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.

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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.

Rideau Vineyard Château Duplantier 2015 Santa Barbara County, California

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Nose of blueberries, red cherries, strawberries, red currants, oak, spices, earth, leather, wet leaves, light barnyard, vegetables, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, pencil lead, dust, spices and black pepper.

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

Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, spices, wood, vanilla, cloves, dark coffee, tobacco leaf, bitter greens, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with very soft tannins and bitter herbs.

This Rhône blend from Santa Barbara County is elegant and earthy. Nicely balanced with nice complexity. Feels like an old world wine, like a Northern Rhône red with a touch of an aged burgundy. Very interesting.

Probably still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature. I’d like to revisit this vintage in 2 to 3 years.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly, so be patient.

A good sipping wine to sip on and talk about, and a good food wine too.

A blend of 35% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre, 21% Grenache Noir and 19% Petite Sirah.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$49.

Cellier de Princes Cuvée Sainte Vierge Chateauneuf du Pape 2015, France

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

On the nose cherries, blueberries, raspberries, earth, light vanilla, wood, licorice, eucalyptus, river rocks, wet leaves, spices, graphite and black pepper.

Medium-bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, raspberries, licorice, coke, cloves, spices, earth, pencil lead, vegetables and black pepper.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a young Chateauneuf du Pape, that needs a couple of years to mature and remove much of the acidity.

Unbalanced at this point and better with food. Showing a nice mouthfeel and nice complexity.

Needs an hour to open up properly and show some tannins.

A blend of 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. Aged in oak barrels for 10 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$30.

Romain & Thibaut Chamfort Domaine de Verquière AOP Rasteau 2014, Rhône Valley, France

Dirty ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim.

Nose of black currants, plums, bell pepper, oak, licorice, cloves, earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco, leaf, forest floor, bitter herbs and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and earthy on the palate with plums, black currants, bitter vegetables, herbs, spices, wet leaves, tobacco leaf, pencil lead, bell pepper, peppercorn and earth.

Short finish with bitter green tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Grenache blend from the Rhône Valley is earthy and a bit unbalanced. Soft and smooth and very savory.

A little over the hill by now, as it lost much of the fruits, with a bitter ending. I had the 2016 not too long ago, and it was yummy.

A blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah.

14% alcohol by volume.

84 points.

$18.