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

 

Eco Terreno Leoncito 2018, Alexander Valley, California

21 Friday Aug 2026

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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

20 Thursday Aug 2026

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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

14 Friday Aug 2026

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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