Category Archives: Wine reviews

Dona Maria White 2022, Alentejo, Portugal

24 Monday Mar 2025

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My tasting group kicked off this session with this Arinto from Portugal.  We tasted it chilled and then at room temp.  We noticed it was medium lemon colored with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of grapefruit, honeysuckle, apricot, nectarine, pineapple, sea spray, and wet rock lending it a touch of  minerality.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, and a light body.  It was more tart than I was expecting with flavors of grapefruit, slightly unripe pineapple, honeysuckle, nectarine and apricot as well as some salinity.  The finish was rather short yet inviting.  I gave it 13 points on our scale.

The room temperature tasting was surprising.  Less intense aromas that kicked off with a wet wool smell.  Someone mentioned acetone- Gosh I hope not.  A more intense pineapple alongside lanolin, less intense honeysuckle, saline, wet rock and stone fruit.  The palate seemed less acidic but heavier in body.  Apricot featured the most with honeysuckle, yellow apple, and lanolin supporting.  The finish was more pronounced and longer yet I scored this one lower at 11 points on our scale.  Overall- this is a 90 point wine that I thoroughly enjoyed the following night, well chilled.  It runs $18 therefore I consider it a 4 star effort to drink by 2028.  Shrimp scampi comes to mind.  Salut….

Dona Maria White arinto

Perroud ‘Amethyste’ Brouilly 2018, Beaujolais, France

21 Friday Mar 2025

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Medium ruby tending to garnet colored, with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of violets, spring flowers, grape, acai berry, boysenberry,  red raspberry, and some baking spice.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins.  The flavors start off a little tart but they build into decently ripe fruit- red raspberry, acai berry, boysenberry and grape.  The florals I got on the nose are feint, as is the spice.  The whole package melds into a rather short, watery finish that leaves a touch of bitterness and tartness on the back end.  It’s an interesting wine as it keeps drawing me in for another sip.  Not one to argue- I oblige and find myself liking this wine even more by the sip even though it doesn’t merit a high technical score.  88 would be fair and for $20 it gets 3 stars.  I’m baking a  half duck to pair with this Gamay based wine.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Les Freres Perroud Amethyste Brouilly

Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir 2021, Martinborough, New Zealand

16 Sunday Mar 2025

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Medium ruby colored, slightly hazy (Unfined/unfiltered?), with a medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe cranberry, red cherry compote, vanilla bean, baking spice, rhubarb pie, and lingonberry preserves.  It’s quite dense and ripe.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins.  The red fruit flavors are quite pronounced, the vanilla and accompanying oak influence is very subtle and well integrated.  The tannins melt away beautifully and give this wine a lovely mouthfeel.  The finish has a touch of charred oak alongside some ever so slight tart and bitter notes.  It’s a really nice rendition of Kiwi Pinot- extracted a bit more than Burgundy, not as jammy as a Cali and showing off its own unique terror.   Nicely done- 93 points worth for this $100 offering which makes it a 4 star effort in my books.  I’m pairing it with roast duck breast, sugar snap peas and some boiled potatoes.  Drink till 2036.  Salut….

Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir

Villa Mora Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014, Umbria, Italy

15 Saturday Mar 2025

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Deep garnet colored with a copper highlight, slight staining, and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of brambleberry, black cherry, roasted licorice, eucalyptus, singed alder, smoky dried herbs, vanilla, coffee, and old railroad ties.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and high tannins that grip.  The flavors are somewhat muted by the aggressive tannins which are stripping the enamel off my teeth.  I do finally coax black berries, black cherry and a myriad of oak nuances- coffee, vanilla, smoke, etc.  The high alcohol is well masked and the balance (apart from the tannins) is very nice.  I will aerate the rest of the bottle for a smoother sip.  I reckon this wine has quite a bit of life left and should cellar nicely till 2035.  I’m going with 91 points for this $35 bottle, making it a 4 star wine to pair with juicy steaks, pasta or grilled game.  Salut….

Villa Mora Montefalco Sagrantino

Signature des Princes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2023, Rhone, France

14 Friday Mar 2025

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Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, rhubarb, cranberry, acai berry, violet, orange peel, dusty oak (reminiscent of sawdust), licorice, and some spice box.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors with a touch of bitterness lead to a red-fruit dominated finish that is medium in length with some obvious heat coming through.  It’s quite nicely balanced except for the alcohol hit at the end. A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre- typical for the region.  89 points from me and for $35, it gets 3 stars.  It will cellar nicely till 2028 and pair with lighter game, filet mignon or a hearty stew.  Salut….

Signature des Princes Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Substance Chardonnay 2021, Columbia Valley, Washington

01 Saturday Mar 2025

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Pale lemon colored with gold highlights, and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon zest, butter, vanilla, melon, orange blossom, and a trace of peach.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body.  Medium intensity flavors of lemon curd, melon, butter, vanilla, orange blossom, and peach.  The mouthfeel is round and pleasing, not cutting or lithe.  It begs for some grilled shrimp, Mackerel filets or smoked salmon.  The finish is medium (+) in length and gives me a salted caramel note.  It’s always a pleasure to drink wines from the house of Smith, they offer tremendous quality to price ratios and are consistent.  This one gets 92 points from and for $13 it’s a screaming good 5 star deal.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Substance Chardonnay

Kakhuri Gvinis Marani KGM Saperavi Argo Ceramic Bottle 2023, Kakheti, Georgian Republic

28 Friday Feb 2025

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Medium ruby colored with garnet edges, and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of briar, red raspberry, black cherry, tomato stalk, cranberry, kiln dried oak, and a vegetal note (not obnoxious btw).  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins.  Medium  intensity flavors of slightly tart red raspberry, black cherry, dusty briar, tomato stalk, cranberry and that dried wood smell.  The wine thins out a bit on the back end and finishes on a light bodied, somewhat watery note.  Saperavi is a teinturier grape- the flesh is plum colored as well as the skin.  I was hoping for a bit more extraction in this $25 bottle but alas it was not meant to be.  86 points from me makes this a 3 star effort to try over the short term.  Salut….

Kakhuri Gvinis Marani Saperavi Argo Dry

Kukkula Winery Pas de Deux 2017, Adelaida District Paso Robles, California

24 Monday Feb 2025

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Deep garnet colored with slight staining, and a medium viscosity (15.1% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of acai berry, mulberry, smoke, toasty oak, black raspberry, iodine, smoked game, baking spice, dried lavender, and a medicinal note.  It is quite complex and alluring.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins that are a touch grippy.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of black raspberry, acai berry, smoked meat, toasted oak, baking spice with herbal notes of lavender and that medicinal note which is oak derived.  The alcohol presents on the back end but I am enjoying the tamed tannins and rich fruit.  It’s a lovely package that goes on mid length.  I would pair this 91 point wine with a grilled steak and gratin potatoes.  It runs $65 ex-chateau and therefore gets 3 stars from me.  Drink this 70/30 blend of Grenache and Syrah till 2035. Salut….

Kukkula Winery Pas de Deux

Santa Carolina ‘Carolina’ Reserva Carmenere 2019, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

19 Wednesday Feb 2025

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Medium ruby colored with a purple meniscus, and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of bell pepper, black raspberry, blackcurrant, licorice, violet, perfume, loam, and brambleberry.  It’s quite a green nose but intriguing and layered.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Flavor intensity is medium and mimics the fruit of the nose but with less green pepper, not as vegetal.  Violets and perfume with some earthy loam round out the flavors.  The finish is very interesting- almost sweet with ripe black fruit intertwined with some earthy and floral elements that run medium length.  I like this wine, it has complexity and balance and it’s interesting.  91 points at least and for $13, it’s a steal worthy of 5 stars.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Santa Carolina 'Carolina' Reserva Carmenere

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carre 2022, Rhone Valley, France

18 Tuesday Feb 2025

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Medium ruby colored turning to a watery meniscus, with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache/Syrah blend has medium (-) intensity aromas of blueberry, red raspberry, tar, juniper, licorice, charred oak, acai berry, and tomato stalk. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are a touch gritty.  Flavors of raspberry, blueberry, acai, tar, licorice and green notes of juniper and tomato stalk.  There’s an interesting astringency that keeps me wanting another sip.  The finish is medium in length and somewhat austere.  I kinda like it!  The heat is noteworthy on the back end unfortunately.  This is a delicious, slightly green wine that will pair nicely with stews, game meats or Duck breast.  It gets 90 points from me and for $25, 4 stars.  Drink till 2032.  Ps. It has opened up nicely with a bit of air.  Salut….

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carre