Myburgh Bros. Chenin Blanc Old Vine 2022, Paarl, South Africa

24 Tuesday Oct 2023

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Pale lemon colored with yellow highlights and a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, both zest and pith.  A wooly note permeates and I also get straw, white blossom, saline and a waxy honey note.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of citrus with that waxy, wooly note alongside some blossom and peach.  The wine finishes with a medium length- tasty stuff that gets 91 points from me and at $12- a veritable steal that gets 5 stars.  Drink till 2025.  Salut…

 

Famille Bougrier Vouvray V ‘Douce France’ 2020, Loire, France

20 Friday Oct 2023

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Medium lemon, bordering on light gold with medium viscosity legs (12% ABV).  The nose of this Chenin Blanc has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon pith, wool, grapefruit zest, orange blossom and honeysuckle.  The palate is off-dry with some high acidity and a medium body.  The citrus melange and floral notes are of good intensity and the wine begs to be drunk.  It finishes with a medium (-) length but it entices me back for more.  A delicious aperitif which I will pair with Peruvian chicken in the air fryer and a Middle Eastern rice dish laced with cinnamon. It gets 87 points from me and at $16, 3 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Camillle Benitah Volute 2020, Napa Valley, California

19 Thursday Oct 2023

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Deep ruby colored with staining on the walls and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Bordeaux blend has medium intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, black currants, a hint of eucalyptus, baking spices, vanilla, cedar and mint.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are polished.  The intensity on the palate is greater than the nose.  I get lots more black fruit which which is ripe along with mint, vanilla and baking spice.  The tannins turn a bit chalky on the back end of this full bodied wine and the finish is medium in length.  I love this style of wine  and when done with ripe fruit it can be very delicious, but this bottle seems to lack a certain depth for me.  It’s good, but not great (I’m a big fan of the winemaker btw).   90 points from me and for $25- it gets 4 stars.  I’m pairing with marinated grilled steaks and Lemon roasted potatoes.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

William Heritage Chardonnay Reserve 2022, Coastal Plains, New Jersey

18 Wednesday Oct 2023

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Pale lemon in color with medium viscosity legs (12.9% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of pineapple, Yuzu, lemon pith, lime zest, white blossom and baking spices.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body. I’m starting to get some signs of malolactic fermentation but it’s not overwhelming. Citrus and tropical fruit dominate but I’m wondering if there’s been a little bit of lees stirring.  I doubt there’s a great deal of new oak. I like it for its freshness and weight. 89 points and for $38 ex-cellar it gets 3 stars. Drink with grilled salmon or a Cobb salad. Till 2026.  Salut….

 

Specially Selected Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Napa Valley, California

16 Monday Oct 2023

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Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Aromas of candied plum, black raspberry, violets, licorice and nutmeg.  The palate is dry (?) with medium acidity and medium tannins.  I’m not sure if there is any residual sugar here, perhaps a trace.  The candied aroma I got on the nose is showing off as really ripe black currants on the palate.  I still get the black raspberry and licorice as well.  The body is medium in weight and the wine finishes with a short ending.  I like the mouthfeel of this $15 Aldi wine, it’s not overly grippy or tart, easy to drink and generally very agreeable.  I would pair this Napa Cab with grilled burgers, perhaps pizza or even lamb shanks.  It gets 89 points from me and 4 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Clarendelle Blanc 2021, Bordeaux, France

15 Sunday Oct 2023

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Pale lemon with titanium edges and a low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, waxy lemon peel, gooseberry, yellow apple and lanolin.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a media (-) body.  The fresh citrus combines with a waxiness that has both a tart and silky mouthfeel.  The apple and gooseberry add dimension.  It’s delicious and refreshing with a longish finish.  This Sauvignon Blanc/ Semillon blend gets 90 points from me and at $24- 4 stars.  Pairing is baked Trout and Jolly rice with seafood.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Chateau de la Gardine Rasteau 2019, Rhone, France

12 Thursday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache/Syrah blend has intense aromas of raspberry, both black and red, violets, hints of vanilla, walnuts, red plum and a touch of game.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that caress.  A full body with flavors of raspberries, vanilla and spice from oak, violets and that telltale game note from the varietal. It’s more Syrah driven imho but the blend is 75/25 the other way.  The finish is lengthy and delicious.  It’s a lovely drop that gets 91 points from me and at $18- 5 stars.  I am grilling Hangar steak to pair alongside Miso glazed King Oyster mushrooms.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Sam Plunkett ‘Gentle Annie’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Victoria, Australia

10 Tuesday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+)  intensity aromas of mint, blackberry, black plum, eucalyptus, violets, graphite and espresso.  The palate is full bodied and dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are fine grained.  The palate has ripe dark fruit, telltale mint and eucalyptus for this varietal and region plus oak nuance with the espresso.  The finish is tart from the acidity and refreshing.  It lasts for a decent length, inviting me back for another taste.  Lovely stuff that gets 91 points from me.  We are painting it with Pot Roast but a hearty steak will do the trick as would some lamb chops.  Drink this $18 offering till 2030.  5 stars.  Salut….

Aldi Specially Selected Reserve 2018, Rioja, Spain

09 Monday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose is earthy with dried plum, black berry, vanilla, dust, graphite and aloe.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are pretty smooth.  The medium weight body carries the oak laced dark fruit along to a medium length finish that is fresh with a touch of red fruit.  The earthy nature of a classic Rioja shows itself in this $9 wine that has been aged for 30 months in oak.  I like it- 90 points worth which makes this Aldi branded Tempranillo a 5 star effort to stock up on.  It’s a great value.  Drink till 2026 with hearty meat dishes.  Salut….

Clos Apalta ‘Le Petit Clos’ 2019, Apalta Valley, Chile

08 Sunday Oct 2023

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Inky deep ruby colored with staining on the walls and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of açaí berry, cassis, mint, vanilla, coffee bean, blueberry, kir and powdered mocha.  It’s amazing to smell.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are very fine grained.  A full body with rich flavors of açaí, blueberry, cassis and oak lashings leads to a medium (+) length finish that turns a touch tart.  Delicious stuff that gets 94 points from me.  It’s drinking beautifully now but will develop nicely till 2032.  For $40, it’s a no-brainer to stock up on that gets 5 stars.  I’m pairing with Sunday roast and a Port wine reduction. It’s a blend of 49% Carmenere, 30% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot.  Salut….