GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

92

Storyteller 2023 “Into the Fog” Pinot Noir, Sonoma County ($15)

Dark berries and roasted coffee settle into a woodsy, savory frame. Silky and juicy with sage and black peppered cranberries on the luscious finish.

91

Substance 2021 Ch Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, WA ($17)

A lean and clean white with some developing nuttiness and prominent oak character. Nicely balanced.

93

Substance 2022 Cs Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley ($17)

Tobacco and wet slate indicate a robust, broad-shouldered red. Toasted oak and blackberry are at its core.

93

Substance 2022 Pn Pinot Noir, Columbia Valley, WA ($17)

Winemaker Charles Smith over-delivers for this deeply resonant red. Black cherries and tobacco leaf send that message of substance, followed by balanced acidity. Finishes with dark chocolate and toasted almond cedar.

93

Substance 2022 Rb Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington ($17)

Generous flavors of black cherry, plum, violets, and dark chocolate settle on suede-coated tannins. Rich and seductive.

93

Substance 2022 Sb Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley ($17)

Full of promise, the wine opens with white flowers, jasmine rice, and lime blossoms. It’s like taking a bite into a Gala apple, with a juicy clean finish.

90

Substance 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Columbia Valley, WA ($17)

A light and lively, red-fruited pink sipper grounded by a subtle earthiness. Tart cherry blends with cocoa to help express Columbia Valley soil.

96

Tablas Creek Vineyard 2023 Esprit de Tablas, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($75)

The winery’s flagship blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache and some Cinsault, Vaccarèse, and Counoise, propagated from budwood cuttings from the Château de Beaucastel estate in the Rhône Valley. Chocolate cherries steeped in red tea is a first impression of this stunner. Beef broth has a line of salty chalkiness running through, obliging the juicy liquid to perform gracefully. Fennel, sage, Bay leaves, and basil take on the role of California garrigue, with a finish of spiced plum.