Category Archives: Wine reviews

Antonio Díez Martín Verdejo 2020, Spain

12 Friday Aug 2022

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Medium lemon colored this wine has energetic aromas of citrus, bruised papaya, peach and a green, herbaceous note.  The palate is dry but you can sense an aromatic quality to this fragrant wine.  The fruit tastes riper than the nose and that’s probably where I got the bruised papaya note from.  Citrus driven, there is also some herbal notes.  Medium acidity provides a bit of cut on the initial attack.  Body-wise this is a medium (-) affair that finishes medium length and a touch tart.  I like it for an aperitif and perhaps to pair with lighter fare.  It’s a good hot weather bottle that gets 87 points from me and for $12- 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Arabella Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Robertson, South Africa

11 Thursday Aug 2022

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Medium lemon/lime colored- this South African Sauvignon Blanc has characteristic aromas of cut grass, gooseberry, lemon and grapefruit.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and distinct flavors of the aforementioned aromas.  The body is medium (-) and the wine finishes long with a tart crispness.  It’s delicious stuff that makes me want to keep sipping.  88 points from me make this $10 wine a surefire 5 star effort to drink in the short term with seafood, perhaps a poached chicken salad or even grilled salmon.  Very refreshing in the summer heat.  Salut….

Hermes Assyrtiko 2021, Peloponnese, Greece

10 Wednesday Aug 2022

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Pale lemon colored, this wine has medium aromas of lemon/lime, overripe papaya, chocolate (yup, the milky kind), saline, wet slate and juniper.  The palate is dry yet shows off ripe fruit sweetness.  The acidity is quite high and the body is full.  Flavors of citrus and ripe papaya are predominant with some floral/aromatic notes coming through.  I don’t get the chocolate on the palate but there is crisp minerality.  The finish is full of flavor and mid length- a delicious wine.  I would give this bottle 90 points and drink it till 2024.  My pairing tonight is with pan roasted scallops over a veggie pasta.  A stunner for under $12 that gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Lucien Albrecht Riesling Tradition 2020, Alsace, France

09 Tuesday Aug 2022

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Medium lemon colored, this rather young Riesling has pronounced aromas of citrus, apple, pineapple, ginger and acacia.  The palate is dry (at 13% ABV that was an obvious assumption) with bracing acidity and a medium body.  Lemon, grapefruit, green apple, pineapple and some spice coat my palate to a medium length finish that is jaw watering.  This is a very refreshing thirst quencher that I am enjoying immensely.  Tonight’s pairing is fish and chips so this will work out quite well.  I would think this wine can age for a few years, say till 2030 and hopefully pick up some tertiary notes.  91 points from me makes this $22 bottle a 5 star quaffer to look for.  Salut….

VIK ‘Milla Cala’ 2018, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

09 Tuesday Aug 2022

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It’s not often we get all four of my kids together, but when we do it’s off for a big night out.  This adventure took us to a Brazilian Steakhouse where the waiter completely butchered the opening, serving and cork removing of this spectacular wine.  Without taking any notes I will say that for $45 you are getting a super smooth Bordeaux Blend from Chile that has very soft, integrated tannins, medium acidity, full body, a long finish and a melange of fruit, oak and tertiary aromas and flavors.  A stunning wine that went beautifully with all the different cuts of beef, pork, lamb and sausage we gorged on.  The structure of this wine makes it perfect for immediate pleasure, but I would not cellar it too long, say till 2025 for this vintage.  A real surprise and a treat. 92 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Bulgariana Gamza 2016, Thracian Valley, Bulgaria

07 Sunday Aug 2022

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Gamza is a new grape to me- indigenous to Bulgaria.  In the glass the wine is deep ruby colored, not bad for a 6 year old bottle.  The nose is very interesting- violets, black plum, blackberry, purple licorice, vanilla, tomato leaf and blueberry pie.  The palate is dry with low tannins and medium acidity.  I get an initial stab of charred wood and blackberry on the palate which subsides to vanilla, plum, floral notes and some herbal touches.  Full bodied, it seems a touch astringent from slightly green tannins. The finish is short and a bit green but generally pleasant.  Not a bad drop for $12 that gets 87 points and 3 stars from me.  Drink till 2026 with wild game dishes or grilled lamb chops.  Salut….

Famille Bougrier Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine 2020, Loire, France

06 Saturday Aug 2022

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Following on from my last Muscadet, this one is not labelled as a Sur Lie.  It’s a medium intensity lemon/lime color in the glass.  The nose has an intense citrus aroma coupled with green apple, yellow apple on the back end and some salinity.  The palate is dry but weighty.  Medium to full bodied, it has medium acidity and medium intensity flavors of lemon, lime, grapefruit, green apple and I can sense the sea air.  A short to medium length finish is crisp, refreshing and not too tart.  This is a nice summer wine that will quench the thirst and pair nicely with shellfish or lighter (non-oily) fish.  88 points from me makes this $14 effort a 3 star wine.  Drink now.  Salut….

Stefano di Blasi Syrah Nero d’Avola 2020, IGT Sicilia, Italy

05 Friday Aug 2022

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Medium ruby colored in the glass- this blend of Syrah and Nero D’Avola has aromas of plum, licorice, game, violets, blackberry leaf, some licorice and a caramel/burnt sugar note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and silky smooth, medium level tannins that melt away gracefully.  Medium bodied, this wine has nice flavors of plum, florals, blackberry and a touch of licorice alongside that caramel note.  The finish is mid length and I get a charred wood note with more anise.  The tannins make a comeback to remind me that they are still grippy.  A nice bottle that ran me $11!  I would drink this with stews, leaner cuts of meat and pasta for sure over the short term- till 2026.  I give it 89 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Chateau du Jaunay Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2020, Loire, France

05 Friday Aug 2022

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Medium lemon colored, this Sur Lie style wine has pronounced aromas of citrus (mainly lime), geranium, melon and ginger snap.  The palate is dry but full bodied with medium (+) acidity.  Minerality and softness come to mind alongside flavors of lime, grapefruit, melon, geranium and a hint of yeast/bread dough from the aging process.  Sur Lie allows the dead yeast cells to remain in contact with the must for an extended period of time which softens the wine, adds body and imparts the bread/yeast notes I tasted.  Delicious stuff that finishes with a mid length ending of citrus and yeast driven flavors.  90 points from me for this Muscat de Bourgogne varietal that runs $15 and gets 5 stars from me.  I’m going to pair with Chinese food, other options include seafood all day long and perhaps a chicken dish.  Drink now, Salut….

William Gordon Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Alexander Valley, California

02 Tuesday Aug 2022

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Opaque- deep, deep ruby which is surprising for a 10 year old wine.  Slow moving legs in the glass hint at the 14.5% ABV.  The nose has freshness- dark plum, vanilla, blackberry, cassis, menthol, tomato leaf and a green herbaceous note.  The palate is dry, tart from medium (+) acidity and balanced with medium (+) tannins which are still quite grippy.  Full bodied, this wine coats my mouth with rich flavors of blackberry, cassis, black plum.  The oak shines with vanilla whilst the menthol, tomato leaf and green notes all support.  It’s a precise wine with delineation between all the flavors and aromas.  It finishes rather short but it is balanced.  I like it, as I like most of this winery’s offering (especially their Petite Sirah).  92 points from me for this $50 bottle makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2030.  We are firing up the charcoal for some Cowboy steaks and potato wedges which is funny because the last time I drank this wine we also had beef and potatoes.  Read about my 2020 tasting here.  Salut….