Chateau Montelena The Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Napa Valley, USA

16 Friday Oct 2020

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Super purple in the glass, inky and opaque AF.  On the nose I get black currants, smoky oak, vanilla and a touch of cassis.  On the palate it’s fresh, young and layered.  Black fruits galore with a hint of licorice.  The fruit is sweet yet the wine is dry- like ripe and sun drenched.  The tannins creep in very slowly and I start to pucker at the mid palate and am fully aware of their presence by the finish.  They are really well integrated and fine grained.  Gobs more black fruit, a hint of eucalyptus and some oak round this wine out.  The finish is long and dry.  Delightfully rich, decadent even- this wine has a really nice mouthfeel and is brimming with Napa charm.  92 points from me and at $140 it’s a 4 star gem.  Drink till 2030 with grilled meat, rich cheeses. A super yummy wine. Salut….

Libellas Pinot Grigio 2019, DOC Garda, Italy

13 Tuesday Oct 2020

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This Pinot Grigio is a very light shade of yellow in the glass. The nose is zesty with grapefruit, lemon peel and green apple. On the palate it is not as cutting as I was expecting, the acidity is a little more demure allowing the rich lemon curd and grapefruit to shine. It has a really full mouthfeel as it transitions to the mid palate. The fruit is in full swing and the acidity is just starting to show up. Lanolin, honeysuckle and the citrus notes all carry the wine to a medium length finish. It’s really a pleasant drop, if not a bit atypical in style. I am enjoying it as I prepare Shrimp Creole, which begs for this style of white. 89 points from me. Listed at $16, it gets 4 stars from me. Drink till 2023. Salut….

Posted Accord Chenin Blanc 2019, Swartland, South Africa

12 Monday Oct 2020

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This South African Chenin is a bright gold color in the glass. On the nose I get flowers, melon, ripe plantain and a pink grapefruit note. The palate is very round and enticing. Flavors of melon, banana parfait, a touch of citrus and apple are all caressing my mouth. This wine really fills with flavor and body for a great mouthfeel. The mid palate is soft and continues the fruit melange theme. The long (30+seconds) finish reminds me of fruit salad with bananas. Fruity, flavorful and satisfying it’s easy to drink this 12.7% alcohol wine. I am really enjoying this it as I roast a Chicken with steamed green beans. It will drink well for a few years and gets 91 whopping points from me. For $18- 5 stars, wish I had more. Salut….

William Gordon Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Alexander Valley, USA

11 Sunday Oct 2020

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I really enjoy this appellation so I am looking forward to this $ 45 wine. It is medium purple but totally opaque in the glass. The nose is stunning. Cassis, blackberries, plum reduction and some oak. The palate is very dark-fruit forward with some delicious oak and cassis. The well integrated tannins bring a really nice dryness to the gums right off the bat. The mid palate is opulent with layers of black fruit, vanilla and the beginnings of an acidic bite. The finish is long, fruity and dry with some black tea notes along with the berries and plum. Tannins are ever present and the wine is mildly acidic, making the mouthfeel very interesting and complex. This wine is already 8 years young and will drink well till 2026 at the earliest. 93 points from me. 5 stars for this sun-drenched beauty. I’m grilling Filet and baked potatoes. Salut….

Apriori Pinot Noir 2016,Sonoma Coast, California

09 Friday Oct 2020

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This Pinot is quite dark and extracted. The color is damson red/light purple but it’s nearly opaque. On the nose it brims with New World goodness- cranberry/cherry jam, spicy cinnamon and Christmas fruit cake. On the palate it is full bodied and not ashamed to show off the fruitiness it’s been holding back. Layers of red jammy delight, spice box, a touch of leather and some oak greet me right off the bat. This wine continues the rich theme onto the mid palate where I get acidity, just a touch. There is barely a trace of tannic grip but I am enjoying the richness of this wine so much I am not worried about any astringent accents. The finish is medium length and shows off yet more red fruit. If you like a rich Pinot, this one is right up your alley. I usually like them much more restrained, but this one simply knocked my socks off. I am a fan- 93 points for this $36 wine make it a 5 star effort to be drunk by 2024. Salut….

Boissy et Delaygue Lou Pontias 2016, Côtes du Rhône, France

08 Thursday Oct 2020

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This is one dark, opaque wine in the glass. On the nose I get some red currants, violets, crushed stone minerality and blueberry. The palate is delicious- ripe blueberry, licorice, rooibos tea and cranberry flavors are all intermingled with very fine grained tannins. The mid palate introduces a touch of acidity and the finish is where this wine really shines. It has a lovely mouthfeel, good balance and the fruit flavors go on for 30 seconds. Those lithe tannins slowly ramp up to give me a touch of dryness on the gums and teeth. Just what I needed for a Fall evening with some hearty foods to include Veal Shnitzel and mashed potatoes. I am really enjoying this wine and would suggest a drinking window until 2025. This Syrah/Grenache blend gets 91 points from me. At $11- six stars if I could. Salut….

Badissa Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, IGT, Italy

08 Thursday Oct 2020

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Pale yellow in the glass. The nose is fruity with grapefruit, tangerine and a honeysuckle component.  On the palate it is a touch sweet with warmth from the honey note.  The citrus components are ripe and fresh with just a hint of acidity.  The mid palate is really nice, the mouthfeel being very round and balanced.  The finish is curt, weighing on the tangerine side of things and adds a nutty note at the end.  It’s a tasty wine to pop as you prepare dinner or enjoy it with salad nicoise.  88 points, drink till 2023. 3 stars for this $14 effort. Salut….

Henry’s Drive Magnus Shiraz 2017, Padthaway, Australia

08 Thursday Oct 2020

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Dark purple and fully opaque in the glass.  The nose is rich with jammy blackberry, black licorice and toasty oak.  On the palate I get what I was expecting from this Aussie Shiraz- rich, layered black fruit with some black tea and more licorice.  The tannins are definitely present, but not overpowering.  There is a nice dryness to the mid palate and some juicy acidity- very balanced.  The finish is very fruit driven with thick, jammy black berries, nuances of oak and that tannic thrust that has been present all along.  A delightful, full bodied wine that is hitting the spot on this chilly Fall evening where I am serving up a Rib Roast with Yorkshire puddings and horseradish.  Drink till 2027.  90 points and 4 stars for this $30 stunna from downunda. Salut….

Grupo Olarra Bodegas Ondarre Ursa Maior Reserva 2014, Rioja DOCa, Spain

08 Thursday Oct 2020

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Semi opaque in the glass with a nice shade of purple.  The nose is smoky with black berries, plum and chocolate powder.  There’s also a touch of funky Rioja dirt in there.  The palate is as hoped- rich, complex and satisfying.  Black fruit, tar, licorice and ripe tannins all caress the mouth.  The mid palate just builds more on the flavor profile.  The finish is delightful- semi dry from the well integrated tannins, juicy from a touch of acidity and brimming with flavors of ripe blackberry, espresso, cacao and that telltale dusty Rioja component.  This Tempranillo is drinking beautifully now and will go till 2028.  92 points and 5 stars for this steal at $10. Salut….

Primi Soli Cabernet Sauvignon Colli Berici 2019,Veneto, Italy

01 Thursday Oct 2020

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This Italian Cab Sav is see-through and a lighter shade of purple in the glass. On the nose I get red currants and rhubarb with a hint of chocolate. The palate is quite tart but opens up to some nice red fruits, a bit of blueberry pie and an oaky undertone. The wine has just a touch of tannic hint which is a welcome change. The mid palate is delightful with a nice, light mouthfeel. Red berries and tart rhubarb really come through as does some pomegranate. It is quite gripping in the acid department which makes for a very precise and focused wine. There is no flab here. The finish is juicy and fruity, with barely a trace of any tannins. Structure wise- it’s slightly imbalanced between the acidity and the tannic backbone, which leads to a shorter cellar capacity. It is however a delicious and easy to drink wine that would go really well with Bolognese or Osso Bucco. Drink till 2025. 88 points. Price unknown. Salut….