Wine Reviews

90

Smashberry 2023 Rosé, California ($15)

Watermelon and strawberry are lit from within, balanced with fine acidity and a sleek minerality. Finishes with a gleam of tangerine zest.

99

Spottswoode 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Napa Valley ($285)

Celebrating a milestone of 40 vintages, the winery has been guided by CEO Beth Novak since 1987. The historic 42-acre Estate Vineyard has been farmed organically in 1985 and now, is also certified Biodynamic, Regenerative Organic, B Corp, and IWCA Gold. With a small addition of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this 20-month barrel-aged Cab offers a velvet-lined entry of blue fruit that promptly seduces the palate. A soothing, dark chocolate/violet ganache and quince impacts further, strengthened by an elegant backbone.

92

St. Huberts 2021 The Stag Red Wine, Paso Robles ($21)

This packs very expressive aromas and flavors into a wine with a light touch on wood and very soft, fine-grained tannins. The fruit is mostly black in tone with some red shading, bringing dark cherries, blackberries, and plums to mind. Soft enough for stand-alone sipping but sufficiently substantial for robust meat dishes, this seems destined for success at its price.

89

St. Huberts 2022 The Stag Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles ($21)

Notably soft and slightly sweet, this medium-bodied Cabernet won’t meet everyone’s expectations for the grape variety, but its easy-sipping profile will find many more admirers than detractors. Lightly wooded with minimal tannic grip, this would be successful as a wine to pour from a restaurant bar or for use as a crowd-pleaser.

90

St. Huberts 2022 The Stag Chardonnay, Central Coast ($18)

A very solid Chardonnay in relation to its price, this is medium-bodied but quite expressive in aroma and flavor. Spicy, toasty scents get it off to a good start, and fruit notes of peaches and baked apples finish with just a touch of sweetness balanced by a little tug of wood tannin.

89

Sterling 2022 Chardonnay, California ($12)

A friendly gesture of a wine, with aromas of lemon cookie, cream-splashed pear, and toffee setting the tone for a midweight palate marked by more creamy pear and vanilla-drizzled peach plus a squeeze of white grapefruit to liven things up toward the finish.

90

Sterling 2022 Merlot, California ($12)

Satisfyingly juicy, with abundant, ripe blueberry, mocha, and roasted coffee. Over-delivers for the price.

90

Sterling 2022 Pinot Grigio, California ($12)

Following a perky nose of honeydew, peach, and grapefruit tinged with banana, crisply juicy notes of green and yellow apple spread across the lissome palate.