GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

90

Upwell 2024 Pinot Noir, CA ($20)

Warming spices and cherry-vanilla impact with a graceful flow.

95

Viña Alicia 2019 Brote Negro Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina ($100)

Majestic, with a powerful presence. Acidity impacts flint and herbal tones, its red fruit dark and mysterious. Fruit is sourced from 100-year-old vines that sit 4,300 feet above sea level, adding to its concentrated depth of color, flavor, and texture.

90

Viña Alicia 2022 Paso de Piedra Malbec, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina ($22)

Woodsy vanilla notes are matched up with cherry liqueur and a garden of sweet basil, clove, and sassafras. Iron soil tonality and cola are present on the finish.

94

Viña Alicia 2024 Tiara, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina ($35)

A fascinating blend of 50% Riesling, 40% Albariño, and 10% Savagnin. Vanilla cream, lemon meringue, and honeysuckle charm from the start. A flash of sea spray mineral tones and a hint of white tea make for an energetic finish.

92

Viña Eguia 2021 Rioja Reserva, Spain ($20)

A full-bodied Tempranillo with a fresh acid structure and a generous helping of blueberries. Armed with wet stone, garden herbs, and an inherent salinity, it is quite charming.

92

Wairau River 2024 Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand ($25)

A plummy pleasure through and through. Whiffs of roasted beet, woodsmoke, and leather show its savory side, while ripe Bing cherry unites with soothing tannins to offset its meaty acidity, which resolves on the finish with a pretty note of hibiscus tea.

92

Wairau River 2025 Braided, Marlborough, New Zealand ($17)

Suggesting sliced white grapefruit strewn with grass and basil amid glimmers of elderflower and white pepper, the nose on this estate-grown blend of Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc couldn’t be fresher, making for a playful juxtaposition with the mouth-filling juiciness of the palate. Flavors of white peach and kiwi shine, accented by a trace of seashell on the finish.

90

Wente Family Vineyards 2023 Baily Hill Pinot Noir, Central Coast ($20)

Earth and new leather speak to a style that is dry and savory. Tea-like herbs surround jammy black raspberry and fig. The finish is cooling and satisfying.