GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

95

Tabalipa Wine Co. 2024 No.1 Sauvignon Blanc, Happy Canyon, Santa Ynez Valley ($48)

With some weight on the palate, this exciting white is accented with elderflower, jasmine, and gardenia. Tangerine takes a straight path forward, with a rich crescendo finish of peach pie.

96

TENAZ 2020 Malbec, Pucará Valley, Salta, Argentina ($125)

Aged 18 months in 225 and 160-liter French barrels on its lees with monthly bâttonage and another two years in bottle. From its old-world acidity to its earthy, chalky tannins, this red merits attention through its modest beauty. Mediterranean herbs, cherry skins, and a streaming of violets and iron continue to flow, layer upon layer. Milk chocolate and sweet oak on the finish are seamless. Fruit gets opaque as it opens, and we found it has a Cahors-like style.

95

Terlato 2024 Pinot Grigio, Friuli Colli Orientali DOC, Italy ($26)

The positioning of elderflower and peach blossom with the wine’s inherent minerality, is stunning. This is a more full-bodied style, allowing its unctuous character to emerge. Ripe and resplendent with stone fruit and floral luminosity, this vintage shows its complex and dimensional nature thanks to the region’s unique soils and favorable climate.

95

The Counselor 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, River Pass Vineyard, Alexander Valley ($37)

The land is the Counselor, and winemaker Nick Goldschmidt is “the man who listens to the land.” The wine opens with the freshest cherry aromas, leading to a juicy wash of fresh blueberries – and more cherries. Plush and round with nuances of rose petals, red tea leaves, and cinnamon. A gentle Cab, food-friendly with just about anything on the plate.

91

The Critic 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($22)

Dark plum, chocolate-covered figs, and soy sauce develop quickly for an intense start. Chewy tannins match with the wine’s suede mouthfeel, adding complexity for a well-priced wine in its category.

91

The Seeker 2023 Chardonnay, California ($16)

Creme fraiche and apple flesh dominate in this Chardonnay with abundant charm. There is a rich citrus tang paired with a lingering round finish. Pleasant and balanced, the buttery mouthfeel captures an essence of apple fritters ensconced with marshmallows.

92

The Seeker 2024 Red Blend, Mendoza, Argentina ($14)

This red is dominated with dark cherry, dusted with cocoa powder and conjures a cigar box. Pleasing baking spices of clove and cinnamon with vanilla are set with an undercurrent of peppery tannins and a lingering finish.

94

Three Sticks 2022 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast ($70)

Featuring both nutty, gently spicy notes derived from high-class cooperage and fruit conveying freshness as well as full ripeness, this is enduringly interesting because of the interplay between these principal sensory signals. Nuances recalling vanilla and caramel serve to accent fruit reminiscent of Golden apples and white peaches. Already evolving into a fully integrated wine despite showing distinct elements, this is showing beautifully now.