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R Wines “First Class” Shiraz
This was the first wine I was introduced to from the R Wines portfolio, and I thought it quite silly: It’s called “First Class” and the label looks like a plane ticket. Get it? Really, do you get it?
The over-the-top marketing is a bit much to take. It’s a shame, because the juice inside is well above par. Blackberry, tea-smoked duck, and anise are interwoven into a compact wine that drinks well above its price point. And its marketing.
Chateau Chateau “Skulls” Red
It’s a well-made wine that offers up varietal qualities not typically seen at this price point. Lavender and wet earth dominate this wine, but it remains fruit-forward and accessible.
Coppadoro Radicosa
It’s quite rare for a winery to take the lowly Montepulciano grape and lavish it with great affection and care. This bottle exhibits a lush and concentrated body that holds a core of minerals and herbs, with a hint of brine in the finish.
Louis Latour Volnay
An accessible pinot noir that -in the topsy turvy world of Burgundy–is a remarkable value. The aromas are a bit simplistic but offer unmistakable Burgundian flavors.
Fontaine-Gagnard Chassagne Montrachet
I love my white Burgundies, and this one is a high-caliber village wine. It starts with an exotic blend of lemon oil, new leather, and sandalwood. Then, on the palate, it changes course and turns starkly beautiful, like Greta Garbo.