Catena Zapata ‘Catena Appellation San Carlos’ Cabernet Franc 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

04 Monday Nov 2024

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Medium to deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red plum, ripe raspberry, vanilla, baking spice, capsicum, acai berry, cracked black pepper and mint.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins atop a medium to full body.  The flavors are medium in intensity and mirror the nose.  It’s quite a silky wine with the tannin/acid balance and nice ripe fruit that is enveloped in deft oak.  The finish is medium in length and very smooth.  I like it and for $22 it gets 5 stars for its 91 point rating.  I would drink till 2027 with lighter meat dishes, nothing too fatty.  Salut….

Catena Zapata San Carlos Cabernet Franc

Raats ‘Red Jasper’ 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa

03 Sunday Nov 2024

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Medium ruby colored with moderate staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, capsicum, black cherry, acai berry, vanilla, coffee, baking spice, charred oak, peppermint and dusty dried wheat (I know).  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that hit on the tip of my tongue.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of black plum, black cherry, espresso, Lapsang Souchong tea, vanilla, baking spice and charred oak.  The back end is very powerful with tea, black coffee, and charred oak being prominent.  The finish is quite dry with the tannins holding their own all the way through to a medium length ending.  It’s a different profile but very delicious if paired with food.  It’s Sunday roast so the meat and gravy will sort this delicious wine out nicely.  91 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 5 star wine to drink till 2030.  Mainly Cabernet Franc (53%) it also has Malbec, Cab Sav, Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot- the Classic Bordeaux blend.  Salut….

Raats Red Jasper

Concha Y Toro Casillero del Diablo Reserva Malbec 2021, Rapel Valley, Chile

01 Friday Nov 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, bramble berry, a medicinal note, baked pie, vanilla, a touch of green herb, and cracked pepper.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  The fruit takes a turn towards tart, which is accentuated by the acidity making for some mouth puckering.  The tannins grip a bit more on the mid palate.  Flavors include dark fruit, charred oak, vanilla, baking spice, and green herbs.  The finish is a bit tart and medium in length, the acidity really grabbing hold- it’s almost to the point of imbalance.  Under $9, this bottle gets 86 points from me and 3 stars.  It’s getting paired with burgers, I’m guessing it will all work out just fine.  Drink now, Salut….

Casillero del Diablo Reserva Malbec

Blaauwklippen Red Blend 2019, Stellenbosch, South Africa

30 Wednesday Oct 2024

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Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of rooibos tea, black and red plums, black cherry, charcoal, bell pepper, mint, cola and currants.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins. The acidity really picks up on the mid palate but keeps the wine very light and fresh.  Flavors of currant, black plum, red plum, singed alder, mint and cola.  The herbaceous note I smelled is non-existent on the palate.  The tannins and acidity are nicely balanced and the wine is lip-smacking.  I paid $19 for this blend of 90% Cab Sav, 10% Cab Franc that get 89 points from me and 4 stars.  I’m pairing it with grilled Andouille and Chorizo sausages with some gratin potatoes.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Blaauwklippen Red Blend

Trivento Reserve Malbec 2022, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

28 Monday Oct 2024

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Deep purple colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of crushed red raspberry (ripe), super ripe strawberry compote, candied red cherry, baking spice, vanilla thread and red licorice- it’s really not my favorite set of descriptors btw.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins sitting on a medium body.  The tannins are a touch unripe and the flavors are somewhat more tart than I was expecting.  Red fruit, but not the macerated, stewed or ripe ones I smelled plus some rooibos tea.  It’s a bit unripe and disjointed tbh, not something I was expecting from this winery.  The finish is tart and a bit astringent.  This is not what I was hoping for by a long shot- 85 points instead of the 90 that JS gave it.  I paid under $10 for it and will go with 3 stars.  Drink soon as I doubt there is much cellaring capacity.  Salut….

Trivento Reserve Malbec

Osborne Manzanilla Sherry NV, Andalucia, Spain

24 Thursday Oct 2024

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Pale gold in color with high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose of this fortified wine has medium (+) intensity aromas of green almond, sea spray, bread dough, cottage cheese, unripe Meyer lemon zest, and green apple.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  The layers of flavor start with that cheesy, dough note and transition to nuts and citrus with the ever present saline twist.  It’s very unique and tasty, finishing medium in length.  I paid $16 for it but there are lower prices.  It’s worthy of 88 points and will get 4 stars from me.  A delicious aperitif to serve with tapas or nuts/charcuterie.  Drink on release.  Salut….

Osborne Manzanilla Sherry

 

Bodegas Santa Ana Homage Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Maipu, Argentina

22 Tuesday Oct 2024

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Medium ruby colored with light viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of candied plum, black cherry, menthol, blackberry and purple licorice.  It’s rather one-dimensional.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins.  Slightly tart black cherry and blackberry greet me with some interesting menthol and licorice notes.  Once again, not overly complex, but for $8 a pop I was not expecting much more.  The finish is rather short and succinct.  For an everyday drinker this is quite quaffable and gets 86 points from me- which makes it a 4 star effort in my book that needs to be popped and poured rather than cellared.  I’m gonna use some in a red wine reduction, let’s see how that works out.  Salut….

Bodegas Santa Ana Homage Cabernet Sauvignon

Marques de Monistrol Cava Reserva Selección Especial NV, Spain

16 Wednesday Oct 2024

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Pale gold colored with large bubbles and a watery sheen (11.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of yellow apple, tangerine zest, pineapple, white blossom, a touch of brioche and lemon peel.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  The mousse has disappeared from the glass but there is an effervescence on the palate- I am dubious about the provenance here.  The flavors are not as prominent as the nose but I do get the yellow apple, citrus and white blossom, no sign of the brioche that I was hoping for.  The finish is pleasant and medium (+) in length making it a refreshing and enjoyable wine.  I would like to revisit another bottle I was given as this one may have seen better days and without disgorgement dates I have no idea how old it is.  Under $8, it gets 85 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink on purchase.  Salut….

De Toren Fusion V 2015, Stellenbosch, South Africa

13 Sunday Oct 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of blackberry, mulberry, smoke, coffee, dark chocolate, licorice, violets, caramel and ripe black plum.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are melding nicely.  The flavors consist of slightly tart black fruit with dark chocolate, coffee, licorice, some smoky hints and silky caramel.  The finish is long but the tartness of the fruit is noticeable yet refreshing even though this wine has got some heat.  Already 9 years old, it has plenty more cellaring capacity and should evolve with more tertiary notes developing from this classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.  I’m going with 93 points and for the princely sum of $65 it gets 4 stars.  It’s pairing with Sunday Roast.  Salut….

Buttonwood Grove Winery Pinot Noir 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

02 Wednesday Oct 2024

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Very pale garnet colored with copper/orange highlights and a watery sheen (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of barnyard, funk, red cherry compote, ripe strawberry, rhubarb, baking spice, violets, green stalk and lingonberry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a light body and low tannins.  The flavor intensity is medium (-) but very delicate and seductive.  Red fruit coupled with some funky notes and some baking spice make for an enticing and lithe wine that has great balance.  The finish is medium (-) in length which makes me grab the glass for another quick sip.  It’s a delightful sipper, not sure what I would pair with it so as to not overpower.   It ran me $25 at the winery and gets 92 points making it a 5 star effort to drink till 2030.  (I scored it 90 at the winery btw).  Salut….