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/
Rocca delle Macie Famiglia Zingarelli Chianti Classico DOCG 2022—competent, graceful, juicy, fruity, simple Chianti Classico that will not disappoint. A very serviceable table wine for casual quaffing, especially with Italian food. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Rocca delle Macie Famiglia Zingarelli Chianti Classico DOCG 2022
Rocca delle Macie Famiglia Zingarelli Chianti Classico DOCG 2022
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November 16, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Rocca delle Macie Famiglia Zingarelli Chianti Classico DOCG 2022—competent, graceful, juicy, fruity, simple Chianti Classico that will not disappoint. A very serviceable table wine for casual quaffing, especially with Italian food. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Serego Alighieri Possessioni Rosso Verona 2020—polished black-fruit forward w/ savory nuances. Chalky, fine-grained tannins play well with appropriate acidity. Some admirable depth, weight at this price point. Easy choice for a rich, solid wine. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Serego Alighieri Possessioni Rosso Verona 2020
Easy choice for a rich, solid wine; genuine value
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November 13, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Serego Alighieri Possessioni Rosso Verona 2020—polished black-fruit forward w/ savory nuances. Chalky, fine-grained tannins play well with appropriate acidity. Some admirable depth, weight at this price point. Easy choice for a rich, solid wine. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Early Mountain Petit Manseng, Virginia 2022—tasty, energetic product of Virginia’s signature white grape. Delivers tropical richness, electric acidity, silky mouthfeel. Savory depth, complexity, due to winery’s unique perpetual lees barrel technique. gusclemens.substack.com/p/early-moun...
November 12, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Early Mountain Petit Manseng, Virginia 2022—tasty, energetic product of Virginia’s signature white grape. Delivers tropical richness, electric acidity, silky mouthfeel. Savory depth, complexity, due to winery’s unique perpetual lees barrel technique. gusclemens.substack.com/p/early-moun...
Stéphane Ogier Le Temps est Venu, Côtes du Rhône 2020—affordable, harmonious effort drinks like a Gigondas rather than standard Côtes du Rhône Villages wine. Overdelivers, round, seamless, smooth, succulent, elegantly delicious. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Stéphane Ogier Le Temps est Venu, Côtes du Rhône 2020
Affordable, harmonious effort that drinks like a Gigondas rather than standard Côtes du Rhône Villages wine
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November 10, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Stéphane Ogier Le Temps est Venu, Côtes du Rhône 2020—affordable, harmonious effort drinks like a Gigondas rather than standard Côtes du Rhône Villages wine. Overdelivers, round, seamless, smooth, succulent, elegantly delicious. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Stoller Family Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2022—rich, elegant charmer, lingering finish, polished, refined fruit, excellent balance. Why Willamette Valley is in conversation as some of world’s premier pinots, especially at this price point. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Stoller Family Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2022
Rich, elegant charmer with lingering finish, polished, refined fruit
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November 8, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Stoller Family Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2022—rich, elegant charmer, lingering finish, polished, refined fruit, excellent balance. Why Willamette Valley is in conversation as some of world’s premier pinots, especially at this price point. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
El Capricho Aguará Special Reserve Tannat 2018—Signature grape of Uruguay, demonstrates it can be more than massively tannic brute reserved only for grilled meats. Black fruits galore. French oak rounded edges, infused supple element into powerful frame. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
El Capricho Aguará Special Reserve Tannat 2018
Quality bottle of Uruguay's signature grape
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November 6, 2025 at 7:40 AM
El Capricho Aguará Special Reserve Tannat 2018—Signature grape of Uruguay, demonstrates it can be more than massively tannic brute reserved only for grilled meats. Black fruits galore. French oak rounded edges, infused supple element into powerful frame. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
W. & J. Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Porto—Thick, luscious, balanced, complex, focused, immensely attractive. Liquid equivalent of a brandy-soaked fruitcake. Dense, layered, polished, sublimely joyous experience. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
W. & J. Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Porto
Dense, layered, polished, sublimely joyous experience
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November 1, 2025 at 3:37 AM
W. & J. Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Porto—Thick, luscious, balanced, complex, focused, immensely attractive. Liquid equivalent of a brandy-soaked fruitcake. Dense, layered, polished, sublimely joyous experience. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Chehalem Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Laurelwood District, Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2023—impressive; Oregon's 2023 vintage called “vintage of the decade.” Excellent Oregon pinot noir at reasonable price for this quality. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
October 31, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Chehalem Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Laurelwood District, Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2023—impressive; Oregon's 2023 vintage called “vintage of the decade.” Excellent Oregon pinot noir at reasonable price for this quality. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Acrobat Pinot Gris, Oregon 2022—tasty easy drinker. Excellent every day to complete lighter fare, seafood, solo sipping when you wind/wine down. Good for mixed group getting into wine. Let companionship, food carry load. Amazingly versatile, superb price open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Acrobat Pinot Gris, Oregon 2022
Amazingly versatile wine and superb price
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October 30, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Acrobat Pinot Gris, Oregon 2022—tasty easy drinker. Excellent every day to complete lighter fare, seafood, solo sipping when you wind/wine down. Good for mixed group getting into wine. Let companionship, food carry load. Amazingly versatile, superb price open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Brassfield Estate Winery Pinot Noir, High Valley Appellation 2022—compelling high elevation, cool-climate, fruit-forward. Elegant, clean, lean structure. Stylish presentation of High Valley AVA fruit punches above its affordable price point. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Brassfield Estate Winery Pinot Noir, High Valley Appellation 2022
Elegant, clean, lean structure
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October 26, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Brassfield Estate Winery Pinot Noir, High Valley Appellation 2022—compelling high elevation, cool-climate, fruit-forward. Elegant, clean, lean structure. Stylish presentation of High Valley AVA fruit punches above its affordable price point. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Gabriel Meffre “Saint-Nicolas” Côtes du Rhône 2023—Unoaked, full malolactic conversion generously presents darker fruit with amiable tannins and acidity. Honest, well-crafted. Easy on palate and pocketbook. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Gabriel Meffre “Saint-Nicolas” Côtes du Rhône 2023
Elegant, tasty wine at a reasonable price
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October 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Gabriel Meffre “Saint-Nicolas” Côtes du Rhône 2023—Unoaked, full malolactic conversion generously presents darker fruit with amiable tannins and acidity. Honest, well-crafted. Easy on palate and pocketbook. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Goose Ridge Vineyards g3 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2023—Splits difference between unoaked chard and over-the-top fruit-butter-oak styles. Fans of both could find something to enjoy. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Goose Ridge Vineyards g3 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2023
Splits difference between unoaked chard and over-the-top fruit-butter-oak styles
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October 23, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Goose Ridge Vineyards g3 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2023—Splits difference between unoaked chard and over-the-top fruit-butter-oak styles. Fans of both could find something to enjoy. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Funckenhausen Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza 2022—simple, straightforward value buy—and nicely fills that niche. You get dark fruits and reserved tannins and acidity. Inoffensive effort, a notch above supermarket boxed cab and comes in one-liter bottle. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Funckenhausen Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza 2022
Definitely works as a second bottle or as party pour
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October 20, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Funckenhausen Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza 2022—simple, straightforward value buy—and nicely fills that niche. You get dark fruits and reserved tannins and acidity. Inoffensive effort, a notch above supermarket boxed cab and comes in one-liter bottle. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Bernardus Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County 2023—fruit-forward expression of pure cool-climate Santa Lucia Highlands PN. Clean, fresh, refined, harmonious marriage of structure, elegance with emphasis on fruit rather than oak or alcohol. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Bernardus Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County 2023
Fruit-forward expression of pure cool-climate Santa Lucia Highlands pinot noir
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October 18, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Bernardus Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County 2023—fruit-forward expression of pure cool-climate Santa Lucia Highlands PN. Clean, fresh, refined, harmonious marriage of structure, elegance with emphasis on fruit rather than oak or alcohol. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2020—outstanding high-end Napa cab with black fruit deliciousness, depth, and ageability. Just entering its drinking window in 2025, decant or hold for next couple of years. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
October 18, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2020—outstanding high-end Napa cab with black fruit deliciousness, depth, and ageability. Just entering its drinking window in 2025, decant or hold for next couple of years. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Chemistry Pinot Noir, Oregon 2023—Textbook expression of Oregon PN, punches well above it modest—for this quality—price point. Chemistry promises minimal intervention to showcase the region’s excellent fruit. This more than delivers on that promise. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Chemistry Pinot Noir, Oregon 2023
Textbook expression of Oregon pinot noir, punches well above it modest—for this quality—price point.
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October 17, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Chemistry Pinot Noir, Oregon 2023—Textbook expression of Oregon PN, punches well above it modest—for this quality—price point. Chemistry promises minimal intervention to showcase the region’s excellent fruit. This more than delivers on that promise. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
La Crema Pinot Gris, Monterey 2021—baked apple, Meyer lemon, tropical fruit framed by sleek, mouth-watering acidity. Candied ginger, sea spray minerality support finish. Ripe fruitiness, time on lees stirs in illusion of sweetness, admirable complexity. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
La Crema Pinot Gris, Monterey 2021
Admirable complexity at this price point
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October 15, 2025 at 11:10 PM
La Crema Pinot Gris, Monterey 2021—baked apple, Meyer lemon, tropical fruit framed by sleek, mouth-watering acidity. Candied ginger, sea spray minerality support finish. Ripe fruitiness, time on lees stirs in illusion of sweetness, admirable complexity. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
McGrail Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley 2020—richness, black fruit, full body, polished, long supple finish, powerhouse from testy 2020 vintage. Good structure, complexity, dark fruit parade. Well priced for wine of this caliber. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
McGrail Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley 2020
Well priced for a wine of this caliber
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October 14, 2025 at 12:06 AM
McGrail Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley 2020—richness, black fruit, full body, polished, long supple finish, powerhouse from testy 2020 vintage. Good structure, complexity, dark fruit parade. Well priced for wine of this caliber. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Coast, South Africa 2024—zesty, bright, balanced, smooth, touch of salinity, touch of honey and greengage plum in a sophisticated blend of Old World complexity and reserve and New World texture and body. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Coast, South Africa 2024
Sophisticated blend of Old World complexity and reserve and New World texture and body
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October 12, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Coast, South Africa 2024—zesty, bright, balanced, smooth, touch of salinity, touch of honey and greengage plum in a sophisticated blend of Old World complexity and reserve and New World texture and body. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Yatir Darom by Yatir Cabernet Sauvignon, Judea 2023—rich, polished, fruit-forward effort with concentrated flavors, rich mouthfeel, amiable tannins and acidity. Over-delivers for the price. Made in southern Israel near the Negev Desert. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Yatir Darom by Yatir Cabernet Sauvignon, Judea 2023
Made in southern Israel near the Negev Desert
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October 11, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Yatir Darom by Yatir Cabernet Sauvignon, Judea 2023—rich, polished, fruit-forward effort with concentrated flavors, rich mouthfeel, amiable tannins and acidity. Over-delivers for the price. Made in southern Israel near the Negev Desert. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Tannins explained 10-8-2025—Tannins are natural and essential to wine. They also are wine’s most misunderstood element. Even wine scientists admit they do not fully understand tannins. One expert called tannins a “chemical train wreck.” Let’s explore. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Tannins explained 10-8-2025
What are they, why are they, what do they do?
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October 9, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Tannins explained 10-8-2025—Tannins are natural and essential to wine. They also are wine’s most misunderstood element. Even wine scientists admit they do not fully understand tannins. One expert called tannins a “chemical train wreck.” Let’s explore. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Corvée Metodo Classico Brut Trento DOC NV—combines versatility, elegance, showcases high quality, high elevation sparkling wine at a fraction of the price of Champagne. Rich, persistent flavors; impressive balance; creamy mouthfeel with bright acidity. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Corvée Metodo Classico Brut Trento DOC NV
Combines versatility and elegance to showcase high quality, high elevation sparkling
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October 7, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Corvée Metodo Classico Brut Trento DOC NV—combines versatility, elegance, showcases high quality, high elevation sparkling wine at a fraction of the price of Champagne. Rich, persistent flavors; impressive balance; creamy mouthfeel with bright acidity. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Domaine Lumineux Pinot Noir Cuvée, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2021—delicious, delightful, smooth, tasty Willamette Valley pinot noir showcases red fruit and accessibility. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Domaine Lumineux Pinot Noir Cuvée, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2021
Showcases red fruit and accessibility
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October 5, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Domaine Lumineux Pinot Noir Cuvée, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2021—delicious, delightful, smooth, tasty Willamette Valley pinot noir showcases red fruit and accessibility. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Symington Quinta do Vesuvio Pombal do Vesuvio, Douro 2022—sleek, black-fruit-delicious effort from the dominant maker in the Douro Valley. Delivers complexity and depth at reasonable price point—a signature of Portuguese wine. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Symington Quinta do Vesuvio Pombal do Vesuvio, Douro 2022
Complexity and depth at reasonable price point
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October 1, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Symington Quinta do Vesuvio Pombal do Vesuvio, Douro 2022—sleek, black-fruit-delicious effort from the dominant maker in the Douro Valley. Delivers complexity and depth at reasonable price point—a signature of Portuguese wine. open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Portlandia Pinot Noir Oregon 2022—Admirable nuance, refinement for value pinot, another example of how well Oregon—and Portlandia—does PN. It is lighter, more delicate than the standard California pinot noir—certainly for CA efforts at this price point open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...
Portlandia Pinot Noir Oregon 2022
Admirable nuance and refinement for a value pinot noir
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September 28, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Portlandia Pinot Noir Oregon 2022—Admirable nuance, refinement for value pinot, another example of how well Oregon—and Portlandia—does PN. It is lighter, more delicate than the standard California pinot noir—certainly for CA efforts at this price point open.substack.com/pub/guscleme...