Stonestreet Estate Vineyards Chardonnay 2016, Alexander Valley, USA

09 Monday Nov 2020

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The 11th Virtual Wine tasting opened up with this Chardonnay from California. Tasted at room temperature first it gave the tasters: Butter, vanilla, buttered popcorn.  Butterscotch.  Honeysuckle, floral.  Orange blossom.  On the palate- Waxy, caramel, pear, Medium length with a pleasant finish.

The chilled version got passion fruit, green apple, toast, ‘crisper’, buttery, star fruit.  On the palate: hazelnut, slightly bitter on the finish, like grapefruit.  Pith of lemon from our MD friend.  Lemon drop, not too sweet.  Butterscotch.  Full bodied with just a smidge of acidity.

For me this wine was delicious on day 1 and even better the following night. I preferred it at room temperature when we first tasted but the chilled bottle was even more impressive on night 2. 92 points from me which coincides with the pros. For $25 it’s a nice, rich Chardonnay that delivers complexity and gets 5 stars from me. Think grilled Salmon or Salad Nićoise with this one. Drink till 2027. Salut….

Tenuta Vitanza Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015, Tuscany, Italy

09 Monday Nov 2020

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Semi opaque dark red in the glass. On the nose I get cherries, dried herbs, almond and rhubarb.  The initial palate shows off sour cherry, more nuts and red currants.  Juicy acidity hits me right off the bat.  There’s a nice core of tannins that are present but not obtrusive.  Red fruits dominate the mid palate and the finish – which is medium length.  I like the cut of this wine and think it will drink nicely till 2028.  91 points and 4 stars for this relatively young Sangiovese that goes for $50. Pasta would be a great pairing. Salut….

Cakebread Cellars Estate Vineyards ‘Vaca’ Red Blend 2015, Napa Valley, USA

09 Monday Nov 2020

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Inky and opaque in the glass.  The nose is spicy and layered with black fruit, graphite and violets.  On the palate it is very fruit driven but packs a nice tannic punch.  Black currants, Blackberry jam, coffee bean and some vanilla.  The tannins are quite present but not overly dry.  The midpalate shows off layers of fruit, complexity and structure.  The black theme continues but the tannins are really starting to grip.  The finish is long, nuanced and full of flavor.  There’s a definite oak influence and I’m sensing the alcohol- which turns out to be 15.4%. It’s not an issue but just be careful!  I’m loving this wine for its bright Cali sunshine, it’s fruit forward style and it’s structure.  Drink till 2030.  92 points and 4 stars for this limited production charmer that normally retails for $75. It’s mainly Cab Sav with 6% Cab Franc and 3% Merlot. Pair with Steaks. Salut….

Ophidian Pinotage 2018, Western Cape, South Africa

05 Thursday Nov 2020

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Pinotage is an interesting grape to me. I’m excited for this South African wine that is bright purple in the glass and semi opaque. On the nose it has telltale tar and blackberry notes. The palate is rich with sweet blackberries, bramble, earthy dust and that tar component I get so often with this varietal. The mid palate has some cola, sassafras and more black fruit. It’s got lithe tannins that build but never overtake the fruit. There’s a nice acidity but it’s not overly done. The earthiness of this wine is something to behold, it’s got a gamey note to boot. I really like the way it finishes with a flurry of different flavors wrapped in an easy drinking package. The structure encourages short term drinking so get popping. I’m paring it with leftover Kebabs and fried potatoes. 90 points for this $20 gem make it a 5 star wine for me! Salut….

Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, USA

04 Wednesday Nov 2020

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It’s Election Day in the USA, so I had to pull this wine out- read the label again. In the glass it’s bright purple and semi opaque. On the nose- very interesting. Red berries, cedar and tobacco. Not exactly what I was expecting but fresh smelling. On the initial palate it is very different- rose-hip, strawberry extract and fruit cake all feature. The mid palate is fruit driven and delicious. A touch of acidity and some very lithe tannins are evident giving the wine a nice mouthfeel. The red fruit component continues and I also get violets and black cherry on the decent length finish. An enjoyable drop for short term drinking that gets 89 points from me. I last drank this wine in Napa with Moxie when we were on our way to Bali, with a stop in the Bay Area. At $30 it gets 3 stars. Drink till 2025. Salut….

Jen Pfeiffer The Rebel Shiraz 2019, Australia

02 Monday Nov 2020

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This Shiraz is a rich purple and is nearly opaque. On the nose I get plum extract, blackberry and espresso. It’s very fruit driven but there is a touch of oak as well. On the palate is shows tar, plum and raspberry jam. It’s very tasty with a very nice balance. The tannins are present but are very fine grained and unobtrusive. The acidity on the other hand is quite pronounced leaving my jaw dripping. The mid palate has a vanilla component as well as the black fruits. The finish turns slightly dry from the crescendo of tannins that finally grip. It’s not a typical Aussie Shiraz, it’s more restrained yet still fruit forward. I like it. 89 points and 4 stars for this $21 effort. Drink till 2024. Salut….

Ken Deis Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Napa Valley, California

01 Sunday Nov 2020

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This Cab Sav is dark purple and fully opaque in the glass. On the nose I get some plum, blueberry and black currant. It’s a touch subdued but I am able to coax it along. The palate is very fruity with steeped black berry, rich blackcurrants and iodine. The tannins are fine grained and work themselves up to a pretty dry midpalate. The fruit holds on and I also get some eucalyptus and lapsang souchong tea. The finish is quite dry with the tannins really kicking it into high gear. Gentle acidity makes for a nice mouthfeel. At the very end I get elderberry to carry the decent length finish. Very delicious wine with judicious use of oak, but the nose is quite perturbing. Maybe it likes a smaller glass (I’m using a BAG btw). Tonight’s pairing is Tenderloin and all the British Sunday roast accoutrements, it’s gonna rock. 91 points from me for this $58 effort that gets 4 stars. Drink till 2028. Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 771 Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Oregon

31 Saturday Oct 2020

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It’s a typical Pinot in the glass- see-through, pale purple. On the nose it gives me loads of strawberry, violets, cherry and cinnamon. The initial palate is rich with warm strawberry pie, baking spices, sweet rhubarb and very fine grained tannins. There’s juicy acidity right off the bat and the wine continues it’s red theme throughout the palate. The baking spice component is an interesting facet to this wine. The flavor profile is neither Old nor New World, somewhere in the middle as far as taste, extraction and weight. It’s nice to drink and has some good structure to endure extended cellaring. The red currant and rhubarb finish is mid length and the tannins are very much evident. There is a hint of Rooibos tea right at the end that I am enjoying. I’m grilling up some Pork tenderloins, tossing some pasta with black olives and calling this a nice pairing. 90 points from me and 5 stars for this $20 effort. Salut….

Rabbit & Spaghetti Cabernet Shiraz Malbec 2018, Australia

30 Friday Oct 2020

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This blend of Cab Sav, Shiraz and Malbec is particularly dark and brooding in the glass. On the nose I get black currant, rose water and spice. The palate is much more focused on darker fruits, mainly blackberry with anise and coffee bean. The mid palate continues the theme with more black licorice poking through. There’s a gentle dose of tannins that give the wine structure but are not obtrusive. The finish is decent in length and tasty with more of the same. The balance in this wine is good and the fruit lingers along with the acidity and tannins. I am enjoying it for what it is- not overly complex but extremely drinkable with nice flavors, good backbone and medium term cellaring potential. Drink till 2025. 88 points and 3 stars for this $28 effort. Salut….

Idlewright Opulent Red 2017, Napa Valley, USA

29 Thursday Oct 2020

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Opaque and dark purple. The nose offers sweet blackberry, ripe black currants and mocha. It’s smells of Cali sunshine. The palate is very nice, but not as full as the nose. Black fruits galore with leather and chocolate powder. The mid palate is tasty with cassis and a bit of dusty bramble. Fine grained tannins ease into the mix and there is a touch of acidity that keeps this wine very balanced. It’s a delicious drop built for immediate pleasure. I would drink till 2024. My pairing tonight is pasta with olives and peppers plus a side of Italian sausage. 89 points and 3 stars for this $23 Grenache/Malbec blend. Salut….