Vinedos y Bodegas Pablo Gran Viu Finca Santiaga 2004, Carinena, Spain

13 Tuesday Oct 2026

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Deep garnet colored with copper highlights, slight staining, and a high viscosity (15.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black cherry, blackberry pie, coconut, oak plank, vanilla, baking spice, leather, bramble and an earthy/dusty note.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins that are melding nicely.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose and carry through to a slightly tart, medium length finish.  This wine used to be a bit more powerful and is now gently receding into a mature phase.  91 points from me for this blend of 60% Garnacha, 20% Cariñena (Carinena), and 20% Vidadillo.  It runs about $45 per bottle and gets 4 stars from me.  Drink in the next few years.  Salut….

Vinedos y Bodegas Pablo Gran Viu Finca Santiaga

First Drop Mother’s Milk Shiraz 2022, Barossa, Australia

05 Monday Oct 2026

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Deep garnet colored, with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of eucalyptus, black coffee, black plum, bramble berry, licorice, acai berry, and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors hone in on the secondary flavors but the dark fruit notes emerge from charred oak overtones and lead to a medium length finish.  This is not a jammy Aussie Shiraz, more subtle in ways, but leaning on a solid structure along with oak influence.  This wine will cellar short term and go great with grilled meats and pasta.  90 points from me for this $16 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

First Drop Mother's Milk Shiraz

Tomas Achaval Nomade ‘Las Mulas’ 2017, Uco Valley, Argentina

04 Sunday Oct 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with very slight staining, and a medium viscosity (13.9% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black plum, bramble, baker’s spice, vanilla, and cracked pepper.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of dark berries, charcoal, vanilla and a green herb note.  It’s a brooding wine that finishes slightly bitter and medium in length.  It may open up some with a bit of air/time  We are having Sunday roast, so this 60/40 Syrah/Malbec blend will work nicely with the relatively lean Round of Beef.  89 points, and for $27, 3 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Tomas Achaval Nomade 'Las Mulas'

Bodegas Franco-Espanolas Royal Reserva 2018, Rioja DOCa, Spain

26 Saturday Sep 2026

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Medium garnet colored, with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dark plum puree, vanilla, baking spice, coconut, black cherry pie, powdered cocoa, and espresso bean.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are pretty youthful and grippy.  Medium intensity flavors show fruit that is not as developed as the nose, still fresh.  The tannins are very prominent in this eight year-old bottle, hopefully they soften and allow the wine to develop.  The finish is medium (+) in length.  Overall this is not a bad drop, with some cellaring capacity available but I would drink sooner rather than take a chance on tertiary development.  89 points from me for this $15 wine makes it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

Bodegas Franco-Espanolas Royal Reserva

Vazisubani Estate Saperavi 2021, Kakheti, Georgian Republic

25 Friday Sep 2026

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Deep purple colored, with slight staining and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of boysenberry, elderberry, acai berry, a herbaceous note, black cherry, and a hint of purple bubble gum.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body and high tannins.  Medium intensity flavors echo the nose- dark, brooding fruit corralled by gritty tannins that lead to a medium length finish.  Lovely stuff that I am pairing with Pot Roast- the grip of the wine will soften with the fat of the meat.  Melt in your mouth!  91 points and for $20, 5 stars. This wine will age medium-term and develop some tertiary notes in the next decade.  Salut….

Vazisubani Estate Saperavi

Chateau la Tour de l’Eveque Rose 2025, Cotes de Provence, France

16 Wednesday Sep 2026

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Pale salmon colored, with low viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of strawberry, white peach, orange blossom, white cherry, and pomegranate. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors echo the nose. This blend of 46% Cinsault, 34% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah, 2% Rolle, 2% Sémillon is lightly bitter on the mid palate, leading to a medium length finish. 89 points from me for this $22 offering makes it a 3 star wine to drink now with lighter fare.  Salut….

Chateau la Tour de l'Eveque Cotes de Provence Rose

Un Jour Un Rose 2025, IGP Pays d’Oc, France

08 Tuesday Sep 2026

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Pale to medium salmon colored, with a low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lanolin, white strawberry, grapefruit pith, orange blossom, and underripe blueberry.  The palate is dry, with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors echo the nose and the tartness of the acidity is quite intense.  This wine cuts.  The finish is certainly tart, and medium (-) in length.  A very refreshing wine made from Grenache that should be drunk in youth.  87 points from me for this $15 bottle makes it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

Un Jour Un Rose

Domaine de la Bergerie Anjou-Rouge La Cerisaie 2021, Loire, France

03 Thursday Sep 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of green pepper, red plum, asparagus, tomato stalk, blackberry, and violets.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a light body, and medium (-) tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of plum, blackberry, green garden veggies, and some flowery violets.  The bell pepper note was more prevalent on the nose, a dead giveaway to the grape- Cabernet Franc.  The finish is light and airy, medium in length and a touch tart.  This wine is worthy of short term cellaring but is drinking nicely now- I would pair it with roast duck or perhaps a grilled Cornish hen with wild rice.  It gets 89 points from me and for the $23 price point- 4 stars.  Salut….

Domaine de la Bergerie Anjou-Rouge La Cerisaie

Domaine de La Bégude Rosé 2025, Bandol, France

01 Tuesday Sep 2026

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Pale copper colored, with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of strawberry, white cherry, white peach, orange blossom, lanolin, and white grapefruit pith.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, and a light body.  Medium intensity flavors echo the nose and lead to a medium (-) length finish that has a touch of bitterness.  It’s a decent wine, but the color is simply stunning.  It gets 90 points from me and for the $45 price point, 3 stars.  Drink now with lighter summer fare.  A blend of 71% Mourvèdre, 23% Cinsault, and 6% Grenache Noir.  Salut….

Domaine de La Bégude Rosé

Belles d’Eguilles Rosé 2025, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, France

24 Monday Aug 2026

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Pale salmon colored, with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, strawberry, white blossom, lanolin, lemon verbena, grapefruit pith, and white cherry.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, and a light body.  Medium intensity flavors echo the nose, but without the peach note.  The finish is juicy from the acidity and medium in length.  It’s a refreshing drop that will please on a hot summer’s day, or in the eve paired with salmon, perhaps a tapas or mezze platter.  89 points from me for this $15 effort makes it a 4 star wine in my mind.  Drink this blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan  over the short term.  Salut….

Belles d'Eguilles Rosé