Federico Paternina Rioja Gran Reserva 2008, Spain

This is a very enjoyable red Rioja.
Showing black and red fruits with earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, peppercorn, leather, cedar, leather and vanilla.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with with great complexity and mouthfeel.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats, cheeses and pickled vegetables.

Nicely aged and peaking now. Nice and engaging.

A blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. Aged for 24 in American oak barrels.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

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Château Maucoil Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2014, France

This is a very enjoyable CDP.
Showing black fruits with earth notes, cola, dark chocolates, graphites and peppercorn.

Better after 3 hours of airtime when it shows the tannins and complexity.

Drinking nicely now and will be better in the next few years. I’ve had this vintage a few times before and it is getting better every 6 months.

Nice by itself or with food. I paired it with Brie cheese and light appetizers.

A blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$40.

Zwebner Estate Vineyard 35.40.2 Red Blend 2015 Bethlehem, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a soft purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black plums, sour cherries, sweet raspberries, vanilla, licorice, oak, leather, earth, pencil lead, wet leaves, alcohol, vinaigrette, dark chocolates, tobacco and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, sweet strawberries, wood, spices, earth, vegetables, graphite, peppercorn, leather and tobacco.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very enjoyable GSM blend from Israel. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Reminds me of a Spanish Garnacha blend.

I had it last year, and it is drinking nicer now. Would benefit from a few more years in the bottle.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly and show complexity.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of cheeses and meats.

A blend of 47% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 18% Mourvedre.

Grapes are grown in the Judean Mountains at 2500 feet elevation, and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40.

Bitch Bubbly Sparkling Non Vintage, Spain 89

Dark salmon in color with light intensity.

Light nose of strawberries and citrus with small bubbles.

Sweet and fruity on the palate with raspberries, sweet strawberries, citrus, lemons and apples.

Medium finish with sweet raspberries.

What a fun sparkling Rosé from Spain this is. Sweet and bubbly and Great for parties.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, by the porch or pool.

I took it to an afternoon party, and it was a big hit. Everyone at the party loved it.

A blend of Chardonnay, Shiraz and Grenache.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

11% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$13.

Guillaume Gonnet Le Reveur Côtes du Rhône 2016, France

A nice color of dark ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, plums, cherries, licorice, oak, vanilla, spices, black pepper, earth, milk chocolates and tobacco.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, red cherries, oak, spices, earth, wet leaves, herbs, pencil lead, vegetables, earth and peppercorn.

Short finish with soft tannins and tart raspberries.

A simple and tangy Grenache blend from France. Unbalanced and better with food.

Fruity on the nose and earthier on the palate. Good right out of the bottle and good for everyday.

I paired it with a cheese plate and some appetizers.

A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Old Vines grapes grown on clay soil.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

83 points.

$9.

Bodegas Breca Garnacha de Fuego 2016, Spain

Light red in color with medium intensity.

Fruity nose of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, light vanilla, spices, alcohol, licorice and black pepper.

Medium-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with currants, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, spices, peppercorn, light vegetables, chocolates and earth.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Spanish Grenache is drinking very nicely as a youngster. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel and mild complexity.

Good right out of the bottle and needs 30 minutes to open up properly and show some tannins.

I paired it with a gorgeous day and of course, some cheeses 😊

15.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$10.

Château de Saint Cosme Côte du Rhône Rouge 2016, France

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, cherries, licorice, oak, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead, chocolates, light barnyard, smoke, spices, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, black plums, wood, licorice, vegetables, spices, smoke, earth, bell pepper, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium on the finish with fine-grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This Côtes du Rhône is always enjoyable. Good by itself or with food. Well balanced and fruity with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins.

Robert Parker 89 points.

I’ve had this wine before, on a few different vintages and occasions, and it is very consistent.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$15.