The moods of certain politicians might bounce around like a sine wave, but some things stay solid - like helping those who protect us. So we stick to what we know: we open bottles, pool some money, and spend it on parts so Mr Oleksandr can craft drones and send them where needed.

That explains one side of the tasting. The other? No need to overthink it. It's a mix. With a smug grin, I just pulled everything out of my backpack and called it a lineup. Though in truth - there was a logic to it. At least in my mind. Once, I had Alexandre Bonnet's Rosé des Riceys blind and got curious about how it stacks up against Olivier Horiot. The comparison wasn't perfect, but who needs perfection when hedonism's on the table?

Around that duo, the rest fell into place: a curious rosé from the US, a mature bottle of Jacquesson (because I'm weak for it), something from Comando G I hadn't tried yet, a structured skin-contact wine, and of course - Porto. People had been asking for it, and I'd just been gifted a bottle. When else to open gifts if not at a charity tasting?

So yeah - that's how it all came together. I didn't really try to prove a point with the selection. And maybe that's the point. We drank well. We did something good. What more do you need?

Just look at it.

Wine		WAVG	SDEV	FAV	Price	Volume	QPR

Saint-Bris Sauvignon 2021 Clotilde Davenne welcome drink	–	3.8654	0.0111	0	UAH 1,250.00	0.75 L	0.7057 😐
Nerthus 2021 Kelley Fox Wines	🏅 7th	3.8269	0.0182	1	UAH 1,650.00	0.75 L	0.5690 😐
Bianco Trebež 2020 Dario Prinčič	🏅 6th	4.1038	0.0388	2	UAH 2,449.00	0.75 L	0.8176 🤔
Cuvée 744 (2016) NV Jacquesson	🥉 3rd	4.2192	0.0226	4	UAH 4,891.00	0.75 L	0.9188 🤔
Rosé des Riceys La Forêt 2020 Alexandre Bonnet	🏅 5th	4.1577	0.0167	0	UAH 3,349.00	0.75 L	0.7815 😐
Rosé des Riceys en Valingrain 2017 Olivier Horiot	🏅 4th	4.2019	0.0217	1	UAH 2,528.00	0.75 L	0.9861 🤔
Villanueva 2023 Comando G	🥇 1st	4.2827	0.0319	4	UAH 1,750.00	0.75 L	1.4038 😊
Porto 20 Years Old Tawny NV Quinta do Vallado	🥈 2nd	4.2779	0.0173	0	–	0.5 L	–

Clotilde Davenne Saint-Bris Sauvignon 2021

Region: France » Burgundy » Grand Auxerrois » Saint-Bris AOC
Type: white still, dry
Producer: Clotilde Davenne
Wine: Saint-Bris Sauvignon
Vintage: 2021
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol: 12.5
Sugar: 1.8
Volume: 750 mL
Find at: Vivino

id: 49523ec3-f3ff-4555-96a0-f756791c2f94

Kelley Fox Wines Nerthus 2021

Region: USA » Oregon » Willamette Valley AVA
Type: white still, dry
Producer: Kelley Fox Wines
Wine: Nerthus
Vintage: 2021
Grapes: Pinot Gris, Early Muscat, Riesling
Alcohol: 13
Sugar: 0
Volume: 750 mL
Find at: Sabotage
Vivino

This wine secured the 🏅 8th place in our wine tasting lineup.

id: 546874aa-98bb-4785-8085-c805d108046e

Dario Prinčič Bianco Trebež 2020

Region: Italy » Friuli-Venezia Giulia » IGP Venezia Giulia
Type: white still, dry
Producer: Dario Prinčič
Wine: Bianco Trebež
Vintage: 2020
Grapes: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13
Volume: 750 mL
Find at: WineWine
Vivino

This wine secured the 🏅 6th place in our wine tasting lineup.

id: 3fa64ffa-5488-4eaf-ba27-2bb0352caacc

Jacquesson Cuvée 744 (2016) NV

Region: France » Champagne » Champagne AOC
Type: white traditional sparkling, extra brut
Producer: Jacquesson
Wine: Cuvée 744 (2016)
Vintage: NV, based on 2016
Disgorged: 2020-11
On lees: 36 months
Grapes: Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 12.5
Sugar: 0.7
Volume: 750 mL
Find at: Vivino

This wine secured the 🥉 3rd place in our wine tasting lineup.

id: 94ba3c96-1706-493a-81e8-2f902549007a

Alexandre Bonnet Rosé des Riceys La Forêt 2020

Region: France » Champagne » Rosé des Riceys AOC
Type: rose still, dry
Producer: Alexandre Bonnet
Wine: Rosé des Riceys La Forêt
Vintage: 2020
Grapes: Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 12.5
Sugar: 3
Volume: 750 mL
Find at: Vivino

This wine secured the 🏅 5th place in our wine tasting lineup.

id: f7cc6caa-b839-4534-a4a4-b90207432b19

Olivier Horiot Rosé des Riceys en Valingrain 2017

Region: France » Champagne » Rosé des Riceys AOC
Type: rose still, dry
Producer: Olivier Horiot
Wine: Rosé des Riceys en Valingrain
Vintage: 2017
Grapes: Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 12
Volume: 750 mL
Find at: Vivino

This wine secured the 🏅 4th place in our wine tasting lineup.

id: 5508fd3d-5e9b-4809-bba6-66f1a31d1f49

Comando G Villanueva 2023

Region: Spain » Community of Madrid » D.O.P. Cebreros
Type: red still, dry
Producer: Comando G
Wine: Villanueva
Vintage: 2023
Grapes: Garnacha
Alcohol: 13.5
Sugar: 0
Volume: 750 mL
Find at: Vivino

This wine secured the 🥇 1st place in our wine tasting lineup.

id: 54e73b3c-002d-4218-9588-0f86d43c2ae0

Quinta do Vallado Porto 20 Years Old Tawny NV

Region: Portugal » Porto DOC
Type: white still, sweet
Producer: Quinta do Vallado
Wine: Porto 20 Years Old Tawny
Vintage: NV
Grapes: Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional
Alcohol: 19.5
Sugar: 123
Volume: 500 mL

This wine secured the 🥈 2nd place in our wine tasting lineup.

id: 57203e24-21d8-413c-a025-3b6a129950d9

Raw scores

Wine	Boris B	Yaryna T	Dmytro D	Ivietta K	Oleksandr R	Maksym S	Dmytro Kh	Elvira K	Bohdan P	Julie B	Andrii S

Saint-Bris Sauvignon 2021 Clotilde Davenne welcome drink	3.90	4.00	4.10	3.90	3.80	3.90	3.80	3.90	3.70	3.80	3.80
Nerthus 2021 Kelley Fox Wines	3.80	3.70	3.50	4.00	3.90	3.80	3.90	3.90	3.90	3.70	3.70
Bianco Trebež 2020 Dario Prinčič	4.20	3.60	4.20	3.80	4.00	4.00	4.20	4.20	3.90	4.20	4.20
Cuvée 744 (2016) NV Jacquesson	4.30	4.20	4.50	4.40	4.20	3.90	4.10	4.20	4.20	4.20	4.10
Rosé des Riceys La Forêt 2020 Alexandre Bonnet	4.10	4.10	4.50	4.30	4.25	4.00	4.20	4.20	4.10	4.10	4.25
Rosé des Riceys en Valingrain 2017 Olivier Horiot	4.30	4.00	4.20	4.50	4.30	4.10	4.00	4.10	4.05	4.05	4.15
Villanueva 2023 Comando G	4.40	3.90	4.30	4.45	4.35	4.20	4.30	4.20	3.90	4.20	4.40
Porto 20 Years Old Tawny NV Quinta do Vallado	4.20	4.25	4.20	4.40	4.20	4.00	4.40	4.40	4.30	4.30	4.50