St. Giorgio Super Tuscan 2020, Toscana IGT, Italy

30 Thursday Apr 2026

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Medium purple colored, with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of cherry, pomegranate, candied red licorice, oak, and a green vegetal hint.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are pretty grippy.  Medium intensity flavors of black cherry, ripe pomegranate, rhubarb, and a touch of oak.  The finish is medium (-) in length and the tannins hang on past the fruit- they are rather aggressive, indicating youth and possibly more cellaring capacity.  I picked this Tuscan blend (Sangiovese, perhaps Cabernet Sauvignon, and maybe Merlot) up for $16.  It gets 89 points from me making it a 4 star effort.  Think pasta with Ragu, or a hunk of beef to pair with.  Salut…..

St. Giorgio Toscana

Firefly Vineyards Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Napa Valley, California

29 Wednesday Apr 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.8% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry jam, cassis, eucalyptus, mint, oak, smoke, leather, tobacco, black plum, baking spice, and vanilla.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose and finish on a long note.  The potent alcohol is well masked, so buyer beware.  The ripeness of the fruit is evident and very rich but starting to meld into the background whilst the tertiary development is beginning.  The silky nature of this wine is very alluring, a rather heavy yet seductive mouthfeel. 92 points from me for this aged bottle, pricing is unknown.  Drink with a hearty steak over the next decade.   Salut….

Firefly Vineyards Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon

Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023, Burgundy, France

28 Tuesday Apr 2026

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Pale garnet colored, with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pomegranate, cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, bark, with a touch of some herbal/vegetal notes.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins that are surprising.  Medium intensity flavors of red fruit coupled with the lively mouthfeel make for a delightful, if somewhat one-dimensional experience.  The finish is medium (-) in length.  Overall, a very serviceable Pinot that runs $16 and gets 89 points from me making it a 4 star effort.  It’s a midweek pop-n-pour, no cellaring required or warranted.  Salut….

Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Forte Incanto Primitivo 2021, Salento IGT Puglia, Italy

27 Monday Apr 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of prunes, stewed blackberry, a medicinal note, brambleberry, purple licorice, and a slightly green vegetal note.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors offer up much the same as the nose, the plums, blackberry, cherry et al have a slightly cooked/stewed slant- indicating maturity of the wine.  It’s kinda young to be showing that level of age.  The mouthfeel however, is silky smooth.  I am actually enjoying this wine more than I thought when I first smelled it.  The finish is medium in length and adds a point or two for its redeeming qualities.  I would say this is a drink-now 89 pointer that gets 4 stars for its $17 price point.  Salut….

Forte Incanto Primitivo

Boschendal Vin d’Or Late Harvest 2016, Western Cape, South Africa

20 Monday Apr 2026

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I bought every bottle the local Philly wine shops had at the time- it was on sale for $15.  The last bottle I drank was stunning, this one- even better.  The color has matured to gold, the elixir, golden.  I took no notes as it was a birthday celebration.  I would rate this as a 95 point wine and put it up against many well known dessert wines.  Luscious with honey, apricot, marmalade, orange blossom.  Structured for the long haul with fantastic acidity, this wine is a shocker for the price paid.  I might have one bottle left from my haul years ago.  Current vintages are Viognier/Riesling blends.  They retail at the winery for about $38 a bottle.  Salut….

boschendal vin d'or noble late harvest

Cos D’Estournel 2001, St. Estephe, France

20 Monday Apr 2026

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For my birthday weekend I opened/will open some treasures from the cellar, including the 2001 Cos.  I did not take real notes as I wanted to enjoy my family, and the wine.  It was stunning.  I remember the day I purchased the case, back in 2003?  I have tasted this wine’s evolution and it is at peak.  Delivering aromas and flavors of  everything you could image a Left Bank wine of such pedigree could offer….. Cassis, tobacco, pencil shavings, plum, blackberry, baking spice, etc etc.  The intensity on the nose and palate were both amazing and the finish clocked in as medium (+) in length.  The tannins have done a good job keeping up with Father Time, fully melded yet still gripping.  Such a lovely, silky bottle with plenty of life left.  95 points from me.  Salut….

cos d'estournel

Hermann J. Wiemer HJW Vineyard Riesling 2019, Finger Lakes, New York

18 Saturday Apr 2026

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Pale lemon colored, with medium viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon pith, petrol, peach, crunchy yellow pear, lanolin, sea spray, and beeswax.  The palate is slightly off-dry, with high acidity, and a medium body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of petrol, peach, lemon zest, lemon pith, underripe pear, saline and lanolin.  The finish is zesty from the high acidity, refreshing, and medium (+) in length.  It’s delicious and worthy of high praise.  I’ve been sitting on this bottle in hopes of seeing tertiary development in light of its obvious aging capacity, but decided to pull it far too young.  It still offers great satisfaction for the $45 price, but will certainly reward further cellaring.  94 points from me making it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Hermann J. Wiemer RIESLING HJW VINEYARD

Justice Pinot Noir 2024, Sonoma Coast, California

15 Wednesday Apr 2026

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Pale ruby colored, with medium viscosity (13.4% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red cherry, strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate, red licorice, and orange blossom.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of red fruit, with rhubarb interjecting its sour note, along with some crunchy tannins.  I doubt this wine has seen any oak, purity of fruit is what’s on offer here.  The finish is medium (+) in length, garnering some points.  It’s a decent drop overall, but it lacks much depth and complexity.  I paid $10, reduced from $15 at Costco.  I would say it gets 89 points and for that price- 4 stars.  I am planning to pair it with Cod, and soft shelled crabs- I know…. not typical.  Drink now.  Salut….

Justice Pinot Noir

Ettl Heideboden Cuvee 2023, Neusiedlersee, Austria

14 Tuesday Apr 2026

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Deep purple colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, cedar plank, elderberry, a medicinal note, green leafy herbs, petrichor, licorice, and acai berry.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  Medium (+) intensity flavors solidify the black fruit and medicinal notes but it’s the ripeness of the fruit that has me curious.  The finish is medium in length and very enjoyable, thanks to the tannins that caress my gums.  It’;s an interesting blend of 75% Zweigelt ( a cross between St. Laurent and Blaufrankisch), 15% Blaufrankisch, and 10% Merlot.  It’s a tasty drop that gets 92 points from me, and at $17, it gets 5 stars.  Enjoy till 2029.  Salut….

Ettl Heideboden Cuvee

Domaine de Rocheville Saumur-Champigny Les Pierres Blanches Cabernet Franc 2023, Loire, France

13 Monday Apr 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of green pepper, black raspberry, a medicinal note, charcoal, red plum, baking spice, and lingonberry.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors overshadow the somewhat light nose.  I get red fruit, spice nuances but less of the pyrazine driven capsicum. It’s got a very soft mouthfeel and I am enjoying the slight tartness balancing out the fine grained tannins.  It’s not a heavy wine, delicate is the key, so I would pair it with lighter fare- chicken, duck, veal and maybe a filet.  It’s drinking nicely now and will cellar until 2030.  91 points, and for the $25 price point- 5 stars.  Salut….

Domaine de Rocheville Saumur-Champigny Les Pierres Blanches Cabernet Franc