Scott Peterson ROX of the Andes Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Mendoza, Argentina

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Deep ruby colored with light staining, and a medium viscosity (14.3% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, blackberry, black plum, mint, acai berry, violet, and charred, smoky oak.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are integrating nicely.  Medium intensity flavors of blackberry, acai, black plum, black cherry with black tea and smoke that lead to a medium length finish.  Yummy stuff that has some aging capacity and structure to hold up to a juicy steak.  I would drink this 91 point wine till 2030.  For $16, it gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Scott Peterson ROX of the Andes Argentina Cabernet Sauvignon

Red Tail Ridge Pinot Noir 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

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Pale ruby colored with medium viscosity (12% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of potting shed, dried cranberry, red cherry, baking spice, lingonberry, and a slight medicinal note.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a light body, and medium (-) tannins.  The flavor intensity is medium (-) but I get some nice cranberry, red cherry, lingonberry, and spice notes.  The finish is a touch sour but medium in length.  Overall a nice, lightweight rendition of Pinot Noir that will pair nicely with our Turkey dinner.  I would drink till 2028.  88 points for this $30 effort makes it a 3 star wine.  Salut….

Red Tail Ridge Pinot Noir

Jacqueline Bahue Cabernet Franc 2023, Lodi, California

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Medium ruby colored with iodine highlights, slight staining, and a medium viscosity (13.2% ABV).  The nose has aromas of candied raspberry, perfume, pine sap, ripe pomegranate, leather, and lingonberry.  If I could describe smelling something sweet- this would be it.  Can’t wait to taste…..On the palate it is dry!  Medium acidity, medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins make for a very easygoing wine that sips nicely.   The red fruit driven nose is apparent on the palate along with a hint of oak but no sign of the tobacco, perfume or pine sap.  The green note I was smelling did not materialize.  The finish is relatively short and a touch tart.  This is a basic wine without much structure that will enable any cellaring.  It’s a great wine to pair with BBQ ribs or pizza.  86 points from me and for $11 it’s a 3 star effort to drink in the near term.  Salut….

Jacqueline Bahue Cabernet Franc

Clos Apalta 2013, Colchagua Valley, Chile

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Closing out the series at our 38th virtual wine tasting was this stunner.  I ordered it months before in anticipation of going out with a bang and I was not disappointed.  The group loved it and the notes were as follows: deep ruby fading to garnet colored, with slight staining and a high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose started out funky- “Donkey butt in a barn” was the initial call, followed by aromas of green pepper, black cherry for days, a combo of red and black licorice, cedar, Jujubes, sassafras akin to root beer, layers of ripe black fruits, smoke, and vanilla on the finish.  The palate had medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are well integrated.  A spectacular wine whose flavors echoed the nose- we all just sat there and stopped taking notes, savoring the complexity and finesse. The only loss of points for me was the medium finish, I had hoped for longer.  It would have scored a perfect 20 if so.  I will rate this $130 bottle at 96 points and award it 5 stars.  What a treat!  Carmenere based at 70% with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot supporting.  Drink till 2035.  Salut….

Clos Apalta

Ruca Malen Capitulo Dos Petit Verdot 2020, Los Chacayes, Argentina

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Tasted at the 38th virtual wine tasting, this single varietal Petit Verdot performed as I had hoped, introducing the group to this grape that is normally blended.  This bottling was deep ruby colored with moderate staining, and a high viscosity (14.9% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of Maduro, with smoke, black licorice, red Twizzler, blackberry, and tobacco.  On the palate we got medium (-) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins.  Blackberry led the charge with pencil lead, red beet, tobacco, pomegranate and sour cherry supporting.  A tart finish that lasted medium length led me to award 13 points on our scoring sheet.  Technically speaking, this $20 effort gets 89 points and 3 stars.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Ruca Malen Capitulo Dos Petit Verdot

Artazu Pasos de San Martin Garnacha 2016, Navarra, Spain

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Tasted at our 38th virtual wine tasting- this Garnacha performed decently for many in the group.  It had a a medium garnet complexion with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  On the nose we smelled lavender, smoke, peat, barnyard funk, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, black olives, and some funky blue cheese.  The palate had medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are nicely integrated.  Green peppercorn flavors with black olives, red raspberry, black cherry, black pepper, and that funky blue cheese led to a medium length finish.  This wine was just okay for me and got 11 points on our tasting sheet but scored 89 points for technical merit.  At $20, I would like to revisit this 3 star effort and give it a chance to open up and release the funk.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Artazu Pasos de San Martin Garnacha

Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling 2021, Salta, Argentina

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We kicked off the 38th virtual wine tasting with this Torrontes/Riesling blend (85/15%), served initially chilled then at room temperature.  Pale yellow colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV), it gave the tasters medium (+) intensity aromas of honeysuckle, lemon, nectarine, peach, pear, lychee, and rose water.  On the palate it is dry with medium (+) acidity thanks to the Riesling, with a light body.  The flavors were similar to the nose with the addition of vanilla- the finish was long.  We then tasted the room temperature version which gave us more pear, some petrol, a hint of ginger, and perhaps vanilla thread.  The acidity was a bit subdued but the body felt heavier with tangerine, pear, honeysuckle, and a citrus driven finish that went on for ages.  I scored it 15 and 14 on our tasting sheet but this $12 bottle gets 91 points on technical merit making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling

Precision Wine Company Circumference Chardonnay 2023, Russian River Valley, California

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Pale lemon colored with gold highlights, and a watery sheen that gives way to some thick, slow moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe tropical fruit.  Pink guava, apricot, papaya, nectarine, green almond, a touch of butter, and a hit of baking spice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and ripe fruit flavors that echo the nose.  The finish is silky and medium (+) in length, showing off the fruit rather nicely.  There are subtle secondary notes, the focus being the fruit profile.  It’s a heavy wine with a rather substantial alcohol content that would probably need to be served well chilled as I can see it ballooning out of control once it gets warmed up.  I am pairing it with Chinese food and it’s working rather nicely.  89 points for this $25 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

precision wine company Circumference Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Les Vignerons de Pierrefeu Prestige Rouge 2005, Cotes de Provence, France

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Deep amber colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of prune, balsamic syrup, roasted almond, raisin, desiccated blackberry jam, and alcohol (I get loads of it in my shnoz).  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body and very astringent tannins that are melded but still providing grip.  Dried, stewed fruits and over-steeped black tea with some roasted nuts make up the flavors, which are of medium (+) intensity.  The finish is super astringent and the flavors last a medium length but the astringency is something to behold, wow.  This is certainly not a wine that was meant to be aged, it just happened to be forgotten in my brother’s kitchen.  Purchased in Provence in 2008 at the winery where my cousin had his wedding reception.  They got divorced but the wine is still here, barely.  No scores given, no pricing is available, and the rest is destined for the kitchen sink.  A real shame we didn’t open this (Cabernet Sauvignon?) sooner.  Oh well.  You win some, you lose some.  Salut….

Les Vignerons de Pierrefeu Cotes de Provence Pierrefeu Prestige Rouge

Quevedo Family Red Blend Xisto 2021, Portugal

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Deep purple colored with a watery meniscus, and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, red plum, acai berry, vanilla bean, menthol, and red licorice.  The palate is slightly off-dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Very light in the mouth with very little structure- it has nice flavors of raspberry, plum, acai berry and red licorice with some vanilla and menthol notes.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing with its fresh approach.  A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Sousão that drinks effortlessly.  This easygoing style will appeal as an aperitif or with lighter fare. It runs $11 and gets 86 points from me which makes it a 3 star wine.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

queued family xisto red