Category Archives: Wine reviews

Storm Chaser Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Reserve 2015

03 Saturday Nov 2018

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One of the lightest, most clear wines I have ever seen.  On the nose- strawberry, violets, maraschino cherry and a faint touch of oak.  On the palate it is lithe, smooth, tasty and well balanced.  Strawberries and rhubarb hit me.  The mid palate is so smooth and brimming with red fruits.  The tannins are quite present for a Pinot, I am enjoying them immensely.  The dryness continues on the medium to long finish which has more strawberry.  92 points for this very seductive wine made by Eola Hills that gets 5 stars.  $45 at the cellar door.   Drink till 2025 with roast Cornish hens, NY Strip or some cheese and crackers.  Salut….

Bodegas Balbas Ardal Seleccion Especial Reserva 2010, Ribera del Duero, Spain

03 Saturday Nov 2018

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Really bright, rich purple in the glass.  The nose offers up sweet cherry concentrate, with blackberries and dare I say- banana?  On the palate the wine is super smooth, polished and oozing blackberry coulis, sage and creosote.  The mid palate shows off some delightful dryness from the juicy tannins.  The overall mouthfeel is really nice, starting out very smooth, building on a dryness and finishing with a tannic yet acidic bite.  Tasty.  The dark fruits carry on throughout.  You could pair this wine with many dishes or just drink it alone, but the back end grip really calls for Ribeye.  Plain and simple.  94 is what it gets from me and the pros.  This is a big wine folks.  5 stars only because I can’t give 6 for this amazing $17 bottle.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Chateau Rochecolombe Cotes du Rhone 2016, France

03 Saturday Nov 2018

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Really rich hues of purple in the glass.  The nose contains a certain funk…. not sure if that blows away.  Earthy, plum, iodine and ink all come to mind while swirling.  The initial palate is typical for the region.  Bold, punchy and full of black fruits.  Great balance between the medium tannins and acidity alongside a dollop of blackberry jam.  The midpalate is drier, more primal.  The dark fruits hold on and overcome the tannic bite, barely.  This wine is a seesaw of fruit vs. structure- I’m loving it.  The finish is long, dry with heaps of blackberry, oregano and olives.  Very much in-your-face.  91 points, drink till 2024 with charcuterie, roasted game, lamb chops or a hearty pasta.  This is tasty stuff folks.  5 stars for the $17 price tag.  Salut….

Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012, Tuscany, Italy

25 Thursday Oct 2018

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After a cork failure, I had to sift through the debris to find a light purple wine that is nearly see-through. The nose has pencil lead, plums, sour cherries.  The palate is somewhat lighter than I imagined, cherry being the prime player here.  There is a certain amount of garigue I sense in addition to mushroom and leather.  The acidity is slightly overpowering the mild tannins, but I don’t mind.  It has a nice cut to it.  The astringency hits on the finish, where the tannic dryness grips the gums.  I would say the fruit has really taken a back seat here.  Drink till 2021 with pasta, pizza or charcuterie.  88 points and 3 stars from me for this $15 wine.  Salut….

Cantina Colomba Bianca ‘Vitese’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT 2016, Sicily, Italy

23 Tuesday Oct 2018

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Inky purple with medium opaque hues.  Nose is crushed blueberries with black berry jam.  The palate is lovely, blueberry with açaí berry and fig.  The tannins are so sleek, they sneak up on me at the end.  The mid palate has a nice body to it and shows off more blue fruits.  The finish is of medium length, slightly dry and more of a black fruit tint.  90 points and 5 stars for this $12 wine.  Paired with Truffled Ravioli, seared Petit Sirloin and tomato jam.  Drink till 2022.  Salut….

The Vineyards at Hershey Merlot NV, Hershey PA

22 Monday Oct 2018

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My old college buddy Japes took me to this winery for a tasting.  I enjoyed the Merlot the most out of their offerings in red and brought home this $25 non-vintage bottle.  It is slightly cloudy in the glass, with nice shades of lighter purple.  On the nose- damson, sea salt, iodine and blueberry pie.  The palate is very smooth with flavors of blueberry, plum ganache and cedar shake.  The tannins grip slightly more than I remember and are a welcome addition to the mid palate.  The wine transitions to the back end in a seamless manner, the flavors are consistent throughout.  The acidity is very nicely balanced with the structure and gives this wine a 3-5 year drinking window.  Since there are no vintages, it’s anyones guess when this bottle was made.  The label quotes Cherry as the initial flavor, I somewhat disagree, could be bottle or vintage variation.  Anyway, it is tasty and the vineyard is a neat place to visit, especially if they have an event going on.  It gets 88 points and 3 stars from me.   Salut….

Amalthea Cellars Reserve Merlot 2015, Outer Coastal Plain, USA

22 Monday Oct 2018

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This is the second bottle of Amalthea that my cousin brought over.  Bluish purple with nice legs showing in the glass.  The nose has plum, blueberry and filberts.  The palate has rich blue fruits, juicy acidity, nice tannins from the outset and a hint of that nuttiness I caught on the nose.  The wine transitions nicely to the mid-palate and finish where the tannins really grip.  More blueberries, black tea and a mineral note close it out.  The wine is very balanced with really well crafted tannins that give a nice level of dryness without astringency.  This is a much smoother wine than the Cabernet, which can be expected with the varietals.  It paired nicely with my Tri-Tip roast, Yorkshire pudding and roasted potatoes.  Drink till 2024.  91 points and 5 stars for this $21 effort.  Of note- both wines have had freezing issues which does not harm the wine, only crystalizing some sediment in the glass.  Salut….

Crystals from freezing

Tri Tip Roast

 

Chateau de Macard 2015, Bordeaux Superieur, France

18 Thursday Oct 2018

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A very clean, pure purple of lighter opacity in the glass.  On the nose black cherry, espresso and currant extract.  On the palate I get black fruits, a hint of cassis, vanilla and coffee bean.  The mid palate exhibits a lighter shade of the berries, somewhat more reedy.  The finish shows off tart black berries and slight tannins.  They build up after a while to a dry finish.  I’m doing Chorizo tacos as a potential pairing….  we will see how that works.  89 points and 3 stars for this $14 wine.  Drink till 2022.  Salut….

Amalthea Cellars Clone II Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Outer Coastal Plain NJ, USA

18 Thursday Oct 2018

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A gift from my cousin (we’ll call him Sharma).  Dark purple, very opaque.  The nose is intriguing.  Plums, charcoal, crushed rock, a certain minerality.  The palate is delicious with a toasty oak note opening it up, followed by grilled plum, black olive, bacon and delightful tannins.  The flavors carry through to the end where the astringency of the tannins hit.  There is a nice mouthfeel throughout and the acidity is very well balanced.  The greenness of the back end gives me a check.  I’ll get over it, I’m sure.  Overall a delicious New Jersey Cabernet worthy of 91 points which gets 4 stars from me for the $25 price tag.  It’s getting a pairing of Strip steaks with Balsamic reduction.  Drink till 2021.  Salut….

Cap Royal Bordeaux Superieur 2015, France

18 Thursday Oct 2018

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Light to medium density in the glass.  A lighter shade of purple that offers up plum, star anise and a stony minerality on the nose.  On the palate, it is somewhat sour and lacking in upfront fruit.  I have to coax some dark fruits, mainly plum out of the midpalate.  There is a herbaceous component that disjoints the wine coupled with volatile tannins.  The lack of fruit bothers me somewhat.  The overpowering dryness is quite dominant making this wine not very pleasant nor technically very good.  83 points- a pass of 1 star, save the $15.  Salut….