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).

2021 Feudi di San Gregorio Greco di Tufo, Italy: Retail $30. Responsible bottle (453g; 15.9oz). DIAM3 Closure. 100% Greco di Tufo. Pale straw with a decided green tint in the glass with plenty of citrus, some white hibiscus flower, and streaks of minerality and salinity. The palate is both tart and robust with plenty of fruit balanced by a mouth-watering zinginess. Greco di Tufo does not get the love that many other whites get in Italy, but Feudi di San Gregorio is pretty much the standard, and this is a particularly nice version. Very Good. 89 Points. 

2022 Masciarelli Rosato Colline Teatine IGT, Italy: Retail $16. Responsible bottle (353g; 12.5oz). Under screw cap. 100% Montepulciano. Fairly dark for a rosé with plenty of ripe berry fruit in the glass along with a dose of minerality and a touch of red rose petals. The palate is tart and lively with boatloads of fruit and hints of the minerality and florality that the nose promised. There is also a decided salinity here, paired with just a kiss of sweetness. Great on its own, but likely better with food. Taco Tuesday, anyone? Very Good. 88 Points.

2022 Terlato Friuli Colli Orientali Pinot Grigio, Italy: Retail $20. Heavy bottle (691g; 1lb 8.4oz). Under cork. I have tasted several vintages of this wine, but this is the first since the 2018, for some reason. The four that I have tasted previously (2015-2018) were all fantastic and caused me to question my rather outspoken disdain for the variety. This 2022? While certainly Very Good, it falls a bit short, particularly when compared to its older siblings. Sure, this medium straw-colored wine has nice fruit on both the nose and the palate; it also has ample acidity and plenty of minerality. But. It seems to be lacking a bit of depth and charisma which the other vintages certainly had. As I said, Very Good. 89 Points. 

2021 Tongue Dancer Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $48. Under cork. Heavy bottle (621g; 1lb 5.9oz). I received a bottle of this a while ago to review and despite my excitement, it was corked. A rare occurrence, but a bummer nonetheless. Kerry MacPhail, the omniscient and omni-talented half of the Tongue Dancer team, graciously sent me another bottle. And this one? Off. The. Charts. Deep straw to yellow in color with a rich nose of lemon curd, minerality, and even a hint of vanilla. Yowza. The palate? Like all of James MacPhail’s wines, this does a tango on the tongue (see what I did there?) with tons of tang, plenty of power, and depth beyond what seems possible. Sure, this is on the big end of Chard, but it is much, much more Meursault and nowhere close to Cougar juice. Whoa. Outstanding. 94 Points.

2022 Troon Vineyard Vermentino, Applegate Valley, OR: Retail $40. Responsible bottle (462g; 1lb 0.3oz). DIAM10 closure. I have written a ton about Troon, I have visited, even stayed over night on the property, and thus I confess as a full-blown lover of the winery and the wines. Having said that, I do try to keep my reviews of the wines honest. Troon used to call this wine Rolle (the French name for Vermentino) and I applauded them for that, being the Francophile that I am. But they switched to the more widely known term a few years ago and I Rolled with it (yeah, I went there). Well, this might be the best iteration of Troon’s interpretation of the variety thus far. Rich, layered, intense, and nuanced, it is all there. Exotic, tropical, and citrus fruit all compete on the nose with a seashell-like salinity, and a bit of acacia flower for good measure. The palate is rich, as I mentioned, round, and textured, but there is also a driving acidity that brings it into a near impeccable balance, all leading to a lengthy finish. Yowza. And Whoa. Outstanding. 94 Points.

2021 Troon Vineyard Syrah Estate, Applegate Valley, OR: Retail $40. Responsible bottle (473g; 1lb 0.7oz). DIAM10 stopper. There is so much to love about Troon, one singular tasting note is insufficient to express it all. Demeter Certified Biodynamic, Regenerative Organic Certified, and Wine Enthusiast American Winery of the Year, just to get it started. And the people? Top-notch across the board. Yowza. Oh? The wine? Equally top-notch and this one follows suit. Bright berry fruit, intense tartness, plenty of earth but it does not stop there. The spice here is rather intense here, with an herbal aspect as well. I have not spent a ton of time in Southern Oregon, but this wine certainly invokes the wonderful memories I have of the region. Excellent. 92 Points.