Wine Review:
2020 Terra Alpina Pinot Grigio
Cost:  $15.99
Alcohol:  12%
 
This 2020 Pinot Grigio is conveniently packaged with a screw-cap. A brilliant new wine from Alois Lageder is an excellent wine. Simple yet elegant with notes of white peach and lemon. Simple and elegant at the same time. A brilliant, medium-bodied Pinot Grigio with a fresh minerality. A perfect porch sipper or lovely with chicken or white sauce. Perfect in and with the risotto last week. Check it out at Wine and Cheese Place and Spirit Wine and Craft in South Saint Louis.

Wine Review:
2020 Newsprint Malbec
Cost:  $17.99
Alcohol:  14.4%
 
Any story that has a cop named Jerry meeting a reporter named Jennifer at a crime scene and then fall in love and start a winery has my attention. They are both storytellers in their life and in their wine. This Malbec is a great introduction. One sip and you are rewarded with bright black berries. The end notes are spicy with hints of black pepper. A big, bold, muscular wine that is perfect for most any occasion. We found this lovely bottle at Parker’s Table. Another great bottle from an exceptional wine merchant for a great price. You will not go wrong with this Malbec!

​Wine Review:
2019 Sur de los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva
Cost:  $14.99
Alcohol:  14%
 
Rich dark berries, black cherry, and green bell pepper along with complex wood tones of cedar and aged oak come out of this full-bodied Cabernet. The palate continues the strong black fruit with an earthy finish and strong tannin. Refreshing acidity. Deserving of the Gran Reserva designation, Sur de los Andes was created by Guillermo Banfi who first started as an Argentinian Wine-Maker in 2002.

​Wine Review:
2021 The Pale Rosé by Sacha Lichine
Cost:  $14.99
Alcohol:  12.5%
 
Who’s for a glass of the Pale? What a wonderful way to ask if you would like a pour of rosé. This Provence rosé is named for its transparent Pink Color. The Pale by Sacha Lichine is an expressive wine with aromas of orange peel and a nice minerality. A bit of grapefruit and a slight sweetness round out the palate. Inside and out, it bears great aromatic freshness followed by subtle fruity notes on the palate. Available at Spirit Wine and Craft in South Saint Louis.

Wine Review:
2013 Chateau Lanessan Haut-Medoc Bordeaux
Cost:  Around $15.00
Alcohol:  13%
 
A nice Red Bordeaux from Haut-Medoc.  Full-bodied with dark, ripe berries, dried plum, tobacco, and a bit of earthiness.  A nice, savory, albeit light, finish.  The palate has a soft texture with a nice fresh acidity. This is an affordable Bordeaux that won’t be available much longer.  It’s ready to drink now and maybe for a few more years.  

Wine Review:
2014 Chateau Lalande de Pez Saint-Estephe Bordeaux
Cost:  Around $20.00
Alcohol:  13%
 
A middle ground bottle of the Chateau de Pez Saint-Estephe Bordeux.  Medium to full-bodied with up front tannins.  This bottle was at a perfect point for drinking.  The wine is non-filtered so you might wish to decant.  A classic combo of dark fruits, tobacco, earthiness and floral combines with a nice finish a good balance.  A great value for Bordeaux.  Enjoy now or cellar for a few more years.

Wine Review:
2017 Nova Vita Firebird Shiraz
Cost:  $20.00
Alcohol:  13.5%
 
A nice, vegan-friendly Adelaide Hills Shiraz from Australia.  This is an easy drinking, go-to Shiraz that can standup to barbecue.  We enjoyed ours with a smoked Brisket that our neighbor shared with us one evening and it was perfect.  This wine is perfect with big flavors and big spice.  The smoky flavors of the Brisket were a lovely match.  A medium body with nice tannins that hang around on the palate.  Big, lush, and filled with the expected rich red berry flavors with a hint of pepper and anise seed.  Good price and available at Grand Wine and Spirits in south Saint Louis.