Bodega Garzon Reserva Tannat 2018, Maldonado, Uruguay

01 Friday May 2020

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Wow, this is some inky wine.  I am on a stretch of tasting some lesser known varietals for the next few days.   Tannat is very popular in South America and is very tannic and raw.  I am cooking Strip steaks and Cevapcici sausages, made from ground lamb which is fatty and spiced- I hope the pairing works.

The nose is blackberry jam, some charred oak and red licorice.  On the palate it is as expected- fruity, primal, tannic and delicious.  This is a wine made for a big South American Asado (grilling).  The midpalate is so juicy it makes me pucker.  Black currants, blackberry and a touch of mint all hit me.  The wine is tannic, but not over dry.  Black tea and licorice flavor the back end and the finish has a hint of charcoal.  There is a definitive oak influence but it is deft and delicious.  91 points and 5 stars for this $15 Tannat.  If you have never ventured into the lesser knowns, here is a good starting point.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 633 Riesling 2017, Napa Valley, California

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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It’s a very pale shade of gold.  On the nose I get quince, green apple and cardamom seed.  The palate is quite a lot sweeter than I was expecting, but it has some nice acidity to bring me back down.  The flavors are more apples, a citrus note and that spice.  The mid palate softens up a little and the sweetness subsides.  It’s more of a yellow apple meets baking spices.  The finish is where this wine shines- long, slightly tart and filled with more fruit.  The mouthfeel on the finish is very round and lush.  This is a very tasty wine that will pair well with seafood and tapas.  Drink till 2023.  90 points and 5 stars for this $13 steal.  Buy it by the case!  Salut….

David Noyes Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2007, Sonoma County, USA

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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This wine is 13 years old and I just found it in my cellar. The cork did not look good and I feared for the worst.  In the glass it’s very dark, almost fully opaque but it shows nice legs.  The nose is mature- earthy, with mushrooms, forest floor, game and a hint of black cherry reduction.  On the palate this is stunning- fully developed with a boatload of tertiary flavors.  Umami, dried shiitake, garigue and stewed cherry.  This wine is at peak.  The midpalate is super smooth- rich fruitcake, secondary flavors and a lithe dose of acidity.  The tannins are fully melded and give me a great mouthfeel.  The finish is lovely if somewhat curt.  Rich fruit reduction, trace tannins and those delicious secondary players we hope for after extended cellaring.  20 plus seconds. I love this wine and am stoked it turned out so nicely.  Drink till 2022.  93 points.  I paid under $20 back into the day, I doubt you can find any of this 5 star wine these days.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 706 Chardonnay 2018, Napa Valley, California

28 Tuesday Apr 2020

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A medium shade of yellow in the glass.  Pears, citrus and wildflower nectar greet me on the nose.  A very fresh and yet layered first impression.  On the palate it is a touch buttery, which I like as it’s not overdone.  Crisp acidity from lemon, some Bartlett pear and a green melon all hit me on the palate.  It’s got a really nice balance between the acidity and bold fruity flavors.  The mid-palate is a very linear channel to the finish.  It simply carries the same flavors and allows the juiciness to permeate the whole palate.  The finish is long, tasty and refreshing.  There is an abundance of fruit on the back end that carries that lemony component and introduces some oak influence- vanilla and popcorn.  I like the way this wine teases the palate with some hints of big time oak but waits until the very end to actually show some of it off, interesting indeed.  I really like this wine, it’s relatively lightweight to drink by itself but I would pair it with Cobb salad, Blackened Salmon or grilled veggies.  90 points from me and 5 stars for this $16 rocker.  Drink till 2024.  Salut….

 

Bodegas Muga Reserva – Crianza 2015, Rioja DOCa, Spain

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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The last one of the tasting was this Tempranillo from Rioja.  I have had this wine and thoroughly enjoy it’s rustic , brambly approach.  There is leather, anise, licorice, plums and that earthiness that only comes from Spain.  It was a hit with some but not all the tasters.  One of whom claimed it was the best Rioja she had ever had!  I loved it and am going 91 points for this $28 wine- 5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Substance ‘Cs’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Columbia Valley, USA

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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Wine number 3 in the virtual tasting was the ringer.  A $15 perennial favorite that is as consistent as the rising sun.  This Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State wowed the drinkers with its intense fruity attack of blackberries, plum, great tannins and balanced acidity.  It was an instant hit with friends clamoring to see where they could buy it in bulk.  It will drink well till 2025 all by itself or paired with pretty much any meat dish.  5 stars for this 92 pointer.  Salut….

Cusumano Nero d’Avola Terre Siciliane IGT 2018, Sicily, Italy

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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Number two in the virtual line-up was this Nero D’Avola from Sicily.  I wanted to add a relatively unknown varietal to try and introduce new wines to my friends.  This one was a steal at $12 and scored highly amongst the attendees.  I gave it 89 points and will go with 4 stars.  It had some very nice black fruits, good tannic structure and a decent finish of licorice and oak adding to plums.  Cellar for up to 6 years.  A good wine to have in case you need a quick go-to bottle.  Salut….  

Loveblock Pinot Noir 2018, Central Otago, New Zealand

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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This was the opener at my first virtual Wine tasting.  It was pretty full bodied and New World in it’s fruit forward approach.  Delicious but somewhat atypical for the varietal.  Very meaty and gamey with some interesting minerality.  I went with 90 points.  3 stars for this $29 Pinot Noir.  Salut….

Virtual wine tasting #1- the COVID edition 4/24/20

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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As with many others, I love wine, I love talking about it, I love critiquing it and I love sharing it.  When my cousin suggested a virtual tasting I was in.  I made sure to order wines for everyone that were appealing, different and included one ringer.  I have had two of the selections, albeit from different vintages but their consistency is what I was counting on.  I drew up a tasting sheet for everyone and my cuz organized the Zoom call.  The plan was to dress up, so I put my favorite Redskins jersey on as it was Draft night, and got to work with the tasting.  Unfortunately, I found out early on that I could not devote the time needed to write a proper report but here are the highlights of each wine in a very condensed version:

Loveblock Pinot Noir 2018
Cusumano Nero d’Avola 2018
Substance Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Bodegas Muga Reserva 2015

Domaine des Monts Luisants ‘Les Monts Luisants’ 2009, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru, France

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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A bright shade of red and see through.  The nose rings of pomegranate, sweet cherry and clove.  The palate is very smooth and soft- the fruit is vibrant and the acidity is very gentle. It’s all primary flavors for now, loads of red fruit and some backend tannins.  The midpalate is tart, with more pomegranate and some rhubarb.  The finish is very sleek and easy going- more lingering flavors from the midpalate and a nice spike in the very fine-grained tannins.  This wine is young and has many years to go.  I’m thinking it will be very nice as a mature Burgundy.  91 points for this very lithe Pinot Noir.  Drink till 2033, but cellar if you like some secondary flavors.  At over $100 it’s a pricy addition to the cellar, but then again- Burgundy is never cheap.  3 stars.  Salut….