GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

93

Calmel & Joseph 2020 Les Elmes, AOP Collioure, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($50)

Dark chocolate and roasted coffee are attached to grilled meats, cigar leaf, and tilled soil. Both sumptuous and sleek, with rich notes of plum pudding for a texturized mouthfeel.

93

Calmel & Joseph 2022 Le Saint Festin, Les Crus, AOP St Chinian, France ($39)

Aromas of pear and hazelnut are noteworthy for this blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Rolle, and Viognier. Intense flavors of baked apple, cinnamon, and a yeasty brioche form a nectar-like weight on the palate. A pinch of salty hazelnut and nectarine leaves a thrill on the finish

91

Campo alla Sughera 2021 Adèo, Bolgheri Rosso, IGT Toscana, Italy ($50)

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot spend 12 months in oak and six months in bottle. Italian herbs, pecan, and roasted coffee bean are at the forefront. Plum notes are ripe, matched with violets and cigar leaf. Takes time to open up.

95

Campo alla Sughera, 2020 IGT Toscana Rosso, Italy ($125)

A blend of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, aged 18 months in French oak and 18 months in barrel. A masterpiece on the palate painted with suede. Boysenberry, licorice, and dried violets are well illustrated flavors.

94

Cantina Fratelli Pardi 2018 Sacrantino, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Umbria ($68)

This intense wine possesses a fleshy body with teeth-gripping plum skin tannins. Stature and status are equal – a fine representative of this violet charmer. Soy sauce, new leather, and black olive follow a savory path to the finish.

94

Castell del Remei 2018 “1780,” Penelles, DO Costers del Segre, Catalonia, Spain ($50)

Penelles is a small village in the flatlands of Catalonia, and a sub-region on Costers del Segre, on Spain’s northwestern coast. The grapes for this blend of 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Tempranillo, and 7% Garnacha are planted over 1900 feet in elevation. Aged 18 months in French and American oak, a wash of creamy blackberry and vanilla connects with spiced oak and espresso. Super sleek and well structured. Minerality is clear-cut and adds to the texture of its vivacious character.

93

Cavus 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley ($125)

Deep core, with some fade at the edge of the glass, and excellent aromatic intensity. Highly expressive, with dark fruit, mocha, vanilla, and star anise. Very well structured, finely balanced, showing some bottle age development, with refined, superb length and well-integrated oak (22 months in oak, 50% new French oak). Sublime extended back palate. A benchmark Stags Leap District example that develops beautifully with aeration. 2,364 bottles produced.

94

CHEV 2021 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County ($80)

Lifted notes of rose-kissed cinnamon, with undertones of soil and red beets. Black cherry is assigned to a savory mid-palate of balsamic and orange peel.