Bodegas Ego “Goru Gold” Red, Jumilla
Those seeking chewy reds for a great price need to search no further. Like most wines from this Spanish region, the wine is primarily Monastrell with some Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.
Impressive tannins with a cut of minerality and a full-bodied framework. This is delicious, driven by dark lush fruit and glossy oak.
1881 Napa 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Napa Cab is a style, and this has it.
Reminiscent of the Silver Oak oeuvre, this is aged in American oak and sports big and brawny textures layered with fan-favorite flavors.
Plum reduction and baking spices are buoyed with fresh fruit. Chocolate and cherry dominate the mid-palate. On the finish, velvety tannins slide into a vanilla bean.
Wine Rating | 91 Points
Oliviero Toscani “OT” Toscana
A Super-Tuscan from the original home of Super-Tuscans: the Italian coast south of Livorno.
This bottling is half Syrah, and it shows with a distinct varietal note of white pepper and game. Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot fill in the blend without much fanfare.
This wine offers lush tannins, a dense fruit profile, and an impressive oak regimen. Think full-on boysenberry and black currant. Oak contributes Belgian chocolate and Asian five-spice.
There are some complex earthen notes under the luxurious flavors on display here, but subtlety isn’t what this wine is about.
Wine Rating | 92 Points
Firriato “Chiaramonte” Nero d’Avola, Sicilia
Over the past decade, Sicilian winemakers have done the impossible, They elevated Nero d’Avola from its lowly status as a blending grape into a world-class fine wine.
This bottling is a value-priced behemoth draped in Slavonian oak. Chocolate ganache and toasted anise are balanced with a core of beef jerky and wild mint. Full-bodied with a lush finish of blueberries and burnt earth. Perfect for a grilled steak with chimichurri.
Wine Rating | 92 Points
Buty Semillon Blend, Columbia Valley
This is a complex white with surprising depth and richness. On the nose, it smells of peach skin and French pastry. Flavors of honeysuckle, fresh fig, and lemon curd are wrapped in a medium-bodied framework.
There is a touch of earth on the finish, with ripe exotic fruits on the finish. This bottle is best suited as a counterpoint for rich young cheeses like Époisses.
Mostly Semillon, with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, this blend is a callback to classic white Bordeaux.
Wine Rating | 91 Points
Raats “Unwooded” Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch
Great Chenin Blanc tends to achieve a balance of florals, fruits, and minerality. The Raats pulls off that hat trick.
The fruit here is a blend of crushed orange and papaya. The florals are pure jasmine, and the mineral notes are an ocean breeze.
The unoaked version of this venerable South African winemaker pairs very well with rainbow trout almondine. If that too much of a bother, try it with fresh salted popcorn.
Wine Rating | 91 Points
Sign Up & Save 20% on All Classes!
Join our newsletter today and unlock 20% off your next class. Exclusive offers and wine education insights straight to your inbox!
The
Tania and Vincent Careme
Terre Brulee Le Blanc Chenin Blanc Swartland 2019
PRODUCT CODE: 000079243, $9.99
Absolutely crushes the Raats
Try it