Category Archives: Wine reviews

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 2006, Cote de Nuits, France

12 Friday Jan 2018

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I have been sitting on this for a while, waiting for the right time to re-taste.  Tonight just happened to be it!  I noticed a little bricking when I was pouring the glass, which seems a little premature for a 12 year old Burgundy.  It’s quite opaque considering the varietal though.  Swirling like mad to get something on the nose I finally notice an earthy note, some cherries, but not much else really- I’m intrigued.  The palate is where it’s at folks- strawberry puree, cherry, barnyard, straw and some really edgy tannins.  I have a hard time discerning them in Pinot Noir, but they are most definitely present in this bottle.  I get a grippy dryness to the gums, the mouth is puckering and they meld very well with the acidity.  This wine is not bad!  I just re-read my review of it from 2012, It really did what I expected, and then some!  The funkiness is not as much as I had hoped for but it does exist, somewhat muted.  I am going with 91 points and 4 stars for the $50 bottle.  Drink till 2025 at the least.  Salut….

La Mascota Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Maipu, Argentina

11 Thursday Jan 2018

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I’m a little nervous about this wine, it was a gift and I just noticed that the cork was pressing up against the capsule, a sure sign of heat stress.

It’s a pretty hue of purple in the glass, which is a good sign.  The nose gives off black berry, mint and licorice.  The palate is fine, no sign of damage, thank goodness.  Bright black berry, some cola, very primal tannins and blueberry pie greet me on the initial palate.  The wine continues the theme on through the mid palate and the tannins start to take over, drying the gums ever so gently.  The texture is nice, if you like a dry wine.  The acidity is barely apparent and offers a nice balance.  The finish is quite long, with nicely interwoven tannins, some blueberry and a herb note.  I think this is a very nice wine, capable of matching most game dishes, a steak all day long, charcuterie would be great or all by itself.  Short term cellaring might soften the tannins but drink by 2020.  89 points and 4 stars for this $16 wine.  Salut….

Thelema Mountain Vineyards ‘Thelema’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa

09 Tuesday Jan 2018

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Nearly black in the glass, very brooding.  The nose is a gorgeous mix of black berries, kirsch and cassis.  I also get some black cherry which quickly translates over to the palate.  Really nice, grippy tannins greet me with a dry sensation, which is perfect for the Lamb stew I am preparing.  Dark fruit galore across the palate, with a  touch of creosote, some mintiness and spice box.  The wine takes on some smoke and pain grille at the end and the finish is long, interlaced with a mouth puckering tannic component.  I am digging this wine, wishing I had more bottles to track evolution, betting it will age gracefully and take on some interesting secondary flavors.  Drink till 2025. I think this wine deserves 91 points and am giving it 4 stars for its $43 tag.  Good stuff.  Salut….

Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Breede River Valley, South Africa

09 Tuesday Jan 2018

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Light purple, medium opacity.  A nose of black currants and cedar shavings.  On the palate- plums, blackberry, fig paste, iodine.  Very nice mouthfeel, not overly tannic but a touch dry with low acidity and a decent finish. 89 points and a sure 5 stars for this $7 stunner, buy it by the case for short term cellaring and enjoy at it parties, barbies and with pretty much anything from the grill.  Salut….

Chateau d’Arcins 2013, Haut-Medoc, France

09 Tuesday Jan 2018

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Medium density purple in the glass.  A nice bright nose of blackberries, cinnamon and  pencil shavings. On the palate the wine is a tad thinner than I had been expecting.  Blueberry, very well integrated tannins, some cassis and a modicum of acidity.  The wine opens up pretty quickly and the cassis really shows up on the mid palate, transcending the medium length finish.  Overall, this wine drinks nicely and will cellar for the short term.  89 points and 3 stars for this $22 effort.  Salut….

Charles Smith Wines ‘Chateau Smith’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Columbia Valley, USA

06 Saturday Jan 2018

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As you may know, I am a fan of this winery and had to pick this up the other day.  Very dark, near black and opaque in the glass.  On the nose, bright fruit flavors of plum, espresso, tree bark and vanilla bean.  On the palate I get a very smooth mouthful of violets, plum compote, spice and very lithe tannins that are very integrated.  The acidity is very mild, making for a very soft mouthfeel.  Easy to drink, yet I suspect there is some cellaring potential here, I’m just not sure where it’s going.  The purple fruits are very prominent on the finish and the wine ends nicely with a dry note.  Drink by itself or pair with lighter fare- cornish hens, burgers or a white pasta.  89 points from me.  I paid $16 and am giving it 4 stars.  Salut….

Inkberry ‘Mountain Estate’ Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Central Ranges, Australia

06 Saturday Jan 2018

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It’s not often at a restaurant that someone walks past your table, plops a half finished bottle down and says ‘Enjoy’!  Well, that’s what happened the other night at a Bay Area steak house where I was having dinner with Moxie and Jet, my number 3 son.  I was already well into the 2014 Spellbound, but I took the time out to make a very brief taste test of this Aussie blend of Cabernet and Shiraz.

Gorgeous nose. Blueberry, blackberry and açaí berry.  The palate shows off abrupt tannins, nice finish and good structure.  89 points.  I researched it and found out it retails for $14, making it a 5 star wine in my books.  (Sorry about the abbreviated review, but this one was obviously not planned!).  Salut….

Spellbound Petite Sirah 2014, California, USA

06 Saturday Jan 2018

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I’ve tasted the 2010 Spellbound and liked it.  For dinner tonight I ordered it as I wasn’t in the mood for a big pricy bottle.  It was $33 on the menu, the cheapest offering at this Bay Area steak house.  Dark, inky purple in the glass as is to be expected for the varietal.  The nose offers black fruits, bramble and dusty tannins.  The palate gives me a nice, easy drinking black fruited wine with easy going acidity, smooth, lithe tannins and a nice dose of sunshine.  This basic wine offers much gratification, lots of primal flavor and a great mouthfeel.  88 points and 5 stars for this $12 effort that I enjoyed quite a bit.  Salut….

Prophecy Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, California

06 Saturday Jan 2018

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Very rich purple in the glass.  The nose has a candy note to it along with a strong smell of grape juice.  The palate is welcoming and round, with very soft tannins, hints of cola, nutmeg and black berry.  It’s a very drinkable wine, without adding complexity or depth.  It has a rather short finish and I feel it was made for the short term, easily served at a barbecue or large party.  It gets 86 points from me, and for $12- 3 stars.  Salut….

Chateau St Jean Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Alexander Valley, USA

28 Thursday Dec 2017

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Inky purple in the glass.  I am really hoping for an extracted powerhouse, that’s what I am in the mood for.  The nose has black currants, a hint of oak, some cinnamon and fig paste.  On the palate I am ecstatic- it is full bodied, tannic and surely a mouthful. Black fruits intertwine with the brooding tannins, mouthwatering acidity and smoky notes.  A great level of balance even though this wine is very tannic right now.  It needs several years in the cellar to soften unless you need a dry wine right now, or have a Vinturi to run it through.  The wine later exhibits some black cherry and eucalyptus, only to be overshadowed on the finish by the tannins.  I think this wine will develop nicely and am going with 91 points.  For $24 it’s hardly a steal but gets 4 stars from me.  Pair now with hearty game, Prime Rib or a char-grilled Porterhouse.  Salut….