CLEVELAND, Ohio – We tried eight wines from four countries this month – the United States, France, Italy and Spain.
Wines ranged from Pinot Noir to Pinot Grigio. We had some good-value sippers – and one we dumped.
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.
The InsiderMarc Bona, cleveland.comThe Insider
Vinum Cellars, Paso Robles, California; Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021, $20.99
Raspberry notes with some cedar, smoke and a nice dryness all combine here. Not super tannic. Good value.
PetsMarc Bona, cleveland.comPets
Vinum Cellars, Clarksburg, California; Petite Sirah, 2021, $16.99
Fruit is there with mint flavors. Dark fruit – blueberry and blackberry – also emerge. Healthy tannins come out on the finish and smooth oak notes come from the French barrels in which the wine is aged. Good value. Went well with beef stew over egg noodles.
Vinum Cellars ChardonnayMarc Bona, cleveland.comVinum Cellars Chardonnay
Vinum Cellars, Monterey, California; Chardonnay, 2021, $18.99
Baked apple, pear and a bit of butterscotch hit the palate. Balanced oak, nice mouthfeel. Long finish, fair price.
Vinum Cellars Pinot NoirMarc Bona, cleveland.comVinum Cellars Pinot Noir
Vinum Cellars, Monterey, California; Pinot Noir, 2022, $18.99
Some inexpensive Pinot Noir can be a bit thin with basic cherry flavors. This is a hearty one with notes of violet, tobacco, vanilla and dark cherry preceding a long finish. Good price.
The PaleMarc Bona, cleveland.comThe Pale
Sacha Lichine, France, red blend, 2024, $17.99
Aptly named. One of the lightest Rosé we’ve seen, but its body belies its color. A really nice dry Rosé from Provence with light lavender notes in the aroma and on the palate. Strawberry also comes across. Balanced acidity helped the wine hold up to sausage and kale soup. It’s made from Grenache and Cinsault grapes.
Tio PepeMarc Bona, cleveland.comTio Pepe Jerez Xérès Sherry
Tio Pepe, Spain, Palomino Fino, $19.99
We’ve had decent Tio Pepe before, but this isn’t one of them. An overly astringent taste made four of us cringe. We dumped. Yes, every now and again we donate a wine to the drain gods.
AttemsMarc Bona, cleveland.comAttems
Attems, Italy, Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, $24
Pear, tangerine, orange and of course grapefruit (although the flavor from the latter is restrained) all come through in this well-balanced wine. A tasting pal loves the screaming, grassy New Zealand version of Sauv Blanc while I enjoy balanced fruit in the varietal from California and other places. This one had enough acid to stand up to food and please us both.
Laurentia Vineyard and WineryMarc Bona, cleveland.comLaurentia Pinot Grigio
Laurentia Vineyard and Winery, Madison, Ohio; Pinot Grigio, 2024, $19.99
Orange aroma, clean-tasting, tangerine notes and slightly tropical. Heartier than many Pinot Grigios. I like an occasional sip of PG before dinner, but this one stood up to a meal, and a surprising one at that – curry and Buffalo-flavored meatballs over a bed of rice. Nicely done, good price.
This month
Favorite: Any except Tio Pepe.
Value find: Pets.
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Dining and Cooking