Remhoogte ‘Aspect’ Merlot 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

03 Wednesday May 2023

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Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, bramble, black licorice, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, cedar slate and blackberry pie.  The palate is dry with crunchy medium tannins, medium acidity and a full body.  The black fruits coat my mouth and the oak nuances balance them out.  The finish is a touch tart, reminiscent of underripe blackberries.  It’s a silky affair with nice structure and good length that runs $24 and gets 91 points from me.  I would pair this wine with Filet, the tannins befitting the cut.  Drink till 2027.  5 stars.  Salut….

Manni Nossing Kerner Sudtirol Eisacktaler 2020, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

02 Tuesday May 2023

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Medium lemon colored with medium to high viscosity even though it only sports a 13% ABV.  The nose has intense aromas of Meyer lemon peel, papaya, white flower, grapefruit, orange pith, mineral notes and petrichor.  The palate is dry with high acidity and some upfront bitterness. The acidity is piercing with a refreshing quality that leads into the citrus and tropical fruit flavors.  Florals are abundant with white flowers and geranium alongside orange blossom.  The body is medium (-) and leads to a long finish that is citrus focused with a hint of phenolic bitterness.  This is my first foray into the Kerner varietal, I like it.  This bottle runs $30 and gets 92 points from me.  I am going to pair it with Jamaican Curry Goat- I believe the acidity will balance the spicy dish nicely.  5 stars, drink till 2025.  Salut….

Virtus ‘Vega del Yuso’ 2015, Ribera del Duero, Spain

30 Sunday Apr 2023

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Deep ruby with purple accents and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has aromas of  charred oak, vanilla, toast, blackberry reduction, cassis, bramble and a dusty earth component with some baking spices thrown in for good measure.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are plush and fine-grained.  I can confirm the oak and dark fruit flavors echo the nose but there is also a licorice tinge.  The wine is full bodied and the high alcohol is very well hidden, buyer beware.  The finish is a dry affair with charred oak notes and some ripe blackberry coulis that is medium in length.  I love this style of Tempranillo, list price is rather steep though- $100.  I gave it 91 points and 3 stars for the QPR.  Drink till 2030 with grilled Filet and a bleu cheese sauce.  Salut….

Chateau Lascombes 2004, Margaux, France

30 Sunday Apr 2023

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Dinner at a friend’s house revealed this impeccably stored Margaux.  It was so fresh and youthful I would never have guessed 18 years old in a blind tasting.  I took very basic notes:

Fresh, youthful. Deep ruby. Medium acid with smooth, silky tannins. Graphite, pencil lead, cassis, cedar, blackberry, vanilla bean and charcoal on a medium weight body ending in a long, tart finish.  91 points for this $90 bottle makes it a 4 star effort, drink till 2028.  Salut….

Lustau Dry Oloroso Don Nuno Sherry NV, Jerez, Spain

28 Friday Apr 2023

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Medium amber, a beautiful hue with high viscosity legs showing off the 20% ABV.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dried mixed nuts, desiccated plum, raisins, prunes and a salty herbal combo.  The palate is dry with high alcohol and medium (+) acidity.  Full bodied, this wine has loads of rich nutty flavors with dried fruit and a slightly bitter almond note with caramel and umami.  The finish is a touch hot from the alcohol but I get lovely warmth from the heat- picture a mound of warmed nuts and some dried black fruit.  The back end is medium in length and makes me reach for more from the glass.  This wine needs to be chilled and served as an aperitif with some charcuterie along with olives and nuts.  I like this oxidative style of sherry and am giving this $30 offering 91 points.  4 stars.  Salut….

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

25 Tuesday Apr 2023

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This bottle was opened for a blind tasting last night and the nose just blew me away- intense.  It is opaque ruby, bordering on purple with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose, as mentioned, has pronounced aromas of eucalyptus, menthol, espresso bean, ripe black plum, blackberry, blackcurrant and dark chocolate nibs.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that are silky smooth and well integrated.  Full bodied with rich flavors of ripe black fruits, eucalyptus, menthol and oaky coffee and chocolate.  It has a beautiful mouthfeel and lingers for a long time on the finish.  This is a stunning (for me) Carmenere that gets 92 points and for $18- 5 stars.  I like it a lot.  Drink till 2027 with rich meats and sauces.  Lovely stuff.  Salut….

Bodegas Terras Gauda O Rosal 2021, Rias Baixas, Spain

25 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Pale to medium lemon in the glass with a watery sheen (12% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, cantaloupe, Mandarin orange, white flower and saline.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a touch of spritz.  The body is medium and the flavors echo the nose with some grapefruit pith thrown in for a touch of bitterness.  The finish is quite persistent and refreshing with citrus taking over the lead role.  The acidity is en pointe with this wine and keeps it focussed.  We tasted this wine blind last night and it was slightly chilled.   I’m re-tasting it at room temp and feel it needs a few minutes in the chiller followed by a pairing of seafood with lemon wedges.  Drink this 90 point Albarino dominated blend till 2026.  For $20, it gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Anne De K Pinot Blanc 2019, Alsace, France

21 Friday Apr 2023

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Medium lemon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon zest, lime peel, white geraniums pear, yellow apple and an interesting peanut scent on the top rim of the glass.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (-) body.  It’s a refreshing wine with crisp citrus notes coupled with some florals and a touch of pithy bitterness.  The finish is short and clean- making me yearn for the next sip.  This is going to be categorized as a summer pool-pounder to be drunk chilled and paired with steamed shellfish on ice with sides of lemon wedges and cocktail sauce.  A tasty and uncomplicated bottle that runs $18.  I’m going with 88 points and 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 2009, Tuscany, Italy

19 Wednesday Apr 2023

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A murky, deep garnet colored with some light staining and medium viscosity legs (14% ABV).  The nose is stupendous- pronounced intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, vanilla, baking spices, cedar, tobacco, cassis, crushed violet, white truffle, baked black cherry- it’s over-the-top.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are polished and very fine grained.  Full bodied, this blend of 75% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc gives me flavors of cassis, blackberry and black cherry along with the secondary and tertiary notes I got on the nose.  It all turns a touch tart on the mid-palate, something Old World wines tend to do.  The silky mouthfeel is smooth and leads to a long finish that is layered and delicious.  The cassis and vanilla lasting for an eternity.  This wine has matured beautifully for me and I’m proudly serving it with Pappardelle and Meatballs- it’s my birthday week after all so I can do what I want.  95 points from me for this $ 175 bottle makes it a 5 star treat.  Salut….

Broadbent Rainwater Medium Dry NV, Madeira, Portugal

15 Saturday Apr 2023

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Medium amber with high viscosity legs (19% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dried prune, nuts, raisins, saline and an almost Flor-like note.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a full body.  The alcohol is noticeable right off the bat, but then I start to get flavors of warm nuts, dried raisins and prunes, an oxidized character with some dried lemon peel and pith.  The wine has weight yet is very sprite- the lightness is refreshing in a strange way.  The finish is medium in length and a touch hot, which is to be expected from a fortified wine of this level.  At $18 it is a great aperitif alternative that gets 88 points from me and 4 stars.  Drink this non-vintage Tinta Negra wine on purchase.  Salut….