This may be one of the smallest QPR roundups I have done. The last one I did was in December of 2023, and that one had many more wines than this one. I will be having a follow-up QPR post to this one, but I wanted to get this one out now.

There are 26 total wines with 7 QPR WINNERS, so that is a good average to me. With this post, I will finally be caught up, though I have a bunch more wines to get through and more to come. That will lead us into the 9-Days, and I wish you all an easy, meaningful, and hopeful two weeks ahead.

QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Wines

It has been seven or so months since my last QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) post and many people have been emailing me about some unique wines I have tasted and some lovely wines that are worth writing about.

Thankfully, no matter how much garbage and pain I subject myself to, we are still blessed with several wonderful QPR wines out there.

We have a SOLID list of QPR WINNERS:

1. 2021 Shirah Pinot Meunier, Santa Maria, CA  – LOVELY and unique wine that should improve!
2. 2018 Golan Heights Winery Blanc de Blanc, Yarden, Galilee – the bubbles return!
3. 2022 Chateau Hauteville, Saint-Estephe – solid 2022 Bordeaux
4. 2020 Chateau La Tonnelle, Haut-Medoc – nice 2020
5. 2022 Dampt Freres Bourgogne, Bourgogne – a SOLID Burg without Burg pricing
6. 2020 Chateau Greysac, Medoc (M) – Nice Mevushal Bordeaux
7. 2022 Lovatelli Nebbiolo, Monferrato (M) – Nice Mevushal Italian red

There were also a few wines that were a slight step behind with a GREAT or GOOD QPR score:

1. 2021 Netofa Latour, Red, Galilee -Showing better than I had in Israel
2. 2022 Capcanes Peraj Ha’abib Pinot Noir, Catalunya – Not a great vintage
3. 2022 Chateau de Parsac, Montagne Saint-Emilion (M) – 2022 will be hit and miss for sure
4. 2022 Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico – Good enough just simple
5. 2022 Chateau Le Petit Chaban, Bordeaux (M) – Again 2022, hit and miss
6. 2022 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Reserve, Alexander Valley – off year for the Alex
7. 2020 Elvi Wines Herenza Crianza, Collection, Rioja (M) – The Mevushal version is nice enough
8. 2021 Pacifica Malbec, Washington – Nice but a bit too rough for me

There are a few wines that got a QPR Score of EVEN – meaning expensive or average:

1. 2021 Lovatelli Toscana Rosso, Tuscany – Solid wine just a bit overpriced for the quality
2. 2021 Cantina Giuliano Super Tuscan, Tuscany – This entire line disappointed me
3. 2022 Cantina Giuliano Cabernet Sauvignon, Tuscany – Same as above
4. 2021 Chateau Mayne Guyon, Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux (M) – 2021 Bordeaux – tough year

The others are essentially either OK wines that are too expensive, duds, or total failures:

1. 2023 Nana Grenache, Negev – Average wine for a crazy high price
2. 2020 Cantina Giuliano A Mano Cabernet Sauvignon, Tuscany – Expensive and poor
3. 2021 Cantina Giuliano Chianti, Tuscany  – poor quality
4. 2022 Capcanes Peraj Ha’abib, Montsant (M) – poor quality and expensive
5. 2021 Cantina Giuliano Merlot, Tuscany (M) – poor quality
6. 2021 Le Pletzl, Bordeaux (M) – poor quality
7. 2022 Herzog Pinot Noir, Lineage, Clarksburg, CA (M) – poor quality

Some things that made me stand up and take notice (AKA QPR WINNERS):

The real stunner here is the 2021 Shirah Pinot Meunier, Santa Maria, CA! I have posted already about how the 2021 vintage SAVED California. Sadly, that may have been short-lived, with the recent raft of vineyards being ripped up and wineries closing. Still, the 2021 vintage has been a boon for Cali after the horrific 2020 fires.

The 2021 Shirah Pinot Meunier has to be one of the most unique and wonderful wines I have had in a very long time. It is not quite a Pinot Noir and yet it is also captivating. Sim ply said, read the notes, and buy!

The 2016 vintage of the Golan Heights Winery Blanc de Blanc, Yarden was a miss, but that is fine, they are normal in the wine business. The 2018 returns the bubbly to its crown position as the QPR sparkling wine.

The 2022 Chateau Hauteville, Saint-Estephe continues the streak for this wine. It is another WINNER after how well the 2021 vintage showed and the 2020 before that.

The 2020 Chateau La Tonnelle, Haut-Medoc, is a return to its status. This vintage is nice.

The 2022 Dampt Freres Bourgogne is the answer we need for non-Burgundy-priced wines from Burgundy. It is 2022, so it is ripe, but it is balanced and refreshing, and in the end, that is what Burgundy MUST BE!

The 2020 Chateau Greysac, Medoc, is a solid option for those who want a simple but fun and refreshing Mevushal Bordeaux.

Finally, this wine surprised me, the 2022 Lovatelli Nebbiolo, Monferrato (M) came in under a fair amount of internet chatter. However, I found it refreshing and for a Mevushal wine – a solid showing.

I was UNIMPRESSED by Royal’s new import – Cantina Giuliano, all of the wines were a hard miss. The Lovatelli wines are either a miss or a hit. The 2021 Lovatelli Barbera d’Asti and the 2022 Lovatelli Nebbiolo are WINNER to me. The other Lovatelli are either hard misses or just OK, so far. Still, two hits for a new brand is a good average!

Other wines worth noting (AKA QPR GREAT or GOOD):

I tasted this wine in Israel blind and I found it less than desirable. This time the 2021 Netofa Latour, Red showed better.

I had hoped for the 2022 Capcanes Peraj Ha’abib Pinot Noir, Catalunya, but it did not have the refreshing approach that I needed.

The rest of this group is just good enough wines to get these QPR scores. The miss here is the 2022 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Reserve, Alexander Valley. It used to be that even vintages were the WINNER, but with 2021 things switched, 2021 was the WINNER vintage, and 2022 was a miss. Still a nice wine, but it lacks the refreshing aspect I expect.

Wines that are either good but too expensive or average (AKA EVEN):

As stated above, this post includes almost all the wines from Cantina Giuliano and in the end, for me, they lack balance, plain and simple. Two of the Lovatelli have that balance.

Wines that are either OK but far too expensive or bad wines (AKA POOR/BAD):

Not much here mostly poor-scoring wines. There are also, many duds to losers and I will just leave you to peruse the names and scores down below.

The wine notes follow below – the explanation of my “scores” can be found here and the explanation for QPR scores can be found here:

2021 Shirah Pinot Meunier, Santa Maria, CA – Score: 92.5 (QPR: WINNER)
This may well be the first time I have tasted the single varietal called Pinot Meunier. Of course, it is the grape used to make Champagne but I have never tasted a single varietal that I know of. How does Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier differ? Pinot Noir is leaner and richer, earthier, dirtier, all of what you crave from Pinot, Meunier is fruitier, ripens faster, grows in very hard areas, and colder regions, and has citrus notes that a truly unique! Bravo Weiss Brothers!
The nose of this wine is unique, yes I would have said this was Pinot Noir, sorry, this is new, tasted blind I would have also said it was a riper Pinot, and the citrus would have made me think of a blend, but I am really not sure. The nose is ripe, not candied, blunted a bit by the oak, with rich floral notes, yellow and jasmine, very unique, with oolong tea, orange/Meyer Lemon, like what! Followed by sweet oak, roasted meat, and rich red fruit. Bravo! The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is on point, showing great acidity, lovely cranberry, dark cherry, Cherry Cola, and hints of blueberry, this is one strange cat, with nice mouth-draping tannin, and yes, sweet orange. The finish is long, plus, almost round, but with great acidity, and sweet notes that carry this wine. Bravo!! Drink by 2027. (tasted July 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2018 Golan Heights Winery Blanc de Blanc, Yarden, Galilee – Score: 92 (QPR: WINNER)
The nose of this wine is new for me, orange is not a common note for a Yarden Bdb, but yeah, 2018 was a ripe year in Israel, and this is Chardonnay, so ripe fruit and bread! The nose of this wine is ripe, with orange peel, orange notes, orange blossom, yellow flower, yeast, brioche, apple, pear, and rich smoke. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is lovely, with ripe orange, intense grapefruit, pomelo, nice lemon/lime, and rich small bubble mousse, the attack is strong with intense acidity, brioche, baked apple, baked orange-pear pie, and nice sweet oak. The finish is incredibly long, ripe, bubbly, and fun, yet, I fear this is not a wine for long holding. Drink by 2027. (tasted June 2024) (in Teaneck, NJ) (ABV = 12%)

2022 Chateau Hauteville, Saint-Estephe – Score: 91+ (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The nose of this wine is nice with smoke, earth, dirt, and some green notes, followed by ripe black and red fruit, and minerality. The mouth of this medium-plus-bodied wine is nice, showing good acidity, nice mouth-draping tannin, dark cherry, dark plum, hints of blackberry, nice graphite, green notes, and good loam/dirt. The finish is long, dirty, and earthy, with some anise, pepper, graphite, smoke, and dirt. Drink by 2028. (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2020 Chateau La Tonnelle, Haut-Medoc – Score: 91+ (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. The nose of this wine shows nicely, it is bright, earthy, and smoky, with red fruit, tar, rosehip, and loam. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is really screaming with acidity, the tannin coats, and the fruit is focused, with good minerality, cherry, oak, raspberry, and cranberry. Nice! The mouth is refreshing and nice! The finish is long, and earthy, with a bit of green, tobacco, menthol, smoke, and graphite. Nice! Drink by 2027. (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2022 Dampt Freres Bourgogne, Red, Bourgogne – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
The wine shows a bit of excess SO2 in the bottle, leave it open for a bit, or just decant for an hour and it will be fine. This is a wine that works well for the 2022 vintage.
The nose of this wine is classic, showing green notes, with red fruits, showing the 2022 vintage with a bit of ripeness, but well-controlled, with mineral, smoke, dirt, ripe rose petals, dark pomegranate, and nice loam. The empty glass test may scare some, but relax, this is built for time and structured well.
The mouth on this medium-bodied wine is solid, wine for those who want reasonably-priced kosher red Burgundy, showing great acidity, followed by an impressive mouth-draping and almost mouth-drying tannin structure, plush mouthfeel as well, with currants, cherry, rich dark plum, loam, lovely rosehip, rose petals, good texture, and fruit-focus, nice!
The finish is long, with nice foliage, freshly roasted coffee beans, great acidity, nice minerality, saline, iron, graphite, and more petals and smoke. Lovely! Drink until 2028. (tasted March 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 12.5%)

2020 Chateau Greysac, Medoc (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
This wine is a blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. The nose of this wine is nice, with red fruit, dirt, some minerality, and smoke. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is lovely, showing great acidity, red fruit galore, cherry, cranberry, plum, earth, smoke, and graphite, with enough tannin. The finish is long with good acidity, nice tannin, a bit chunky but nice, and nice graphite. Solid Winner! Drink by 2027 (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)

2022 Lovatelli Nebbiolo, Monferrato (M) – Score: 91 (QPR: WINNER)
To start the wine tastes unidimensional and a bit Mevushal, with cherry, herbal, and floral notes. The mouth of this light to medium-bodied wine is shockingly transparent, tasted blind I am sure many would say it is Pinot Noir, with good acidity, cherry, raspberry, cooked notes, some tannin, and green notes. With time, the wine opens, the cooked notes go away and the wine shows nicely, with good draping tannin, and rich acidity, some may say it is a bit too simple, but to me, the acidity, tannin, red fruit, structure, and refreshing aspect of it, where when tasting it I want to swallow it tells me this is a QPR WINNER! Enjoy, the sad fact is you need to decant it hard for 2 hours now before enjoying. I cannot say how long this will last as it is Mevushal and I have no track record with this wine. So, for me, decant and enjoy until 2026. (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2021 Netofa Latour, Red, Galilee – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
This is the 2nd time I am trying this wine. The first time, I tasted it blind, in Jerusalem, and it showed poorly. This time, it showed far better. The nose of this wine shows nicely, with nice root beer, tar, oolong tea, hints of potpourri, and rose hip. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice enough, it has good acidity, not as complex as I wish, with good strawberry, raspberry, smoke, root beer, tar, and smoke, wrapped in good mouth-draping tannin. The finish is short, elegant, smoky, dirty, and ripe, with more root beer, smoke, and dirt. Nice. Drink now. (tasted June 2024) (in Bayonne, NJ) (ABV = 14%)

2022 Capcanes Peraj Ha’abib Pinot Noir, Catalunya – Score: 90 (QPR: GREAT)
The 2021 vintage felt like Pinot Noir from the start, This vintage feels like the 2015 with a hint of Pinot Noir. I want to like it, but at the opening, I can see why so many just throw up their hands and walk away. The nose of this is ripe, nostril burning ripe, notes of blue and red fruit, hints of figs and date, yes I said it, with really nothing else at this moment. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, the acidity is the real saving factor here, with intense gripping tannin, and nice saline, but it is the fruit that is over the top, blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, rhubarb, and pomegranate. I cannot drink this wine, I may want to, but it lacks that “refreshing” need I have. The finish is nice, with dirt, earth, and fruit, that feels more controlled, and almost refreshing with red fruit, tart cranberry, tart cherry, and smoke. Drink by 2028. (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13.5%)

2022 Chateau de Parsac, Montagne Saint-Emilion (M) – Score: 88 (QPR: GREAT)
The wine starts ripe and tinny, which is a strange combination, but that changes with some time With time, the nose of this wine shows a bit better, sti with tinny/green notes, but also with ripe berry, anise, sweet dill, and iron. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is OK, it is too fruit-forward for me, almost Beaujolais-like with intense banana, raspberry, plum, and cherry, showing some nice acidity and green notes. The finish is okay, with spice, ripe fruit, green notes, and sweet herbs. Drink by 2027. (tasted July 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2022 Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico – Score: 88 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is lovely, herbal, Floral, and ripe but balanced, with good menthol. red fruit and loam. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is simple, nice, and maybe a bit too round, with nice tannin, mushroom, loam, cherry, and plum. Drink now. (tasted February 2024) (in San Jose, CA & KFWE, NJ) (ABV = 14.5%)

2022 Chateau Le Petit Chaban, Bordeaux (M) – Score: 86 (QPR: GREAT)
The nose of this wine is lovely, a bit simple, but nice, with red fruit, smoke, loam, hints of milk chocolate, and tar. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice for such a wine, it lacks the complexity to make it a QPR WINNER, but overall a very nice wine for simple pasta and chicken, with good acidity, green notes, raspberry, nice tannin, and smoke. The finish is long, with some minerality, smoke, and more dirt. Drink now. (tasted June 2024) (in Bayonne, NJ) (ABV = 13.5%)

2022 Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Reserve, Alexander Valley, Alexander Valley, CA (M) – Score: 90 (QPR: GOOD)
The 2021 vintage had the same ABV but this wine is fat, hot, alcoholic, and showing too much sweet oak, sweet dill, and ripe fruit. The nose of this wine is ripe, too much for me, followed by alcoholic notes, and overpowering sweet dill, sweet oak, smoke, and ripe fruit, candied red and black fruit, hints of blueberry, anise, and tar. Wow, this stuff is over the top! The mouth of this full-bodied wine is too much for me, it has the acidity, but it lacks the balance I crave, the blackberry, plum, cassis, candied blueberry, intense sweet ak, sweet dill, cloying fruit, with fierce heat/alcohol, wrapped in some nice tannin. The finish is long, intense, and fiery with alcohol, sweet dill, sweet tobacco, milk chocolate, and more heat. This may come around, but I cannot like it for now. Drink until 2030. (tasted July 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2020 Elvi Wines Herenza Crianza, Collection, Rioja (M) – Score: 88 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is nice, with American oak, sweet raspberry, cherry, and smoke.
The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice, not showing the mevushal process anymore, with nice acidity, but the fruit is restrained, showing cherry, more American oak, and nice tannin. The finish is long, acidic, and balanced. Drink now! (tasted June 2024) (in Bayonne, NJ) (ABV = 13.5%)

2021 Lovatelli Toscana Rosso, Tuscany – Score: 88 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is too floral, showing intense potpourri, intense red fruit, smoke, earth, saline, and soy sauce. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is nice, it needs time to open, but it still feels very unidimensional, and simple, with green notes, herbs, garrigue, sour cherry, strawberry, intense potpourri, and mineral. The finish is medium-length with enough acidity, minerality, graphite, rosehip, and candied sour cherry lingering. Drink by 2027. (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14%)

2021 Pacifica Malbec, Washington – Score: 87 (QPR: GOOD)
The nose of this wine is intense and ripe but controlled with great intense smoke, tar, and rich black and blue fruit.
The mouth of this full-bodied Malbec is nice with good acidity, plum, cherry, blueberry, and rich tannin, mouth draping but a bit short. dirty, earthy, and smoky. Drink by 2025 (tasted February 2024) (in KFWE, NJ) (ABV = 14%)

2021 Cantina Giuliano Super Tuscan, Tuscany – Score: 85 (QPR: EVEN)
This wine is ripe, the nose is ripe with candied notes, cassis, sweet herbs, sour cherry, boysenberry, minerality, and bright fruit. The mouth of this full-bodied wine is ripe, too much for me, and the acidity is nice, but at 15% ABV, there is almost no hope, throw on liqueur-style fruit and it is over the top, with candied plum, boysenberry, blackberry, sweet oak, all wrapped in sweet tannin. The acidity is there but the approach is over the top. The finish is too much and the wine lacks refreshment or the desire to drink more. Drink by 2027. (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15%)

2021 Cantina Giuliano Cabernet Sauvignon, Tuscany – Score: 84 (QPR: EVEN)
This wine may not be cooked but it is unbalanced and overripe, with candied fruit, date, and smoke. The mouth is candied and unenjoyable and not refreshing at all with cloying notes of liqueur, candied plum, and anise. There is some acidity but it cannot fix that cloying fruit. Drink now! (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2021 Chateau Mayne Guyon, Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux (M) – Score: 83 (QPR: EVEN)
The nose of this wine shows like a 2022 or a 2020 vintage, with good minerality, smoke, green notes, and red fruit. No tinny notes and no jalapeno notes. The mouth of this wine is a bit too simple, and empty in a way, the mouth is ok, with good acidity, good raspberry, smoke, and earth. The finish is short and feels a bit empty with little tannin. Drink now! (tasted June 2024) (in Bayonne, NJ) (ABV = 12.5%)

2023 Nana Grenache, Negev – Score: 86 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is classic simple wine with strawberry, green notes, smoke, and fruity notes galore. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is simple, with good acidity, ripe strawberry, and more fruity notes. A simple wine that should be served chilled. The finish is good enough, with more acidity, and not much else. A good simple wine for the pool, the price here is the issue. Drink now. (tasted June 2024) (in Bayonne, NJ) (ABV = 13%)

2020 Cantina Giuliano A Mano Cabernet Sauvignon, Tuscany – Score: 84 (QPR: POOR)
This wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Cabernet Franc. The nose of this wine is over-aggressive, overripe, and all over the place. The mouth of this full-bodied and over-the-top wine is aggressive but what it lacks is acidity, and the fruit is overpowering, showing plum, blackberry, sweet fruit liqueur, and messy overall. some will like it. Drink by 2027. (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 15.5%)

2021 Cantina Giuliano Chianti, Tuscany – Score: 82 (QPR: POOR)
This wine feels and tastes cooked, the fruit is over the top, candied, with some nice salinity, cloying cooked rosehip, and smoke. The acidity is barely there, no thanks! (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2022 Capcanes Peraj Ha’abib, Montsant (M) – Score: 82 (QPR: POOR)
The nose of this wine is ripe, candied, bordering on date, with black and blue fruit, smoke, and sweet herbs. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is too ripe for me, smoky, dirty, and bordering on date juice. The acidity is ok as is the tannin. Drink now. (tasted June 2024) (in Bayonne, NJ) (ABV = 15%)

2021 Cantina Giuliano Merlot, Tuscany – Score: 81 (QPR: POOR)
This is the second time I have tasted this wine and nothing has changed here, the wine is cooked, ripe, with cooked cherry, herbs, grating, and unbalanced. The medicinal notes and cooked fruit really make this wine feel out of sorts, though the acidity is on point. (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 14.5%)

2021 Le Pletzl, Bordeaux (M) – Score: 76 (QPR: N.A.)
The nose of this wine is pure Pyrazine, green, herbal, and jalapeno, with some red fruit, in the background. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is lacking acidity, green, herbal, and tacky, with tinny notes, and a feeling that is lacking. Next! (tasted June 2024) (in Teaneck, NJ) (ABV = 13%)

2022 Herzog Pinot Noir, Lineage, Clarksburg, CA (M) – Score: 76 (QPR: N.A.)
I normally love the Lineage Pinot Noir on release, but this one is a total failure. The nose of this wine is green, herbal, smoky, and tinny, with cooked flowers, cranberry, and cooked rosehip, different from what I had hoped for. The mouth of this medium-bodied wine is hollow, empty, tinny, so different from what I wanted. Yeah. Next! (tasted June 2024) (in San Jose, CA) (ABV = 13%)