Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for September 30, 2024

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format.

They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), so you can get right to the point and decide if they’re for you (or not). Cheers!

2019 Michele Chiarlo ‘Palas’ (Barolo): Earthy, savory, and not afraid to flex its muscular side. $NA A-
NV Castagner Grappa Riserva 7 Anni ‘Fuoriclasse Leon’ (Trentino): Further proof that the Italians tend to keep all the good Grappa for themselves… $NA A-
2023 Elena Walch Pinot Bianco Alto Adige (Trentino-Alto Adige): As always, a mineral-rich, fresh-as-a-daisy bargain. $23 A-
2021 Grosjean Vins ‘Premetta’ (Vallee d’Aoste): Deftly demonstrating why wine nerds are all over the spicy reds from this area right now. $32 A-
2019 Marilena Barbera ‘Micro Cosmo’ (Perricone Menfi): Spice, funk, red fruit, and a lot of fun. $36 B+
2021 Skouras Moscofilero (Peloponnese): Lovers of acid and citrus, rejoice and drink up!! $19 B+
2018 Lost Eden Red Blend (Kakheti, Georgian Republic): An acquired taste, for sure; almost syrupyin its rich, decadent style. $22 B
2022 The Ordinary Fellow Syrah ‘Canyon of the Ancients Vineyard’ (Colorado): Apparently, by this delicious red’s telling, CO’s Ordinary Fellow is absolutely not really ordinary! $NA A-
2018 Bodega Amalaya Malbec (Salta): Smoky, floral, spicy, juicy… all the boxes are checked here. $17 B
2020 Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza): Putting a good—and tasty—foot forward in its fruit-forward way. $15 B