Saxum Vineyards Broken 2016, Stones Paso Robles, California

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with moderate staining, and a medium viscosity (15.9% ABV).  On the nose I get medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe black plum, blackberry, purple licorice, vanilla, baking spice, coffee, eucalyptus, black pepper, game, and alcohol.  It’s hard to hide the whopping near-16%, but they did the best they could.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins that are silky and powdery.  Medium (+) intensity flavors caress my mouth- rich, ripe and smooth, with deft oak.  The ten years of aging this wine has received has really smoothed it out.  The tannins are noteworthy.   The evolution has just begin as the fruit softens and tertiary development begins.  It’s a young wine with another two decades of cellaring capacity.  The finish is long, black fruit-driven and delicious.  The alcohol is not noticeable on the palate strangely enough, just of the initial whiff.  An amazing blend of Syrah, Mataro, Grenache, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah with a touch of Roussane.  95 points from me for this $150 effort, which has to get 5 stars.  Salut….

Saxum Vineyards Broken Stones

Glenelly Estate Reserve Red 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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The closer at our 43rd virtual wine tasting was this banger from Stellenbosch.  A lovely wine that I have drunk older vintages of and it did not disappoint.  The tasting group noted how opaque it was with a deep garnet color, slight staining, and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of floral perfume, thrift shop, mangrove, ocean spray, leather, licorice, coffee, and vanilla.  That’s quite an interesting set of descriptors, but then again, there was a decent sized crowd at this tasting.  The palate was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a full body, and high tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echoed the nose but we also got some blackberry, black cherry, and green pepper- consistent with the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.  Delicious but young- this wine will cellar nicely till 2037 if it’s at all like it’s older siblings.  91 points from me and 17/20 on our tasting sheet.  We paid $22 last August, making this an amazing deal and worthy of 5 stars.  Salut….

Glenelly Estate Reserve Red

Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carmenere 2021, Maipo Valley, Chile

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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The third wine of our virtual tasting was this delicious Carmenère with a bit of age on it.  We noted a deep ruby color flexing to garnet, with high viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (-) intensity aromas of blackberry, vanilla, baking spice, and green pepper for days.  On the palate it was dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that were well integrated.  One of the tasters said- “It tastes like salad”.  I guess the green pepper component was obviously driving the bus.  Otherwise- we noted plum, coffee, blackberry, vanilla, and baking spice.  It came alive on the palate and showed off a medium (+) length finish which earned it 91 points.  On our tasting sheet I gave this $22 effort 15/20 points and would drink it over the next 4 years with a juicy steak.  5 stars.  Salut….

 


Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carmenere

Astrolabe Pinot Noir 2020, Marlborough, New Zealand

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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Second up at the virtual wine tasting was this Pinot from New Zealand.  Pale garnet colored, with slight bricking, and low viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of rose, barnyard, cherry, stewed strawberry, cola, chocolate covered cherries, and rhubarb.  The palate had medium acidity, a light body, and low tannins.  Medium intensity flavors focussed on cherry, cola, and a medicinal note.  Red fruit was the dominant undertone.  A long finish was noted which helped bolster the score to 92 points.  On the tasting sheet- 19/20.  For $22, this is a delicious 5 star wine to seek out if you like a mix of Old/New World Pinot.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Astrolabe Pinot Noir

Weingut Markus Huber Terrassen Gruner Veltliner 2023, Traisental DAC, Austria

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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We tasted this wine chilled and then at room temperature at the 43rd virtual wine tasting, held over Zoom.  It was pale lemon colored, with low viscosity, (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of pear, lemon, green apple, nectarine, lanolin, lemon pith, and a hint of the telltale white pepper.  The palate was dry, with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium (-) intensity flavors included pineapple, semi-ripe pear, apricot, green apple and the pepper note.  A medium length finish was noted.  I enjoyed the chilled version, giving it 91 points and on our tasting sheet- 14 points.

The room temperature version was less intense on the nose, with slightly different aromas and flavors.  Honeydew melon, green apple, honeysuckle, white pepper, more pith than when chilled, persimmon, and apricot.  The wine felt less acidic, rounder and more full bodied- waxy.  The finish was slightly longer, yet I did not enjoy it as much.  It garnered 89 points and only 12 /20 on the sheet.  I would drink this $22 wine chilled over the next few years with fresh seafood, perhaps a chicken salad.  4 stars.  Salut….

Huber Terrassen Gruner Veltliner

Bodegas Riojanas Vina Albina Reserva 1998, Rioja DOCa, Spain

03 Friday Apr 2026

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Medium garnet, fading to copper with bricking on the edges.  Medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of prune, sweet dried cherry, blackberry jam, walnuts,  and leather- becoming intense.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a light body, and medium tannins that are fully melded.  I get the same flavors as the nose, but a touch sour. As it evolves I find it balanced with a hint of stewed rhubarb and dried cranberry giving it some zip.  The finish is medium in length and classically Old World.  91 points- drink till 2028.  No pricing information.  Salut….

Bodegas Riojanas Vina Albina Reserva

Bodega El Esteco Blend de Extremos Torrontes 2025, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina

31 Tuesday Mar 2026

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Pale lemon colored, with a watery sheen (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lychee, rose water, lemon and lime pith, guava, gooseberry, orange blossom, and a stony note.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (+) body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose and finish medium in length.  Delicious, refreshing, yet serious.  I love this variety and really enjoy a good bottle of it.  91 points from me for this $16 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  I’m pairing it with chicken and rice, but you could throw pretty much any fish dish at it for a great match.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Bodega El Esteco Blend de Extremos Torrontes

Ribbon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022, Ribbon Ridge, Oregon

15 Sunday Mar 2026

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Pale garnet colored, with high viscosity (13.8% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of bruised black cherry, pomegranate, red raspberry, baking spice, and crushed rock.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium intensity flavors diminish on the mid palate to end in a slightly watery finish that is short in length.  Such a shame, this one started out strong and encouraging with good structure, an interesting nose, and good flavors.  I can’t go higher than 87, and for the $43 price tag it gets 2 stars.  Drink by 2030.  Salut….

Ribbon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Chateau Carbonnieux 2020, Pessac-Leognan, France

13 Friday Mar 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, cassis, tobacco, bramble berry, ink, cedar plank, a touch of vanilla and chocolate.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are quite chalky.  Medium (+) intensity flavors are noted and the finish is medium (-) in length.  The tannins are really plush, the wine offering a great mouthfeel.  I like this Bordeaux blend of 60% Cab Sav, 30% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.  It gets 90 points, and at $55- 4 stars.  It would have scored higher if the finish had more to offer.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Chateau Carbonnieux

Chateau Musar 2004, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

01 Sunday Mar 2026

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Deep garnet colored with a copper hue, and high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of dried cranberry, desiccated black raspberry, dried spices, telltale funk, leather, Rooibos tea, and perfumed vanilla.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that are fully melded.  Intense flavors of dried red fruit, garigue, funky Brett-driven notes, leather, Rooibos tea and vanilla.  Stunning.  The finish is super smooth, a touch tart, yet I get a sweetness from the ripe fruit.  It lasts a good long while.   This is my daughter’s birth year wine so we are having a big Sunday Roast in her honor.  An amazing bottle that runs $140 currently and gets 95 points from me.  It will last forever, like most Musars and gets 5 stars.  Such a treat to drink this amazing wine.  It scored poorly on release but has stood the test of time.  A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan.  Salut….

Chateau Musar