Lebanon has been in the news lately, and not in a good way, with the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel, and Israeli military striking back. This doesn’t sound like a reasonable place to make excellent wine. Yet here we are.
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It can be a treat to rediscover a bottle lost in a wine cellar, a forgotten and unexpected surprise. It’s a little more unusual to do this at a wine shop.
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A year after my previous tasting, Santa Marina Toscana Rosso hasn’t changed much. It has lost a bit of its rough and rustic edge, but still shows the Chianti-style character of modest Tuscan Sangiovese-based reds: cherries and dried cherries and a subtle earthy note. Tart cherry flavors carry over on the palate with fresh, food-friendly acidity and soft but perceptible tannins.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Santa Marina Toscana Rosso on Wine-Searcher.com.
Find Santa Marina’s full portfolio with prices and links to vendors at this Wine-Searcher link.
Follow this Wine-Searcher link to find listings for dozens of other Toscana IGT wine values. Read article.
Happy Groundhog Day! You’ve probably heard of the Mission grape, but chances are that you’ve heard just enough that … Hey, wait! Wasn’t that the exact same way that last week’s 30 Second Wine Advisor started?
Ha! Gotcha!
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You’ve probably heard of the Mission grape, but chances are that you’ve heard just enough that you try to avoid wines made from it. Why the aversion?
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Lift up a glass of light cherry color J. Bouchon Pais Viejo and enjoy a scent of mixed fruit so fresh that it evokes an image of summer produce stands: Raspberry, strawberry, a hint of apple, a tart whiff of cranberry. Fresh ripe fruit mirrors the nose in an appealing if rustic flavor.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for J. Bouchon Pais Viejo on Wine-Searcher.com.
Read more about the historic Pais (Mission) grape variety at this Wine-Searcher link, where you can browse dozens of other Pais wines and vendors.
Follow this Wine-Searcher link for more about Chile’s Maule Valley and other wines of the region. Read article.
I glanced at the back label: “Notes of rhubarb, plum, strawberry, rose petals, and lavender …” Whoa! I’m not going to be able to un-see that!
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Mmm, who doesn’t love the gentle scent of a warm, fuzzy wool sweater on a chilly day? But this is not an aroma that one expects to find in wine. So it was a little surprising when a distinct aroma of damp wool rose up from my glass. Was it a bug, or was it a feature?
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Designated “L & T” for “Leicht und Trocken” (“Light and Dry”), Bründlmayer 2022 “L & T” Grüner Veltliner is made with certified organic grapes. Clear light brass color in the glass, it lofts up a distinct earthy, pleasant scent of damp wool that dances with apple and peach aromas and a grind of white pepper.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Bründlmayer 2022 “L & T” Grüner Veltliner on Wine-Searcher.com.
Discover the Grüner Veltliner grape and find links to many bottlings and vendors at this Wine-Searcher link. Read article.
Happy New Year! As 2024 begins and the Wine Advisor marks its 25th birthday, I look forward to sharing more wine columns and tasting notes on wines of quality and value. This week’s column is free to the entire community, but my tasting report requires a paid-tier subscription. Subscribe here!
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