GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

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.

92

Ironstone 2021 Cabernet Franc, Lodi ($14)

Red currant, raspberry, and bell pepper mix with a violet floral profile and a hint of leather and anise. On the palate, high tannins and acidity balanced with fruit, a hint of tobacco, and even some minerality.

93

Ironstone 2021 Petite Sirah, Lodi ($14)

Complex, dark, and luscious with blackberry, blueberry, licorice, black pepper, cinnamon, and sage. On the palate, fruit-forward, conjuring up blackberry jam, with dark chocolate, mocha, vanilla, and caramel.