2023 Cline Cellars Mourvèdre Ancient Vines
Contra Costa County, California

$14.99 / 89

14.5% ABV. Decanted for one hour. Served in Riedel Extreme Cab glasses where it presents as medium ruby at 64º F / 17.7º C.

Very subtle red fruit aromas. Pepper on the palate with blackberry, cherry, graphite, herbs, some leather. Volcanic rock. Hearty and earthy, bold, full-bodied. More blackberry and herbs on the long finish. Medium-plus (though less than expected) plush tannins and bright, medium acidity. Just as good on the second day.

This is the third bottle of Cline Mourvèdre we've had. We're gonna keep buying them.

A good-value, very serviceable earthy red at $14.99, a worthwhile pickup on the grocer’s shelf. Give it a try.

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2019 Domaine de Beaurenard (Paul Coulon et Fils) Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Côtes du Rhône, France

Biodynamic, made with organic grapes.

$38 / 91

Decanted one hour. Served at 60º F / 15.5 C in Riedel Extreme Cab glasses, where it presents as medium ruby. Prominent legs, 15% ABV.

Nose: a shy black fruit aroma on Day 1 with a little added raspberry. Palate: bold, medium-bodied and dry with subtle, powdery tannins and mild acidity. Dried herbs and some leather on the finish. Smooth.

After an additional two hours in the decanter, back to the bottle. Opened up substantially on Day 2, adding black tea, white pepper and baking spice to the palate, plus an earlier arrival for the leather. More structure, lots more personality!

My wife says it’s balanced, though I’d say that’s only the case prior to Day 2, when this wine’s structure dominates other elements.

$38 at the end of 2023, Vivino suggests this wine would cost you $73 today if you could find it. I don’t know about you, but that’s above my pay grade. Maybe search for a younger vintage, and save some for that Day 2 reveal.

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2023 Belhara Estate Alma de Uco Grand Assemblage
Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

$9.99 / 87

75% Malbec, 25% Cab Franc
14% ABV

Decanted for forty-five minutes, served in standard red glasses, where it presents as medium purple with pronounced legs or tears.

Nose of blackberry with perhaps a bit of sweet tobacco. On the palate, blackberry and red plum with red pepper flake from the Malbec, plus crushed gravel and dried herbs from the Cab Franc. Full-bodied, bold with medium acidity and soft powdery tannins. Balanced with a medium finish typical of Malbec.

This is an inexpensive blend of two of my favorite grapes, though I’m not completely sold on this particular combo. Does the Cab Franc hold the flavors of the Malbec back too much? Unsure. I might have liked it more with an 85/15 mix, but it’s still very serviceable. YMMV.

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2022 Bonterra Vineyards Pinot Noir
Mendocino County, California

13.8% ABV

$20.99 / 88

Decanted for thirty minutes. Served in a standard red glass. Moderate legs.

Nose of unripe cherry. Dry on the palate with unripe cherry, a hint of cranberry, baking spice, an herbal character that I can’t quite nail down, plus white pepper. Medium-bodied. Smooth. Medium powdery tannins and medium acidity. Poured remainder back into the bottle for overnight storage.

Day 2 after chilling the wine to 60º F / 15.5º C, I got a fleeting whiff of sweet cherry before all aroma left the building (or at least my nose). Wet gravel added to the palate. The baking spice I tasted yesterday is absent, and could have been caused by a meal I’d had thirty minutes prior.

Bonterra wines are organically farmed, and both the grapes used and the winery itself get the California Certified Organic Farmers stamp of approval. Bonterra is also a B Corporation, indicating that they get good makes for their social and environmental impact.

This is perhaps the fourth wine we’ve purchased through the Good Eggs food delivery company, and all have been good to very good, with moderate prices. Their selection is not large but is nevertheless recommended, as is this wine.

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2023 Trader Joe's Syrah Reserve
Lot 269 Horse Heaven Hills
Eagle & Plow Vineyard
Washington State

$9.99 / 88

14.5% ABV
Served at 66º F / 18.8º C after a two-hour decant.

Nose of black cherry and plum. Maybe a hint of black pepper after thirty minutes in the Riedel Extreme Cab glasses, where it presents with healthy legs and a medium purple color / pink rim.

Dry on the palate with velvety (edit: chalky might be more accurate) medium tannins and medium acidity, blackberry, leather, a little vanilla, graphite and black pepper. Medium to full-bodied, maybe a tad watery. Ever so slightly tart.

Day 2: I’ll replace the graphite with volcanic rock. Other than that, largely unchanged.

Grapes sourced in Washington State, cellared and bottled in Napa. A fairly balanced and decent Syrah, especially when you consider the price point. I wouldn’t buy a case of it, but a single bottle might make it into the shopping cart now and again.

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