2019 Clos Cibonne Tibouren 1.5 liter
The best Cibonne I've ever had; and I would put it right up there with the best roses I've ever had. Immaculate fruit, perfect intensity, long complex finish. And it went with everything.
NV Kelley Fox Wines Nerthus Willamette Valley White Blend
This version is made of 22% Early Muscat, 22% Grüner Veltliner, 20% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot blanc. As Kelley herself says, "this is not technically a rosé: the colour is from the addition of 1% black raspberry wine that I made from a nearby 5th generation farm in 2025". Very pale coral in color, there's a brief whiff of a sweet perfume on the nose that segues into yellow raspberries, white currants, strawberries and oyster shells on a bone-dry finish. Very, very good.
2025 The Orcas Project Gewürztraminer Rosé Willamette Valley
Cloudy orange color with a spicy nose and broad, dry mid-palate of papaya, pumpkin, rhubarb and clove. I who dislike both gewurz and orange wines in general liked this quite a bit.
2025 The Orcas Project Gamay Noir Rosé Willamette Valley
Dry, excellent minerality and balance. From Willamette Valley fruit and the winemaker at Division Wines, Oregon.
2023 Atilia Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Montepulciano
Pleasant, innocuous. Appreciated the liter size because it gave us extra to set fruit fly traps in the kitchen.
2012 Alpha Estate S.M.X. Florina Red Blend
Big like Cabernet is big, but not a monster. Uncorked four hours prior to service, which helped corral the intensity. Perfect accompaniament to a rich moussaka.
2023 Domaine Dupeuble Pere et Fils (Kermit Lynch) Beaujolais Rosé Gamay
A sentimental choice, this one. A prior long-ago trip to Orcas Island was Bob and I attending a Kermit Lynch tasting put on by the same friend who was one of my guests this weekend. As we chatted around the table at that event, I asked the gentleman next to me what he had done for a living. "Astronaut," he replied. Remember the famous picture of earth taken from space? That was by our new friend, William Anders, who sadly passed away last summer when he crashed in his private plane just off the island. A Kermit wine was the perfect choice to remember that evening by. As for the wine, no rush as the years continue to be good to it. I've owned this several times; wish I had more.
NV Isategi Sagardotegia Sagardo naturala Spain
A very tart, dry Basque cider. Loved it, but it's not for everyone.
2022 La Frenz Ensemble Reserve Okanagan Valley Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
A full-bodied white Bordeaux blend that's aging gracefully, but a bit zaftig and out of place among the other wines this weekend.
2016 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese
Herbal and a bit stiff, certainly less generous than a bottle about six or eight months ago.
2016 Paolo Scavino Barbera d'Alba
Pulled the cork about five hours before service; and this is showing great right now. It's got everything you hope for from a quality barbera.
2016 Alessandro Rivetto Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba Nebbiolo
This wine was so friendly and fun a year ago but it's in limbo right now--hold.
2016 Villa Poggio Salvi Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
Nothing terribly wrong here but nothing terribly right either. Not sure what further cellaring will do for it but I'd risk my remaining two bottles rotting over opening another bottle prior to 2028.