Hello, and welcome to the pile of wine samples I dig every week, these samples are required to be tasted. I am very happy to bring you the latest issue of Vinography Unboxed, in which I highlight some of the better bottles that have recently passed through my door.

This week includes more top Proseccos from some of the steepest plots in the region. Bellenda (like the photo on their homepage) is a particularly complex and dynamic interpretation of Prosecco, which includes salinity, which I really like. Villa Sandi is also very eye-catching, if its flavor profile is more classic.

The Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are both worth trying because of their classic flavor and relative value, and like all Frog's Leap wines, they are made from organically grown dried grapes.

Let me talk about Chardonnay first, I want to draw your attention to Lombardi Chardonnay, which has a very refreshing citrus flavor, while Sanford Chardonnay has a more classic Californian flavor.

The four Pinot Noirs I must recommend this week are very strong, the best of which are Dutton-Goldfield "McDougall Vineyard" bottling and Stephen Ross "Stone Corral" wines. Unfortunately, Stephen Rose wine comes in a very heavy bottle, which is heavier than some thick Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that I usually object to. There is no reason in the universe that Pinot Noir needs such a heavy glass. This is basically saying "destroy the environment, I want you to think my wine is elegant."

Finally, I also have a Zinfandel from Limerick Lane (actually more like a mixed red), which is worth a try, plus a pair of Syrah from Troon Vineyard, Oregon, both have a wonderful salty taste Features that will appeal to anyone who prefers to taste stones instead of sugar in their Syrah.

A note about all of this and more is below.

2020 Bellenda “San Fermo” Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Veneto, Italy’s lightest straw, very fine bubbles, this wine smells of white flowers and wet roads, with a touch of lemon cucumber and a touch of resin . In the mouth, the scent of citrus peel, cucumber and a hint of green herbs comes out. Lightly salty, with a moderate amount of mousse, with the aroma of roasted pineapple. Clean and bright. Score: between 9 and 9.5. Cost: 22 USD. Click to buy.

2020 Villa Sandi “La Rivetta” Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore di Cartizze, Veneto, Italy In the mouth, bright green apples and white flowers are mixed with a touch of cucumber flavor, and the touch of salt water and citrus are all in a good taste. Enter the mousse. Lovely bright and very classic expression. Score: Approximately 9. Cost: 45 USD. Click to buy.

2020 Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, California. Light golden in the glass. This wine smells of green apple and a touch of passion fruit. In the mouth, the taste of bright green apple, passion fruit and kiwi fruit is very juicy and slightly grassy. Beautiful silk texture. 13.4% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $25. Click to buy.

2019 Frog's Leap "Shale and Stone" Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California. Light golden in a glass. This wine smells bright lemon curd and a hint of buttery popcorn. In the mouth, this wine is sweet and smooth, but has a crisp edge due to its excellent acidity. Lovely lemon curd and a bit of toast mixed with bright and juicy lemon juice and grapefruit. The barrel only fermented for about 4 days, and then poured warmly into a large concrete "room", where it fermented at its own speed. Keep it for 11 months, and the bottle is on its lees. 13.4% alcohol. Score: Around 9 points. Cost: 30 USD. Click to buy.

2019 Sanford Chardonnay, STA. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, California is light golden in the glass. This wine smells of lemon curd, white flowers and a hint of melted butter. In the mouth, the rich pink grapefruit, melted butter, lemon curd and light butterscotch are mixed together, which has a good brightness due to the very good acidity. Toasted bread and oak in the aftertaste. 13.5% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: 35 USD. Click to buy.

2019 Lombardi Wines Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma, California Light gold, this wine smells of lemon pith and lemon oil. In the mouth, the bright lemon and pink grapefruit taste is very clean due to the excellent acidity. This wine has a nice white floral fragrance, but fortunately there is almost no oak. quite gorgeous. 13.4% alcohol. Score: Approximately 9. Cost: $50. Click to buy.

The 2018 Stephen Ross “Stone Corral Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, Central Coast, California is light to medium pomegranate in the glass. This wine smells of bright cherry and raspberry fruit. In the mouth, gorgeous raspberry and cherry aromas are bright, with excellent acidity and light tannins. Dried vanilla and orange peel linger in the aftertaste, with a mouth-watering sour cherry flavor. delicious. 13.7% alcohol. Packed in a shameful heavy bottle weighing 1.67 kg. Score: between 9 and 9.5. Cost: 60 USD. Click to buy.

2018 J. Cage Cellars "Hallberg Vineyard" Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California Medium to deep garnet red, this wine smells of green vanilla, cherry and cranberry. In the mouth, the taste of cranberry and cherry has a touch of boysenberry at the end, with some beautiful floral aromas. Faint tannins, good acidity. 14.4% alcohol. 175 cases were made. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: US$49. Click to buy.

2019 J. Cage Cellars “Cuvee '42” Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, California Light to medium garnet red, this wine smells of raspberry and cranberry. In the mouth, the simple and pleasant raspberry fruit flavor is mixed with a touch of cherry and dried vanilla. The tannins are weak. The acidity is moderate. Directly delicious. 14.2% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: 39 USD. Click to buy.

2019 Dutton-Goldfield “McDougall Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma, California Medium garnet red, this wine smells bright cherry and cranberry fruit. In the mouth, the purity of cherries, cranberries and raspberries, and even the taste of crystalline berries exudes in the mouth, with a touch of cedar and a touch of hay, with a long aftertaste. Excellent acidity and almost imperceptible tannins. 14.1% alcohol. Score: between 9 and 9.5. Cost: 60 USD. Click to buy.

2019 Limerick Lane Cellars “Estate Cuvee” Red Blend, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California The glass is dark purple. This wine has blackberry and licorice aromas with a hint of black pepper. In the mouth, the bright blackberry and boysenberry flavors are encased in leather-like tannins. The excellent acidity brings the quality of citrus peel to the finish, as well as the flavours of vanilla and dried flowers. A blend of 56% Zinfandel, 37% Syrah and 7% Little Syrah. 14.6% alcohol. 200 boxes were made. Score: Around 9 points. Cost: $85. Click to buy.

2019 Troon Vineyard Syrah, Applegate Valley, Southern Oregon, Oregon Medium garnet red, this wine smells of potting soil, iodine and mulberries. In the mouth, boysenberries, lingonberries, rusty iron, dried flowers and the wonderful saltiness of forest floor whirl in the gorgeous haze of powdery tannins. Dashi and a hint of green herbs linger in the aftertaste. It is made from grapes grown by biodynamic methods, without any additives for fermentation, and preserves "minimal effective" sulfites. 14.4% alcohol. Score: Approximately 9. Cost: 35 USD. Click to buy.

The 2019 Troon Vineyard “Siskiyou” Syrah, Applegate Valley, South Oregon is light to medium garnet red. This wine smells of blueberries, wet chalkboard and a minimal amount of camphor. In the mouth, the wonderful crystalline taste of blueberries and blackberries is mixed with chopped vanilla, dried flowers and wonderful dashi umami. It is mouth-watering. Excellent acidity and good freshness of pine branches linger in the aftertaste. Made from grapes grown by biodynamic methods, no additives are added during fermentation, only "minimal effective" sulfites are added. 14.5% alcohol. Score: between 9 and 9.5. Cost: $50. Click to buy.

Tags: Pinot Noir, News Samples, Prosecco, Scores, Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews

Hello, and welcome to the pile of wine samples I dig every week, these samples are required to be tasted.

Hello, and welcome to the pile of wine samples I dig every week, these samples are required to be tasted.

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