It is time for another edition of “Random Samples”–I occasionally get samples from marketing agencies and/or producers. These can often be grouped together into some sort of over-arching theme: Drink Them and It Will Come, Summer is Here, So That Means (More) Rosé, If It Doesn’t Sparkle, It Doesn’t Matter.

Other times, I get just a bottle or two that do not have any apparent connection or link. Instead of holding on to those bottles until the “right” combination comes along, I decided to link all these “random” bottles together, making their own category (and, being the math geek that I am, “random sample” has a bit of a double entendre).

2022 Bird in Hand Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills, South Australia: Retail $22. Under screw cap. Pale color with fairly intense aromas of citrus, lychee, and all kinds of tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, guava) with concentrated floral notes as well: acacia, honey blossom, and hyacinth. Whoa. The palate is quite tart, even really tart with abundant fruit but frankly, it struggles to keep up with the acidity. All of that persists through the lengthy finish. I am not a huge fan of Sauvignon Blanc in general and Australian/NZ SB in particular, but this is a particularly compelling version, without a doubt. Excellent. 92 Points.

2022 Bird in Hand Pinot Nero Rosé, Adelaide Hills, South Australia: Retail $22(?). Under screw cap. True Rosé (as far as I can tell). 100% Pinot Noir. The color of this wine is beautiful: ripe watermelon, probably about halfway between the Proveçal œil de Perdix and the richer, almost red, wines of Tavel. Lovely red berry fruit on the nose with a mineral aspect as well as some red rose and a hint of white pepper. The palate is fruity, for sure, but it is well-balanced with a zingy tartness and a healthy dose of verve. This is my first experience, essentially (I think I tasted a few at a Wine Bloggers Conference a while ago), with Bird in Hand, but so far? Definitely so good. Excellent. 92 Points.

2021 Graffigna Malbec Genuine Collection, Argentina: Retail $24. This is my second Argentinian Malbec in as many days, and this just might be an equally good bargain. Dark, close to black, even, in the glass with dark fruit aromas (blackberry, cassis, plum), black pepper, and even a touch of cardamom. Fruity and shy of “rich” on the palate, this exudes character and finesse. The fruit is followed by a quick jolt of acidity, which is what grants character to the wine. In the end, it checks (almost)? all the boxes and is a wonderful wine. Excellent. 91 Points.

2019 Head High Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, CA: Retail $20. Under screw cap. A friend brought this over for a wine dinner and I have to admit that I have never heard of it. But after some primo Pinot, we twisted, snifted, and I have to say that it is not terrible. Sure, this came nowhere close to the $75+ Pinots that we had been tasting, but this did the genre and price range proud. Would I ever actually buy this wine? Well, no, but if this were served at a wedding that I attended? Sure. Even more than sure–a decided “yes”. Very Good. 88 Points.

2020 Head High Chardonnay, Sonoma County, CA: Retail $20. Under screw cap. A friend brought this over when we were having a tasting of some Sonoma Chards and Pinots and, well, it is fine. Maybe above fine and well into Very Good. Lemon, salinity, banana, and even a hint of vanilla on the nose. The palate is tart and fruity, with a bit of reckless abandon. In other words, this wine lacks focus, it is a bit all over the place. Still Good? Very Good? 87 Points.

2021 Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon Broquel, Mendoza, Argentina: Retail $16. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Under DIAM5. “Selected Barrels.” Another large producer in Argentina (3-4 million bottles annually), Trapiche has a healthy Cab program in addition to their much larger Malbec output. Fruity (blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, even cassis) on the nose with a bit of smoke and a subtle green aspect (more herbal than vegetal), which I really like. The palate is surprisingly big, at least for Argentinian wines at this price point, with juicy fruit, plenty of weight and acidity on the mid-palate, and a lengthy finish with subtle tannins. Another incredible bargain from Argentina. Excellent. 91 Points.

2021 Troon Vineyard Vermentino Amphora Amber, Applegate Valley, Oregon: Retail $60. Under DIAM10. 100% Vermentino. Certified Biodynamic. The fruit is harvested and crushed and then transferred to clay amphorae where it remains in skin contact for an astounding 10 months. Orange wines are not for everyone and I would certainly consider them an acquired taste, but if you want to learn more, start with a good one, and this Troon certainly fits that criterion. A cloudy golden or amber in the glass with pretty intense aromas: candle wax, chamomile, hazelnut, and decided spice (white pepper, coriander). The palate is a bit nutty and chalky with noticeable, but certainly mellow, tannins, along with orange peel, hazelnut, and chamomile. Again, orange wines are certainly on the “weird” side of winemaking (even though this is how they were likely made in antiquity), but this is a particularly wonderful one. Outstanding. 93 Points.