Tasted in various places with various friends, including one who's been surfing Grocery Outlet a lot lately, in the past few weeks:
2022 Post House Road Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Livermore Valley
Not complex or majestic by any means, but a friendly and very drinkable Tuesday night wine to go with a roast chicken.
2014 I Veroni Chianti Rùfina Riserva Quona Sangiovese
Last bottle of 18 purchased long ago. Still decent, but time to drink up.
2021 Te Mata Estate Sauvignon Blanc Cape Crest Hawke's Bay
Very different style of SB. Bright medium yellow. Nose of pineapple guava and pine resin with a little passion fruit on the palate. Would not seek it out again.
2023 Brander Sauvignon Blanc Los Olivos District
An old favorite from my California years, a classy and classic Sauvignon Blanc plus proof that Californian Sauv Blancs don't have to be tropical, oaky or NZ gooseberry copycats. Actually found myself thinking, I'll bet Bueker would like this.
2019 Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese (Green Capsule)
Lightly both saline and sweet. Stunning.
2019 Devison Vintners Syrah Beneath The Stones Stoney Vine Vineyards Walla Walla Valley
Cigarbox, mild rocks funk, "serious soil, serious wine". A very good WAwine from a very good WA winemaker. And another example of why I'm liking '19s so much (much more than the riper 18's, in other words).
2011 Bodegas Valdemar Rioja Conde de Valdemar Reserva Tempranillo Blend
Another Conde Nasty. Flavors of piney things instead of fruit--resin, needles, all that--too young and quite strong. Nobody liked this.
2022 Cellier de Monterail Côtes du Rhône Villages Red Rhone Blend
Juicy, zesty, medium bodied. Mosty grenache. Great QPR for $7 at Grocery Outlet.
2023 Kirkland Signature Vacqueyras Red Rhone Blend
14.5% but doesn't show. Grenache-centric (80% I believe), perfect spice and balance. Outstanding QPR at $11.49. Best Kirkland-brand wine I've ever had.
2018 Louis Jadot Moulin-à-Vent Château des Jacques Gamay
Black, high acid, nasty.
2023 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga
Very light taupe-y red, tomato-strawberry fruit with pepper and rosemary. Fun for geeks at a blind tasting, but very high acid even for acid lovers. Took the remainders home to see if it improved over the next few days; it didn't.
2023 Telve di Sopra Vineyard Pinot Noir Puget Sound
From vines on the Kitsap Peninsula. Taut fruit and light bodied, interesting.
2021 Idlewild Grignolino Russian River Valley
Even better than I thought it would be when I said two years ago: "7/1/2023 A rust-colored light red wine. Savory notes of sage and bay leaf on mild red fruits, better now with bottle age than on release. Should continue to improve." It has. Shows older than it's actual age, but that's all for the better. Everyone loved it.
2019 Bodega Chacra Chardonnay Mainque Patagonia
Wow, three years since I opened one. I was right it aged beautifully, very Puligny-like now. My original note: Clean crisp minerally nose with green apple, citrus and limestone, exceptional tone and clean flavors. Some thought similar to Chablis but there's no flint or matchstick here, and the fruit is a tad brighter--reminded me of the restrained style of Ceritas in California. Alcohol just 12%. I LOVE THIS WINE. Aging: 18% in concrete eggs, 25% in stainless steel tanks and 57% in French oak barrels (12% new) for 10 months. Should age well from here, but why wait?
2021 Ramey Chardonnay Fort Ross - Seaview
Continued excellence from this well-priced Ramey chard.
2023 Château Haut-Domingue Entre-Deux-Mers Blanc Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Eureka lemon, herbs, very decent for $8 at Grocery Outlet--IOW, would drink someone else's bottle but wouldn't buy it myself.
2020 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Mosel Saar Ruwer
Sensational nose of kaffir lime and starfruit. Delish.
2017 Can Feixes Corpinnat Huguet Brut Nature Macabeo-Xarello-Parellada Blend
From a cooperative in the Penides who are not legally allowed to call this 'cava', but I don't recall why. Sulfur nose initially but blows off, very dry, lightly toasty, elegantly restrained. Tastes brand new not 8 years old, and I love it--and I rarely love cava.