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Bodegas Escorihuela Gascon 1884 Limited Production Cabernet Franc 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

15 Sunday Feb 2026

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$29, 4 stars, 92 points, Argentina, Cabernet franc, Mendoza


Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, black cherry, capsicum, charred wood, dark pomegranate, licorice, coffee, and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe dark-red fruit, deft oak by way of charred wood, medicinal notes, and coffee.  The telltale green pepper is not as obvious on the palate as it was on the nose.  Silky tannins make this a beautiful wine to sip, everything is in balance and delicious.  The finish is medium (+) in length and invites me to take another sip.  Really good, like 92 points worth.  I paid $29 online, making it a 4 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascon 1884 Limited Production Cabernet Franc

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Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Tradition 2023, Alsace, France

12 Thursday Feb 2026

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$27, 5 stars, 92 points, alsace, france, gewurztraminer


Pale gold in color, with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lychee, rose water, papaya, caramelized ginger, spun honey, white blossom, and tangerine zest.  The palate is off-dry with medium acidity, a full body, and a hint of bitterness.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of tropical fruit center around the lychee and rose water theme.  The bitterness is intriguing me, either a touch of skin contact or that’s what the grape shows off.  Either way, the sweetness, of which there is very little of, is a nice counterbalance.  It’s a delicious, if not heavy wine that I opened to pair with Gumbo.  I think the fruitiness will do well against the dark roux, Andouille, and chicken.  I paid $27 for this wine that gets 92 points from me which makes it a 5 star effort.  I think it has some decent cellaring capacity if you have patience.  Salut….

Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer

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Grifone Primitivo 2024, Puglia IGT, Italy

05 Thursday Feb 2026

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$7, 5 stars, 88 points, Italy, primitivo, puglia, zinfandel


Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, a bluish edge, and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red plum, acai berry, bramble berry, vanilla pod, coffee, baking spices, and old oak.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins.  It’s a very soft mouthfeel.  Medium intensity flavors of plum, vanilla, spice box, acai berry, and white pepper.  The finish of this Zinfandel, (Yes, it’s labeled Primitivo- same thing), is medium in length and retains the freshness of the acidity I got on the initial attack.  It’s a very smooth affair, albeit rather plain.  It defies the American Zin norms of being overripe, jammy and high in alcohol- this one is far more subtle, restrained in heat and certainly balanced.  I paid $7 or so at Trader Joes, what a bargain!  I think it’s worthy of 88 points,  therefore making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Grifone Primitivo Puglia

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Grifone ‘1967’ Toscana IGT Rosso 2021, Tuscany, Italy

03 Tuesday Feb 2026

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$7, 4 stars, 86 points, Italy, sangiovese, toscana igt, tuscany


Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, and a low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of rhubarb, pomegranate, black cherry, green herbs, and licorice.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of black cherry, rhubarb, and pomegranate lead to a medium (-) finish.  I was not expecting much from this $7 bottle from Trader Joes, but find it to be a very serviceable weekday quaffer that gets 86 points from me, earning it 4 stars.  At 6 years of age, it’s time to drink up.  Mostly Sangiovese, with a dash of Cab Sav and a sprinkle of Syrah.  Salut….

Grifone '1967' Toscana IGT Rosso

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G.D. Vajra Albe 2020, Barolo DOCG, Italy

01 Sunday Feb 2026

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$35, 2 stars, 85 points, barolo, Italy, nebbiolo


Pale ruby colored with a medium viscosity (14% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of cherry, some herbs, pomegranate and old wood. There’s really not much there for me. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins. Medium (-) intensity flavors of cherry, herbs, pomegranate and railroad ties. The finish is very juicy, but lacking in much depth of flavor. This is the second time I’ve had this wine with consistent notes of being underwhelmed. 85 points. I don’t get it.  At $35, it’s a 2 star wine in my books.  Salut….

G.D. Vajra Albe
Barolo

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Teliani Vineyards Saperavi 2023, Kakheti, Georgia

30 Friday Jan 2026

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$14, 4 stars, 89 points, cachet, georgia, saperavi


Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (12% ABV).   The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, pomegranate, black cherry, pine sap, a mineral note, acai berry, and fruitcake.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors zero in on the black cherry, pomegranate and black raspberry notes with a black tea hint appearing, its astringency due to the relatively young tannins.   They grip till the very end, past the medium length finish.  I really find this grape to be very interesting.  It’s a teinturier (the flesh is pink colored), which means it is quite deep in color, the tannins are plentiful and the flavors go the dark red fruit route.  This one is nice, getting 89 points from me.  I paid $15, making it a 4 star effort.  It has some aging capacity, so drink till 2033.  Salut….

Teliani Vineyards Saperavi

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Lismore Wines ‘The Retreat’ Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

28 Wednesday Jan 2026

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$10, 5 stars, 90 points, marlborough, new zealand, Sauvignon blanc


Very pale lemon, bordering on straw colored, with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of papaya, cut grass, lime, lemon pith, wax, white and orange blossom, and white peach.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a light body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose, with that bracing acidity keeping it all in check.   It goes down a treat and the finish lasts medium in length, albeit somewhat overshadowed by the cut.  It’s a really tasty wine that exudes aromas and flavors typical for the varietal.  I like it, and I especially like the price- $7, marked down from $10 at Costco, which would have been a bargain itself!  I think this wine gets 90 points and 5 stars for its tremendous value for money.  One to buy in bulk for the summer coming up.  I’m pairing it with Ceviche, salut….

Lismore Wines 'The Retreat' Sauvignon Blanc

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King Family Vineyards Meritage 2022, Monticello, Virginia

21 Wednesday Jan 2026

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$37, 5 stars, 92 points, bordeaux blend, Cabernet franc, Malbec, merlot, Monticello, petit verdot, virginia


Deep ruby bordering on garnet colored, with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of tobacco, blackberry, cassis, black plum, pine needles, coffee, and bramble berry.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit with some tobacco, coffee, oak, spice box, and vanilla.  The finish is medium in length but I also get some heat on the back end.  I like this blend of 51% Merlot, 24% Petit Verdot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec- definitively a Right Bank style, sans Cab Sav.  It grows on me as I sip it, garnering more points for its smoothness and richness.  92 points seems fair from me for this $37 bottle, making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2033.  Salut….

King Family Vineyards Meritage

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King Family Vineyards Crosé Rose 2024, Monticello, Virginia

19 Monday Jan 2026

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merlot, 3 stars, 87 points, $23, rose, virginia, Monticello


Pale peach colored with a watery sheen, indicating low viscosity (11% ABV).  On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of strawberry, papaya, grapefruit pith, almond, and lanolin. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (-) body. Medium intensity flavors of strawberry slushy, grapefruit, papaya and a white flower note. The finish is medium (-) in length. We are pairing this Merlot based wine with Vietnamese rolls. It gets 87 points from me and at $23 ex-chateau, it gets 3 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….


King Family Vineyards Crose Rose

 

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McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Marlborough, New Zealand

15 Thursday Jan 2026

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$14, 5 stars, 90 points, marlborough, new zealand, Sauvignon blanc


Pale lemon colored, with a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of cut grass, cat pee, tangerine, lemon verbena, lime zest, passion fruit, and pink grapefruit.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of grapefruit, lemon, passion fruit, cut grass, and that telltale cat pee. The finish is medium (+) in length.  A consistent wine that I have really enjoyed discovering- read up on the McBride sisters sometime.  90 points from me for this $14 bottle makes it a 5 star effort to stock up on for the summer.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc

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