Category Archives: Wine reviews

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

Gramercy Cellars ‘Lower East’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Columbia Valley, Washington

16 Sunday Feb 2025

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, black plum, blackberry, vanilla, baking spice, acacia, and a slight green note (tomato stem?).  The palate is dry with medium  acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are silky.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruits, some oak integration by way of a lovely medicinal note coupled with vanilla and baking spice.  There’s a really nice finish that is medium (+) in length but super smooth, the tannins are polished and balanced nicely with the acidity.  The ripeness of the fruit is evident without being jammy- a really enjoyable bottle that gets 93 points from me and for $35- it’s a 5 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Gramercy Cellars 'Lower East' Cabernet Sauvignon

Sam Plunkett The Butterfly Effect Cabernet Shiraz 2021, Victoria, Australia

11 Tuesday Feb 2025

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Deep purple colored turning slightly bluer on the edges with slight staining and medium viscosity (14.3% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe plum, eucalyptus, vanilla, blackberry, brambleberry, baking spices, purple licorice, tomato leaf, green and black peppercorns, and acai berry.  It’s jam packed with dark fruit aromas.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins that are plush.  The ripe black fruit weaves through eucalyptus, vanilla and spice notes.  The green note I caught on the nose repeats on the mid palate with a touch of unripe stem coupled with some charred oak notes.  The finish is juicy and medium (-) in length.  I am enjoying the melange of flavors in this $13 bottle and think it will benefit from some short term cellaring.  I give it 89 points and 4 stars.  Salut….

Sam Plunkett The Butterfly Effect Cabernet Shiraz

Albert Bichot Bourgogne Pinot Noir Origines 2022, Burgundy, France

10 Monday Feb 2025

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Pale ruby colored fading to a platinum rim, with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose of this Pinot Noir has medium intensity aromas of forest floor, cranberry, white strawberry, pomegranate, vanilla, baking spices, and a green stalk note.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a light body, and low tannins that make for a very gentle and caressing mouthfeel.  The flavors are of medium (-) intensity and echo the nose particularly with the red fruit notes.  It’s not as earthy on the palate and the green notes are very feint.  The finish is a slightly tart affair that is medium in length and refreshing.  It’s a crisp red that is pleasing without being overly complex, a good weekday drop.  For $23 it’s a pretty decent bottle that gets 89 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink till 2027 with lighter meats, salmon or poultry.  Salut….

Albert Bichot Bourgogne Pinot Noir Origines

Don Benigno Medium Dry Amontillado NV, Jerez, Spain

05 Wednesday Feb 2025

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Pale amber colored, with high viscosity (17.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dried nuts, prune, sea salt, yeast, burnished oak, dryer sheet (I know….), and Brazil nut.  The palate is dry (even though the name says medium dry), with medium acidity, and a full body.  There’s an interesting amalgamation of flavors at play- the nutty notes including Brazil and dry roasted nuts combine with the stewed fruit and oak derived nuance.  The proximity to the sea is evident by the ocean spray notes and the yeast component is a telltale that this wine started out life as a Fino under a layer of Flor.  I love the style.  At $15, you really can’t go wrong with this aperitif wine that gets 88 points from me and 4 stars.  Salut….

Don Benigno medium dry Amontillado SherryDon Benigno

Wagner Vineyards Caywood East Vineyard Dry Riesling 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

04 Tuesday Feb 2025

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Pale straw colored with a watery sheen (11.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of petrol, lanolin, lemon zest, pomelo, white blossom, green almond, wet rock, strawberry leaf (I know…), nectarine, and green apple.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors of lemon zest, white grapefruit, white blossom, wet rock, and lanolin with a slight astringency on the mid palate.  The finish is quite tart, the acidity still very much in play.  Lemon, grapefruit and petrol carry through to a rather long finish.  It’s a young Riesling, with plenty of cellaring capacity and the ability to develop tertiary notes.  I paid $25 at the cellar door for this 90 point wine that gets 4 stars.  My pairing is a baked Halibut with beurre blanc.  Salut….

Wagner Vineyards Caywood East Vineyard Dry Riesling

F. Stephen Millier Black Label Petite Sirah 2021, California

03 Monday Feb 2025

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Deep purple colored with medium staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  Medium  intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, grilled black plum, eucalyptus, cocoa powder, tomato leaf, and a hint of shredded coconut.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe blackberry, black currant, black plum, spice, eucalyptus, cocoa powder and that green note which I am enjoying.  The finish is lush- gobs of ripe fruit with the silky tannins make for a delicious medium length ending.  Lovely stuff that I am pairing with pan-seared ribeyes.  91 points.  Drink this $14 wine till 2028.  5 stars.  Salut….

F. Stephen Millier Black Label California Petite Sirah

Sharon Weeks Cattoo Malbec 2021, Paso Robles, California

30 Thursday Jan 2025

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Deep purple colored with medium viscosity (14.3% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, dark chocolate, blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry and tomato stalk.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are powdery.  Medium intensity flavors of dark berries, chocolate, black cherry, and that green note I got on the nose.  Malbec is a very easy variety to love, its structure and mouthfeel are very user friendly and this is no exception.  The finish is medium (+) in length- showing off the lovely fruit as well as the gorgeous tannins.  I like this $15 effort a lot.  90 points and 5 stars.  It’s a very nice wine that we’re pairing with roast beef sandwiches.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Sharon Weeks Cattoo Malbec

Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet Reserva 2019, Vinho Regional Tejo, Portugal

29 Wednesday Jan 2025

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The Alicante Bouschet variety is one of the select group of Teinturier grapes, the pulp being red in color.  This produces a dark wine that used to be a blending partner to lighter wines.  Nowadays, single variety bottling are more common and can be truly delicious, usually at a reasonable price point.

Deep ruby colored with very slight staining, and high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, black plum, brambleberry, eucalyptus, black currant, chocolate, spice box and vanilla.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are integrating nicely.  Rich, ripe black fruits coat the gums whilst the spicebox, vanilla, chocolate and some green herbs add nuance.  The finish is quite long and refined.  The fruit and tannins work well together and are very balanced.  I love this wine- especially at the $15 price point.  It gets 92 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet

Basilisco ‘Fiordimarna’ 2017, Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG, Italy

28 Tuesday Jan 2025

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Inky purple colored with slight staining, and high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of pipe tobacco, charred oak, ripe black plum, acai berry, vanilla nib, espresso, brambleberry, smoke, granite, and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and high tannins that literally coat my whole mouth- wowza.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe black fruit with several oak influencers including vanilla, coffee, medicinal notes, smoke, tobacco and obviously the charred oak.  The tannins may be ferocious but they melt away to a powdery finish that lasts medium length and includes some black tea.  It’s a young bottle for sure that needs some hefty steaks or a rich Ragu.  93 points from me for this $35 bottle makes it a 5 star wine that either needs a few years in cellar or a serious aerating.  Drink till 2035 easily.  Salut….

Basilisco Fiordimarna Aglianico del Vulture