairing for my winter beef stew. All in all, a lovely, rich and complex wine. 

Name: Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône

Grape Varietals: Blend (red grapes, most likely including Grenache, Syrah and Mourvédre)

Country of Origin: France

Region of Origin: Rhône (near Gigondas)

Vintage Year: 2020

Price: $17