GUINIGI

Wine Reviews

93

Brassfield Estate Winery 2024 Pinot Gris, High Serenity Ranch, High Valley AVA, Lake County ($22)

Anjou pear aromas are fresh and mirrored on first sip. Leveling the field is a steely undertone, cleansing the palate and uplifting lemon verbena. Amped by a brisk acidity, this is reminiscent of a style from the Italian Alps.

92

Brassfield Estate Winery 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, High Serenity Ranch, High Valley Appellation, Lake County ($22)

Grapefruit, laurel, and honeysuckle leave salinity on the palate. Acidity is racy, creating an edgy, cutglass effect thanks to a foundation of stunning minerality.

91

Brassfield Estate Winery 2024 Serenity Rosé of Pinot Noir, High Valley Appellation, Lake County ($22)

A perky pink sipper, with inherent mineral tones sparking notes of raspberry and peony. Refreshingly clean.

92

Bread & Butter 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($30)

Concentrated notes of cherry mocha, graphite, and licorice indicate backbone and elegance. Supple tannins are relaxed and approachable, for a most plush mouthfeel.

94

Bread & Butter 2023 Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County ($25)

Honeysuckle scents the glass, attuned to flavors of vanilla cookie and pine nuts. Creamy and succulent, with rich notes of mango, jasmine, and pineapple.

92

Bread & Butter 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley ($15)

Crisp and bright, with a zesty array of just-squeezed grapefruit. Pineapple sorbet lengthens on the refreshing finish.

95

Brigaldara 2018 Casa Vecie, Amarone della Valpolicella Superiore DOCG, Veneto, Italy ($120)

Exotic, plush, and amped with fresh acidity, this well-aged, high-altitude “Vigne Alte” Amarone shows its maturity in a decidedly delicious path of milk chocolate, jasmine, ripened figs, and white pepper.

94

Brigaldara 2019 Classico, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Veneto, Italy ($100)

After 120 days of drying, vinification takes place for this blend of Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella. The wine is aged in large-volume wooden barrels for about three years. Focused and tense at 16.5% abv, with an inner strength that relies on cherry skins and high-toned acidity. Its tannins expand along with an underlying minerality, amplified by a dose of red berries.