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

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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

 

Eco Terreno Leoncito 2018, Alexander Valley, California

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Deep ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14.6% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, blackberry, acai berry, vanilla, dill, a hint of green pepper, violets, and menthol.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose and lead to a medium (-) length finish that makes my lips smack.  I feel the need to take another sip.  Yummy stuff, this is a blend of 46% Cabernet Franc, 42% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot.  There’s some cellaring capacity for this already aged wine, and it will get better.  I think it’s worthy of 93 points and 5 stars- $50 per bottle.  Drink till 2030 with hearty meat dishes.  Salut….

Eco Terreno Leoncito

K Vintners ‘Broncho’ Stoneridge Vineyard Malbec 2019, Columbia Valley, Washington

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Deep purple colored, with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of mulberry, toasty oak, mint, blackcurrant, spice box, Maduro wrapper, vanilla, boysenberry, and elderberry.  It’s an intriguing and powerful nose.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins.  Medium intensity flavors are not as complex as the nose, but offer up dark fruit, deft oak, and some interesting tertiary notes.  The finish is medium (+) in length and very pleasing.  It’s a nice drop that has aged gracefully and can cellar for a few more years.  It gets 92 points from me and 4 stars for its $65 price tag.  Drink till 2030, perhaps with a Filet steak or roast duck.  Salut….

Charles Smith 'Broncho' Stoneridge Vineyard Malbec

L’Oiseau du Paradis Rosé 2025, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, France

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Pale to medium salmon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of white strawberry, cranberry, white blossom, tangerine peel and white grapefruit pith.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity and a light body.  Medium intensity flavors lead to a decent, mid length finish that has a refreshing zing.  This wine has a bit of oomph to it, I like that.  It’s a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 15% Carignan, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.  It gets 90 points from me and for the $15 price tag- 5 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

L'Oiseau du Paradis RoséCoteaux d’Aix-en-Provence

LYV Rose NV, IGP Pays d’Oc, France

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Pale strawberry colored with low viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of strawberries, white cherry, cranberry, citrus and white blossom. The palate is dry, with medium acidity, and a light body. Medium intensity flavors are very pleasant and echo the nose. The finish is medium (-) in length and very refreshing. I’m really enjoying this on a hot summer day. 88 points for this $15 bottle makes it a 4 star wine. Drink now.  Salut….

 

LYV Rose

Liquid Sky Vineyards Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Sonoma County, California

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Deep ruby colored, with high viscosity (15.1% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of menthol, blackberry, black currant, vanilla, baking spice, tobacco and espresso.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a full body, and high tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors lead to a medium (+) finish, which is where I notice the heat (unfortunately).  It’s a delicious Sonoma Cabernet that gets high marks, offers decent cellaring capacity yet is drinking nicely now.  I am pairing it with peppercorn steak.  91 points for this $90 offering makes it a treat wine that gets 4 stars from me.  Salut….


Liquid Sky Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Moon Mountain

Ribbon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023, Ribbon Ridge, Oregon

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Pale garnet colored, with medium viscosity (13.8% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of cherry compote, red raspberry, cranberry, sassafras, cola, cedar, and pomegranate.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins that are fine grained.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of red fruit and cola/root beer alongside some cedar notes lead to a medium length finish.  It’s a tasty Pinot Noir that has some cellaring capacity yet would pair beautifully right away with roast Chicken, grilled Salmon, perhaps a Pork chop and some Ratatouille.  90 points from me for this $43 effort makes it a 3 star wine to drink till 2032.  Salut….

Ribbon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Eola Springs Limited Addition red blend 2023, Willamette Valley, Oregon

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Medium ruby colored, bordering on garnet, with low viscosity (12.2% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red and black raspberry, acai berry, mulberry, funky spice, tomato stalk, and a herbal compote.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a light body, and medium (-) tannins, all making for a very easy mouthfeel.  Flavor intensity is a touch more than the nose but mimics those interesting fruit notes alongside some savory green hints.  The finish is medium (-) in length but very pleasing.  This light-bodied charmer is a pleasure to drink as an aperitif, and I plan on pairing it with Pork chops.  It needs to stay away from hearty stews, bold steaks or anything gamy.  Overall, a very delightful wine to drink over the short term.  It gets 89 points from me and for the $36 price point, 3 stars.  Not much info out there on this unique blend of Bastardo, Garnacha and Mencia.  Salut….

Eola Springs Limited Addition red blend

 

Gabriel Meffre Tavel Saint-Ferreol Rose 2024, Rhone, France

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Medium salmon colored, with low viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of strawberry, lemon zest, orange blossom, lanolin, and hint of white cherry.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors lead to a somewhat short finish.  I was hoping for a bit more out of this $22 offering, akin to the 2022 vintage I recently tasted.  This one gets 87 points and 2 stars from me.  Drink soon.  Salut….

Gabriel Meffre Tavel Saint-Ferreol Rose

Hacienda Urbión Reserva 2015, Rioja, Spain

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Medium-to-deep garnet colored, with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of steeped red cherry, vanilla, green tobacco leaf, black raspberry, blackberry, baking spice, and menthol.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  Medium intensity flavors, a slight bitterness and some charcoal add to the mix.  The finish is quite tannic and a touch astringent- yet medium (+) in length.  It’s a decent Tempranillo that gets 89 points from me.  I paid $11 at Costco, on sale from the regular price of $16.  Not bad for a midweek wine that has a bit of age on it.  I think it will drink nicely till 2030.  4 stars.  Salut….

urbion reserva rioja tempranillo