Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli 2022, Getariako Txakolina, Spain

18 Monday Mar 2024

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Medium lemon colored with a deceptively high viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of white blossom, lemon zest, lime zest, tangerine, honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, grapefruit pith and cheese curd.  The palate is slightly off-dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  The tartness of the wine sharpens the citrus notes that now dominate.  The florals, which were quite lopsided on the nose now play second fiddle.  This is turning into a food wine for sure, it needs seafood to balance it out.  Delicious, en pointe and very zesty it has medium length finish.  I paid $18 for this bottle that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Made from Hondarrabi Zuri grapes.  Drink this delicious drop till 2025.  Salut….

Errazuriz Max Reserva Carmenere 2020, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

17 Sunday Mar 2024

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Deep ruby with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of bell pepper, black cherry, black plum, licorice, espresso, vanilla, baking spice and blueberry ganache.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium (-) tannins.  Flavors of plum, black cherry and blueberry with green pepper and oak derived accents.  There is a charred note on the mid palate where the green, herbaceous note fades.  The finish is medium (-) in length but very pleasing.  I like the structure of this wine- not too heavy, not too serious, not too tannic or tart- a perfect accompaniment to my Corned Beef dinner where the meat is soft in texture and slightly fatty served with a mustard gravy.  Drink this 90 point wine till 2027.  For $14 it’s a 5 star bottle to stock up on.  Salut….

Conde Bel Varela Gran Reserva 2010, Rioja, Spain

16 Saturday Mar 2024

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Medium garnet with a touch of bricking, light staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dusty earth, desiccated plum, dried coconut slivers, dried dill, black plum reduction, blueberry jam and a bacon streak.  The palate is dry with medium acidity,medium body and medium tannins that are fully integrated.  Flavors of dried/desiccated blue and black fruit combined with oak nuance and dusty earthiness that is a telltale off the region and of the Tempranillo grape.  The finish is medium (-) in length and focuses on tertiary notes of tobacco, tar, dust and dried herbs.  I fear this wine is just past peak so I had better drink up.  I like it, but the points will reflect the lack of further development.  I paid $20 per bottle and will give it 89 points making it a 4 star effort.  It’s grilled lamb for the pairing btw.  Drink now.  Salut….

Buttonwood Grove Winery Blaufrankisch 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

15 Friday Mar 2024

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Pale garnet with a watery sheen (11% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of rhubarb, pomegranate, white pepper, red cherry, strawberry leaf and tomato leaf.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a light body and very lithe tannins.  Flavors of rhubarb dominate with red cherry, white pepper and green leaf notes supporting.  The finish is a light yet zippy affair that lasts quite a while.  I picked this bottle to pair with grilled pork Tomahawks, it should do nicely as the low level of tannins will not impeded the lighter meat flavors.  I liked this wine when we toured the Finger Lakes wineries so I bought it- $25.  It gets 88 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Trapiche Oak Cask Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

13 Wednesday Mar 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Ugh nose has somewhat muted aromas of black plum, blackberry, cedar, charcoal and baking spice.  The palate is dry with a medium body and medium tannins.  The lush black fruit is laced with baking spices and charred wood notes.  I get a hint of coffee and a licorice note.  The finish is surprisingly long for what started out as a fairly basic wine.  What it lacked in complexity on the nose, it makes up for on the palate with some decent structure and ripe fruit.  89 points from me for this $10 effort gets it 4 stars.  Drink till 2026 with burgers, pizza, grilled steak or even some charcuterie.  Salut….

Anthony Road Cabernet Franc – Lemberger 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

12 Tuesday Mar 2024

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Pale garnet with a copper tinge and medium viscosity (13.8% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red cherry, baking spice, pomegranate, cranberry, violets and crushed rock.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins.  Red fruit coupled with some spice, minerality and a touch of violet makes for a refreshing and crisp wine with very little astringency and a nice mouthfeel.  The finish is surprisingly long on this aromatically challenged wine that I quite like.  I picked it as a lighter pairing for a traditional Lebanese dish of chicken and rice.  I think the crunchy red fruit will do nicely with the spiced rice (caraway seed) whilst the lithe tannins and zippy acidity will accentuate the chicken along with the toasted pine nuts and almond slivers.  This is an even blend of Pinot Noir and Lemberger (aka Blaufrankisch).  88 points from me for this $22 bottle makes it a 3 star wine to drink till 2028.  Salut….

Chateau Poujeaux 2018, Moulis-en-Medoc, France

11 Monday Mar 2024

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Deep ruby colored with minor staining and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, tobacco, cedar, black plum, camphor, mint, black coffee and iodine.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky and crunchy.  Flavors of ripe blackcurrant, black plum, tobacco, cedar, coffee and that sanguine iodine note caress the tongue and carry on to a longish finish.  I like the tannic structure- it’s grippy yet lets the fruit do its job.  I like the flavor profile, it’s a classic Left Bank Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  Lovely stuff that gets 92 points from me and for $34- 5 stars.  It’s open for business now if you like ’em a bit dry and astringent, or you could wait.  This beauty will last till 2035.  I’m charring up some Sirloins with a pepper sauce.  Salut….

McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand

09 Saturday Mar 2024

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Pale straw colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of cut grass, asparagus, gooseberry, Kaffir lime, peach and orange blossom.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Tart yet refreshing I get medium (+) intensity flavors of lemon, Kaffir lime, gooseberry, cut grass and dare I say it- cat pee?  (I actually like this note in my Sav Blanc every so often).  The wine has a crispness to it and is laser focused.  The finish is medium to long in length and the fruit warms up a bit- not as zesty as the opening.  I like this $13 bottle- a lot.  91 points worth and 5 stars from me.  A fascinating story about the winemakers- look it up here https://www.mcbridesisters.com/pages/story.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Botani Old Vines Moscatel 2022, Sierras de Malaga, Spain

02 Saturday Mar 2024

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Pale lemon colored with copper highlights and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, jasmine, lemon curd, white blossom, honeysuckle, tangerine peel and a waxy lanolin. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and some bitterness (skin contact perhaps?). Flavors of Jasmine tea, honeysuckle, lemon and tangerine skin, hints of peach and a salty minerality.  The finish is medium in length and the bitterness has worn off at this juncture leaving the mouthfeel a touch waxy with some saline and honey.  I am really enjoying the tropical notes of this rather aromatic wine, albeit not overly complex.  It gets 90 points from me and 5 stars, I paid just under $15 for it.  I’m gonna pair it with roast duck leg and mashed sweet potato.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Senorio de Villarrica Reserva 2018, Rioja DOCa, Spain

01 Friday Mar 2024

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Deep garnet colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose of this Tempranillo has medium (+) intensity aromas of vanilla, coconut, back plum, black cherry, tobacco, dust, cassis, Maduro wrapper, mint, dried green herbs, dried orange peel and blueberry compote.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  Flavors of black plum, black cherry, cassis, coconut, vanilla, baking spice, dusty earth, mint and tobacco persist to a long finish.  I’m impressed with this wine’s complexity and balance- 92 points from me and 5 stars since it runs $23.  I believe it has great cellaring potential, till 2033 but is drinking beautifully now.  Pairing tonight with Shish Kebabs.  Salut….