Sips & Tips: Recently Reviewed Wines

Recently reviewed wines, roughly in order of preference:

–Livio Felluga 2019 Pinot Grigio, Collio DOC, Italy, $30. Fresh floral aromas accompanied by peach and apricot. Honeysuckle, pear and citrus fruits, including orange, on the palate tasty and round with a touch of baking spice on the finish. Very well.

–Beaulieu Vineyard 2018 Tapestry, Napa Valley, Calif., $65. Blackberry, plum, raspberry, bramble, tobacco and cedar in this Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Very well.

–Ramon Bilbao 2010 Gran Reserva Tempranillo Rioja, Spain, $39. Nose of dark cherry, smoke and earth. Dark cherry, cedar and leather on the palate. Well balanced, with fine tannins and a lingering finish. Very well.

–Coen 2019 Reserve Malbec, Uco Valley, Arg., $45. Nose of dark cherry and earth. Dark fruit, earth, leather, pepper, spice and a hint of tar/licorice on the rich palate, with a lingering finish. Very well.

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–André Brunel 2019 Bécassone, Côtes du Rhône, France, $19. A blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, this aromatic white has aromas of flowers, honeysuckle and apple. On the palette, we find apple, melon, honey, fig and minerals. Good more.

–Wente Vineyards 2020 Aly’s Pinot Noir Arrroya Seco, Monterey, CA, $50. Ripe strawberry, cherry aromas. Sweet cherry, earth and oak spice with a velvety texture and fine tannins. Good more.

–Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Porto, Portugal, $27. Black fruits, touch of raisin on the nose. Dark cherry, plum and chocolate on the palate. Good more.

–Costeval 2021 Rosé, Coteaux D-Aix-en-Provence, France, $15. Strawberry aromas. Strawberry, melon and citrus on the lively palate. Good more.

–Cline 2020 Ancient Vines Zinfandel, Contra Costa County, CA, $16. Blackberry, plum, bramble, tobacco, with a juicy, velvety mouthfeel. Good more.

–Juve & Camps 2017 Brut Nature Gran Reserva, Cava, Spain, $23. Crisp citrus, toast. Round, creamy in the mouth. Slightly bitter on the finish. Good.

–La ​​Miranda Secastilla 2020 Garnacha Blanca, Spain, $15. Aromatic, floral, with ripe stone fruit and a touch of almond. Good.

–Mullen Road Cellars 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, $45. Aromas of blackberry and cedar. Blackberry, cedar, tobacco and vanilla on the palate, with ample tannins. Good.

— Domaines Barons de Rothschild Légende 2016 Médoc, Bordeaux, France, $26. Aromas and flavors of blackberries, brambles and earth, with firm tannins, medium finish. A simple and direct red. Good.

–Cune 2020 Rioja, Spain, $17. Made with organic grapes, this red has cherry and oak spice on the nose, with more of the same with some cola and licorice on the palate. OKAY.

–Tilia 2020 Malbec, Arg., $12. Smoke, vanilla aromas. Plum, raspberry, liquorice, vanilla. Easy to drink, a little sweet. OKAY.

–Fresh Vine 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $22. Advertised as a “low calorie, low carb, gluten free” wine, this red has aromas of blackberries and flavors of blackberries, plums and vanilla on the medium palate. Easy to drink, slightly sweet, with 0.4g of sugar in 5 oz. OKAY.

–Fresh Vine 2020 Pinot Noir, Ca., $20. Restrained nose on light cherry. Light, dry, not unpleasant but tasteless. A “low calorie, low carbohydrate and gluten free” wine. OKAY.

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