Costa Rica

Rovellotti

Costa del Salmino Ghemme Riserva Nebbiolo 2017

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout, but this really needed air in order to get going. Initially, this was quite wound up and somewhat backward. However, after about an hour in the glass, a real beauty emerged. The 2017 Costa del Salmino Riserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe, mostly red fruit: raspberries, strawberry, Morello cherry, red flowers, red rope, licorice, talcum powder, dried green herbs, new leather and cedar box. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and chock full of savory minerals. I mean…this bordering bone broth levels of savory, lol. My opinion: these need time to show their best. Drink 2027 through 2047. — 5 months ago

Dave, Jan and 13 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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I’ve always thought Ghemme underrated. Hard to find though! Have never had this producer.
Jay Kline

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@Tom Casagrande Only Rovellotti’s Riserva’s are labeled like this. The other wines tend to have more modern labels and designs. Definitely worth seeking out both whites and reds. They are all beautiful. Rosenthal imports.

Vigneti Massa

Costa del Vento Derthona Colli Tortonesi Timorasso 2021

Gold hue. Aromas and flavors of apple, apricot, bell pepper, lemon, and petrol, with a hint of grass and creamy notes. Medium body with medium-plus acidity. Silky and rounded mouthfeel. Complex bouquet. Elegant and balanced, with a lasting finish. — 2 years ago

Domaine Costa Lazaridi

Amethystos Blanc 2022

Screaming acidity, lovely tropical notes, green apple, salinity. — 2 years ago

Neyers

Evangelho Vineyard Carignan 2017

Clear deep red-violet Boysenberry on sight

Clean sandy berry aroma

Dry, med+ acidity, fine tannin, lighter side of medium body, red fruit and dark berry in the finish. Delicious now, could age. Needs a nice decant, great to watch evolve in glass too (air wakes up the tannins and elevates the red fruit notes)

Hooray and Keep up the good work 140+ yr old vines!
— 6 years ago

David and P liked this

Once & Future Wines

Oakley Road Vineyard Mataro 2017

I really enjoyed this bottle. It evolved steadily, improving, over a few hours. I had it on pizza night but it could easily pair well with heartier fare. Enjoy now or over the next 5+ years. — 5 months ago

Shay liked this

Benevelli Piero

La Costa Dolcetto d'Alba 2022

Dark cherries, soft, lovely and long taste — 7 months ago

Sandlands

Contra Costa County Carignane 2023

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2023 “Contra Costa County” pours, a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe mixed bramble fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, black pepper, orange zest, menthol, and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the orange citrus notes show a bit more prominently. The finish is medium+, bright and refreshing. 9 barrels produced. Drink now through 2038.  — 7 months ago

Daniel, Ira and 11 others liked this

Three Wine Company

Contra Costa County Petite Sirah 2017

Spiced jam with a hint of floral notes. Layered and hard to nail down the exact bouquet, but it’s delicious. — 3 years ago

LaShondra and Tom liked this

Dirty & Rowdy

Evangelho Vineyard Mourvedre 2019

OMG! Lean and sharp as a light-saber. The wine is med brick in the glass… light and lively in the mouth. It dances across your palate. Caressing all the corners and crevices. A dichotomy of lightness in weight snd power in black fruited ripeness. Way too young but great with baby portobellos and dry aged prime rib from Publican Meats…Covid Christmas II sucks apart from family, but we’re spoiling ourselves… successfully as it happens. Life’s too damn short to drink shit wine…,Cheers! — 4 years ago

Mike, Shay and 5 others liked this

Tenuta di Ghizzano

Il Ghizzano Costa Toscana Sangiovese Blend

ライチの香り。
さっぱりみずみずしい。
— 6 years ago

Ottaviano Lambruschi

Costa Marina Colli di Luni Vermentino 2016

The Goldilocks of Ligurian Vermentino styles, somewhere between minerally and that weightier, sorta oilier way — 6 years ago

Marisa Cuomo

Furore Bianco Costa d'Amalfi Falanghina Biancolella 2022

Proper mineral and fruit balance. Pleasant tension and a fine finish. — 5 months ago

Lyle, Tyler and 5 others liked this

Bedrock Wine Co.

Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Zinfandel Blend

A big wine in a big bottle that made a big group of friends very happy. The 2017 Evangelho Heritage (from magnum) is energetic with loads of sweet dark fruit. It doesn’t lack zing even though this year’s blend is short in Carignan — there are nice balancing acids and mild tannins. It is richer and riper than many vintages but still vibrant. — 5 months ago

Costa di Bussia (Tenuta Arnulfo)

Costa di Bussia Barolo Nebbiolo 2020

Deep red, slightly coppery color under light, it’s young but after some decanting time it starts to open up. Nose is still restrained long after opening, but starting to show some fruit and herbaceous funk as it releases its hold. Raspberries, sherry, black cherry and wet mossy forest floor on the nose so far. Tannins are pretty prominent, dry and chalky, with a full body and long lingering finish where the jammy raspberries shine more as the song ends, even becomes a little ripe tomato as the song fades. Super young, but a great pairing for the pork belly and risotto we had for Valentine’s Day dinner and it shows a lot of promise. — 8 months ago

Three Wine Company

Contra Costa County Zinfandel 2019

Very fruity. Black cherry and blackberry aromas and some notes of cinnamon, then balanced fruit and baking spices that tingle the tongue and linger on. What Goes with That: Fall Sweets Class, pairing: pumpkin pie. — 3 years ago

Laura liked this

Inconnu

Lalalu Contra Costa County Cabernet Franc 2019

Funky Cab Franc different compared to the traditional Loire Valley. Funky and different in all the best ways though. Refreshing and takes a slight chill well. — 4 years ago

Romain liked this

En Cavale

Contra Costa County Sauvignon Blanc

Natural Zinfandel recommended when I asked for something not as tart. Slightly mushroomy / peppery finish, very enjoyable. Purchased from Gemini Bottle Co — 5 years ago

Duemani

CiFRA Costa Toscana Cabernet Franc 2016

Full, with rich flavors n textures, classic cab franc aromas n spice in the finish! — 7 years ago