Massaya Cap Est 2018, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

25 Tuesday Jul 2023

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Medium garnet with high viscosity and staining on the walls (14.5% ABV).  I can smell the alcohol on the first whiff but it blows away to reveal- red currants, pomegranate, exotic spices, game, red peppercorn and baking spices.  Dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins that are well rounded and a medium-full body.  The palate echoes the nose with delicious red fruit and silky tannins.  A medium to long finish makes this Grenache/Mourvedre blend an enjoyable 91 point wine to drink till 2034.  For $40, it gets 4 stars from me.  We drank it at a traditional Lebanese feast!  Salut….

Arabella Reserve Shiraz – Viognier 2020, 91Western Cape, South Africa

20 Thursday Jul 2023

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Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity legs (14.1% ABV).  The nose has a gamy hint alongside ripe black cherries, black raspberry, plum, cloves, a hint of menthol, black pepper and coffee. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are pretty smooth.  Medium to full bodied- I get flavors that mimic the nose, with a touch less game.  There’s also a licorice component coming through that I quite like.  The finish is medium in length and nicely balanced. The 1% Viognier addition to this Syrah/Shiraz is a Northern Rhone trick to deepen the color (yes, adding the juice of a white grape to Syrah will make it deeper and more enticing), smooths out the rough tannins (which it has achieved nicely) and adds a floral note (which at this low percentage has slipped by me).  Overall this $12 is a screamingly good deal that gets 91 points from me.  Drink this 5 star effort til 2025.  I’m pairing my bottle with shish kebabs and pepper-crusted pork tenderloin.  Salut….

Castellani Sangiovese Toscana IGT 2019, Tuscany, Italy

09 Sunday Jul 2023

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Medium ruby colored with a touch of staining and medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  Aromas of lavender, violet, charred oak, dried plum, tar, black cherry and some bramble.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins.  Medium bodied- it has flavors that echo the nose- cherry, oak, florals and tar.  The tannins are interesting, they grip on the underside of my tongue rather that on the palate.  The finish is surprisingly long with red fruit and oak nuance.  Not overly complex- this is a great party wine that will pair nicely with pasta, burgers and stews.  It’s drinking nicely now and will cellar till 2028.  89 points for this $15 quaffer makes it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

Milani 1985 Sangiovese Primitivo 2022, Puglia IGT, Italy

02 Sunday Jul 2023

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Deep ruby with hints of garnet- the depth of color coming from the Primitivo (Zinfandel) that is blended with the usually pale Sangiovese.  Medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV) and very little staining on the walls.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red cherry, raspberry, dusty bramble, violets and orange peel.  The palate is  slightly off-dry with juicy acidity and lithe tannins that are well integrated.  Medium body which is supporting the red fruit and fresh florals.  There is a hint of oak usage, perhaps used French barrels with the focus on freshness and verve.  This 89 point wine is going to go really well with our sausage laden pasta and Endive salad.  For $15 this is not a bad drop that gets 3 stars from me.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

David Akiyoshi Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, California

01 Saturday Jul 2023

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Deep ruby colored, this Cali Cab has medium viscosity (13.9% ABV)m and slight staining.  The nose has aromas of bright red fruit with some candied notes along with some floral and oak notes.  Cherry candy, ripe red raspberry, red plum, licorice, mocha powder and lavender.  It’s an interesting mix.  The palate is dry? Dare I say a touch of RS?   Medium acidity with medium tannins that are very smooth and integrated.  The medium body of this wine carries the red fruits forth along with some slight oak notes.  It tastes like very ripe red fruit plus I can’t get past the residual sugar thought.  The finish is short to medium in length.  From a technical standpoint- this wine gets 87 points. For $12, it’s a decent bargain that gets 3 stars from me.  I’m grilling Try-tip to pair.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Caldwell Vineyard Society of Smugglers Chardonnay 2017, Coombsville, California

30 Friday Jun 2023

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Deep lemon colored with medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  It looks brooding and ready to deliver a mouthful.  On the nose- intense aromas of pineapple, lemon pith, melon, soursop, fennel, almond skin and orange blossom.  It is very complex, unique and has piqued my interest.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a full body.  Layers of exotic tropical fruit intertwined with some fresh citrus coupled with green herbs and florals.  It’s somewhat tart on the mid palate after the introduction of ripe fruit- the acidity keeping this big boy fresh and lively.  I’m very curious as to the oak treatment, if any and the lack of any butter notes by way of Malolactic fermentation.  I could have sworn that visually this was going to be an oaky, buttery Napa chard- alas I was wrong.  It is light-footed with great structure and finesse.  The finish is long and refreshing, making me go back for another sip whilst the acidity is making my mouth water.  Beautiful stuff, 94 points from me and for $65 from the winery mailing list- it gets 5 stars.  Drink till 2030, we are pairing ours with fresh Vietnamese rolls.  Ps. Check out the coordinates on the cork, nice touch.  Salut….

 

Jean-Marc Lafont Domaine de Bel Air Brouilly Briante 2020, Beaujolais, France

26 Monday Jun 2023

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Medium purple colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV). The nose reminds me of Paris, where I drank this style of Beaujolais by the bucketful in the cafes and restaurants.  I get aromas of candied black cherry, tons of florals, strawberry and redcurrant.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that are powdery and integrated.  Medium to full bodied- this Gamay based wine takes on a touch of bitterness right off the bat that is offset by ripe red fruit- strawberry, black cherry and currants.  The main floral component is lavender but there is a black tea note coming through on the mid palate.  The wine finishes a touch tart but its length is quite impressive.  The tannins very gently caressing and the acidity ever-present.  This bottle is a magnum and will last till 2028, regular bottles retail for $25.  It gets 90 points from me- 4 stars.  Salut….

Quinta da Foz Reserva 2018, Douro, Portugal

26 Monday Jun 2023

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We just hosted a family reunion and I opened this Magnum of Portuguese wine- delicious.  My notes were brief but you get the point.

Deep purple with high viscosity and a touch of staining. Ripe blackberry, vanilla, coconut, black plum.  Dry, medium acidity, medium (+) tannins.  Full body.  Mouthcoating lush ripe black fruit with oaky sweetness. Long finish. 93 points and 5 stars for this $27 blend of Touriga Nacional…. drink till 2029.  Salut….

Chateau Pierre de Montignac 2019, Medoc, France

25 Sunday Jun 2023

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Deep ruby with a brown tinge, medium staining and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has classic left bank Bordeaux cassis, tobacco, spice box, black cherry, blackberry and dark raspberry.  There’s a sweet component to the nose that conjures the thought of very ripe fruit, red and black.  The palate is decidedly dry though with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are well balanced.  The dark black fruit is evident as is the oak influence- spice box, leather, chocolate, tobacco but the cassis is the one thing that I love about this region and it’s evident on the palate.  The body is full and the wine finishes with a long thrust that is quite tannic yet inviting for another sip.  I like this Cru Bourgeois Supérieur level wine that is a blend of Cab Sav and Merlot.  It will drink nicely till 2028 and I’m pairing mine with grilled Flank steak and roasted squash.  92 points and for $23- 5 stars.  Stock up on this gem.  Salut….

Chateau St. Thomas 2013, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

23 Friday Jun 2023

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Deep, inky purple which is surprising given the fact that it has 10 years of age already.  The walls show a touch of staining and the viscosity is medium (14% ABV).  The nose is developing nicely- cassis, cedar shake, blackberry coulis, tobacco, baking spices, vanilla bean, dried herbs and a touch of mint.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) to full tannins that are still youthful and grippy.  Ripe black fruit along with some dried fruit point to the mid life development of this wine.  The oak nuance is present and the dried herbs are evident along with a black tea component.  Full bodied, this blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah coats my mouth with lush fruit that goes on to a long finish which is somewhat astringent but inviting- I sip again.  I love this winery and the folks that run it (they are relatives for full disclosure).  They make a wine that has huge cellaring capacity yet drinks beautifully when young.  I have drunk many bottles of the same vintage over a long span of time and am always impressed by the development and further potential.  This wine will last till 2030 at the least and gets 93 points from me- at $25 a bottle it’s a tremendous deal that you should seek out.  I’m grilling New York strips to pair. with this 5 star effort.  Salut….