Mini-reviews 152: The night before Christmas Eve Edition

Reviews of wines that don’t need their own post, but are worth noting for one reason or another. This month, a day early because of Christmas.

• Cline Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($14, purchased, 14%): I’m not sure what this tastes like (Italian pinot grigio, maybe?), but it certainly doesn’t taste like California sauvignon blanc. Plus, the higher alcohol is noticeable and the bottle is way too heavy — 22 ounces, or about one-third more than it needs to be. And Cline was once a top-notch $10 wine producer.

• Ricardo Santos El Malbec 2019 ($20, sample, 13.5%): Interesting approach to Argentine malbec — some oak, some spice, much less fruity and made to age, more in the style of Bordeaux. Imported by Global Vineyard Importers

• Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($30, sample, 13.3%): This, I suppose, is what passes for entry-level Napa cabernet these days. Professionally made, hitting all the notes it’s supposed to hit (rich, dark berries, some oak, some spice, leaning toward fruit over acid and tannins), and made with quality grapes. But a value? Only if you really like Napa cabernet.

• Satellite Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($13, purchased, 13$): New Zealand white is the second label from highly-regarded Spy Valley, and it sits about halfway between that and all those supermarket “Bay” sauvignon blancs. That means less overtly grapefruit, but still citrusy, but a little softer and more tropical in the middle. Imported by Broadbent Wines

Photo: “Rudolph the Wine Holder” by edenpictures is licensed under CC BY 2.0