Monthly Archives: September 2020

Cameron Hughes Lot 733 Petite Sirah 2018, Sierra Foothills, California

30 Wednesday Sep 2020

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I’m a fan of both the varietal and the region, they are exciting and interesting.  This particular one is opaque and dark purple in the glass.  On the nose I get a melange of blueberry, plum and black cherry.  I often think of the color Purple when I smell this particular scent.  There’s also a touch of oak and lavender.  On the palate it has a great depth of blue fruit and is a touch tannic right off the bat.  There is a nice violet component that comes through on the mid palate, giving the wine a nice rounded flavor profile.  The tannins are a bit raw though, perhaps they need a bit of time.  The finish is very dry with my teeth feeling gritty.  The fruit is abundant though which makes it all worthwhile.  Notes of coffee linger on the long finish.  This wine is a young’un.  Drink after a healthy decant or wait till 2023.  It will last a fair amount in the cellar, till 2029 at the least.  For $18, it’s a 5 star wine that gets 90 points from me.  Salut….

Partem Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Sonoma County, California

28 Monday Sep 2020

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This Sonoma Cab is very bright purple and shows thin legs on the glass.  The nose is mostly raspberry, rhubarb and red cherry.  On the palate I get red fruits, rooibos tea, orange peel and some stoic tannins.  The mid palate is definitely a dry affair of astringent tea, cherry and raspberry.  I’m waiting for an acidic thrust to balance out the gushing tannins.  It happens right at the end, on the long finish that is bone dry and trends towards blacker fruit flavors.  There is a touch of oak on the back end that I like.  This wine is very young and could use some cellaring or decanting.  Drink from 2023 to 2030.  It is well made and I am enjoying its youthful exuberance.  91 points and 5 stars for this reasonably priced gem.  Shocking find!  Salut….

Fattoria La Lecciaia Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013, Tuscany, Italy

28 Monday Sep 2020

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Pale red, absolutely see through.  Strawberries, cherry twizlers and earthy minerality on the nose.  The palate is very racy- the theme continues with red fruits, some sour cranberry to boot and nice fine grained tannins.  There’s a juicy acidity that gives the wine a nice cutting edge.  Right now the mid palate ramps up the concentration of fruit flavors, really red and smooth.  The acidity is on pointe giving me a nice mouthfeel.  The finish is medium in length with a delightful combo of  cranberry, rhubarb, cherry, oak and crunchy tannins.  Delicious, if not a touch young.  Drink till 2028.  92 points.  It’s a 5 star effort at $35, worthy of cellaring a few bottles.  Salut….

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT 2015, Veneto, Italy

28 Monday Sep 2020

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This was the last wine in tasting #9 of the Virtual Wine Tasting Company.  It’s a blend of Corvina and Rondinella with 30% of the fruit undergoing a drying process prior to vinification.  This style of winemaking is very prevalent in Amarone wines so I was intrigued to try this vino.  It’s quite dark and thick in the glass, which is what I was expecting.  On the nose it is quite horrendous IMHO.  Asphalt, baby diaper, cat box, cat pee and tea were all notes from the group. On day 2, it’s pretty much the same for me.  The palate is plummy, surprisingly light, spicy and has notes of blackberry, pepper and is a touch spicy.  On the mid palate it gets a black tea note and some dusty tannins.  The wine finishes a touch dry and has some plums eking out the funky notes for a last minute stand.  The finish lasts a good 30 seconds but is not very pleasant.  85 points from me, perhaps this bottle is not right either?  At $17, it gets 1 star.  Salut….

Abremundos ‘Octava Alta’ 2014, Uco Valley, Argentina

28 Monday Sep 2020

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This wine was all over the shop with the group at the #9 virtual wine tasting.  Some loved it, others hated.  It’s an 80/20 Malbec/Cab Franc blend from Argentina.  It is a very dark shade of purple in the glass.  The nose is chock full of cigar box, smoke, Port wine, tar and oak.  The fruit finally appears after a big swirl- black cherry and Welch’s Grape juice.  There is a concerning acetone whiff, not a good sign.  On the palate it is very rich and upfront with pepper, bitter chocolate, black plum and violet.  That medicinal/tarry note that I am associating with the acetone is bothering me.  The wine finishes with a touch of tannin and some oak influence.  This is not my fave- I think it may have flaws and only gets 86 points from me.  For $35 it only gets 1 star.  Salut….

EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir 2017, Russian River Valley, USA

28 Monday Sep 2020

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This wine was part of the #9 Virtual Wine tasting. I made some notes from others at the event.

It is very extruded and rich looking in the glass- a dark shade or red/purple and nearly opaque.  On the nose I sense a sweet cherry pie note with a touch of Vanilla, black licorice and coffee.  It’s very interesting, that’s for sure.  On the palate I first get black cherry concentrate, chocolate and dare I say- overripe Reb berries?  The mid palate continues the theme with more dark chocolate, Dr. Pepper, licorice.  There is a modicum of tannins and a nice dose of acidity.  The finish is dark and dry.  The wine seems to be a touch sweet and getting more so as it airs out.  It’s not my favorite style of Pinot but it did well at the tasting and for me it’s a 91 point wine.  The complexity and depth are worthy of high marks.  At $40+ it’s a pass for me, but others who enjoy the new world boldness will dig this wine.  It got higher marks from the pros BTW.  3 stars in my book.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Mercouri Estate Kallisto 2018, Peloponnese, Greece

28 Monday Sep 2020

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Kicking off the 9th Virtual Wine tasting was this Greek wine.  I have never tried Assyrtiko before and was very intrigued.  As usual, we tasted both room temperature and then chilled versions of the same bottle.  The nose gave us honeysuckle, cedar, citrus, pear and rose water.  I personally found the wine to be very floral, aromatic and buttery with hints of persimmon.  The palate was honeyed with some lemon, pear, melon and pepper notes all being reported by the group.  To me it continued that floral, aromatic angle and had a touch of acidity but was also a smidge sweet.

The chilled version was much more muted on the nose and the palate.  Members noted cat pee, lemon, squash blossoms, Pez candy and florals.  I added Passion fruit to my descriptors.  It was much better at room temperature where the flavors were abundant but I did enjoy the chilled version and would certainly serve it that way with some seafood, a salad Niçoise or some charcuterie.  Overall this $16 wine is worthy of 90 points and 4 stars.  Salut….

Patricia Green Cellars Reserve Pinot Noir 2018, Willamette Valley, USA

25 Friday Sep 2020

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This Oregonian Pinot is quite dark and nearly opaque, very extracted and brooding.  On the nose I get cinnamon, cherry and black currants.  It’s an interesting mix for this varietal.  The initial palate is telling- very fruity with tannic grip right off the bat.  This is not your typical Old World Pinot folks, it’s full throttle with all the bits and pieces.  Cherry cola, sassafras and a hint of oak are all present.  The mid palate is a continuation of the theme but there is now a hint of acidity showing up.  It’s quite nice if you like this style of Pinot.  The finish is a dry affair, tannins and black tea alongside the red fruits and spice.  It’s not my cup of tea but it will certainly appeal to many.  Technically speaking I would give this $23 wine 90 points and 4 stars.  Drink till 2027 with lighter fare.  Salut….

Scott Peterson ROX Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Sonoma, California

24 Thursday Sep 2020

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This Sonoma gem pours very dark, brooding and inky in the glass.  The palate is somewhat of a surprise- it’s chock full of plum, black berry and chocolate powder.  I also get a whiff of the 14.5% alcohol.  On the palate it is delicious, tannic, and interesting.  Black iodine, plum jam and blackberry compote all hit me.  The wine has a nice dose of tannins that carry through all the way to the finish, not overly dry but present nonetheless.  The mid palate mellows out some from the big burst of fruity goodness.  The tannins are more evident on the gums at this stage and my mouth is starting to pucker.  The finish has dusty mocha, more of that Iodine and obviously those dark fruits.  It could use a touch more acidity but I really am enjoying it for it’s youthful exuberance and unabashed tannic structure. Good use of oak adds to the flavor of this wine and the alcohol that I was concerned about did not materialize.  It will cellar nicely for a few years and pair well with grilled steaks, Osso Bucco or a hearty Venison stew.  Drink till 2026.  91 points my friends and 5 stars for this $20 Cali Cab.  Salut….

D.H. Elliott Pinot Noir 2019, California

23 Wednesday Sep 2020

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It’s a nice shade of see-through purple, as can be expected of this varietal.  On the nose it’s a bit gamy but I eventually get ripe strawberry, cherry and twizzlers candy.  The palate is pleasing with some nice soft red fruit notes.  Red currants, more cherry and an interesting cedar plank note.  On the mid palate I sense some juiciness, the acidity making an entrance and keeping me on my toes.  The flavors get intertwined with some very fine grained tannins that are barely perceptible, yet leave an astringent coating.  The finish is pretty much red fruit and a hint of rhubarb for that sour thrust coupled with a touch of oak.  There is a greenness right at the end that perturbs me, but this is a nice wine that I am enjoying before cooking dinner.  It will go well with roast duck, salmon on the grill or charred Filet Mignon.  I’m guessing it will age for a few years, drink till 2024.  89 points from me and at $10 it’s a steal for Pinot Noir.  5 Stars- would buy again.  Salut….