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

Castelli del Grevepesa Lamole 2019, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Italy

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Pale to medium garnet colored with copper highlights, and a medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red cherry, pomegranate, rhubarb, baking spice, olive tapenade, and a green stalk note (thyme?).  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium (+) tannins.  Flavors of red cherry, pomegranate, thyme, dried leather, rhubarb, and some baking spice.  The finish is zippy with some acidity that lingers.  Fruit length is medium and red in nature with some slight astringency right at the end.  It’s a very delicious and food-worthy wine that gets 92 points from me.  I would drink this $25 effort till 2030 with Bolognese all day long. 5 stars.  Salut….

castelli del grevepesa lamole chianti classico gran selezione

Bodegas Balbás Ardal Cuvée Especial Crianza 2020, Ribera del Duero, Spain

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Medium-to-deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, dusty earth, oak stave, acai berry, menthol, a medicinal note, tomato stalk, black licorice, and a whiff of tobacco.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and high tannins that are gritty and young.  The fruit is more intense on the palate than it was on the nose.  Dark berries with nuanced oak and some grippy tannins that carry on for an eternity.  The finish, albeit quite dry, lasts for a medium length and is begging for some food.  I’m guessing the 20% addition of Cabernet Sauvignon has beefed up the normally tame Tempranillo- it makes for an interesting and structured wine that has managed to hide its high alcohol nicely.  I would give this one a wide berth and cellar till 2026, with a drinking window into 2030.  92 points from me for this $30 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Bodegas Balbás Ardal Cuvée Especial Crianza

Barboursville Vineyards Octagon 2017, Monticello, Virginia

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pencil lead, blackberry, cassis, menthol, orange peel, bramble berry, black plum, and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that build on the mid palate.  Medium intensity flavors of blackberry, plum, cassis, bramble berry, coffee, menthol, and graphite.  The finish is very dry and long.  The tannins really grip here along with some juicy acidity.  It’s a delicious wine that is evolving nicely but I think the 2016 might be better (I gave it 93 points).  This one gets 91 points from me and at $95 it gets 3 stars.  I’m pairing with Sunday roast for the treat.  A classic Right Bank blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot.  Salut….

barboursville octagon

Basilisco ‘Fontanelle’ 2017, Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG, Italy

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Opaque, inky purple colored with medium staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, black currant, coffee, loamy earth, eucalyptus, licorice, bramble berry and blueberry.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a full body and high tannins that are slightly green and very grippy.  Ripe fruit flavors of black cherry, black plum, blueberry, bramble, leather, licorice, coffee, loam, and eucalyptus.  The wine is weighty and very rich as well as structured.  This is a young wine for sure.  The finish is medium in length and layered with dark fruit and secondary flavors.  The tannins seem to sort themselves out after a few minutes, they are very prominent but not green and rough.  This is a delicious bottle that needs a hearty pasta or thick Ribeye.  It will cellar well for at least 20 years and become more approachable in 5, but you can drink now if you like them super dry and astringent.  If not, aerate or decant and you should be good to go.  93 points from me for this $35 effort makes it a 5 star treat.  Salut….

Basilisco 'Fontanelle'
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore

Loosen Bros Dr. L Riesling 2023, Mosel, Germany

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Pale straw/lemon colored with high viscosity (8.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon zest, petrol, green apple skin, white and orange blossom, slightly underripe apricot, and a hint of wet slate.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a medium body.  The viscosity in the glass is obviously a result of the RS (residual sugar) and not the alcohol content.  The flavors are slightly muted by the piercing acidity, even though it is tempered by the sugar.  Citrus zest, green apple, apricot, and that stony mineral note make it through the powerful facade of this refreshing yet weighty wine.  It’s an interesting dichotomy.  I’m enjoying it very much as an aperitif to a Greek Chicken Souvlaki dinner, which has a lemon-based marinade.  The finish is very interesting- a ying and yang of sweetness versus tartness.  It lasts quite a long while.  Loving this $12 bottle that gets a decent 89 point score from me and 5 stars.  I will be stocking up on this porch pounder.  It will pair beautifully with spicy dishes as well as Asian inspired cuisine.  I think it has some cellaring capacity and would be interested to hide a few bottles for extended periods, checking every so often on the development.  Yummy.  Salut….

dr loosen dr l riesling

Quinta da Foz Reserva 2020, Douro, Portugal

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Deep purple colored with medium staining, and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, vanilla, coffee, dark chocolate, menthol, bramble berry, and a medicinal note.  It’s very enticing.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins that are melding nicely.  The richness of the fruit is profound- dark berry with oak nuance by way of vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and a medicinal note.  The menthol note only appears on the back end. The finish is juicy and medium (+) in length.  A delicious blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tina Roriz.  I have tasted two earlier vintages of this Reserva with equally impressive notes and high scores.  I will go with 94 points this time and for $25- I’m stocking up.  5 stars with a drink till 2030 window.  Salut….

Quinta da Foz Reserva

Domaine Clavel Régulus 2023, Côtes du Rhône, France

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, red plum, smoke, game, tomato stalk, red licorice, pomegranate, and blackberry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium  body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of dark raspberry, plum, blackberry, pomegranate, with some less intense red licorice, smoke, game and green from the stalk.  The finish is quite short but well received- it’s certainly fruity and has some nice juiciness thanks to the acidity.  This is a very delicious wine that drinks nicely now and could perhaps evolve till 2028.  It gets 91 points from me and at $14- a 5 star winner.  A blend of Grenache 60%, Syrah 30% and Marselan 10%.  Salut….

Domaine Clavel Régulus cotes du rhone

Real Companhia Velha Quinta das Carvalhas Late Bottle Vintage Port 2019, Portugal

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Dark ruby colored with medium staining and a high viscosity (20% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of macerated bramble berry, blackberry pie, dried cigar wrapper, old oak, dark chocolate, sweet prune, and a hint of wintergreen.  The palate is semi-sweet with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are polished.  The flavor intensity is medium (+) and echoes the nose- leading to a long finish that is slightly sweet, slightly dry, and slightly tangy giving a wonderful mouthfeel.  I have had the 2018 vintage and enjoyed it thoroughly.  This one is perhaps even better and gets 92 points from me.  I paid $23 and give it 5 stars.  Delicious and deserving of some Bleu cheese to pair.  Drink till 2035.  Salut….

quinta das carvalhas lbv 2019

Miriam Syrah 2021, California

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe red raspberry, black plum, game, vanilla, cocoa, and blackberry. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that melt away.  Flavors of ripe raspberry, plum, and blackberry with telltale meaty notes.  There is a hint of cocoa and maybe some vanilla.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing.  Not an overly complex wine, it drinks easily and will go well with a variety of dishes ranging from steaks and pasta to roasted chicken.  Overall it gets 86 points from me and at $12, 4 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Miriam California Syrah