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The Buccaneer Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

19 Tuesday May 2015

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$20, 3 stars, 89 points, cabernet sauvignon, california


I needed some wine for a friends evening so I stopped into Bevmo to pick some up.  I was confronted with their 5Cent sale, buy from a selection of wines at full price and the second bottle is only 5 cents- basically a BOGO offer.  This one was appealing from the shelf talker so I thought ‘what the heck’.  $10 per bottle for California Cabernet?  No brainer.

Bright damson nose with tar and plum on the first sip.   Mild tannins and gentle acidity make this very approachable.  Cinnamon and spice on the mid palate add a level of complexity and there is a longish finish of tannins and acidity that I only just noticed. 89 points with a window of 2015-2022 make this wine is a lurker. Good value from Bevmo at $20 for 2. At full price this would be a 3 star wine.  Salut….

the buccaneer cabernet sauvignon

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Chateau Gaudin 2010

19 Tuesday May 2015

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$40, 3 stars, 90 points, bordeaux, pauillac


Every once in a while I like to just drink the wine, no notes, no sucking air between my teeth- just the pleasure of the grapes.  This past weekend my best friend from childhood came over for dinner.  In his usual style he showed up with a decent bottle of wine.  He was raised well and has class.  His offering was this 2010 Bordeaux from the Pauillac commune which I happen to love.  He also brought some pretty hefty cheeses and salami shavings to get the evening going.

Without notes I cannot tell you the specifics, only that this wine reaffirms my statements about 2009 and 2010 Bordeaux.  Run, don’t walk to the shops.  The next three vintages offer wines much lower in quality without reflection in price.  This wine retails at $40 or so dollars and is a notch below the Cru Classe in terms of quality.  It had everything going for it with regard to flavor, structure and cellaring potential.  Others have given it 90 points, I won’t argue.  3 stars and well worth looking for.  Salut….

chateau gaudin

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Chateau Trocard 2010

19 Tuesday May 2015

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$12, 4 stars, 88 points, bordeaux, bordeaux superier


A wise man will try any 2009 or 2010 Bordeaux, they are consistently good.  Winemakers had an amazing back-to-back set of vintages that offer short term approachability with some wines that will cellar for 30-40 years.  This particular Bordeaux Superiore was ready for the corkscrew.  I only took basic notes as we were tired when this bottle was opened.

Rich plum, tart blackberries and some juicy acidity.  Bramble and dusty tannins on the mid palate. Decent finish of plum compote mixed with tannins and blueberry pie. My friend claims yum! 88 points and 4 stars for this $12 steal.  I plan on buying more for the near term.  2015-2019.  Salut….

chateau trocard

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Santa Julia Reserva Malbec Valle de Uco 2013

19 Tuesday May 2015

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$12, 3 stars, 87 points, Argentina, Malbec


With a nose of candied plum and some oak I kinda knew what I was getting into. First sip was a pleasant surprise. Easy drinking and not overly cloying with some plum, currants and a generous amount of acidity. This is a pop-n-pour wine that should be consumed young. The tannins are very slight and the balance is slightly off yet it is a fun drop that will entertain many at a party. Cooking burgers? This one will fit the bill. 87 points for this basic red wine that is fresh and lively from Argentina.   $12 makes it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

santa julia reserva malbec valle de uco

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Alexander Valley Vineyard Wine Club Reserve 2012

19 Tuesday May 2015

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$24, 3 stars, 89 points, alexander valley, meritage


Next in my tasting series from Alexander Valley Vineyard is this gem.  45% Cab Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot makes this a Meritage in anyone’s books.  How I love Cab Franc and more importantly how it melds into the Bordeaux style blend !  This was one bottle I was looking forward to.

Dark purple with a nose of black currant, eucalyptus, wood shavings and pencil lead. On the palate is a vibrant, somewhat tannic attack of currants, black berries and more  graphite. Very young wine with a good cellaring potential. 89 points with a drinking window of 2016-2022. (Or you could run it through a Vinturi and pair it with a ribeye!)  I paid $24 at the winery and give it 3 stars.  Salut….

alexander valley vineyards wine club reserve

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Sullivan Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

19 Tuesday May 2015

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$85, 3 stars, 85 points, cabernet sauvignon, napa cab


Mocha and plum nose that entices.  Initial taste of dark plum and black cherry with some ganache. Still young with firm tannins and crunchy acidity. Mid palate hints of  coffee and chocolate powder. Very dry finish that coats the teeth and gums which tells me this wine is a keeper.  I may have poured too soon.  It got 94 points from the pro’s but I’m going with 90 for now. 2017-2025 would be a suggested window to let the tannins meld more.  It lists at $85, which is rather steep making it a 3 star wine in my books.  Salut….

Sullivan 2013  Rutherford Napa Valley  Cabernet Sauvignon

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Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2013

01 Friday May 2015

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$28, 4 stars, 91 points, Cabernet franc, Sonoma


If you read much of my blogging you will know that I love this varietal.  It exudes a softer sexier side to the Cabernet grape while showing off floral notes.  This winery is where my son and I took a tour when we were in the Valley this past Spring.  The wine is a crimson purple and has a stunning nose of blackberry and chocolate with some violet hints.  Super smooth introduction of black and blue berries with a smidgen of oak and a tasty coating of lithe tannins. The mid palate is dark and brooding whilst the finish is decently long and caressing with tannic dryness and a touch of acidity. This is a super delicious wine which technically gets 91 points from me, bravo. 2015-2022.  $28 make it a 4 star effort in my books.  Salut….

alexander valley vineyards cabernet franc

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Laleure-Piot Les Tuvilains 2009

01 Friday May 2015

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1 star, 85 points, Beaune, burgundy


If you read my first tasting note on this Beaune Premiere Cru you will recall that I hated it, giving it 80 points and 1 star.  I have a few more in the cellar and pulled one out for a comparative tasting after two more years of cellaring.  Not much has changed, unfortunately. I did some research and I must say I am confused.  It scored 91 points on average by peers on cellar tracker.  Vivino peeps gave it a good write up yet I can’t get my head around the muted nose of rhubarb and cherry pie which is too tart still with little fruit depth. Red currants and cinnamon finally showed up. I was kinder this time with 85 points, but that is generous.  A major 1 star pass for the money.  Salut….

IMG_2465

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Vineyard at Point Breeze Chardonnay 2012

18 Saturday Apr 2015

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88 points, chardonnay


A friend gave us some of his brother’s homemade wine which I believe comes from Virginia.  This wine won a gold in Indianapolis.  Since it was a gift and comes without any labelling it is hard to tell much more about it.  No pricing either.

Dark yellow, reminiscent of aged Riesling it has a nose of sweet apple, quince and sea air. Initial attack of pear and yellow apples with good mid palate acidity and a decent finish . I don’t sense much oak use and no malolactic fermentation. This is a cutting Chardonnay with a nutty ending. I’m drinking it with some green and black olives, a dab of hummus and some green onions. A good pairing but it begs for oysters or clams on the half though. 88 points. Salut….

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Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard 2008

18 Saturday Apr 2015

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$80, 3 stars, 91 points, Napa, napa petite Sirah


This is my second Turley from this vineyard.  It was given to us as a very generous gift.  This Napa Valley offering is a black wine in the glass hinting to some deep extraction.  You know how I love this varietal, especially when it is rich and coating.  It boasts a thick nose of black fruits, bramble and violets.  The initial attack consists of black berries, cherry and some Pomegranate.  Tannic yet balanced with some bracing acidity, this should cellar well. Medium finish and a well hidden 15.4% alcohol. 2015-2020. 91 points for this $80 offering make it a 3 star effort.  Wish I had more.  Salut….

turley hayne petite syrah

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