Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife.  Here are some of the wines we tasted over the past few weeks. These are wines that were not sent as samples—in most cases, I actually paid for these wines (although a few have been given as gifts).

2023 Henri Bourgeois Les Baronnes Sancerre, Loire Valley, France: Retail $25. Very Responsible Bottle (423g; 14.9oz). Under screw cap. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. I bought a few of these from my H-E-B (I love my H-E-B) and this is the first that I have popped. I have only been to Sancerre once and it was only for a heartbeat, but one of the wineries I visited was Henri Bourgeois. Fond memories (although brief). Quite tropical on the nose with plenty of minerality, salinity, and considerable spunk. The plate is all of those and more. Yowza. Tart, engaging, fruity, and divine. Whoa. Outstanding. 94 Points.

2007 Copain Syrah Spirit Rock Alder Springs Vineyard, Mendocino County, CA: Retail $45. Responsible Bottle (585g; 20.6oz). Under cork (no foil). I last tasted this “original” Copain (i.e., before the winery was sold in 2016) a couple of years ago and it was doing quite well (92 Points). Today? I believe it is starting to show its age. It is still pretty fantastic, but the fruit has faded to the point that it is no longer the driver on the palate; there is more of a secondary herbal, almost medicinal, aspect that is not off-putting at all, but think “menthol” and you are close. The acidity is still there, plugging away and the finish is gangbusters, but this is pretty clearly on the downward slope. Drink up. Excellent. 90 Points.

2013 Kokomo Grenache, Dry Creek Valley, CA: Retail $40(?). Heavy Bottle (640g; 22.5oz). Under cork. 100% Grenache. If I remember correctly, Erik Miller gave me this wine shortly after it was bottled, wanting me to wait a bit before trying it. I am pretty sure he didn’t mean to wait eleven years, but here we are. Surprisingly fresh and fruity with loads of red berry fruit (strawberry, cherry), hints of earth, and some vanilla comes through on the midpalate. Plenty of zip left in this beauty as well, with a zinginess that starts right away and lasts well through the finish (which is impressive as well). I have said many times that Erik Miller is a fantastic winemaker and this wine certainly supports that contention. Fantastic. Outstanding. 93 Points.

2014 Champagne Le Mesnil Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, France: Retail $60. 100% Chardonnay. Le Mesnil is a cooperative in the Côtes des Blancs region, much like one of our favorite producers, Mailly Grand Cru. Unlike the countless Maillys we have tried, though, I have never been all that enthralled the offerings from Le Mesnil. That has shifted a bit with this bottle as it is loaded with tons of autolytic (yeasty, creamy) components as well as a bit of citrus on the nose. The palate is bright, tart, and deliciously yeasty and paired well with our street tacos. Fantastic. Excellent. 91 Points.

2019 Patz & Hall Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $40. Heavy Bottle (617g; 21.7oz). Where to start? Patz & Hall burst onto the scene in the late 80s and early 90s, quickly building a reputation for fantastic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Eventually, as with many such “start-ups” it seems, the brand was sold and became a part of a larger, somewhat impersonal portfolio. This past spring, however, James Hall repurchased the brand once he heard that Chateau Ste. Michelle had it up for sale. Phew. I know I left out some key details, but you get the gist. As for this wine? Light in color, but rich in aromas of lemon curd, a salty, mineral aspect, and a touch of white pepper. The palate is pretty fantastic with a vibrant tartness, plenty of fruit, and a dazzling finish. I am excited about this wine and about the brand’s future under James Hall. Excellent. 90 Points.

2016 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Cuvée Théo, Alsace, France: Retail $40. At Cru Wine Bar, Austin: $60. Under cork. When I peruse a wine list, I usually look for a couple of things: good values and interesting wines. When both of those come together, it is an easy choice. Such was the case at the Cru Wine Bar in Austin, Texas when I saw this Gewurztraminer. Not normally my “preferred” variety, but Weinbach is a fantastic producer, the Clos des Capucins is a top-notch vineyard, and it also has a bit of age on it. No brainer. As one would expect, the nose is quite floral and tropical with oodles of white acacia flower, tropical guava, and a touch of kiwi. Yowza. The palate is a tad sweet, but more off-dry than demi-sec, with those tropical notes and a slate-like minerality. Close to a Whoa. Excellent. 92 Points.

WINE OF THE WEEK: The Wine of the Week this week the 2016 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Cuvée Théo, might not have been the “best” wine we consumed, but it certainly was the wine that sparked the most conversation and invoked the most memories. It was also a very happy coincidence. We were at a restaurant, I saw this on the menu, and I was a bit shocked: an eight-year-old white wine from a fantastic producer? Um, yes. It was also from Alsace, where I studied and played basketball for a year. And that is why I love wine: it can carry you to far away lands and remind you of events that you thought you had long forgotten.

What was/were your Wine(s) of the Week?