Category Archives: Wine reviews

Chateau Fleur Cardinale 2015, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

04 Sunday Sep 2022

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This Right Bank Merlot based blend is a deep garnet color in the glass with long, lingering legs.  The nose is gorgeous- plum, steeped blackberry, cassis, licorice, vanilla bean, graphite and blueberry mixed with fresh oak and a touch of espresso.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky on the mouthfeel.  Medium to full bodied this just-maturing wine has got waves of blackberry, blueberry and plum flavors intertwined with a dash of vanilla, coffee and oak.  It is just starting to offer tertiary flavors and will develop nicely in the coming years.  It finishes long with a black tea component alongside cassis.  Very smooth and certainly delicious, this $55 bottle will drink nicely till 2032 and pair with most meat dishes and stews.  94 points from me make it a 5 star wine.  Salut…..

Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Riserva 2016, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG Tuscany, Italy

03 Saturday Sep 2022

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Pale to medium ruby colored with thick, droopy legs.  The nose has aromas of steeped cherry, rose, baking spice, white raspberry, coconut, cherry cola and vanilla bean.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins.  Medium (+) bodied I get delicious flavors of cherry, vanilla, coconut, raspberry and spice. It finishes long with a tart cherry note and some lingering, integrated tannins.  This is a delicious and mature Sangiovese from the heart of Tuscany.  It will cellar well into 2028 and pair beautifully with pasta (duh!) and perhaps a ribeye with Roquefort sauce.  It is very pinpoint btw.  93 points from me for this $28 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Marques de la Concordia Lagunilla Crianza 2018, Rioja DOCa, Spain

01 Thursday Sep 2022

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity legs in the glass.  The nose has aromas of red plum, leather, earth, dill, coconut and blackberry bramble.  The palate is dry with medium tannins and medium (+) acidity.  I get crisp flavors of plum and blackberry with oak via the dill and coconut.  The dusty, earthy component is trademark Rioja and I love it.  This wine is medium to full bodied and finishes with a decent length coating of blueberry and blackberry with some smoky oak.  89 points from me for this $15 Tempranillo (80%)/Garnacha (20%) blend that makes it a 4 star wine to enjoy over the shorter term with grilled meat, in my case- a Tomahawk of Pork rib.  Salut….

Tenuta di Renieri Chianti Classico DOCG 2019, Tuscany, Italy

29 Monday Aug 2022

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Pale ruby colored, this Sangiovese has lovely aromas of red cherry, tar, rose petals, orange peel, leather, green herbs (dill) and sandalwood.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  Medium to full bodied- I get flavors of tart red cherry, leather, rose petal and that dill component.  A slight charred oak note follows on at the mid palate and the finish is short.  A serviceable Chianti that lacks a real oomph, it gets 89 points from me and for $22 it is a 3 star effort to drink till 2027.  Salut….

David Marchesi Provare Chardonnay 2020, California

26 Friday Aug 2022

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Medium to deep lemon colored this Chardonnay has medium intensity aromas of citrus, pineapple, yellow apple, geranium and cherry leaf.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body.  Flavors of lemon, grapefruit, pomelo and pineapple prevail and luckily for me- no Diacetyl from MLF.  I was not in the mood for a big, buttery, over-oaked Chard.  This is going to go beautifully with our grilled Chermoula spiced Shrimp and Spanish rice.  87 points from me for this $13 wine makes it a 4 star effort. Drink now.  Salut….

Chariot Wines Gypsy Red 2019, California

22 Monday Aug 2022

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Nearly opaque, this deep ruby colored wine has a tinge of blue coloring on the edges.  The nose has aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, red licorice candy and ripe raspberry.  A touch of oak is also present.  The palate is dry with medium tannins and medium acidity.  There is a sourness to the palate but I get red fruit, red licorice and charcoal.  The body is medium and the finish is short.  The tannins linger mind you and there is some juiciness on the back end that I am enjoying.  It’s a Trader Joes special that runs $6.  Great for a party, this 85 pointer will not break the bank and can be served with burgers, dogs or even pizza.  3 stars from me for this blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to drink by 2024.   Salut….

Quinta Das Carvalhas Tinto 2017, Douro, Portugal

18 Thursday Aug 2022

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A blend of 60% Touriga Nacional with the balance between Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) from the Douro, it is medium to deep purple colored.  The nose has a bit of heat initially but then I get aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, saddle leather, vanilla, a touch of raisin and star anise. The palate is dry with medium (+) tannins and medium acidity.  Think black tea meets charcoal with a melange of very sun-ripened black fruits.  It’s a full bodied wine that sports a hefty 14.5% ABV (which I noticed on the nose) and carries through to a medium length finish.  For $16 this is a delicious wine that will cellar well till 2028 and drink nicely now if you like a touch of dryness.  91 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Oak Ridge Petite Sirah Estate Grown 2019, Lodi, California

17 Wednesday Aug 2022

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Just looking at this wine in the glass I have made some assumptions: 1) low acidity, 2) high tannins, 3) ripe fruit flavors/aromas, 4) full body, 5) high alcohol.  Let’s see.

Deep purple colored with a blue tinge on the edges and marked staining of the glass sides.  Slow moving legs on the wall.  The nose has aromas of ripe blackberry, baked blueberry pie, licorice, vanilla, yeasty baking spice notes and really ripe black plum.  The palate is dry and guess what?  Very tannic. Low acidity with a full body and lush flavors of very ripe black and blue fruit, oak influence by way of vanilla, baking spice and charred wood.  The finish has got a black tea component and is quite astringent but the flavors last a decent amount of time.  I love this varietal, and this is a decently made example that runs $16.  It gets 90 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2027 with hearty meat dishes.  BTW the alcohol was 13.5%, my only wrong guess. Salut….

Precision Wine Co. Technique Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Alexander Valley, California

15 Monday Aug 2022

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The color of this Cabernet is a medium purple, but it is hazy, a touch cloudy which concerns me.  The nose smells fresh and young with candied cherry, coconut, red plum, iron, bakers spice, dust and bramble.  The palate is dry with grippy tannins and medium acidity.  The fruit profile is darker on the palate- black plum and blackberry, gone is that candied cherry note (which I dislike immensely).  The coconut, spice, iron and dust are evident in this full bodied wine.  The finish is a tannic affair that is short to medium in length and highlights the iron and dust of the wine.  I like it but would cellar it for a year or two unless I was cooking rack of lamb or another fatty cut of meat.  I’m going with 90 points for this $15 bottle that gets 5 stars.  Drink from 2023-2027.   Salut….

Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Stags Leap District, California

15 Monday Aug 2022

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After a delightful dinner at a Thai restaurant we went back to my friend’s house where he unleashed this beauty.  I sniffed and tasted the wine blind- there was no mistaking its origin.  I did not take notes but needless to say the initial whiff of aromas gave this Napa Cabernet Sauvignon away.  Rich, ripe black berries, Stags Leap earthy dust, menthol, vanilla and spice.  The palate was dry and full bodied. Bright California sunshine was evident in the fruit- as were the dusty notes I got on the nose.  Tannins were super smooth and well integrated.  The acidity was medium and well balanced.  The finish on this $75 bottle was long and delicious.  A 93 point wine that gets 5 stars from me.  You could pair it with a variety of meat dishes but then again you could just sip it and enjoy its purity.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….