Wine Reviews

90

Dirt Diva 2021 Red, California ($16)

Tart pomegranate and dried roses rise above tilled soil for a salute to its earthy core. Bright, vivid notes of hibiscus and Italian herbs head towards a lean, mineral finish. Blend of 41.5% Barbera, 57% Valdiguie, and 1.5% Syrah.

94

Erikson & Caradin 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($90)

Possessed by graphite and iron, this teeth gripper perfects the dynamic of bold and intense. Espresso is spiced with clove and black pepper, while salty plum anchors on the finish.

93

Fowles Wine 2022 Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Wild Ferment Riesling, Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria, Australia ($35)

Lemon blossom greets the nose, with lemon verbena, crisp pear, and a hint of petrol on the palate. Flinty mid-section ignites a racy acid structure. Clean and complex.

92

Gehricke 2022 Petite Sirah, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County ($29)

Aged 9 months in American and Hungarian oak, we are on the receiving end of opulent aromas of chocolate-covered plum. Flavors of boysenberry and violet funnel through deeper notes of tobacco and cedar. A grip on mid-palate stays through to the finish.

94

Guarachi Family 2021 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County ($65)

Earthy and bright, with spiced cinnamon, nutmeg, and brushy notes. Dusty cocoa-coffee mid-point flavors add a depth that seamlessly integrates with a cedar and white pepper finish

94

Guinigi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany, Italy ($58)

Full-bodied with complex flavors of ripe cherry, strawberry, plum, dried rose petals, leather, tobacco, and a hint of truffle. The wine has a stony character, dried herbs (thyme), vanilla, fig, and dark chocolate.

93

Hazel & Axe 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, California ($22)

From Erikson & Caradin Wines, this is a stunning white that sears the palate with Meyer lemon and a dot of salinity. Clean, refreshing acidity is well-presented. Linear and focused with pineapple racing along with key lime to the finish line.

96

Hoopes 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley ($125)

A powerhouse with restraint, this Napa Cab was aged in French oak for 29 months, toppling abv at 15.2 percent. Precise and focused, with concentrated notes of a “syrup” of black tea, licorice, and lavender. A taste of soil is wrapped around black currant and ripeness envelops structured tannins. A showpiece.