Category Archives: Wine reviews

Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Merlot 2016, Sonoma Valley, USA

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

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Pretty dark and broody in the glass.  The nose gives me leather, smoke and a touch of oak alongside dark plums.  The palate is a bit obscure, the fruit is battling with a volatility that’s throwing me off.  I do get Charcoal, blackberries, more plum and that smoky leathery component.  It’s a rather interesting combo that really takes off on the mid palate, where the wine finally comes together.  Medium grade tannins don’t punish the gums but give the wine a nice structure.  They caress over the decent length finish that has a long, dry presence to go with the black berry and charcoal notes I tasted.  Overall this wine was much better on night 2, after the Virtual tasting #6.  I’m going 89 points and for $29 it gets 3 stars.  Drink till 2024.  Salut….

Hartford Family Winery Hartford Court Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018, Sonoma County, USA

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

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Typical for the varietal, it shows a semi opaque light purple color in the glass.  The nose is stunning- cherries, cinnamon, blackberry.  On the palate this wine is fruity, New World in style but somewhat restrained.  Red fruit galore, some pepper and a hint of upfront acidity.  The midpalate gives me cherry jam, some cedar and an intro to the very lithe tannins.  This is some lip smacking juice people, absolutely delicious with a very nice mouthfeel and great balance.  The finish is medium in length, juicy with some sour cherry and mid length.  For $30 this is a great Pinot from one of my favorite wine making regions, the Russian River Valley.  92 points from me and 5 stars, buy it by the case.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domäne Wachau – Freie Weingartner Terrassen Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 2018, Wachau, Austria

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

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Pale shade of yellow, this Austrian native kicked off the Virtual Wine Tasting Company’s 6th event.  We drank it at room temp as well as chilled.  I did not think it performed well at the tasting and am now re-tasting the following night indoors.  The nose exhibits tons of citrus, some lanolin and green apple.  The palate has minerality and a nice acidic cut.  Lemon/lime like a 7-Up alongside an austere green streak that make this a very sharp wine.  It cuts in the right places and refreshes as it goes.  I did not care for it initially, but I now think it fits the billing for a decent, inexpensive Gruner.  The finish is very refreshing and would pair well with seafood, perhaps a spicy Arrabiata but it will shine poolside on a hot day.  88 points and 3 stars for this $15 white.  Salut….

Chateau Musar 1998, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

25 Saturday Jul 2020

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I bought two Magnums of the 1998 vintage from the winery, back in 2009.  This particular bottle was opened for a Middle Eastern themed dinner of Meze and Shish Kebabs.  Being a huge fan of Chateau Musar, I could hardly contain myself.  My cellaring proved worthwhile.

Semi opaque with a touch of orange bricking which I see on every bottle I have drunk, regardless of age. On the nose- classic Musar. Cherry reduction, cinnamon, integrated oak, spice box and dried cranberry. On the palate it is super smooth, with red fruit compote, cherry and tobacco.  The mid palate is really juicy with nice acidity.  A faint note of super integrated tannins are evident.  This 22 year old wine is still young. The finish is long, with cranberries, more cherry and complex flavors melding.  I find that Musar has a consistent flavor reminiscent of Brettanomyces (Brett), which gives it a peculiar barnyard note.  It is controlled and in such a low dose that it adds flavor, complexity and signature to this iconic brand.  I am giving this wine 94 points, drink till 2040.  Found online for $80, it’s a 5 star wine that you really should look for.  Spectacular, but not to everyone’s taste.  The Cinsault dominates the flavors, with Cab Sav and Carignan supporting.  Shish Kebabs are an obvious pairing!  Salut….

Barboursville Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Franc 2010, Virginia, USA

20 Monday Jul 2020

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The third Magnum of my Barboursville vertical was well worth the wait.  After breaking the wet cork the bottom half fell into the bottle, that was the only negative.  In the glass this 10 year old showed bits of floating cork, semi opaque red to dark red color.  On the nose- tobacco, leather, ripe plum, licorice and a whiff of alcohol.  On the palate it gives off a mature palate of secondary flavors already mentioned, some well integrated tannins, cassis and dark blueberry compote.  Delicious, aged correctly and offering a mix of fruit and tertiary flavors.  There is a nice acidity, not overbearing but just ever so present on the long finish.  Nice mouthfeel, good structure and juicy fruitiness makes this a 91 point wine. Available at the winery for $180 in large format, it has paid dividends.  5 stars for yet another example of great Virginian Cabernet Franc.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 694 Syrah 2018, Santa Barbara County, California

12 Sunday Jul 2020

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My friends and I ordered this Syrah to be tasted at our virtual event- 6 bottles in total sent to various places in the Northeast and Texas.  When I opened mine, I was mortified, it smelled like a fish market.  I let everyone open theirs and one by one the reaction was similar.  I don’t know if we had a bad batch, but all were shipped independently to different addresses and have been sitting for 5 to 6 weeks.  I hope this is not indicative of the wine, perhaps a bad barrel.  Anyway, for now I would not order this wine.  Shame as it was going to round out our 10th wine from CH, I was hoping to finish with a bang.  0 stars.  No points allotted.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 704 Pinot Noir 2018, Carneros, California

12 Sunday Jul 2020

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Talk about a New World version of Pinot.  This wine was full of stuffing- evident right away.  In the glass it was brooding, dark and semi opaque.  The nose was full throttle- big, ripe cherry, cinnamon, plum and sassafras.  A heady palate ensued with fruit flavors clamoring for attention, pushing aside the lithe tannins and making the acidity stand in line to be noticed.  If you like big, fruit forward versions of Pinot, this one is right up your alley.  Technically speaking, it gets 90 points from me but is not really my cup of tea.  I prefer a more restrained style of Pinot, a là Burgundy, or even cooler climate a là Oregon.  This wine comes from a great appellation and is well made.  At $16 a pop, it’s well worth stashing a few and drinking over the next 6 years.  5 stars.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 625 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, California

12 Sunday Jul 2020

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I tasted this wine previously and liked it enough to order some for the virtual tasting #5.  I think I preferred it the first time around, this bottle seemed a little tired and over the plateau.  The wine showed secondary flavors of tobacco, leather, horse whip but lacked much core fruit and tannic structure.  Overall it scored 88 points from me with a drink now recommendation.  $24 is not over the top, but I would not order more.  We decanted 6 hours prior, that may have made the difference.  3 stars.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 633 Riesling 2017, Napa Valley, California re-visited

12 Sunday Jul 2020

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This was our opening wine at virtual tasting #5.  As before, I had everyone reserve half at room temperature and chill the other half.  Mixed results as usual with some enjoying the rounder, fuller nose and palate of the unchilled version whilst others preferred the slight cut and edge of the chilled.  I got quince, pineapple and honey.  It was not very acidic, nor was it sweet, a trait commonly found in Riesling.  Overall a very serviceable white that I will be ordering more of.  87 points this time around, which contrasts with the last time I drank it.  My previous notes showed it to be sweeter but I preferred it in this iteration whilst scoring it lower….  hmmm.  $13 is a good price btw, 4 stars.  Salut….

Domaine Pascal & Mireille Renaud Pouilly-Fuisse Cuvee Vieilles Vignes 2017, Maconnais, France revisited

12 Sunday Jul 2020

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This is the second go at this Pouilly-Fuissé.  It is tasty as before and has evolved somewhat with new flavors evident.

Light gold in the glass.  Pineapple, white peach and honeycomb on the nose.  The palate is round with notes of almond, pineapple, melon and that honey twist.  The mid palate is plump with nice honeyed tones, some lemon marmalade, a waxy component and lanolin.  The finish is quite long and pleasing.  There is a touch of lingering acidity but it doesn’t cut, the rounder mouthfeel is evident and very pleasant.  It lacks much minerality, focusing more on fruit flavors with a touch of wood influence.  91 points and for $40, a great intro to Burgundy and the hallowed Chardonnay.  Drink this 4 star effort till 2027.  Salut….