Penley Estate ‘Francis’ Cabernet Franc 2023, Coonawarra, Australia

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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A most unique smelling and tasting Cabernet Franc that we opened at the 42nd virtual wine tasting.  Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (12.5% ABV).  A medium (+) intensity nose of sweet red apples, cranberry juice, bubble gum, green pepper, and rhubarb.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  A dry, medium (-) finish left me bewildered at the flavor profile of this wine.  Some hated it, others were indifferent, I was intrigued.  We paid $20 per bottle and I am thinking it is an 88 point wine, making it worthy of 3 stars.  Drink soon.  Salut….


Penley Estate 'Francis' Cabernet Franc

Duorum Tinto 2020, Douro, Portugal

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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The second wine of our virtual tasting was this Portugues blend.  Deep garnet in color with a medium (+) viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry, black plum, ripe blueberry, black cherry, vanilla, and a medicinal note.  Medium (-) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins were noted.  On he plate we also got licorice in addition to the aromas already mentioned.  A pleasant, medium length finish made this an 89 point wine for me.  At $18 this wine delivered nicely and gets 4 stars.  It’s already approaching six years of age, it will last another half dozen.  Salut….

Duorum Tinto

Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Grigio 2023, Alto Adige Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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This Pinot Grigio from Trento-Doc was served both chilled and at room temperature at the 42nd virtual wine tasting.  The tasters found it to be pale lemon in color with low viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas and flavors of unripe pear, lemon rind, a mineral twist and green apple.  It was dry, with medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  The finish was medium (-) in duration and unremarkable.  The room temperature version was just flatter, less intense and felt heavier on the body with lower acidity.  I vacillated between 87 and 89 points so the average rules here- 88 points for this $19 bottle makes it a 3 star wine.  I would drink in the short term.  Salut….

Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Grigio

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascon 1884 Limited Production Cabernet Franc 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

15 Sunday Feb 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, black cherry, capsicum, charred wood, dark pomegranate, licorice, coffee, and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe dark-red fruit, deft oak by way of charred wood, medicinal notes, and coffee.  The telltale green pepper is not as obvious on the palate as it was on the nose.  Silky tannins make this a beautiful wine to sip, everything is in balance and delicious.  The finish is medium (+) in length and invites me to take another sip.  Really good, like 92 points worth.  I paid $29 online, making it a 4 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascon 1884 Limited Production Cabernet Franc

Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Tradition 2023, Alsace, France

12 Thursday Feb 2026

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Pale gold in color, with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lychee, rose water, papaya, caramelized ginger, spun honey, white blossom, and tangerine zest.  The palate is off-dry with medium acidity, a full body, and a hint of bitterness.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of tropical fruit center around the lychee and rose water theme.  The bitterness is intriguing me, either a touch of skin contact or that’s what the grape shows off.  Either way, the sweetness, of which there is very little of, is a nice counterbalance.  It’s a delicious, if not heavy wine that I opened to pair with Gumbo.  I think the fruitiness will do well against the dark roux, Andouille, and chicken.  I paid $27 for this wine that gets 92 points from me which makes it a 5 star effort.  I think it has some decent cellaring capacity if you have patience.  Salut….

Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer

Grifone Primitivo 2024, Puglia IGT, Italy

05 Thursday Feb 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, a bluish edge, and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red plum, acai berry, bramble berry, vanilla pod, coffee, baking spices, and old oak.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins.  It’s a very soft mouthfeel.  Medium intensity flavors of plum, vanilla, spice box, acai berry, and white pepper.  The finish of this Zinfandel, (Yes, it’s labeled Primitivo- same thing), is medium in length and retains the freshness of the acidity I got on the initial attack.  It’s a very smooth affair, albeit rather plain.  It defies the American Zin norms of being overripe, jammy and high in alcohol- this one is far more subtle, restrained in heat and certainly balanced.  I paid $7 or so at Trader Joes, what a bargain!  I think it’s worthy of 88 points,  therefore making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Grifone Primitivo Puglia

Grifone ‘1967’ Toscana IGT Rosso 2021, Tuscany, Italy

03 Tuesday Feb 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, and a low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of rhubarb, pomegranate, black cherry, green herbs, and licorice.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of black cherry, rhubarb, and pomegranate lead to a medium (-) finish.  I was not expecting much from this $7 bottle from Trader Joes, but find it to be a very serviceable weekday quaffer that gets 86 points from me, earning it 4 stars.  At 6 years of age, it’s time to drink up.  Mostly Sangiovese, with a dash of Cab Sav and a sprinkle of Syrah.  Salut….

Grifone '1967' Toscana IGT Rosso

G.D. Vajra Albe 2020, Barolo DOCG, Italy

01 Sunday Feb 2026

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Pale ruby colored with a medium viscosity (14% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of cherry, some herbs, pomegranate and old wood. There’s really not much there for me. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins. Medium (-) intensity flavors of cherry, herbs, pomegranate and railroad ties. The finish is very juicy, but lacking in much depth of flavor. This is the second time I’ve had this wine with consistent notes of being underwhelmed. 85 points. I don’t get it.  At $35, it’s a 2 star wine in my books.  Salut….

G.D. Vajra Albe Barolo

Teliani Vineyards Saperavi 2023, Kakheti, Georgia

30 Friday Jan 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (12% ABV).   The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, pomegranate, black cherry, pine sap, a mineral note, acai berry, and fruitcake.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors zero in on the black cherry, pomegranate and black raspberry notes with a black tea hint appearing, its astringency due to the relatively young tannins.   They grip till the very end, past the medium length finish.  I really find this grape to be very interesting.  It’s a teinturier (the flesh is pink colored), which means it is quite deep in color, the tannins are plentiful and the flavors go the dark red fruit route.  This one is nice, getting 89 points from me.  I paid $15, making it a 4 star effort.  It has some aging capacity, so drink till 2033.  Salut….

Teliani Vineyards Saperavi

Lismore Wines ‘The Retreat’ Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

28 Wednesday Jan 2026

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Very pale lemon, bordering on straw colored, with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of papaya, cut grass, lime, lemon pith, wax, white and orange blossom, and white peach.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a light body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose, with that bracing acidity keeping it all in check.   It goes down a treat and the finish lasts medium in length, albeit somewhat overshadowed by the cut.  It’s a really tasty wine that exudes aromas and flavors typical for the varietal.  I like it, and I especially like the price- $7, marked down from $10 at Costco, which would have been a bargain itself!  I think this wine gets 90 points and 5 stars for its tremendous value for money.  One to buy in bulk for the summer coming up.  I’m pairing it with Ceviche, salut….

Lismore Wines 'The Retreat' Sauvignon Blanc