The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
Some of Our Favorite Spring Values
April 23, 2025
White
2023 Dyckerhoff Reuilly Blanc
Like Sancerre, its white grape is sauvignon blanc. Its soil is limestone, also like much of Sancerre. The wine is similar, too. A good Reuilly can have the cool, light grapefruit and lime of a pretty Sancerre.
We found exactly that in this wine. Its cool aromas of lime and grapefruit intrigued the nose. It flowed smooth and fat across the tongue. Although lighter than Sancerre, it is as soft as some and a pleasure to drink,
What Makes it Special: An echo of Sancerre at a bargain price
The price is irresistible. We can still offer this at only 17.99 the bottle, 15.99 by the case. That won't get you a glass of ordinary Sancerre in a restaurant.
2024 Lucien Reymond Sancerre
It is his best wine yet, savory, rich, complex, and heady in its affect. It is very, very good; much richer, denser, and more concentrated than many more expensive 2023s we have tasted. Its good acidity and ripe, savory sauvignon fruit make it exceptional.
What Makes it Special: flavor, concentration, price.
Aroma: Savory, a touch of earth, crisp, with an exotic note of lime peel; Mouth: bright light lime, very fleshy without too much weight, appetizing and inviting, very long; Very Good - Excellent $32; Case, $26.99
2023 Suavia Soave Classico
Suavia is one of the leaders in quality and terroir expression in the small, hilly zone to the east of Lake Garda. Sisters Meri, Valentina, and Alessandra Tessari use their state-of-the-art facility to express the nuances of their native terroir through the lens of the two grapes native to the zone: Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave. These grapes make for a wine with an enjoyable fleshy fruit texture, a hint of complexity, clean minerality, and mouthwatering acidity.
Aroma: Juicy white peach, sliced pears, fresh herbs, and lemon peel. Mouth: Medium-bodied, tangy, orange zest, peach, melon, and marjoram. The best Soave wines like Suavia can take some age and, in so doing, develop notes of chamomile, marmalade, and honey. Very Good Plus $17.99, Case 15.99
Rose
2024 Le Fraghe Chiaretto Bardolino Rosato Organic
Martilde Poggi makes a highly quaffable yet savory Chiaretto Rosé. Her wines, regularly acclaimed by Vinous, Decanter, and Gambero Rosso, capture the elegance and freshness typical of the best Bardolino. She has recently become fully certified organic.
Aroma: Wild roses are the first to emerge, followed by nuances of wild strawberry and redcurrant that linger and complete an elegant bouquet. Mouth: An emphatic crispness and full body, the happy result of a perfect balance between ultra-savoury flavours and a tasty minerality, characteristics that are classic to this terroir, and excellent supporting tannins and acidity. The finish is lengthy and nicely mirrors the aromas offered by the nose. Very Good Plus $16.99, Case $14.99
Red
2020 Piedra Fluida Las Islas Canarias Tenerife Magec Tinto
Made with 100% Listan Negro, the wine has an intense cherry red color with violet tones. It's fantastic on its own, but truly shines at the dinner table. Delicious with antipasti, charcuterie, soft and firm cheeses, seafood, ham, and poultry this a truly versatile food wine.
Aroma: Complex with dark fruits, balsamic spices, and light smoky undertones. Mouth: Blackberry, black currant, black tea, peppercorns. Broad and persistent, juicy texture, balanced acidity, and great salinity. Ends with a satisfying finish.
Very Good Plus $25.99, Case $21,99
2022 Beau Vigne Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa-Style Class
This is one of the best values in Napa-style cabernet that we have tasted of late.
It spent 16 months in 100% French oak. It is as smooth as Caymus but with less obtrusive oak. It has a good depth of juicy fruit with a light underlying structure. It gets better with air and finishes dry.
We scrutinize gift horses in the mouth. This passed our taste test with flying colors.
What makes it special is that it has class and substance well above its price.
Aroma: light and fresh, herbal notes more pronounced than most, smooth with hints of cacao and black cherry; Mouth: clean, light on the attack, soft with a Napa-French style, sweet currant fruit, and fine tannins leading to a long finish; Very Good Plus, highly recommended at 23.99; Case price: $18.99
Spring Value Case two each of the wines $235, 19.58 a bottle
Or you can mix your own, any 12 at their case prices
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Please pass this on to any friends who are wine enthusiasts!
- Len Rothenberg
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