Drinkhacker

JUNE 18, 2024

2021 Etude Pinot Gris Carneros – Etude’s pinot gris invariably offers a floral-heavy, slightly austere experience, and this 2021 bottling is no exception. B+ / $47 etudewines.com The post Review: Etude 2021 Pinot Gris and 2020 Pinot Noir appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking.

Wine 107

Wine Bottling 107

Drinkhacker

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Lithology 2021 is a blend of 86% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot, and 2% cabernet franc, sourced primarily from the eastern edge of Rutherford, with some Howell Mountain merlot and Oakville cab franc added to the mix. Their idea?

Wine 74

Wine Bottling 74

Drinkhacker

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

This 2021 expression is firing on cylinders: A biting, tart attack is bursting with cherry fruit but also rhubarb, and plenty of it, though gentle notes of vanilla and orange peel offer a fruity sweetness that tempers any rough edges.

Wine 87

Wine Bottling 87

Drinkhacker

JULY 24, 2024

A- / $30 The post Review: 2021 Booker Wines Harvey & Harriet appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. The finish remains on the jammy side, a quick squeeze of Hershey’s chocolate syrup adding further to that impression.

Wine 94

Wine Bottling 94

Drinkhacker

MARCH 20, 2024

A- / $38 The post Review: 2021 Rombauer Zinfandel California appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. There is medium acidity, and the finish is long, bringing with it a light cranberry note. Zinfandels are often a great wine for summer grilling, but this one seems better suited to the colder months.

Wine 110

Wine Alcohol 110

Drinkhacker

AUGUST 28, 2024

With the 2021 Trilogy, the first wines from this transition have now arrived. B+ / $70 2021 Flora Springs Trilogy Napa Valley – 85% cabernet sauvignon, 10% petit verdot, 5% malbec. Very little here telegraphs sauvignon blanc to me. A vibrant textbook example of what Napa Valley cabernet-based blend should taste like.

Wine 87

Wine Bitters 87

Drinkhacker

JUNE 10, 2024

As for the 2021, the creamy expression of 100% carricante still has an effusive fruitiness — lemon curd and apple pulp in equal measure, tempered by just a touch of salinity and, curiously, some smokiness that hits the nose like a distant campfire or perhaps a good cigar being lit off in the distance.

Wine 94

Wine Bottling 94

Drinkhacker

AUGUST 12, 2024

His 2021 cab-heavy blend is composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and 6% Cabernet Franc — a heady recipe, to be sure. B+ / $80 / kenefickranch.com The post Review: 2021 Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Chris’s Cuvee appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking.

Wine 86

Wine Bottling 86

Drinkhacker

MAY 26, 2024

2021 Dobbes Family Estate Chardonnay Grand Assemblage Willamette Valley – A cracking chardonnay, this wine has just the right amount of creamy vanilla and coconut to provide the backbone for a rush of lemon curd, Granny Smith apples, and a pinch of cinnamon that add loads of acidity to the mix. I wouldn’t sit on it for long.

Wine 95

Wine 95

Drinkhacker

JULY 15, 2024

B+ / $35 2021 Jermann Dreams Bianco Venezia Giulia IGT – Aka “Where Dreams Have No End,” this is a chardonnay that would easily pass for something from California. The post Review: Jermann 2022 Pinot Grigio and 2021 Dreams appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. Thoughts follow.

Bitters 90

Bitters Wine 90

Drinkhacker

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Two new releases from Sonoma-based Three Sticks, both pinot noirs from the 2021 vintage — and both very different. B+ / $95 2021 Three Sticks Pinot Noir Sonoma Mountain One Sky Vineyard – The first vineyard-designated release from One Sky. Consider aging for a few years.

Wine 85

Wine Bottling 85

Drinkhacker

DECEMBER 28, 2023

The $60 set includes 100ml samples of three wines Los Carneros Chardonnay, Los Carneros Pinot Noir, and Fraternity Red Blend, all from the 2021 vintage. B+ / $50 2021 Baldacci Elizabeth Pinot Noir Carneros – Quite a bold expression of pinot, with a slick punch of anise and graphite informing notes of tea leaf and toasty cola.

Wine 91

Wine Bottling 91

Drinkhacker

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

This 2021 release is a pretty, clean, and approachable barbera, heavy on the nose with its notes of rosemary and white pepper. B+ / $25 The post Review: 2021 Lovatelli Barbera d’Asti DOCG appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. Slightly flabby, the wine would benefit from a boost of acidity.

Wine 89

Wine 89

Drinkhacker

MAY 10, 2024

2021 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – The 2020 vintage featured a blend that was 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. A / $125 2021 Larkmead Vineyards Firebelle Napa Valley – A blend of 62% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17% Cabernet Franc, aged 20 months in French oak.

Wine 52

Wine Bottling 52

Drinkhacker

MAY 13, 2024

A- / $65 / lacrema.com The post Review: 2021 La Crema Pinot Noir Sealift Vineyard appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. This wine was a surprise, but a welcome one, and it could be the bottle that converts fans of Cabernet and other heavy reds into lovers of Pinot Noir.

Wine 112

Wine Bottling 112

Drinkhacker

OCTOBER 18, 2024

A- / $35 / hillickandhobbs.com The post Review: 2021 Hillick & Hobbs Estate Dry Riesling Seneca Lake New York appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. The lightest touch of sweet Sauternes gives the finish a surprising, subtle, late-game sweetness. Extremely versatile.

Wine 85

Wine 85

Drinkhacker

MAY 6, 2024

Today we look at a pair of recently released whites, both from the 2021 vintage. 2021 Attems Ribolla Gialla IGT – The lightly oxidized quality of this indigenous grape makes for a wine with lots of perfumed florals alongside a crisp honeydew character. A / $24 attems.it

Wine 92

Wine 92

Drinkhacker

MARCH 7, 2024

2021 Herdade Do Esporao Reserva Red – Elegant with notes of blackberry and plum oscillating in and out with a touch of cinnamon peeking through after some rest in the glass. B+ / $23 esporao.com The post Review: Esporao Reserva 2021 Red and 2022 White appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking.

Wine 100

Wine Bottling 100

Drinkhacker

OCTOBER 9, 2024

B+ / $30 2021 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir Russian River Valley – While a bit flat up top, some airtime helps this wine’s inherent charms to reveal themselves more fully. Gently touched with vanilla, this is far from an overwhelming barrel bomb, finishing with a guava-heavy tropical quality. Refreshing and versatile, and quite summery.

Wine 79

Wine 79

Drinkhacker

AUGUST 25, 2024

B+ / $25 The post Review: 2021 Tapestry Red Blend Paso Robles appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. Bold plum and chocolate notes dominate a chewy, semi-sweet finish. It’s a dense and somewhat brooding wine on the whole, but agreeable at this price.

Wine 77

Wine 77

Drinkhacker

JUNE 9, 2024

Soul of a Lion is its most luxe offering, and we recently sampled the new 2021 vintage release. A- / $150 / daouvineyards.com [ BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE ] The post Review: 2021 Daou Soul of a Lion Cabernet Sauvignon Adelaida District appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking.

Wine 101

Wine Bottling 101

Drinkhacker

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Etude has earned its reputation for making excellent pinot noirs and we’ve enjoyed them in the past , so it is a pleasure to pour the newly released 2021 vintage of their Carneros Pinot Noir. A / $47 / etudewines.com The post Review: 2021 Etude Pinot Noir Carneros appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking.

Wine 88

Wine 88

Drinkhacker

MAY 31, 2024

B+ / $60 The post Review: 2021 Waypoint Chardonnay Russian River Valley Ritchie Vineyard appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. The late-game finish evokes notes of French toast, light on the syrup.

Wine 103

Wine 103

Drinkhacker

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

A / $58 2021 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir Russian River Valley – A soft but slightly spicy pinot, this wine features a plump cherry core and moves quickly into a racier element — showcasing ginger-heavy baking spices, cinnamon, and a layer of vanilla. A spicy Korean-style burger did the trick for me.

Wine 99

Wine 99

Drinkhacker

MARCH 23, 2024

A- / $50 2021 Baldacci Proprietary Red Blend Napa Valley – In honor of winemaker Michael Baldacci’s ten years of tenure, this blend reflects his love for Baldacci’s Estate Merlot by incorporating it as the primary grape, contributing 30% of the total blend.

Aperitif 105

Aperitif Wine 105

Drinkhacker

JUNE 5, 2024

B+ / $18 2021 La Posta Paulucci Malbec – Heavy with red cherry and raspberry on the nose, with pepper and oak emerging with time in the glass. A- / $18 lapostavineyards.com The post Review: La Posta 2022 Pizzella Malbec and 2021 Paulucci Malbec appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking.

Wine 96

Wine 96

Drinkhacker

MARCH 9, 2024

A- / $70 / daouvineyards.com [ BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR ] The post Review: 2021 Daou Seventeen Forty Reserve Paso Robles appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. Quite food-friendly, with a slight balsamic element on the finish that brightens up the proceedings with some acidity.

Wine 100

Wine 100

Drinkhacker

AUGUST 27, 2024

A- / $140-$170 (on-premises, depending on location) / striphouse.com The post Review: 2021 The Tease Cabernet Sauvignon by Strip House appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. I say go for it.

Wine 89

Wine 89

Drinkhacker

JULY 14, 2024

A- / $100 2021 Argiano Non Confunditur IGT – A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and sangiovese, this is about as opposite an experience to the above Brunello as can be imagined. Graphite and anise provide an ample mineral-earthy quality, while the finish of brewed black tea pours on herbaceous notes.

Wine 86

Wine Bitters 86

Drinkhacker

JULY 21, 2024

A- / $50 2021 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley – This year’s vintage features the same construction as the 2020 vintage: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot. All before a touch of oak and minerality make appearances on the balanced, lingering finish.

Bottling 95

Bottling Wine 95

Drinkhacker

JUNE 15, 2024

2021 William Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast – Rich with chocolate on the nose, mellowing out with time to present aromas of black currant and baking spice courtesy of oak aging. C+ Surprisingly, William Hill has announced that they will be closing their tasting room and discontinuing their wine club on June 30, 2024.

Club 92

Club Wine Bottling 92

Drinkhacker

APRIL 10, 2024

The post Review: 2021 The Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. I have been told that my question has been forwarded onwards to “his people.” Should I receive an answer, this review will be updated with the results. Bookmark this page and watch this space.

Wine 89

Wine 89

Drinkhacker

MARCH 17, 2024

A- / $30 / thecallingwine.com The post Review: 2021 The Calling Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. It will pair beautifully with a steak and maybe even better with a hamburger, but it is also approachable enough to drink by itself.

Wine 88

Wine Alcohol 88

Drinkhacker

MARCH 2, 2024

B / $35 2021 Bryn Mawr Dolcetto Estate – 100% Dolcetto. B+ / $35 The post Review: Bryn Mawr NV Brut Rose and 2021 Dolcetto appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. Also, there is a chalky note to the palate which, when paired with the fruit notes, tastes a bit like crushed Pez candy.

Wine 86

Wine Infusions Bottling 86

Drinkhacker

FEBRUARY 24, 2024

B+ / $54 / binnunwinery.com The post Review: 2021 Binnun Bordeaux Style Blend Judean Hills Reserve appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking. While short on some needed acidity, the wine makes up for that with an exuberant focus on black fruits, sprinkled with light notes of fresh rosemary and thyme.

Wine 91

Wine 91

Drinkhacker

APRIL 21, 2024

2021 Domaine Bousquet Cameleon Organic Cabernet Sauvignon – 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Malbec, and somewhat surprisingly, that 15% stays quietly in the background and does a minimal amount of lifting. In other words: terroir.

Bottling 78

Bottling Wine 78

Drinkhacker

DECEMBER 16, 2023

2021 Cantina Zaccagnini Tralcetto Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC – Presenting a solid foundation of blackberry and dark cherry, this wine gains assistance from white pepper as it develops in the glass. Never falling out of balance, it is as straightforward and unpretentious a Pinot Grigio as I’ve encountered in some time.

Wine 97

Wine Bottling 97