Wine Review:
2017 The Lost Chapters Merlot (Napa Valley)
Cost:  $20.00
Alcohol:  14.5%
 
I love a delightful story and this wine is just that. The name alone let us you know that you are in for quite a ride. The Lost Chapters are wines that originate from great vineyards and exhibit excellence and individual character regardless of vintage, growing area, or varietal. These “chapters” are only available once until the release is sold out. But then another will appear offering its own allure and charm. 
 
The Lost Chapters is truly fifth generation Winemaker Paul Scott’s dream project. Each year he sources and crafts a variety of varietals, blends, and brands in his ongoing search for just the right fit for each bottling. The Lost Chapters is an ever-changing palette of enticing wines that promise to reward the search and broaden your senses.
 
The Lost Chapters 2017 (Napa Valley) Merlot is filled with highlights of tart red fruit. This full-bodied wine has an intensity of rich tannins and deep oak. The flavor of the oak gives a hint of clove and there is a grassiness on the finish. An affordable Merlot that is at a price point that makes it easy to enjoy often.

Wine Review:
2021 Alma de Cattleya Rosé of Pinot Noir
Cost:  $20.00
Alcohol:  14.1%
 
It is almost summer in Saint Louis. With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror that means it is Rosé season, and this is another great go-to for porch-sipping this summer. A crisp wine that is pure and refreshing. We enjoyed the slight burst of acid and the punch of crushed strawberries that you cannot help but fall in love with. A genuinely nice summer sipper that satisfies on a warm southside evening.

Wine Review:
2017 Wine by Joe Pinot Noir
Dundee, Oregon
Dobbes Family Estate
Cost:  $16.99
Alcohol:  13.5%
 
Dobbes Family Estate opened in 2002 and have created a truly vibrant business featuring the spirit of Oregon in every bottle. Wine by Joe Pinot Noir is an amazingly easy to drink wine with hints of dried roses and hibiscus on the nose. Once you take your first sip you experience a combination of dried cranberries and bright red fruit. The tannins come through and are balanced with moderate acidity and a medium-long finish. The is a well-balanced Pinot Noir with light cedar notes from the barrel aging. This was our go-to wine for years at the old Ernesto’s Wine Bar and Bistro in Benton Park (Saint Louis, Missouri). The Bistro was, yet another, victim of the pandemic and is sorely missed. The good news is that Wine by Joe Pinot Noir is available at one of our favorite wine shops:  Grapevine Wines in Kirkwood, and at a great price point that makes it affordable to enjoy often. 

Wine Review:
2021 The Kids Are Finally Asleep Chardonnay
When & Where Wines
Cost:  $13.99
Alcohol:  13%
 
When & Where Wines are 100% varietals and certified organic. Fresh, modern, and easy to drink are common themes among their family of wines. This Chardonnay is a splendid example of that philosophy. Buttery and complex, The Kids Are Finally Asleep Chardonnay is finished in stainless steel tanks and utilizes only certified organic yeast. Great acidity guarantees a bright, thirst-quenching drink that satisfies during a warm Saint Louis evening. A fantastic wine at a great price tells you that this wine will become a regular on our porch this summer.