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

28 Tuesday Jul 2026

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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

26 Sunday Jul 2026

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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

19 Sunday Jul 2026

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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

 

Boundary Breaks ‘OLN Ovid Line North’ Medium Dry Riesling 2022, Finger Lakes, New York

10 Friday Jul 2026

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Pale lemon colored with a watery sheen (11% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of petrol, yellow apple, orange blossom, peaches, and pink grapefruit pith. The palate is off-dry, with medium acidity, and a medium (-) body. Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose. The finish is medium (+) in length and delicious. 91 points from me for this $17 effort makes it a 5 star wine. Drink till 2035- the acidity will hold this baby together nicely.  Salut….

Boundary Breaks 'OLN Ovid Line North' Medium Dry Riesling

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhone, France

04 Saturday Jul 2026

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The last wine in the virtual wine tasting series was this stunner.  I picked three different level Rhône wines and our tasting culminated in this legendary Hermitage.  Deep ruby colored with high viscosity (15.5% ABV).  Intense aromas of ripe blackberry pie, smoked brisket, black grape jam (jammy jam as one taster joked), leather, tobacco, etc.  The palate was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins.  Intense flavors and a long finish is all I could write as I sat there and contemplated life, wine, happiness, perfection and richness of flavor and balance.  This is an immense wine, with a structure built to last decades, even the cork was extra long.  An amazing wine that showcases the best of Rhône Syrah.  I gave it a perfect score on our tasting sheet and reckon it’s in the top 3 wines our group has ever drunk- over 175 bottles and counting.  From a technical point of view, this $153 effort gets 95 points at the minimum, maybe higher, earning it a 5 star rating.  I realize it is expensive, but this is such a treat that’s drinking beautifully yet will evolve over time to be even better.  I wish I had a long term cellar so I could stuff a few away.  Salut….

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

Paul Avril Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2021, Rhone, France

04 Saturday Jul 2026

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Continuing with the Rhône theme at our 44th virtual wine tasting- this Chateauneuf-du-Pape was a hit.  Medium (+) intensity garnet colored with medium (+) viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of chocolate covered cherries, cherry coke, funk, creme brûlée, black cherry compote, black raspberry, tobacco, hay, barnyard, bacon fat and a slightly vegetal note.  The palate was dry, with medium acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  We really enjoyed the medium intensity flavors and the medium length finish of this $85 blend of mainly grenache.  It will cellar nicely for a decade or two and scored 92 points technically with 18 points on our tasting sheet garnering 5 stars. Salut….

Paul Avril Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Michel & Stephane Ogier d’Ampuis Plan de Dieu Le Temps est Venu 2020, Cotes du Rhone Villages, France

04 Saturday Jul 2026

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The second wine of the 44th tasting was the opener in the Rhône series.  From the broader AOC, Côtes du Rhône came this little number that runs $18 and provided us all with great pleasure.  Medium ruby/garnet colored, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of stewed strawberry, black cherry, black pepper, funk, compost, sage and garigue.  The palate was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of black pepper, tobacco, ashtray, black cherry and funk led to a medium length finish.  The tasting group enjoyed this entry-level grenache blend and I gave it 90 points on a technical scale, 14 on our tasting sheet.  For the price- it gets 5 stars.  Drink till 20230.   Salut….

Michel & Stephane Ogier d'Ampuis Plan de Dieu Le Temps est Venu

Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala ‘Bramito del Cervo’ Chardonnay 2023, Umbria IGT, Italy

04 Saturday Jul 2026

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We opened the 44th virtual wine tasting with this delicious Italian Chardonnay.  I like the style- unoaked, no MLF…. purity of fruit driven.  Pale straw colored low viscosity (12.5% ABV), it had medium intensity aromas of peach, green apples, citrus, white flower, stone fruit, and pineapple.  High in acidity, it had a medium (-) body that was refreshing, versus cloying.  The palate had lanolin, stone fruit, citrus, lemon, bitter lime and concluded in a long finish.  We tasted the same wine at room temp and found the aroma to be a bit more intense.  This time around- caramel apple, less citrus driven, lower acidity with a heavier body.  Bigger flavor intensity, less citrus on the palate and hints of butter with a shorter finish.  I scored the wine 90 points on a technical scale and on our tasting sheet- 17 for the chilled and 14 for the room temp.  5 stars from me for the $18 price point.  Drink over the short term.  Salut….

Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala 'Bramito del Cervo' Chardonnay

Kirkland Signature Côtes de Provence Rosé 2025, Provence, France

13 Saturday Jun 2026

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Pale strawberry colored, with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon pith, tangerine zest, macerated cherry, white strawberry, orange blossom, and a touch of crunchy cranberry.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors are citrus driven, but the strawberry/cranberry notes are present.  The finish is medium (+) in length and zesty from the acidity, which keeps the wine very refreshing.  On the very back end there is a touch of bitterness, probably from the skin contact, it’s an interesting addition to this delightful wine.  A blend of Grenache (39%), Consult (26%), Syrah (18%), and Vermentino (17%).  I paid under $9 for it and will go with 88 points, making it a 4 star effort to enjoy on a hot summer’s day.  Drink now.  Salut….

Kirkland Signature Rose' Cotes du Provence

Marchesi Antinori La Braccesca Bramasole Cortona Syrah 2021, Tuscany, Italy

09 Tuesday Jun 2026

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Very deep ruby colored, bordering on iodine, with medium viscosity (14.5%ABV).   The nose has medium intensity aromas of charcoal, black plum, dried herb, very ripe cassis, açai berry, Brambleberry, a hint of spice, and some vanilla. The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity, medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins. Flavor intensity is higher than on the nose, really reaching for the dark fruit, some spice and finally a bit of game and iron. The finish is medium (+) in length. Delicious. 92 points for this $51 bottle makes it a 5 star wine to enjoy till 2032.   Salut….

Marchesi Antinori La Braccesca Bramasole Cortona Syrah