Concha y Toro Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot NV, Central Valley, Chile

15 Wednesday Nov 2023

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of plum, asparagus, chocolate powder and blackberry.  The green vegetal note is out of place.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and low tannins.  A lightweight body produces some mediocre flavors of plum and black cherry but the green vegetable thing is still there and it’s off-putting.  The wine has a funkiness about it that I don’t care for, it’s prevalent on the mid palate and the short finish.  I much preferred the straight up Cabernet Sauvignon from Frontera.  This $8 per magnum bottle gets 78 points and a pass rec with 1 star.  It’s not worth the effort.  Salut….

Weingut Josef Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen Riesling Kabinett 2018, Rheingau, Germany

15 Wednesday Nov 2023

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Pale lemon colored with lime highlights and a low viscosity (8% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of petrol, lemon zest, lime pith, peach, nectarine, orange blossom, honeysuckle and lanolin.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a light body.  It has cutting flavors of citrus zest, pith and blossom along with the telltale petrol notes this varietal can show.  There’s a sensation of slight pettilance but no bubbles show in the glass.  The finish is medium in length and crisp.  It’s a very pleasing wine that invites drinking, which at a low alcohol level is very easily done!  I was going to pair it with Souvlaki but the sweetness would detract.  It makes a delicious aperitif though and can certainly be drunk poolside, chilled to within an inch of freezing.  Not bad….  I give it 91 points and for $19- 5 stars.  I think it has some aging capacity and will develop more tertiary notes in the next 10 years.  Salut….

Coopers Hawk Camille Audacious NV, South Australia, Australia

13 Monday Nov 2023

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Deep ruby with some staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, violets, acai berry, cassis, mint, crushed gravel, charred oak and some baking spice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky.  A full body awaits with ripe black currants, black plum, mint, charred oak, a pretty floral note and some mineral tones.  The finish is long and full of ripe black fruit and some oak influence, delicious.  It goes on for quite a while.  The structure is very balanced and the wine has a generous mouthfeel.   This Shiraz based wine is going to pair well with our Roast Rib dinner but I would also throw it at some grilled lamb chops, a venison roast or even beef brisket in the smoker.  At $60, it’s not a weekday pounder but it gets high marks from me with 93 points.  Drink this 4 star effort till 2030.  Salut….

Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa

02 Thursday Nov 2023

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Deep ruby colored with some light staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, dark plums, dried coconut, violets and baking spice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins.  A medium to full-body ensues with some tartness that hits me right off the bat.  The dark fruit I got on the nose are present as is the violets and baking spice, not so much the coconut though.  The finish is tart with some charcoal notes along with the cherry and plum notes.  It’s a bit disjointed for me, the tartness plays agains the ripeness of the fruit.  I am pairing this 87 point wine with grilled Tri-tip and Greek potatoes.   Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Clarendon Hills Grenache ‘Romas’ 2011, Australia

01 Wednesday Nov 2023

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A brief note- en point and at peak,. This is a delicious and full throttle Grenache that is layered with ripe fruit, great structure and a long finish. It will pair beautifully with my minted Lamb Shanks and should drink well till 2028. A stunner.  Salut….

Concha y Toro Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon NV, Central Valley, Chile

01 Wednesday Nov 2023

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Medium ruby with low viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red plum, ripe pomegranate, black raspberry, cocoa powder and bell pepper.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and low tannins.  A light body makes this a very pleasing and easy to quaff red that has flavors reminiscent of the nose that carry through to a slightly tart finish that is thin and short.  Folks- this is a sub $8 per Magnum bottle of wine.  It serves the purpose and I will be reducing it for gravy and stock to braise my lamb shanks in.  It would do the trick at a summer BBQ outdoors.   It gets 82 points from me with a drink now window.  4 stars believe it or not.  Salut….

Osborne Manzanilla Sherry NV, Spain

31 Tuesday Oct 2023

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Pale lemon with pink highlights and medium viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of yeasty bread, preserved lemon, dill, green almond and sea spray.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a full body.  The intensity of the flavors is medium (+) and features the bready notes I got on the nose along with bitter green almond, some citrus and herbal hints.  It finishes long and a touch astringent but it’s delightful.  A delicious aperitif that gets 90 points from me and at $16- 5 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Rustenberg Chardonnay 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa

31 Tuesday Oct 2023

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Pale lemon with a watery sheen (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of marzipan, white blossom, persimmon, yuzu, brioche, lemon pith and orange zest.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  Fresh citrus mingled with airy florals, marzipan, a hint of brioche and some stone fruit.  It’s really crisp and refreshing and finishes medium in length.  I paid $22 and give it 92 points.  Tonight it gets paired with Shrimp Creole and gets 5 stars from me.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Cooper’s Hawk Winery Lux Cabernet Sauvignon NV, California

30 Monday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby colored with high viscosity (13.9% ABV) and very slight staining.  The nose gives me aromas of dark red fruit- raspberry, black cherry, red plum, star anise, evergreen, toasty oak and baking spices.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins.  A relatively full body is rich with ripe dark red fruits long with blackberry and a definitive charcoal note.  I also get some baking spice and a herbal green note.  The finish is short to medium in length.  This is a nicely balanced wine that has acidity and tannins tipping each other whilst the fruit takes center stage.  It gets 90 points from me and for $36- 4 stars.  Since this is an NV wine I would drink within 5 years of purchase.  Salut….

Raymond Vineyard Reserve Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Napa Valley, California,

29 Sunday Oct 2023

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Medium to deep ruby with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, blackberry, charred oak, sweet cassis, chocolate powder, baking spices and a hint of vanilla bean.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky.  The full body of this wine is layered with ripe black fruit, chocolate, vanilla, some coffee and baking spices.  The blackberry and cassis notes carry the finish to a long length and allow the gentle acidity and delightful tannins to caress my palate.  It’s a really delicious wine with a very nice mouthfeel.  92 points from me for this $37 effort makes it a 5 star wine to drink with hearty meat dishes till 2030.  Salut….