CLEVELAND, Ohio – We sipped eight wines from multiple places around the world, with prices ranging from $12 to $25.
Our global tour this month took us to Sicily, plus we sipped a couple from France, tried a pair of Rosés from New York’s Finger Lakes and had some West Coast wines.
Note: Our monthly reviews focus on wines $25 and under. All should be available on local store shelves. We list flavors we detect, then offer our favorite at the end.
Dr. Konstantin FrankMarc Bona, cleveland.com2 Dr. Frank Rosés
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, Hammondsport, New York (Finger Lakes)
We tried two very different 2024 rosés from the venerable Finger Lakes winery, a longtime personal favorite:
Rosé: Light in color and body. Salmon-colored. Jolly Rancher watermelon taste precedes a dry finish – $16.99.
Rosé of Saperavi: Rich, dark red color. Lots of fruit, specifically raspberry and cherry. Slight funk but nothing that mars the wine. The grape is indigenous to the nation of Georgia but is being grown in multiple regions, including upstate New York. – $24.99.
Violet VinesMarc Bona, cleveland.comViolet Vines
Violet Vines, Willamette Valley, Oregon; Pinot Noir, 2023, $24.99
Hearty and very dry with eucalyptus / floral notes along with some dried cranberries. Definite fair price, lot of guts. You know you’re not drinking a cheap cherry bomb of a Pinot Noir. Related: NE Ohio couple opens boutique winery in heart of Pinot Noir country
Chateau Pegau MacluraMarc Bona, cleveland.comChâteau Pégau Maclura
Château Pégau (produced and bottled by Laurence Féraud), France, red blend, 2022, $25
A blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault. Blackberry notes, savory, meaty with soft tannins that emerge on the back end with a smoky finish. Went well with rib-eye steak but very versatile. From Côtes du Rhône appellation.
FetzerMarc Bona, cleveland.comFetzer Gewürztraminer
Fetzer Vineyards, California, Gewürztraminer, NV, $12
Notes of rose petal on the aroma precede hints of lime and peach. No mistaking this is a Gewürztraminer. An off-dry, and very good-value, wine. This label has produced some surprising varietals in a good way.
Parallele 45 red blendMarc Bona, cleveland.comParallèle 45
Paul Jaboulet Aîné, France, red blend, 2023, $12
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Marselan. Menthol comes across. Not overly fruity but intense with red raspberry notes. Cranberry flavor without tartness. Tannins are moderate with some on the back end but definitely dry. (There also is a corresponding Parallèle 45 white blend.) Great value.
1924Marc Bona, cleveland.com1924
1924 Wines, Lodi, California; Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023, $18-$20
Smooth sipper, some menthol, less fruity than we would have expected. Not jammy at all. Slight herbal flavor comes across with a hint of cinnamon. Nice little sipper.
RegalealiMarc Bona, cleveland.comRegaleali Bianco
Tasca d’Almerita, Sicily, white blend, 2023, $15.99
From the looks of this green-colored wine we expected a bit of an acidic taste, common in Sicilian varietals. But this is bursting with fruit: Lime aroma, with kiwi, lemon, lime – fresh citrus – on the palate. Went well with chicken and seared gnocchi in a light lemon sauce. Delicious and refreshing especially this time of year. It’s a blend of Catarratto, Grecanico, Inzolia and a bit of Chardonnay.
This month
Favorite: Regaleali Bianco
Value find: Parallèle 45 and Fetzer
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Dining and Cooking