Quinta do Crasto Superior 2016, Douro, Portugal

06 Saturday Jan 2024

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This is the third time I have tasted the Crasto Superior 2016.  It started out horribly the first time I drank it in 2022, the second bottle being far better so I ordered this one for our tasting group in hopes it would redeem itself.  Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose had aromas of blueberry, violets, vanilla, black cherry and was a touch jammy.  On the palate it had medium acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  Flavors of blueberry jam, tart cherry and powdery cocoa greeted us.  The finish was medium (-) in length.  I wrote to drink this bottle now as I feel the structure has nearly reached its end game.  At 11 points from on our grading sheet it was unimpressive, until later.  This wine opened up nicely over the next few hours and I have upgrade my initial score of 88 points to 90.  We paid $24 for it and I would say it’s a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Les Princes Abbes Alsace, France

06 Saturday Jan 2024

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We tasted this wine at the 34th Virtual Wine tasting event, served both chilled and at room temp.  Pale yellow with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose gave us aromas of petrol, lanolin, anise, yellow apple, ripe pear, pink grapefruit and lychee.  I made a side note say it smelled waxy and oily.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body.  The petrol, wax and lanolin are immediately discernible followed by lemon, yellow apple, green apple and a sweet tart note from one of the group.  It finishes medium (+) in length with cutting acidity.   I gave it 16 points on our grading sheet.  The room temperature glass was a different beast, some preferred it over the chilled but I was unimpressed with its more muted nose and palate.  It seemed funky and medicinal but I still got petrol and citrus.  It felt heavier on the palate and displayed more acidity which was interesting/counterintuitive.  The finish was curt.  I gave it 10.5 points on our grading scale.   Overall I think this is a beautiful wine that needs to be served chilled.  It gets 92 points from me and for $24 a bottle- 5 stars.  I might need more!  Drink till 2035.  Salut….

Feteasca Regala NV, Recas Castle, Romania

04 Thursday Jan 2024

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Pale straw colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, nectarine, honeysuckle, white blossom, rose petal and ginger- not at all what I was expecting from this $7 bottle.  The palate is off-dry with medium (+) acidity and a rather full body.  Medium intensity flavors of peach and nectarine with rose water and white blossoms.  The finish is floral with blossom and honeysuckle, it lasts a medium length.  Tasty and far more complex that I was expecting- well worth the money for a refreshing aperitif or to go with grilled mackerel or smoked salmon.  89 points from me and 5 stars, might need to stock a few for the short term.  Drink on purchase up to 2 years.  Made from a relatively new grape, certainly new to me- Royal Maiden.  Salut….

Osborne Fino Sherry NV, Jerez, Spain

03 Wednesday Jan 2024

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Medium lemon colored with high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of green almonds, baked sourdough, lemon pith, yeast, saline and petrichor.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a full body.  Flavors of almonds, bread, yeast and some citrus are evident along with tangy salt and wet stone notes.  The finish is long and a touch hot from the lingering alcohol but I’m enjoying the balance of heat and tangy flavors.  A very enjoyable aperitif to drink now- it cost me $16 and gets 89 points making it a 4 star effort.  Best paired with nuts or a charcuterie board.  Salut….

Chateau Ksara Cuvee Speciale Cabernet Sauvignon Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

03 Wednesday Jan 2024

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Deep ruby colored with minimal staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has dusty aromas of black plum, blackberry, baking spices, black raspberry and Cassis. There’s a touch of charcoal on the very end as well. The pallet is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are very silky and powdery. Medium to full bodied- the wine has flavors of Cassis, plums, black raspberry, baking spices, vanilla and a touch of eucalyptus. It finishes a touch tart, but I’m liking that refreshing aspect.  It’s a medium length affair that is enjoyable with some licorice, dark fruit and ripe raspberry to end. 90 points from me for this $22 bottle makes it a five star wine to drink till 2028.  Salut….

Remhoogte Vantage Pinotage 2019, Stellenbosch, South Africa

01 Monday Jan 2024

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Deep purple colored with medium staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black currants, black plum, vanilla, mint, baking spices, blackberry coulis and cocoa powder.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are slightly green.  Full bodied- this wine has flavors of ripe black fruit with oak integration by way of vanilla, baking spices, cocoa powder alongside a charred note.  Some anise pops up on the mid palate but the mint never showed.  There’s a mineral streak that I am enjoying, almost granitic.  The finish is a touch tart and medium in length.  I’m going to enjoy pairing this bottle with a roast Pork shoulder and lemon potatoes.  It gets 91 points from me with a drinking window till 2029.  At $22 it gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Clos St. Thomas Les Emirs Rouge 2014, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

30 Saturday Dec 2023

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose of this nine year old wine has aromas of beautiful baked plums, black cherry reduction, cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa, coffee, toasty oak and a hint of menthol.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that are well integrated and very polished.  Mostly tertiary in nature the flavors consist of baked dark red fruit with vanilla, baking spices, cocoa and coffee with a hint of cracked black pepper on the mid palate.  The tannins are sublime, making for a great mouthfeel.  The flavors carry on and on with a long finish promised and delivered.  Delicious and at peak, this wine is showing the power of its terroir and the skill in winemaking.  93 points from me for this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Grenache.  I trekked all the way to the city to pick up every bottle they had which at $19 per was a great price.  5 stars, drink till 2028.  Salut….

My 2023 wine adventure

30 Saturday Dec 2023

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It all began with the amazingly delicious Vin de Constance on January 1, 2023

I then began to ramp up for the Certified Wine Educator exams by tasting, sampling and reading about as much wine as I could.  Keeping my Virtual Wine Tasting group happy, we delved into some very interesting varietals during the year which included the following:

My wine friends helped me pass the CWE exams by plying me with some delicious wines served blind:

And then there was the exam taking and prep for that:

I cannot pinpoint a particular wine or occasion that truly stands out over the rest, but I can say that Christmas was no slacker.

New Years eve will be at a friend’s house where I will pillage his cellar and we will toast  with decent Cava.  I look forward to my 2024 wine adventures and hope yours are equally as amazing and rewarding.  Salut….

Clos St. Thomas ‘Le Merlot A’ 2010, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

24 Sunday Dec 2023

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Deep garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV) and slight staining on the walls.  The nose has intense aromas of cassis, ripe blackberry, black plum, coffee, mint, cocoa, vanilla, licorice and charred toasty oak.  It’s quite complex but surprisingly youthful at 13 years of cellaring.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky smooth.  A full body with ripe flavors of cassis, blackberry and plum coupled with oak-derived notes of coffee, cocoa, vanilla, charred oak alongside mint and licorice.  It’s quite a melange of flavors that carry throughout to a medium length finish.  This Merlot is young and will cellar for another decade, hopefully developing some nice tertiary aromas and flavors.  It is only available at the winery due to limited production- it’s the winemaker’s pride and joy.  A delicious wine that gets 92 points from me.  Not sure on pricing so I will award 5 stars.  Salut….

Tinazzi No 3 Vinum Italicum Opera Rosso 2021, Italy

16 Saturday Dec 2023

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Deep ruby colored with high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose of this blend has medium intensity aromas of blackberry, mulberry, plum, coffee, baking spices, violets and cedar.  The palate is slightly off-dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are quite fine and powdery.  Full bodied with flavors of ripe blackberry, plum and juicy mulberry along with cedar, coffee and baking spices.  It’s quite a rich and ripe wine with lots of weight and heft (think the 15% alcohol).  The finish is medium (+) in length and smooth.  This $20 bottle overdelivers in my opinion and gets 91 points from me making it a 5 star effort.  Drink till 2027 with hearty meat dishes or thick stews.  Salut….