Michael Cervin

Blogger, Boozehoundz at Freelance

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Articles

2018 Azienda Agricola Rauten Salvetta Nosiola, Italy, Alto Adige, Wine Review

1 week ago | intowine.com | Loren Sonkin |Michael Cervin

Ordered off the list at Ai Vicoli in Trento, Italy. Made from 100% Nosiola that is grown organically. Pale golden in color, clear and bright. The nose has slight peach, a bit of "white" flowers and minerality. One wonders if the floral notes are from the grape or the Acacia barrels the wine is made in. Light to medium bodied. Good balance. Nice acidity. On the palate, this is crisp with peach and minerality. It worked very well with the best "Grilled Cheese" and Roasted veggies I have ever had.
2021 Dry Creek Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

2 weeks ago | intowine.com | Loren Sonkin |Amy Beaudine |Michael Cervin

This is a blend of 77% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is deep with black cherries, slight blueberries, sandalwood, and slight black pepper. Medium bodied. Light drying tannins. Good balance. On the palate, black cherries and black raspberries with a bit of spice and pepper. Good finish. This is drinking well now and should continue for another five to eight years.
Canvasback 2022 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

3 weeks ago | intowine.com | Michael Cervin |Loren Sonkin

From the initial Canvasback launch, I have sampled this wine for years and without question this Washington state red has proven its worth. Value, yes. Structure and depth, yes. Made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon. There are small amounts of Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc to round out the wine. It was aged just 19 months in French oak barrels, just about 1/3rd of those barrels contributing new oak. It offers slightly deeper more macerated fruit notes than its California counterparts.
2024 Foradori Manzoni Bianco Fontanasanta, Italy, Trentino, Wine Review

4 weeks ago | intowine.com | Loren Sonkin |Michael Cervin |Jennifer Muhawi

Tasted at the winery. Manzoni Bianco is a cross between Riesling and Pinot Gris. Organic and Biodynamic. This sees seven months in Acacia barrels. Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose has oranges, honey and minerals. Slightly oily texture. Well balanced. Good acidity. On the palate, there is a peach/orange flavor with loads of minerality. Nice finish. This is lovely on its own but will be better with food. It will work well with sausages/bratwurst or their vegan versions as well.
See Smoke 2022 Chardonnay

4 weeks ago | intowine.com | Michael Cervin |Loren Sonkin

Just over 25 years ago, Sea Smoke planted their first vines in the newly minted Santa Rita Hills AVA in Santa Barbara County. Though best known for Pinot Noir, they also produce Chardonnay and a sparkling wine. Their 2022 Chardonnay is an all estate, 100% Chardonnay offering. The flavors in the bottle are delicate, nuanced, quiet. There is light lime Kiefer, lemon meringue, guava, Alpine, grasses, lemon curd, and light peach notes. The acidity is there and holds the wine in check in the background.
2023 Giuseppe Quintarelli Bianco Secco, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

1 month ago | intowine.com | Loren Sonkin |Michael Cervin |Jennifer Muhawi

Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Saorin (a local name for Tocai or Friuliano). One percent of the wine is made with the Passito style. The wine is fermented in steel tanks and then aged in barrels. Pale golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is deep with some minerality, lemons and an interesting cantaloupe note. Medium bodied. Lovely oily texture. Great acidity. On the palate, tart apples and some lemon. Also a bit of cumquat. Long, fruity finish.
2023 Vietti Timorasso Colli Tortonesi Derthona, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

1 month ago | intowine.com | Loren Sonkin |Michael Cervin

Tasted at the winery. Another Timorasso. It seems many Piedmon producers are making really nice white wines from this grape and at reasonable pricing. And, they bottles will supposedly age five to ten years. This one is pale, yellow/gold in color. Clear and bright. The nose is mostly about minerality but there is a touch of orange peel. Light to medium bodied. Light tannins. Good acidity. On the palate, the citrus is a bit more in the forefront but this has loads of minerality, too. Long finish.
2024 Paolo Scavino Langhe Sorriso, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

1 month ago | intowine.com | Loren Sonkin |Michael Cervin

Tasted at the winery. This is a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon Blanc, and 20% Viognier from vineyards planted in 1997. Yellow/gold in color with slight green hues. The nose is clean and fruity. Notes of lime, alfalfa, and slight mandarin orange. Slightly oily texture. Nice acidity. On the palate, mostly limes, some grapefruit and some minerality. Long finish. This drinks well on its own and would work nice with lighter foods. This would actually work well with Roasted Asparagus.
2022 La Colombera Timorasso Colli Tortonesi Derthona, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

1 month ago | intowine.com | Loren Sonkin |Michael Cervin

While in La Morra last week with friends, we stopped at Uve Wine Bar. Earlier in the day, we had been introduced to the Timorasso grape and decided to delve a bit deeper. This is a white wine that apparently will age well for ten to fifteen years. Green/gold in color, clear and bright. The nose has plenty of minerality, peach and slight limes. With air, honeyed notes emerge. Medium bodied. Light tannins. excellent acidity. On the palate, tart apples, limes, minerality and slight honey.
Spottswoode 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

1 month ago | intowine.com | Michael Cervin |Loren Sonkin |Nancy Parode

This wine, like most exceptional wine, is time consuming. Meaning that to properly enjoy and appreciate it, you must take time. This is not an hour-over-dinner wine, but a night-over-dinner wine; of conversations, a fireplace, perhaps a cheese course, and more conversation. This has always been the beauty of Spottswoode Cabernet – they are not beholden to time. Originally opened at 4 p.m. the wine was fairly tight, but the noticeable dark fruits of blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry are evident.