Category Archives: Wine reviews

Vignobles Andre Lurton Chateau Bonnet Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot 2018, Bordeaux, France

06 Wednesday Apr 2022

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Tasted blind, this Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cab Sav was a deep ruby color with thin legs.  Medium (-) intensity nose with aromas of red cherry, red raspberry, wet wool and purple grape- I found it to be very youthful and simple. (Plus disgusting).  The palate was dry with medium acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol and light bodied.  Medium (-) intensity flavors of the above led to a medium (-) finish.  I called this wine poor but was corrected to- acceptable; a point for balance was deserved(?).  This wine is to be drunk now, not suitable for aging.  I did not care for it and was surprised that I couldn’t even get the varietal right.  For me this $14 wine gets 84 points with a 1 star rating.  Salut….

Nihilist Wine Co. Malbec 2020, Lodi, California

04 Monday Apr 2022

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I had to look up the meaning of the name- Nihilist.  It’s off-putting tbh but I will disregard for this tasting.

Medium ruby in the glass with a pronounced nose of black raspberry, red plum, strawberry compote, currant, a whiff of chocolate dust and dark cherry akin to Luxardos.  A second swirl and I get a touch of smoke and florals.  The palate is dry and tart.  Medium tannins set the tone for a medium (+) body and medium intensity flavors of sour cherry, red plums, currants (black and red) and that floral note.  The smoke is gone and the wine really shows off some acidity.  In addition to the tartness, this bottle has a high level of structural acid.  It’s a bit out of balance for me.  The finish is a touch thin but lasts a decent length of time.  Drink this wine till 2026 with some charcuterie and olives, something to cut the acid (Brie or Blue cheese).  87 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 3 star wine.  Salut….

Achaia Cellars Muscat of Patras NV, Greece

03 Sunday Apr 2022

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Medium gold in the glass, this dessert style wine from Greece has pronounced aromas of honey, orange marmalade, blossom, a hint of lychee, some rose water and soursop. On the palate it is medium sweet with medium acidity, a full body and medium (-) intensity flavors.  The mouthfeel is really pleasant, not cloying- more like a refreshing sticky.  The finish is medium length and accentuates the honey component with orange  notes.  This wine retails for $13.  That’s a steal IMO.  88 points from me makes it a 4 star effort to have laying around in case you need something sweet after dinner.  Stock up.  Salut….

Chateau Juvenal Ventoux ‘La Terre du Petit Homme’ 2016, Rhone, France

03 Sunday Apr 2022

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From the Southern Rhone comes this blend of Grenache 50%, Syrah 40% and Mourvedre 10%.  It will hopefully go well with my braised Lamb shanks.  The wine is medium ruby in color with quite a full-on nose of red raspberry, baking spice, pepper, blueberry compote, game, oak-derived vanilla and blackberry- quite an array of complexity from the three varietals.  The palate is dry with dusty tannins, medium to full body and high alcohol (15.5% ABV).  Red and black fruit interlaced with spice, pepper and oak make for a yummy flavor profile that is quite earthy, gamy and austere.  The tannins are nicely integrated yet still showing plenty of grip, especially on the back end but balanced with medium acidity.  The finish is medium in length with the astringency lasting a lot longer.  I like this rustic wine- 91 points worth and for $25 it gets 5 stars.  Drink till 2028 with hearty stews, braises or a hunk of meat on the grill.  Salut….

Boschendal Reserve Collection Vin d’Or 2016, Paarl, South Africa

02 Saturday Apr 2022

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I’m on a sweet wine roll, two in one day.  This South African blend of Riesling/Viognier is a stunning deep gold color.  The nose is right up my alley- rich aromas of dried apricot, honey, blood orange marmalade, candied pineapple, peach and a touch of lychee.  Amazing, complex and very enticing.  The palate is very sweet, unctuous and full bodied.  Medium (+) acidity keeps this wine very balanced and I love the pronounced flavors.  The honey component is taking center stage but I also get lively fresh fruit even though the Botrytis driven flavors are very present.  At 163g/l of residual sugar, this is considered a luscious wine- and it is just that!  At $20 for 375ml, it is a great dessert wine to have a few bottles of.  93 points from me for this 5 star wine to serve with a warm tart and ice cream.  Salut….

Domaine Pecheur Vin de Paille 2009, Cotes du Jura, France

02 Saturday Apr 2022

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Vin de Paille is a new one to me- basically a sweet wine made from grapes that have been dried on straw mats and then pressed.  The resultant must being very high in sugar, hence a sweet wine once it has fermented to over 14% ABV by law.  This one is medium amber in the glass.  The nose reminds me of sherry- loads of nuts, caramel, orange marmalade, toffee, stewed apricot and marzipan.  Quite complex and exciting. The palate is medium dry, not as sweet as I was expecting.  It is a touch bitter, like orange rind.  Juicy acidity and a full body with great delivery of the tertiary notes that this developed wine has gained.  My mouth is watering, either from the acid or the sheer desirability to take another taste- not sure which.  It is quite buoyant even though it’s full bodied.  A very slippery wine that is easy to fall for.  I love a good Botrytised wine, but this style of dessert wine is catching on with me.  It retails for $63 and gets 93 points from me.  It will drink well for another decade and gets 5 stars.  Try something different in the sweet whites!  It begs for a creamy Cambozola with some nuts and dry crackers.  Salut….

Marietta Cellars Angeli Cuvee 2016, Alexander Valley, California

01 Friday Apr 2022

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Deep garnet colored, this Zinfandel is showing a touch of age.  Besides a whiff of alcohol right off the bat- the nose has aromas of stewed blueberry, vanilla, black plum, clove and purple licorice.  The palate is dry and tannic with juicy acidity and a full body.  The flavors are quite complex- there’s a touch of stewed/cooked fruit showing the wine’s age, plus some oak influence as well as primal fruit still hanging in there.  The finish is grippy and the acid really hits the tongue and jaw on the medium length finish.  This is not the usual overly extracted and jammy Zin, it has some good fruit and structure and needs a spicy meat dish like middle eastern spiced lamb kofta.  90 points for this $35 wine makes it a 4 star effort.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

 

Kirkland Signature 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal

31 Thursday Mar 2022

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I love Port.  Tawny is not my top style so I am trying to broaden my palate, even if it means buying Costco’s brand (they have some excellent stuff BTW).  This one is medium garnet in color.  The nose is quite pronounced, perhaps due to the big 20% ABV evaporating off those wafts?  Nuts, caramel, singed orange, prune, raisins and a dried herb note.  The palate is off-dry, with medium acidity, medium tannins and high alcohol which is noticeable.  Medium (+) body and pronounced flavors of dried fruit, oxidative notes of caramel, dried herbs and that lovely orange component.  The finish is quite lengthy, tannic, high in residual alcohol and really yummy.  For under $20 it’s a decent drop that gets 88 points from me and 4 stars.  Salut….

Two Hands Wines Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, McLaren Vale, Australia

31 Thursday Mar 2022

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A deep ruby color, this 14.1% ABV wine has thin legs in the glass.  The nose has gorgeous aromas of rich blackberry jam, coconut, vanilla, ripe blueberry, black]k plum and a whiff of alcohol.  The palate is dry with fine-grained yet forceful tannins, high acidity and a full body.  The rich, jammy black fruit is interwoven with oak and some black licorice notes plus that persistent heat.  The back end is very fruit rich and dry from the tannic grip that has coated my gums.  This is a big wine with lots of structure and cellaring capacity.  The timing of the finish is medium and really delightful.  I like this $30 wine that is drinking nicely now but will develop in the coming years.  I am pairing with grilled Tri-Tip and roasted cauliflower.  91 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Bodegas y Vinedos Valderiz ‘Valderiz’ 2018, Ribera del Duero, Spain

30 Wednesday Mar 2022

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This is the second bottle of the vertical, please read my previous note on the 2017 Valderiz.  Tasting will be via the Systematic Approach to Tasting.

  • Deep purple
  • Medium (+) intensity nose with aromas of blackberry, bramble, black cherry, orange peel, vanilla, black plum compote.  Youthful.
  • Dry, medium acidity, medium (+) tannins, high alcohol, medium (+) body, medium (+) intensity flavors of blackberry, bramble, black cherry, orange peel, vanilla, black plum compote, charcoal with a medium finish.
  • Very Good quality
  • Drink now but has potential for aging

I found this wine far more youthful than the prior vintage, showing no tertiary notes.  It is of a higher quality by half a point but I rounded down to VG, versus Outstanding.  For $30 ($5 cheaper than the 2017), you can get a better wine that I would give 93 points to and 5 stars.  Salut….