GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

91

Buscado 2022 Garnacha, Spain ($17)

Bright, juicy, and spicy, with Mediterranean scrub, rhubarb, and black cherry-soaked cedar. Displays structure and balanced acidity.

90

Ca’Momi 2023 Merlot, Napa Valley ($20)

Toasty, with ripe plum and boysenberry. Dark cocoa lines the palate, with a savory cigar leaf and heather finish.

91

Cannonball 2023 Chardonnay, California ($16)

)Comprised of fruit drawn from multiple locations as far north as Mendocino and as far south as Santa Barbara County. Medium-bodied but leaning toward full, it shows touches of oak toast and some yeasty nuances, but is nevertheless very refreshing and persistent in its flavors. Notes of ripe peaches and brighter Granny Smith apples work very well together.

98

Cecchi 2021 Coevo, Toscana IGT, Italy ($120)

Violets, heather, and ripe black cherry are a magnificent trio which greet the palate on first sip. Dry, dusty cocoa, plum skin, and a keen acidity drive the flavors along with a satin mouthfeel. Black olives and espresso show depth from mid-palate to its exquisite finish of woods and small, wild berries.

92

Cedar + Salmon 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington ($25)

Sourced from high, rolling hills, this vintage was born out of a heat wave, cooling just in time for harvest. Aged in 15% new French and 15% new American oak, this Cabernet Sauvignon (with 8% Malbec and 7% Merlot) shows concentrated power. With tobacco-washed blackberry, espresso, and Italian herbs, it is well built, with sturdy tannins. Dark chocolate and bacon fat enter mid-way with a toasted cedar finish.

95

Chateau Buena Vista 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($50)

Undeniable aromas of chocolate plum grab our attention before we dive into this fleshy and concentrated red. Divine notes of violets, summer-ripe boysenberry, and vanilla cake fill the mouth. Elegant and expressive, with velvet tannins and a tickle of white peppered cedar.

92

Chateau de Berne 2024 Romance, IGP Mediterrannee, France ($19)

Fresh, full of energy, and bursting with wild strawberries, red cherries, and watermelon, this blend of Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Syrah, and Merlot is dangerously easy to drink, both on its own and alongside a wide range of dishes, notably seafood and simple pastas.

97

Château Lascombes 2022 Margaux, Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux ($98)

An Earth Mother, with velvet-lined blackberry, Bay leaf, graphite, and roasted coffee bean. Chalky tannins grip the teeth, with a dusty grip. From its backbone and vibrant acidity, to its notes of dried violets on the finish, we bow to its elegant nature.