GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

90

Luna Chiara 2024 Pinot Grigio, Valdadige DOC, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy ($11)

Powdered lemon-vanilla, peaches, and crisp apple, with a mineral base, this light-bodied white shows its delicate nature.

93

Maison Sonoma 2024 Cuvée Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma County ($24)

Ripe, mouth-filling notes of pear and peach, with MacIntosh apple and a finish of vanilla-spiced sandalwood.

92

Maison Sonoma 2024 Cuvée Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma County ($25)

A bold style, with heady notes of cigar leaf, mushroom, rhubarb, and espresso. Mid-palate, black cherry softens and sweetens, the wine evolving with a lengthy finish.

89

Matte 2022 Pinot Noir, CA ($15)

Juicy, with ample acidity to carry its expressive flavors of cigar leaf, espresso, and black plum.

92

Member’s Mark 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Hills, Lake County ($14)

Aromas of boysenberry and mocha are fresh and inviting. The mouthfeel is dense, with broad strokes of spiced sandalwood plum and Worcestershire. Graphite and black pepper add a beefy layer of savory bliss.

95

Merriam 2023 Diana’s Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($58)

An outstanding Pinot in all important respects, this displays spicy and savory accents that are beautifully interwoven with a delicious core of pure, structurally balanced fruit. Quite soft and silky in texture, it derives just the right measure of firmness from subtle oak and very fine-grained tannins. Convincing and complete – even at an early stage of development.

95

Merry Edwards 2023 Pinot Noir, Olivet Lane Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Co. ($77)

Brightly lit, with verve and energetic acidity. Black cherry, sweet tobacco, and vanilla ramp up to address a lustrous texture and a bounty of flavor. A hint of minerality at mid-point cleans the palate. Jasmine and rose petals accent with aromatics.

93

Momentum 2023 Legacy Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($39)

This opulent red takes long, generous strides across the palate with blackberry ganache, new leather, and umami savoriness. Well structured, with a firm tannic grip.