El Coto de Imaz Blanco 2022, Rioja, Spain

18 Friday Aug 2023

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Pale straw colored with some effervescence and medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit, white blossom, passion fruit, Bartlett pear and a white phenolic note.  The palate is dry, a touch bitter and has a medium (-) body.  Crisp flavors replicate the aromas but with a slight pithy divergence.  It’s an interesting wine for sure- one that is refreshing yet I feel would become tiresome after a while.  Made from Viura, this lightweight white would pair well with fresh seafood or a richly dressed salad.  Drink now.  For $12, it’s a great 88 point wine to pound all summer long.  4 stars.  Salut….

Nickel & Nickel Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay 2021, Carneros, California

15 Tuesday Aug 2023

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Pale to medium lemon colored with high viscosity (14.2% ABV).  The nose has aromas of pineapple, pear, melon, vanilla, lemon curd, white blossom, cottage cheese (sounds weird, right?), cardamom, peach and brioche.  Very complex indeed.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a full body.  Layers of ripe pineapple, melon, pear and green apple interlaced with oak nuance that is very deft alongside pretty florals.  A medium length finish leaves a slight bit of pithy bitterness.  Delicious stuff that we are pairing with steamed lobster and baked potato.  92 points for this $50 beauty gets it 5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Real Companhia Velha Quinta das Carvalhas Late Bottle Vintage Port 2018, Portugal

14 Monday Aug 2023

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Deep ruby colored with high viscosity (20% ABV) and heavy staining on the walls.  The nose has aromas of macerated blackberry, caramel, raisins and dried fig.  The palate is  sweet with high tannins that are well integrated, and a full body.  Flavors of raisin, fig, desiccated blackberry, caramel and butterscotch.  Medium length finish on this $24 bottle that gets 91 points from me makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Kotrotsos Mavrodaphne 2018, Patras, Greece

14 Monday Aug 2023

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Pale garnet, almost like strawberry juice- with high viscosity (15% ABV).  On the nose I get stewed cherry, some warm nuts, orange peel, strawberry coulis, caramel and vanilla bean.  The palate is sweet, bordering on luscious, with low tannins and a full body.  The red fruit really comes out, but not quite so ripe as the nose.  Caramel and nuts with vanilla on the back end.  Medium length on the finish, it’s a delicious affair if you like them this sweet.  I plan on pairing this with poached pears and ice cream.  Not overly complex, it only runs $14 and get 88 points from me making it a 4 star effort to drink now.  Salut….

Chateau Destieux 2015, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

14 Monday Aug 2023

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Deep ink/ruby colored with high viscosity (14.5% ABV) and slight staining on the walls. The nose gives me aromas of blackberry compote, charcoal, black raspberry, mint, rooibos tea, blueberry jam and vanilla bean.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and high tannins.  A full body with lush flavors of ripe black fruit, oak influence and some tea- rooibos and black.  The tannins are a touch chalky and young.  There is a tartness on the mid palate that carries through to the long finish.  This wine has a good pedigree that will allow it to age gracefully, for now it is still youthful.  Drink this 92 point Merlot blend till 2032.  I’m grilling super thick Strip steaks on the charcoal and pairing some roasted King Oyster mushrooms.  We bough this bottle in St. Emilion, a beautiful town btw.  It’s not widely available but if my memory serves- $60 making it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

Giant Steps Pinot Noir 2021, Yarra Valley, Australia

12 Saturday Aug 2023

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Yesterday was my cousin’s birthday so we sailed the Potomac river and ended up in Old Town Alexandria for dinner.  I picked this Pinot Noir as I felt it would pair well with the myriad of main dishes that were ordered- Hangar steak, Swordfish etc.  It was stunning.  I took some very basic notes…

Cherry, baking spices, a touch of forest fooor, red raspberry, med (+) acidity med (-) tannins, medium bodied- 13.5% ABV …..delicious, silky smooth, long finish.  94 points, till 2032. Excellent development potential.

Looking this gem up I see one review as high as 96 points and a $43 price point.  RUN, don’t walk if you like a delicious Pinot of this caliber.  Salut….

Castelli del Grevepesa Panzano Gran Selezione 2017, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy

10 Thursday Aug 2023

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of sour cherry, pomegranate, roses and perfumed lilac.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  A medium body gives me red fruit that is tart in nature along with some pretty florals and a hint of oak.  This is not a very complex Sangiovese which surprises me considering that fact that it is Gran Selezione.  I purchased it after drinking the delightful 2016 Panzano.  This vintage is of  lesser intensity and lacks power, garnering 88 points from me.  At $24 it rates 3 stars in my books.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Hermann J. Wiemer HJW Vineyard Riesling 2019, Finger Lakes, New York

09 Wednesday Aug 2023

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Pale lemon/lime colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon peel, crushed seashells, tangerine pith, peach and a slight hint of petroleum (I had to really look for that one).  The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body.  The citrus, minerality and hint of stone fruit are evident alongside some quince.  It is very refreshing and the acidic cut is very precise.  The finish is medium in length and makes me clamber for another sip, it’s really yummy on a hot summer day.  I would pair this 92 point wine with Alfredo, grilled shrimp or even roasted Pork belly.  For $38 this delicious Riesling gets 5 stars from me.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

I Wines ‘I Latina’ Carmenere 2019, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

07 Monday Aug 2023

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Deep ruby with slow moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has abundant aromas of menthol, blackberry, eucalyptus, ripe blueberry, rich oak, purple licorice and vanilla bean.  On the palate it is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins.  Full bodied, this wine coats my mouth with ripe black fruit, oak, coffee, eucalyptus and mint.  The finish is medium in length and shows off espresso flavors.  I like this wine and will be pairing it with grilled sirloins and roasted asparagus.  Drink till 2028.  92 points from me for this $18 wine makes it worthy of 5 stars.  Ps. This note corresponds to my previous tasting of this delicious Carmenere.  Salut….

Chateau Musar Blanc 1998, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

07 Monday Aug 2023

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I picked up this bottle at the winery late last year and was looking for the right time to open it.  My buddy invited us for dinner and I offered him a choice:  Riesling, Chardonnay or White Musar.

It showed a gorgeous medium amber in the glass with medium viscosity (12.5% ABV).  Intense aromas of honey, lanolin, sliced apricot, warm nuts, vanilla thread, bruised yellow apple and baking spices.  On the palate it had medium acidity and a medium body- silky smooth with a long finish.  The flavors were layered and complex, coating my mouth with waves of stunningly delicious wine.  It was a come-to-Jesus moment for me to taste such a unique wine that has slumbered for 25 years, waiting to unleash itself onto my palate.  We paired it with a tomato salad followed by miso glazed mushrooms.  Stunning.  It’s rare to find one, but at $100 per bottle- grab at least a bottle of this 98 point wine that gets 5 stars from me.  Its cellaring capacity is virtually unlimited, so drink it over the next 30 years.  Indigenous Lebanese grapes- Obeidah dominated with Merwah supporting.  Salut….