GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

94

Bellacana Vineyards 2019 Indigenous Red Wine Blend, Sonoma County ($38)

Deep, dense core, well extracted, wonderfully focused aroma with highlighted savory black berry and black raspberry notes along with a touch of smoky oak. Ample weight on the palate, yet well balanced with soft tannins. A joy to drink from start to finish. Made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah.

92

Bellacana Vineyards 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Alexander Valley ($25)

Pale yellow/green appearance, immediately appealing for its zesty, vibrant grapefruit aroma notes with underlying herbal character that carries to the palate. Bright, lively, exuberant medium bodied style with a refreshing finish. Produced with cool fermentation in stainless steel to retain a lifted, fresh character.

94

Belle Glos 2023 Balade Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County ($55)

Dense, rich, and luxurious, we taste cherries soaked in a burnt orange gelée. Roses and jasmine are evident mid-point, accompanied by raspberry-covered chocolate. Thanks to a fine acid structure, the wine’s powerful persona is curbed, allowing its finesse to shine.

95

Belle Glos 2023 Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County ($55)

Burnished black raspberry and graphite form a bond on a foundation of dark chocolate and sweet tobacco. White pepper outlines rose petals. Well-structured, with perky acidity and a creamy weightiness on the lengthy finish.

96

Belle Glos 2023 Las Alturas Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County ($55)

Tobacco, earth, and cedar integrate into its dynamic structure and inherent depth of flavor, color, and dense mouthfeel. Not a shy Pinot Noir, with blackberry and bittersweet dark chocolate playing a major role through the long finish.

89

Belle Reserva (NV) Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley, Chile ($10)

Good color extraction, deep core, pleasant black and red fruit notes. Good intensity, quite weighty on the palate, a straightforward style that is appealing for its simplicity and direct character. Made for near-term drinking while the fruit character is lifted and vibrant. Good value.

89

Benvolio 2023 Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy ($10)

It remains quite fresh thanks in part to a screwcap closure, but there’s also notable palate weight. The aromas are a bit faint, but flavors of honeydew melons and pears are more evident, with a bright edge of citrus acidity.

90

Benvolio NV Prosecco, Friuli, Italy ($15)

Quite tasty Prosecco in relation to its price tag, this showed very fresh flavors and abundant effervescence from the bottle. The lightly floral aromas lead to flavor notes of white peaches and green apples, with sweetness nicely offset by a suggestion of bright grapefruit in the finish.