02 Tuesday Jun 2015
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I have had the Elderton Shiraz of the same label and I thought it was a great drop so when I saw this Cab I had to try it. It just wasn’t the same caliber unfortunately. Starting off with a floral nose and purple plum paste I was hopeful. Very smooth entry of black berries and blueberry jam. Nice easy acidity with a short finish. Mid palate hints of red currants and very gentle tannins. 87 points from me with a drinking window of 2015-2017. 3 stars and $11. Salut….
02 Tuesday Jun 2015
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With no varietals mentioned on the label I took a chance on this $30 offering that was on BOGO at the local. Brooding nose of black fruits and chocolate dust. Mouth of ripe plums, cinnamon, ganache and green pepper (kinda strange I know). Rich acidity and mellow tannins. 88 points from me and 2-3 stars. Not sure yet, perhaps it needs some time. This wine hails from Sonoma and I suspect it is loaded with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Salut….
19 Tuesday May 2015
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I needed some wine for a friends evening so I stopped into Bevmo to pick some up. I was confronted with their 5Cent sale, buy from a selection of wines at full price and the second bottle is only 5 cents- basically a BOGO offer. This one was appealing from the shelf talker so I thought ‘what the heck’. $10 per bottle for California Cabernet? No brainer.
Bright damson nose with tar and plum on the first sip. Mild tannins and gentle acidity make this very approachable. Cinnamon and spice on the mid palate add a level of complexity and there is a longish finish of tannins and acidity that I only just noticed. 89 points with a window of 2015-2022 make this wine is a lurker. Good value from Bevmo at $20 for 2. At full price this would be a 3 star wine. Salut….
19 Tuesday May 2015
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Every once in a while I like to just drink the wine, no notes, no sucking air between my teeth- just the pleasure of the grapes. This past weekend my best friend from childhood came over for dinner. In his usual style he showed up with a decent bottle of wine. He was raised well and has class. His offering was this 2010 Bordeaux from the Pauillac commune which I happen to love. He also brought some pretty hefty cheeses and salami shavings to get the evening going.
Without notes I cannot tell you the specifics, only that this wine reaffirms my statements about 2009 and 2010 Bordeaux. Run, don’t walk to the shops. The next three vintages offer wines much lower in quality without reflection in price. This wine retails at $40 or so dollars and is a notch below the Cru Classe in terms of quality. It had everything going for it with regard to flavor, structure and cellaring potential. Others have given it 90 points, I won’t argue. 3 stars and well worth looking for. Salut….
19 Tuesday May 2015
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A wise man will try any 2009 or 2010 Bordeaux, they are consistently good. Winemakers had an amazing back-to-back set of vintages that offer short term approachability with some wines that will cellar for 30-40 years. This particular Bordeaux Superiore was ready for the corkscrew. I only took basic notes as we were tired when this bottle was opened.
Rich plum, tart blackberries and some juicy acidity. Bramble and dusty tannins on the mid palate. Decent finish of plum compote mixed with tannins and blueberry pie. My friend claims yum! 88 points and 4 stars for this $12 steal. I plan on buying more for the near term. 2015-2019. Salut….
19 Tuesday May 2015
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With a nose of candied plum and some oak I kinda knew what I was getting into. First sip was a pleasant surprise. Easy drinking and not overly cloying with some plum, currants and a generous amount of acidity. This is a pop-n-pour wine that should be consumed young. The tannins are very slight and the balance is slightly off yet it is a fun drop that will entertain many at a party. Cooking burgers? This one will fit the bill. 87 points for this basic red wine that is fresh and lively from Argentina. $12 makes it a 3 star effort. Salut….
19 Tuesday May 2015
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Next in my tasting series from Alexander Valley Vineyard is this gem. 45% Cab Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot makes this a Meritage in anyone’s books. How I love Cab Franc and more importantly how it melds into the Bordeaux style blend ! This was one bottle I was looking forward to.
Dark purple with a nose of black currant, eucalyptus, wood shavings and pencil lead. On the palate is a vibrant, somewhat tannic attack of currants, black berries and more graphite. Very young wine with a good cellaring potential. 89 points with a drinking window of 2016-2022. (Or you could run it through a Vinturi and pair it with a ribeye!) I paid $24 at the winery and give it 3 stars. Salut….
19 Tuesday May 2015
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Mocha and plum nose that entices. Initial taste of dark plum and black cherry with some ganache. Still young with firm tannins and crunchy acidity. Mid palate hints of coffee and chocolate powder. Very dry finish that coats the teeth and gums which tells me this wine is a keeper. I may have poured too soon. It got 94 points from the pro’s but I’m going with 90 for now. 2017-2025 would be a suggested window to let the tannins meld more. It lists at $85, which is rather steep making it a 3 star wine in my books. Salut….
01 Friday May 2015
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If you read much of my blogging you will know that I love this varietal. It exudes a softer sexier side to the Cabernet grape while showing off floral notes. This winery is where my son and I took a tour when we were in the Valley this past Spring. The wine is a crimson purple and has a stunning nose of blackberry and chocolate with some violet hints. Super smooth introduction of black and blue berries with a smidgen of oak and a tasty coating of lithe tannins. The mid palate is dark and brooding whilst the finish is decently long and caressing with tannic dryness and a touch of acidity. This is a super delicious wine which technically gets 91 points from me, bravo. 2015-2022. $28 make it a 4 star effort in my books. Salut….
01 Friday May 2015
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If you read my first tasting note on this Beaune Premiere Cru you will recall that I hated it, giving it 80 points and 1 star. I have a few more in the cellar and pulled one out for a comparative tasting after two more years of cellaring. Not much has changed, unfortunately. I did some research and I must say I am confused. It scored 91 points on average by peers on cellar tracker. Vivino peeps gave it a good write up yet I can’t get my head around the muted nose of rhubarb and cherry pie which is too tart still with little fruit depth. Red currants and cinnamon finally showed up. I was kinder this time with 85 points, but that is generous. A major 1 star pass for the money. Salut….
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