Bodegas Balbas ‘Pagos de Balbas’ 2021, Ribera del Duero, Spain

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Deep ruby colored with light staining and a high viscosity (15% ABV).  Medium (-) intensity aromas of charred oak, black cherry, blackberry, coconut and dill plus a generous wafting of alcohol that is noticeable.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins that dissipate rapidly.  Flavors of black cherry, blackberry, coconut, dill, mint, coffee and some char lead to a medium (-) length finish.  This is a young wine but is drinking nicely now and will develop over time.  It gets 89 points from me as I feel the alcohol throws it out of balance.  This Tempranillo runs $23 and gets 4 stars.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Kysela Pere et Fils Picpoul de Pinet H.B. 2023, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

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Pale lemon/lime colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, white pear, sea salt, green apple, lemon zest, grapefruit and waxy lanolin.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Tart flavors of lemon zest, green apple, peach, sea spray and white pear.  The finish is tangy, zesty and medium in length.  This $9 stunner is a dead ringer for Albarino imo- cutting acidity, sea spray, peach and lemon zest remind me of that grape.  I am pairing it with steamed King Crab, seems like the natural thing to do.  89 points from me makes this a 5 star effort that I will pound this summer- after all it runs under a tenner.  Salut….

Vinedos y Bodegas Gormaz ‘Catania’ Reserva 2017, Ribera del Duero, Spain

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Deep ruby with some copper and orange highlights and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, vanilla, baking spice, coconut shavings, mint, tobacco, loam and leather.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are a still quite grippy after 7 years.  Ripe black fruit with healthy yet well done oak treatment which gives me vanilla, coconut, baking spice and coffee.  Dried herbs with loam, mint, leather and tobacco round out the flavor profile.  The finish is long yet a touch astringent and tangy from the acidity.  It’s still youthful in structure even thought the aromas and flavors are developing nicely- it’s a bit disjointed.  I would love to revisit in a year or two, I think it has lots of potential and will score it accordingly at 91 points.  For under $20 it’s worth stocking the cellar with this Spanish Tempranillo that gets 5 stars.  Drink from 2025 till 2030.  Salut….

Wagner Vineyards Caywood East Vineyard Dry Riesling 2014, Finger Lakes, New York

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Pale lemon colored with gold highlights and a watery sheen (12.3% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of petrol followed by waxy lanolin, white grapefruit, nectarine, lime zest and a hint of- dare I say, milk chocolate.  Bizarre, I know.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body.  Flavors of white grapefruit pith, lemon zest, petrol, peach, nectarine and a flinty note.  The finish is long and mouthwatering, simply delicious with wafts of petrol, something I love in developing/developed Rieslings.  The acidity is en pointe with this delicious bottle, it cuts, but makes me beg for another sip.  93 points for this wine which I purchased ex-cellar.  Newer vintages run $25, which would make this a 5 star wine.  It has loads of cellaring capacity left and should develop even more.  Lovely stuff.  Salut….

Muirwood Unoaked Chardonnay 2022, Arroyo Seco, California

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Pale lemon with some green highlights and a watery sheen (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, peach, pineapple, white grapefruit and orange blossom. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body. Flavors of white pear, pineapple, white grapefruit, orange blossom with a hint of lemon/lime. The finish has a touch of bitterness- perhaps a little bit of phenolics. It’s medium (+) in length and sits nicely on the palate. There are times when I feel like enjoying an un-oaked Chardonnay that hasn’t gone through any MLF or Sur Lie treatment, like today. We are pairing it with Chicken Divan after a hot day in the sun. 89 points.  This bottle ran me $15 and therefore it gets 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Osborne Pedro Ximenez 1827 Sweet Sherry NV, Andalucia, Spain

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Deep amber colored with heavy staining and a high viscosity (17% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of stewed prunes, dried nuts, desiccated blueberry, vanilla thread, raisins, Christmas cake and cherry cola syrup.  The palate is very sweet, with medium acidity and a full body that sits heavily on the tongue.  The flavors echo the nose with a touch of heat interfering on the back end.  It’s a luscious wine for sure that has a medium to long finish.  I would pair it with vanilla ice cream or a cheese board with some stinky blue on it.  Delicious stuff but a thimble-full will go a long way.  92 points, and for $32 it gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Hermann J. Wiemer Cabernet Franc 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

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Medium garnet colored, nearly deep in opacity with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of black plum, grilled fig, purple licorice, cracked pepper, blackcurrant and brambleberry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body and medium tannins that are polished.  Flavors of black plum, blackcurrant, brambleberry, fig, cracked pepper and a charred note, perhaps some charcoal.  It finishes with long length and is a touch bitter at the very end.  Lovely balance and nice concentration.  I have had poorer vintages from the Finger Lakes that look thin and taste runny.  This is a much more staid version and has cellared nicely, albeit only 4 years.  It should develop further and drink well till 2030.  I’m ordering pizza to pair.  91 points and for $30, it’s worthy of 4 stars.  Salut….

Alpha Estate Single Vineyard Turtles Malagouzia 2021, Amyndaio, Greece

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Pale lemon with some green tint and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of pineapple, tangerine, melon, papaya, lanolin, crisp white pear and peach.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of white pear, peach, melon, papaya and mixed citrus make for a delightful flavor bouquet.  The finish is crisp, clean, and mouthwatering.  It last 10-15 seconds and makes me reach for another sip.  Delicious and showing complexity, this wine is a treat that I will pair with oysters.  It gets 91 points from me and for $22 it’s a 5 star wine to stock up on.   Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Buil & Gine ‘Gine Gine’ 2020, Priorat DOCa, Spain

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Deep purple/garnet with some haze, minor staining and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe black cherry, black raspberry, licorice, slate, menthol, baking spices, brambleberry and is very primal at this stage.  The palate is  dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins, bordering on high.  Rich, ripe dark cherry, raspberry and brambleberry resonate right off the bat.  I get nuance of licorice as was on the nose and also some menthol and dried herbs.  The slate/iron note is somehow absent.  The fruit is very much in charge here but the tannins kick it up on the mid-palate.  The finish is a touch dry and quite long.  This Grenache based wine has aging capacity and should soften with tertiary development till 2032.  I am going with 90 points and for $21, this is a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Ballatore Cellars Gran Spumante NV, California

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Pale to medium lemon/golden colored with big bubbles and low viscosity (8% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of yellow apple, melon, grapefruit pith, honeysuckle, apricot and peach. On the palate it is semi sweet with medium acidity, a nice mousse and light bodied. Flavors of pineapple, peach, melon, apple, grapefruit, and honeysuckle. The finish is delightful with some sweet notes and good vibrancy from the acidity and the mousse. It lasts short to medium and begs for another sip. The provenance of this particular bottle is actually quite poor yet it has survived years of abuse and neglect in somebody’s garage. I’m quite impressed and give it 86 points.  At $10 a go, this cheery sparkler gets 5 stars- we are pairing it with Vietnamese rolls tonight.  Salut….