Durigutti Cabernet Franc 2017, Mendoza, Argentina

08 Friday May 2020

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Bright purple in the glass with long legs.  On the nose it’s somewhat muted, but with a good swirl I am able to coax blackberry, vanilla bean and charred oak.  On the palate it’s very inviting with black fruits, violets, licorice and crisp tannins.  The mid palate is quite tart with sour black cherry and more blackberries.  Towards the finish this wine gets more and more dry.  The teeth and gums are coated with black and Lapsang Souchong teas, astringent yet tasty with a slight smoke note.  It’s a very tasty wine that needs a few years in cellar.  90 points and 4 starts for this $17 Cab France.  Salut….

CVNE Vina Real Crianza 2016, Rioja DOCa, Spain

07 Thursday May 2020

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A beautiful reddish shade of purple in the glass.  The nose is fresh and shows off raspberry, mint and red currants.  The palate has red fruits and delightful tannins- juicy.  There is a minerality to this wine to go with its cutting approach.  It sure is mouth watering.  Currants, pomegranate and a touch of that Spanish creosote all come together for me.  The finish turns a little more earthy and that Rioja garrigue comes in to play.  This is a nice wine with very precise flavors and a tannin/acid balance.  The finish is a little short and that will cost it a point but it’s really enjoyable and I would pair it with pasta, beef stew or grilled garlic chicken.  Drink till 2028.  90 points and 5 stars for this $15 Tempranillo.  Salut….

Durigutti Bonarda 2017, Mendoza, Argentina

06 Wednesday May 2020

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Wow, the color of this Bonarda is spectacular- deep, rich purple, almost opaque, but clear enough to see around the edges.  The nose is blackberry, black currants, oak influence and a rich fruit cake.  The palate is very thick with gobs of fruit and a steely tannic grip. The main profile is more black fruits, some currant preserves, toasty coconut and those tannins that are a feature of this varietal.  My gums are blackened with them and my mouth is puckering, just what I was hoping for when I ordered this wine.  I really wanted to delve into some unique grapes from South America, this one does not disappoint.  The mid-palate continues the massive fruit and tannin wave to a really long, dry finish.  Blackberry jam, charcoal and black tea are all present.  There’s a definitive spiciness to this wine that I am really enjoying.  The tannins are on pointe and the juicy acidity marries up nicely making a very tidy, long lived package.  If you like ’em young and dry, pop one.  I would pair this with braised Lamb Shanks, grilled goat or a big Ribeye.  This is a whopper of a wine and I am going 91 points.  Drink till 2030.  For $18 it’s a great intro to this grape and worth 5 stars.  Salut….

La Rioja Alta S.A. Vina Ardanza Reserva 2010, Rioja DOCa, Spain

05 Tuesday May 2020

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I’m concerned for this bottle.  The cork was extruded, indicating possible heat damage.  The color looks good, dark purple, opaque.  The nose is reassuring, sublime.  Classic aged Rioja.  Oaky, earthy, damson and plum reduction.  The palate shows some heat damage unfortunately and is a bit thin.

I will try my best here considering- flavors of ripe fig, blueberry and plum come at me with a noticeable amount of earthiness.  The mid palate is very much textbook- bramble, dirt, tart acidity and iodine.  The finish is decent in length but has some stewed fruits that I think are from the heat.  Nice tannins and some bracing acidity all form up at the end.  It’s a shame because it could potentially be a 92 point wine.  I paid $40 for this Tempranillo which would have made it a 5 pointer.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 682 Pinot Grigio 2018, Russian River Valley, California

03 Sunday May 2020

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Very pale yellow in the glass.  The nose is very citrusy- lemon peel, tangerine and …green almond?.  The palate is somewhat sweeter than expected, with that citrus component meeting up with green apples and melon.  The mid palate is really interesting to me, tamarind comes to mind as I taste sweet and sour at the same time.  There is a juicy acidity that keeps this wine from becoming cloying.  The green apple takes over on the finish and it is a tart affair.  Refreshing to say the least.  This wine has played tricks on me, starting out as an overly sweet, flabby beast to this razor sharp finish that leaves me wanting more.  I couldn’t have picked a better pairing to the Pork belly burnt ends that I have been cooking all day.  90 points and 5 stars for this amazing deal- $13.  Drink now.  Salut….

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….