Substance ‘Me’ Vineyard Collection Stoneridge Merlot 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington

17 Friday Mar 2023

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$42, 4 stars, 92 points, columbia valley, merlot, washington

Medium garnet, this 4 year old Merlot is starting to show a bit of age already. The nose has some tertiary notes starting to come alive but there is still loads of primary and secondary aromas of black plum, bramble, black raspberry, vanilla, sage and violets. The palate is dry with medium acidity and gritty, medium (+) tannins. The brambly fruit character is there along with vanilla and spice, black raspberry and purple florals with signs of maturity by way of caramel and some desiccated plum. The body is quite full, not surprising since this bottle boasts a 14.5% ABV. The finish is velvety smooth and long with black raspberry dominating. I like the vanilla/oak note on the front end, but it disappears on the back end. Really delicious wine that I am pairing with corned beef since it’s St. Patricks day after all. 92 points from me for this $42 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2028. Salut….

16 Thursday Mar 2023

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$17, 4 stars, 88 points, australia, clare valley, Naked Wines, riesling

Pale lemon-lime colored with a watery sheen in the glass (12% ABV). The nose has intense aromas of grated lemon rind, lime cordial, apricot and paperwhite flowers. The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body. Steely, cutting lime and lemon flavors are very precise along with some rounder apricot and floral notes- the citrus really honing in on the center of my tongue. The acidity is very juicy and refreshing. This wine needs some seafood to temper it a touch. Perhaps a dozen clams on the shell with some plump oysters in all their saline beauty would do the trick. It finishes lean with a medium length. At $ 17 I like this 88 pointer that gets 4 stars from me. I would drink it till 2027. Salut….

Bodegas As Laxas ‘Val do Sosego’ Albarino 2021, Rias Baixas, Spain

15 Wednesday Mar 2023

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$19, 5 stars, 91 points, albarino, rias baixas, spain

Pale lemon with medium thin legs (12.5% ABV). The nose has intense aromas of peach ring, tangerine, apricot, white blossom, marzipan and a touch, no, a smidge of lychee. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a medium body. It is rounded with a silky mouthfeel and I get flavors that are not as intense as the nose but correspond. It’s a delicious wine that I’m tasting at room temperature but would pair beautifully as a chilled accompaniment to shellfish. The finish is medium in length and turns a touch bitter. Yummy stuff that gets 91 points from me and for $19 it’s a 5 star wine to stock up on for the summer. Salut….

Weingut Winzer Krems ‘Kremser Goldberg’ Kellermeister Privat Gruner Veltliner Trocken 2020, Kremstal DAC, Austria

15 Wednesday Mar 2023

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$25, 5 stars, 90 points, austria, grüner veltliner, kremstal

Medium lemon with a touch of petillance and medium legs (13% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon rind, pomelo, white flowers, crushed gravel and pith. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a touch of bitterness and medium body. The flavors I get are citrus dominated per the nose but I also get a rounded, creamy textured note of lemon curd. The finish is medium to long and the crispness of the acidity lingers but is not biting. I like this $25 effort and give it 90 points and 5 stars. Drink till 2025. Salut….

Olivier Ravoire Bandol Le Pont 2019, Provence, France

12 Sunday Mar 2023

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$25, 3 stars, 89 points, bandol, france, grenache, mourvedre, provence

Deep ruby colored, this 60/40 blend of Mourvèdre and Grenache has slow, gobby legs showing off its 14% ABV. The nose is meaty and gamey right off the bat. Black fruit galore with blackcurrants, blackberry, mulberry, wild herbs, licorice and menthol. The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins. A full bodied wine with dark fruits, herbs (aka garrigue) and some smoky game meat all meld together nicely to form a very pleasing flavor profile with nice balance and decent structure. It’s not overly complex but has a primal sense to it. 89 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 3 star effort to drink till 2028. I’m doing a Sunday roast to pair with- should work out just right! Salut….

Maxville Lake Winery ‘Maxville’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, California

11 Saturday Mar 2023

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$65, 5 stars, 93 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, chiles valley, napa valley

Inky purple in the glass, this opaque wine has thick, slow moving legs and leaves a stain on the glass (14.5% ABV). The nose has ripe and concentrated aromas of cassis, blackberry pie, perfumed violet, vanilla and blueberry alongside baking spices. The palate is dry with medium acidity and very fine grained tannins that grip nicely. The rich, ripe black fruit and cassis syrup are evident as is the oak influence which is in check. Full bodied, this wine leads me to a long finish that has some charred oak hints as well. At 5 years old, it is drinking beautifully and will do so till 2030. I’m pairing it with braised lamb and roasted sweet potato. It would go nicely with a filet au poivre with gratin potatoes as well. 93 points from me for this $65 bottle makes it a 5 star wine to savor. Salut….

Renieri Invetro Toscana IGT 2018, Tuscany, Italy

10 Friday Mar 2023

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$18, 5 stars, 91 points, Italy, sangiovese, super tuscan, tuscany

Deep dark purple color with medium legs (14% ABV). The nose of this Sangiovese, Merlot and Cab Sav blend has some exotic dark fruit aromas- mulberry, boysenberry, elderberry with vanilla, coffee bean, baking spices, eucalyptus and camphor (yup). The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and finely grained medium (+) tannins. The body is full and the flavors echo the dark berry notes I got on the nose. I’m missing the pungent camphor but I get oak influence by way of vanilla and baking spice. The wine retails for $18 and got a big score. I’m thinking 91 points and 5 stars. Tonight- it’s pasta with meatballs, sausages and meat sauce- this will pair beautifully. Drinking window till 2026. Enclosed by a glass stopper btw. Salut….

Bodega Mauricio Lorca Reserve Malbec 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

09 Thursday Mar 2023

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$14, 4 stars, 89 poitns, Argentina, Malbec, Mendoza, Naked Wines, Uco Valley

Deep purple colored with a secondary tinge of dark brown showing a touch of turbidity. Slow but thin legs show off the 13.6% ABV. The nose has medium intensity aromas of black currant, plum, vanilla, menthol, coffee, violets and black tea. The palate is dry with medium acidity and tannins alongside a medium body with flavors of black plum blackberry, vanilla and coffee. The nose is more intense and offers more complexity but the palate is very smooth and delicious. The nose was confusing me- it has aromas that would point to Cab Sav or even Merlot but it’s the structural parts on the palate that confirm it to be a Malbec- soft and juicy with an easy to drink tannic structure coupled with lower acidity. The finish is a touch short but there’s some charred oak notes alongside the dark fruit. I like this $14 effort a lot and give it 89 points, making it a 4 star wine. Tonight I am pairing it with baked Corned Beef and roasted potatoes. Drink till 2025. Salut….

Lustau Jerez Palo Cortado Peninsula Sherry, Jerez, Spain

08 Wednesday Mar 2023

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$26, 4 stars, 90 points, jerez, palomino, sherry, spain

This is my first Palo Cortado style sherry. It looks divine- pale amber in the glass. The nose offers up nuts, yeasty notes from Flor, caramel and toffee with dried orange rind. It has quite a bitter entry with exotic flavors I have never come across. Dry with medium (+) acidity and a full body, this wine coats my mouth with tangy yeast and nuts with a citrus twist. It’s unique for sure and offers a glimpse into another style of winemaking that is quite different- google Palo Cortado, you’ll see what I mean. The fortification of this wine makes it a touch hot on the back end but I am really enjoying the nutty finish with that very singular Flor component. I paid $26 to get this bottle- it rated 90 with the pros, who am I to argue? 4 stars. Drink upon opening, Salut….

St. Emilion visit

07 Tuesday Mar 2023

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bordeaux, france, st. Emilion

When Moxie and I were in Bordeaux we had the opportunity to visit wineries in Pauillac, St. Estephe and Sauternes but coffee in the beautiful town of St. Emilion was amazing. Our day started with a 40 minute drive north from the city center, across both the Garonne and Dourdogne rivers followed by a serene drive through vineyards until we happened upon this medieval looking town basking in the bright sunshine. Parking the car close to the center, we wondered into the town and explored some narrow streets, the main square and some wine shops. Our quick tour culminated in a morning dose of espresso at a café. Our appointment at a winery precluded too much sightseeing but this is a town worthy of exploring. It is stunningly beautiful and surrounded by some of the most famous wineries. Well worth the visit. Salut….