GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

94

Cline Family Cellars 2024 Shifting Tides Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County ($30)

Aromas: Mango, gardenia, tangerine blossom
From its most expressive nose to its papaya greeting, fresh and sweet, this Sauvignon Blanc had our team on its feet with excitement. Acidity is bracing and clean, while the mouthfeel is steely with gem-like clarity. It finishes with traces of linen and Key lime.

91

Crossfork Creek 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, WA ($20)

Notably more elegant and less weighty than most Cabernets from California’s North Coast appellations, this nevertheless offers abundant flavors of dark berries and cherries that seem indicative of a harvest that was perfectly timed. Accents derived from oak are very well integrated, and ripe, fine-grained tannins frame the wine’s fruit component without obscuring it. Excellent value here.

90

Crossfork Creek 2022 Merlot, Yakima Valley, WA ($20)

A very pleasant rendition of Merlot, this offers a reminder of why the variety was a candidate to become Washington State’s calling card variety before the film “Sideways” undercut Merlot’s popularity. It is soft in texture as expected, but with impactful fruit flavors of dark plums and berries. The tannins arrive late in the wine’s string of sensory impressions, but they offer enough grip to frame the fruit.

98

Cult 2023 15th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($75)

Winemaker Julien Fayard created this milestone bottling from the Beau Vigne collection, a distinctively luxurious Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of vanilla cedar, dark chocolate blueberries, and a hint of clove engage with firm tannins. Dried lavender wraps around the palate, soaked in Worcestershire and black tea, which anchors to the lengthy finish.

94

Cuvaison 2023 Coeurtina Chardonnay, Los Carneros, Napa Valley ($70)

Aromas: Lemon batter, capers, honeysuckle
Glistening notes of lemon oil, marzipan, vanilla crème brulée, and apricot-washed cinnamon toast line the palate. Rich and lively, with nutmeg and breezy acidity, followed by a balanced, refined salinity on the finish.

95

Cuvaison 2023 Mariafeld Pinot Noir, Los Carneros, Napa Valley ($80)

Cigar leaf, black cherries, and sweet soil are highlighted by energetic tannins. Spiced mulberry, spearmint, Asian spices, and dark fruits are the platform for its intense and savory persona.

93

Cuvaison 2024 Grenache Rosé, Los Carneros, Napa Valley ($45)

Aromas: peach blossom, thyme, jasmine
Fresh garden herbs integrate with a juicy, surging wave of raspberry, ginger, and pink grapefruit zest. Lithe, with a frisky, refreshing gait.

96

De Bortoli 2021 Riorret Lusatia Park Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia ($60)

Riorret is terroir spelled backwards – but this Pinot is more forward in its elegance and texture. Tinged with iron and sweet tobacco, it reveals notes of parchment, chestnut, and white pepper.