Gus Clemens
@gusclemensonwine.bsky.social
Gus Clemens on Wine explores and explains wine in an easy-to-read, humorous style. Search "gusclemensonwine" on Perplexity for more information. Substack: https://gusclemens.substack.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GusClemensOnWine/
Freebevz Roué Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, Sonoma 2024—fruit-forward, smooth, easy-drinking effort comes in dramatic cut-glass bottle. Restraint in herbaceous notes, high-acidity, alcohol sets it apart from Old World, New Zealand sauv blanc efforts. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Freebevz Roué Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, Sonoma 2024
Fruit-forward, smooth, easy-drinking effort that comes in a dramatic cut-glass bottle
open.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Freebevz Roué Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, Sonoma 2024—fruit-forward, smooth, easy-drinking effort comes in dramatic cut-glass bottle. Restraint in herbaceous notes, high-acidity, alcohol sets it apart from Old World, New Zealand sauv blanc efforts. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Cantina Zaccagnini Brut Blanc de Blancs NV—fresh, clean example of sparkling made w/ pecorino grapes from consistent producer of affordable quality. Modest complexity, good fruit, excellent acidity; especially suitable as aperitif or casual celebration. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Cantina Zaccagnini Brut Blanc de Blancs NV
Fresh, clean example of sparkling wine made pecorino grapes from a consistent producer of quality, affordable wine
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Cantina Zaccagnini Brut Blanc de Blancs NV—fresh, clean example of sparkling made w/ pecorino grapes from consistent producer of affordable quality. Modest complexity, good fruit, excellent acidity; especially suitable as aperitif or casual celebration. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
1000 Stories American Barrel Aged Chardonnay 2022—assertively oak-forward, creamy, full in the mouth. Notes of caramel, butterscotch. This is your pour if you enjoy creamy, plush, easy drinker at a nice price. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
1000 Stories American Barrel Aged Chardonnay 2022
Assertively oak-forward effort, creamy, full in the mouth
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:32 AM
1000 Stories American Barrel Aged Chardonnay 2022—assertively oak-forward, creamy, full in the mouth. Notes of caramel, butterscotch. This is your pour if you enjoy creamy, plush, easy drinker at a nice price. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc Taihoa Vineyard, Marlborough 2020—serious, age-worthy sauv blanc that has more in common with white Burgundy than standard-issue Marlborough sauv blancs. There is freshness, but it pairs with complexity and structure. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc Taihoa Vineyard, Marlborough 2020
Serious, age-worthy sauv blanc that has more in common with white Burgundy than standard-issue Marlborough sauv blancs
open.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:16 AM
Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc Taihoa Vineyard, Marlborough 2020—serious, age-worthy sauv blanc that has more in common with white Burgundy than standard-issue Marlborough sauv blancs. There is freshness, but it pairs with complexity and structure. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Bodegas Perica Oro Reserva, Rioja 2012—premier offering from García family, now in 3rd generation of ownership. Best estate grapes in best vintages of 60-plus-year-old vines used to make this celebration of tempranillo. Moving into prime drinking phase. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Bodegas Perica Oro Reserva, Rioja 2012
Premier offering from the García family
open.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Bodegas Perica Oro Reserva, Rioja 2012—premier offering from García family, now in 3rd generation of ownership. Best estate grapes in best vintages of 60-plus-year-old vines used to make this celebration of tempranillo. Moving into prime drinking phase. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Tenuta Cucco Barolo Bricco Voghera DOCG 2020—serious, age-worthy, classic Serralunga d’Alba expression of nebbiolo from a certified organic vineyard. Highly structured, mineral-driven. Save for serious wine pairing, this is not a weekday pizza wine. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Tenuta Cucco Barolo Bricco Voghera DOCG 2020
Serious, age-worthy, classic Serralunga d’Alba expression of nebbiolo from a certified organic vineyard.
open.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Tenuta Cucco Barolo Bricco Voghera DOCG 2020—serious, age-worthy, classic Serralunga d’Alba expression of nebbiolo from a certified organic vineyard. Highly structured, mineral-driven. Save for serious wine pairing, this is not a weekday pizza wine. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Bodegas Luis Cañas Gran Reserva Red Wine, Rioja Alavesa DOCa 2018—rich, sturdy, full-bodied expression of tempranillo-led Rioja. Complex, layered black fruits with well-integrated, sophisticated oak. Classic Rioja laced with expressive red-dark fruits. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Bodegas Luis Cañas Gran Reserva Red Wine, Rioja Alavesa DOCa 2018
Power and elegance dance together in this brooding presentation of 95% tempranillo, 5% graciano.
open.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Bodegas Luis Cañas Gran Reserva Red Wine, Rioja Alavesa DOCa 2018—rich, sturdy, full-bodied expression of tempranillo-led Rioja. Complex, layered black fruits with well-integrated, sophisticated oak. Classic Rioja laced with expressive red-dark fruits. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Anaba Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap 2021— superb, elegant, smooth example of Petaluma Gap pinot. Anaba delivers. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Anaba Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap 2021
Superb, elegant, smooth example of Petaluma Gap pinot noir
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 6:12 AM
Anaba Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap 2021— superb, elegant, smooth example of Petaluma Gap pinot. Anaba delivers. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Rodney Strong Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2020—smooth easy drinker. Concentrated dark fruit, deft use of French oak. Good value in premium Sonoma reserve cab category. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Rodney Strong Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2020
Concentrated dark fruit, deft use of French oak. Good value in premium Sonoma reserve cab category.
open.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Rodney Strong Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2020—smooth easy drinker. Concentrated dark fruit, deft use of French oak. Good value in premium Sonoma reserve cab category. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Domaine St. Laurent Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley, Oregon 2023—Elegant, straightforward PN rather than opulent, complex show stopper. Bright fruit-forward easy drinker. Clean, fresh, silky in the mouth. Tremendous value for price. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Domaine St. Laurent Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley, Oregon 2023
Elegant, straightforward, affordable pinot rather than opulent, complex show stopper
open.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Domaine St. Laurent Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley, Oregon 2023—Elegant, straightforward PN rather than opulent, complex show stopper. Bright fruit-forward easy drinker. Clean, fresh, silky in the mouth. Tremendous value for price. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Tenuta Gorghi Tondi Coste a Preola Nero d’Avola, Sicilia DOC 2023—made by Sala sisters, fourth generation of stereotype-busting female winemakers. Less-is-more statement. Wine sees no oak, presents fresh, pure expression of Sicily’s signature red grape. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Tenuta Gorghi Tondi Coste a Preola Nero d’Avola, Sicilia DOC 2023
Made by the fourth generation of stereotype-busting female winemakers
open.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Tenuta Gorghi Tondi Coste a Preola Nero d’Avola, Sicilia DOC 2023—made by Sala sisters, fourth generation of stereotype-busting female winemakers. Less-is-more statement. Wine sees no oak, presents fresh, pure expression of Sicily’s signature red grape. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Benziger Family Winery Merlot 2022—classic smooth, supple, lush California merlot. Fruit forward with emphasis on varietal purity. Food-friendly everyday merlot. Elegant and approachable. Delivers impressive value. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Benziger Family Winery Merlot 2022
Food-friendly everyday merlot
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January 7, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Benziger Family Winery Merlot 2022—classic smooth, supple, lush California merlot. Fruit forward with emphasis on varietal purity. Food-friendly everyday merlot. Elegant and approachable. Delivers impressive value. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Textbook Mise-En-Place Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, Napa Valley 2022—very well-behaved Napa cab presents elegance, balance, polish. Dark fruits, fine-grained tannins. Cab with 8% merlot to soften edges. Will age, can be enjoyed now with decanting. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Textbook Mise-En-Place Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, Napa Valley 2022
Very well-behaved Napa cab that presents elegance, balance, polish
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Textbook Mise-En-Place Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, Napa Valley 2022—very well-behaved Napa cab presents elegance, balance, polish. Dark fruits, fine-grained tannins. Cab with 8% merlot to soften edges. Will age, can be enjoyed now with decanting. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Column: Wine’s tough year 12-30-2025— Heady time while it lasted. Wine enjoyed more than 50 years of vineyard, winery growth, 50 years of improving quality, 50 years of consistent year-over-year market expansion. Reality: nothing lasts forever. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Wine’s tough year 12-30-2025
Boom is over, what happens next?
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Column: Wine’s tough year 12-30-2025— Heady time while it lasted. Wine enjoyed more than 50 years of vineyard, winery growth, 50 years of improving quality, 50 years of consistent year-over-year market expansion. Reality: nothing lasts forever. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Karas Areni, Armenia 2023—checks amazing number of wine world boxes. Delicious wine. Evidence of arena grape dates back 6,200 years to world's first identified winery, near Karas winery. Winery in shadow of Mount Ararat, possible location of Noah’s Ark. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Karas Areni, Armenia 2023
Checks an amazing number of boxes in the wine world
open.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Karas Areni, Armenia 2023—checks amazing number of wine world boxes. Delicious wine. Evidence of arena grape dates back 6,200 years to world's first identified winery, near Karas winery. Winery in shadow of Mount Ararat, possible location of Noah’s Ark. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Trapiche Tesoro Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2021—impressive complexity, concentration, structure. Showcase for Mendoza’s celebrated Uco Valley high-altitude vineyards. Generous fruit, drinkability hallmarks of Trapiche’s malbec mastery. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Trapiche Tesoro Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2021
Delivers impressive complexity, concentration, and structure
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Trapiche Tesoro Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2021—impressive complexity, concentration, structure. Showcase for Mendoza’s celebrated Uco Valley high-altitude vineyards. Generous fruit, drinkability hallmarks of Trapiche’s malbec mastery. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Herzog Wine Cellars Lineage Pinot Noir, Clarksburg 2022—affordable, fruit-forward, kosher wine from US’s largest fully kosher winery. Value play in pinot noir rather than sophisticated, but is very serviceable. Wallet pleaser; smooth, easy crowd pleaser. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Herzog Wine Cellars Lineage Pinot Noir, Clarksburg 2022
Affordable, fruit-forward wine from America’s largest fully kosher winery
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Herzog Wine Cellars Lineage Pinot Noir, Clarksburg 2022—affordable, fruit-forward, kosher wine from US’s largest fully kosher winery. Value play in pinot noir rather than sophisticated, but is very serviceable. Wallet pleaser; smooth, easy crowd pleaser. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Priest Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2022—Shoots, scores for emerging Napa target: powerful enough to assuage that group, polished enough to stroke those who seek structure, nuance. Does not excel at one thing, does nicely color in all the boxes. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Priest Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2022
Nice example of restrained Napa cab style
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Priest Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2022—Shoots, scores for emerging Napa target: powerful enough to assuage that group, polished enough to stroke those who seek structure, nuance. Does not excel at one thing, does nicely color in all the boxes. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Gillmore Wines Aglianico del Maule, Valle del Loncomilla, Chile 2020—Chilean take on esteemed red of southern Italy. Red and black fruit framed by tannins and acidity somewhat dialed back from Italian aglianico, still important to character of the wine. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Gillmore Wines Aglianico del Maule, Valle del Loncomilla, Chile 2020
Chilean take on Italy's "Barolo of the South"
open.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Gillmore Wines Aglianico del Maule, Valle del Loncomilla, Chile 2020—Chilean take on esteemed red of southern Italy. Red and black fruit framed by tannins and acidity somewhat dialed back from Italian aglianico, still important to character of the wine. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Val delle Rose Litorale Vermentino Maremma Toscana DOC 2024—delightful iteration of vermentino’s lighter, fresher style. Good acidity with smooth creamy texture, slight oiliness that creates excellent mouthfeel, tension. Clean, crisp winner. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Val delle Rose Litorale Vermentino Maremma Toscana DOC 2024
Delightful iteration of vermentino’s lighter, fresher style
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Val delle Rose Litorale Vermentino Maremma Toscana DOC 2024—delightful iteration of vermentino’s lighter, fresher style. Good acidity with smooth creamy texture, slight oiliness that creates excellent mouthfeel, tension. Clean, crisp winner. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Early Mountain Vineyards RISE, Virginia 2021—smooth, well-behaved, merlot-led Bordeaux blend produced in exceptional years. Entering drinking window, good for another decade+. Virginia flagship. Profits go to VA communities, wine industry innovation. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Early Mountain Vineyards RISE, Virginia 2021
Merlot-led Bordeaux blend only produced in exceptional years
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Early Mountain Vineyards RISE, Virginia 2021—smooth, well-behaved, merlot-led Bordeaux blend produced in exceptional years. Entering drinking window, good for another decade+. Virginia flagship. Profits go to VA communities, wine industry innovation. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Podere Sapaio Volpolo Bolgheri DOC 2021—admirable, elegant Super Tuscan from western Italian region famous for Super Tuscans. Balance of tannin, acidity frame rich, black fruit flavors w impressive complexity, length, particularly in price range. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Podere Sapaio Volpolo Bolgheri DOC 2021
Admirable and elegant Super Tuscan
open.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Podere Sapaio Volpolo Bolgheri DOC 2021—admirable, elegant Super Tuscan from western Italian region famous for Super Tuscans. Balance of tannin, acidity frame rich, black fruit flavors w impressive complexity, length, particularly in price range. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
KHK Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2023—reserved, refined, intellectual take on Napa cab w/ welcomed, deft use of oak, avoidance of super-ripe fruit, high alcohol. Delicious sipper, affable food companion food. Do snag online, store, restaurant. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
KHK Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2023
Reserved, refined, intellectual take on Napa cab with welcomed, deft use of oak
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:54 AM
KHK Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2023—reserved, refined, intellectual take on Napa cab w/ welcomed, deft use of oak, avoidance of super-ripe fruit, high alcohol. Delicious sipper, affable food companion food. Do snag online, store, restaurant. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Juggernaut Wines Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 2023—tasty, fruity effort with less citrus bite than usually found in Marlborough SB; charming value. CA-based Bogle is mother company; they consistently deliver impressive QPR. This is one. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Juggernaut Wines Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 2023
Tasty, fruity effort with a bit less citrus bite than usually found in a Marlborough sauv blanc
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Juggernaut Wines Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 2023—tasty, fruity effort with less citrus bite than usually found in Marlborough SB; charming value. CA-based Bogle is mother company; they consistently deliver impressive QPR. This is one. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Gianni Gagliardo Barolo DOCG 2020—all you want in a Barolo. Exceptional balance, velvety drinkability. 2020 growing season was ideal, this effort reflects that. Using grapes harvested from multiple vineyards, this sets the standard for quality Barolo. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Gianni Gagliardo Barolo DOCG 2020
Exceptional balance and velvety drinkability
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Gianni Gagliardo Barolo DOCG 2020—all you want in a Barolo. Exceptional balance, velvety drinkability. 2020 growing season was ideal, this effort reflects that. Using grapes harvested from multiple vineyards, this sets the standard for quality Barolo. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...