Mixed Bag Vol. 17
A tasting where logic took the backseat to generosity, impulse, and the quiet satisfaction of doing something that matters.
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.
Clotilde Davenne Saint-Bris Sauvignon 2021
- Region
- France » Burgundy » Grand Auxerrois » Saint-Bris AOC
- Type
- white still, dry
- Producer
- Vintage
- 2021
- Grapes
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Alcohol
- 12.5
- Sugar
- 1.8
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Find at

This Sauvignon Blanc from Chablis is intriguing first and foremost because of where it comes from. Stylistically, it leans toward a more mineral, less in-your-face version of the punchy New World expressions. Green apricot, freshly cut grass, peach, gooseberries, and lemon. On the palate, it hits a vibrant and well-balanced note, with a structure that's almost buttery - but not soft. Just enough weight to carry the freshness.
Kelley Fox Wines Nerthus 2021
- Region
- USA » Oregon » Willamette Valley AVA
- Type
- white still, dry
- Producer
- Wine
- Vintage
- 2021
- Grapes
- Pinot Gris, Early Muscat, Riesling
- Alcohol
- 13
- Sugar
- 0
- Volume
- 750 mL

This wine secured the 🏅 8th place in our wine tasting lineup.
Fun skin-contact blend of Pinot Gris, Early Muscat and Riesling. Feels like a gentle, slightly unsure take on psychedelic folk. Think orange peel, redcurrant, peach jam - some bitterness, a bit of minerality, all wrapped in something that tastes like a well-made fruit compote (in the best way). But damn, it's short. Lacks finish and structure. And the price? Brutal.
Dario Prinčič Bianco Trebež 2020
- Region
- Italy » Friuli-Venezia Giulia » IGP Venezia Giulia
- Type
- white still, dry
- Producer
- Wine
- Vintage
- 2020
- Grapes
- Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
- Alcohol
- 13
- Volume
- 750 mL

This wine secured the 🏅 6th place in our wine tasting lineup.
Bold and direct, but not flat - there's depth under that richness. It opens up beautifully in the glass, showing ripe peach, apricot jam, dried mango, and a touch of herbal dryness. Still very young, with high acidity and grippy tannins, it's bright and intense in a way that'll either charm you or push you away. Long, perfumed finish. A wine with presence.
Jacquesson Cuvée 744 (2016) NV
- Region
- France » Champagne » Champagne AOC
- Type
- white traditional sparkling, extra brut
- Producer
- Wine
- 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

This wine secured the 🥉 3rd place in our wine tasting lineup.
Oh wow, what a beauty. It's developed so gracefully - brioche, acacia, honey, that cidery edge, baked apples and a touch of Jerez. Everything in its place and precise, and yet still so expressive. Structured, long, and deeply satisfying. There's real intensity now, but it never feels forced. I hadn't touched it in two years, just let it rest, and opening it now was absolutely the right call. Worth every moment of waiting.
Alexandre Bonnet Rosé des Riceys La Forêt 2020
- Region
- France » Champagne » Rosé des Riceys AOC
- Type
- rose still, dry
- Producer
- Vintage
- 2020
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir
- Alcohol
- 12.5
- Sugar
- 3
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Find at

This wine secured the 🏅 5th place in our wine tasting lineup.
A lovely and elegant entry point into Rosé des Riceys, with the warmth of the vintage clearly showing. Fragrant, delicate, and nuanced - red berries, wild strawberry, red plum, dried cherry, rose petals, a dusting of white pepper. The palate is round and silky, gently spiced, yet the expression remains strikingly pure - almost Champagne-like in spirit (lol). Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a graceful structure, the tannins are fine, never harsh. Still young, but honestly, there's no need to wait - it's already a joy to drink.
Olivier Horiot Rosé des Riceys en Valingrain 2017
- Region
- France » Champagne » Rosé des Riceys AOC
- Type
- rose still, dry
- Producer
- Vintage
- 2017
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir
- Alcohol
- 12
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Find at

This wine secured the 🏅 4th place in our wine tasting lineup.
Now this is clearly a more serious affair (compared to Rosé des Riceys La Forêt 2020 by Alexandre Bonnet) - deeper, more layered, and far more engaging. The nose is subtle yet demands your attention: fermented cherries, hibiscus, a whisper of Wuyi oolong or Dan Cong, leather, tobacco, smoke. A touch of underbrush and barnyard rounds it out with just the right dose of wildness. Structurally, it's firmer than the Bonnet, but everything is in place - the dryness, the grip of the tannins, the tension. There's a fragile elegance to it, though - blink and you might miss it. Let it breathe and it turns into something quietly stunning. Ultra-fresh, tightly built, and beautifully composed.
Comando G Villanueva 2023
- Region
- Spain » Community of Madrid » D.O.P. Cebreros
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- Wine
- Vintage
- 2023
- Grapes
- Garnacha
- Alcohol
- 13.5
- Sugar
- 0
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Find at

This wine secured the 🥇 1st place in our wine tasting lineup.
Oh wow - this is just incredible. Watermelon bubblegum, hibiscus, rose petals, fermented berries, cornelian cherry. A striking mineral core runs through it all. It's bursting with energy, razor-sharp in its precision, and absolutely brimming with personality. The quality is undeniable - complex, layered, not quite fully ready but already captivating. Fresh, structured, and impossibly long. Honestly? This is something else.
Quinta do Vallado Porto 20 Years Old Tawny NV
- Region
- Portugal » Porto DOC
- Type
- white still, sweet
- Producer
- 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.
Dried cherry, rosé jam, baked apricot, cinnamon, mountain herbs, Dominican cigars, and caramel. The bouquet feels both generous and intricate, never tipping into excess. On the palate, it's delicate yet structured, with near-perfect balance. The aftertaste lingers beautifully - chocolate, caramel, and that same haunting rosé jam. Remarkably composed, quietly seductive.