Editor, Private Wineaux; Wine Associate, Total Wine & More. Favorite reds: Madiran, Uruguayan Tannat, Lodi Petite Sirah, Chianti Classico Riserva. Favorite whit...
Dark, glass-clinging purple with near black core. Inviting nose and full palate of natural blueberry jam (without canning sugar) and drying blackberries. Medium acidity and medium minus tannins lend support to an otherwise "chonky" mouthfeel. Finish is brief and a wee bit Louisville slugger. My first wine from Mexico (Guadeloupe Valley, Baja California) turns out to be a quite satisfying drink. Not a blockbuster by any means, but well within typical style for the variety from a warm climate. And a good value at twelve bucks. Drink within the year with meatloaf now or burgers from the grill next cookout. — 3 months ago
Rose des Riceys, though produced in the Champagne region, is not “Champagne” d the word appears nowhere in the appellation. Not sure why Delectable calls it that. Anyway…
Transparent dark ruby. Inviting nose of Marasca cherries. Fruity (evidence of carbonic maceration) medium palate confirms the nose adding a very slight hint of tannin on the short-ish finish. Medium- acidity: just enough to keep it food friendly. This limited production still rose (actually a light red) shows well in this iteration. The style lends itself well to spicy foods (we had tandoori chicken and salmon) and light snack fare. Drink now. — 4 months ago
Bright straw yellow. Inviting nose of stony dried apple and citrus rind. Lean (with a touch of the rich) palate echoes the apple but leaves behind the citrus, replacing it with toasted fine white bread. Finish is moderately long and continues the palate. Excellent starter, but with enough heft for a main meal of seafood, pork, or poultry. Drink when you buy it. — 10 days ago
Bright, deep gold. Shy but inviting nose of baked stone fruit and big white flowers. Echoed on the medium full palate adding a hint of stone. Varietally appropriate medium low acidity, but still enough to take on rich fare like crab cakes, lobster mac and cheese, or roasted chicken with stuffing. Excellent French presentation of the variety. Is it Condrieu? Of course not. Does it punch way above the ten bucks paid for it? Most certainly. Drink now. — 5 months ago
Dark purple. Blackberries and patent leather on the inviting nose. Full-bodied palate echoes the nose adding, in addition, blackberry, cassis, and a hint of dark chocolate. Medium acidity. Medium tannins, mostly on the finish. A classic Argentine Malbec that checks off all the boxes. Enjoy with beef (of course), lamb, or hearty root vegetable dishes. Drink now through 2027. — 2 months ago
Byron C Mayes
Pale, water clear straw in the glass. Characteristically abundant nose of white flowers with an undertone of very ripe white peach. Firm acidity leads the light palate of honeysuckle and budding magnolia. The white peach remains subtle but present entry to flowery finish. A just off-dry (between Trocken and Kabinett) Muscat that's an excellent match for a wide range of foods. Cheeses, pork dishes, spicy Asian fare, fresh fruit… it's all good. Drink now with any of the above. — 6 days ago