M.A.N. Family Wines MAN Vintners ‘Bosstok’ Pinotage 2016, Paarl, South Africa

14 Friday Apr 2023

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Medium ruby with a touch of garnet on the rim with a watery sheen (14% ABV).  The nose has classic Pinotage aromas of ripe raspberry, red plum, creosote, blackberry, a touch of vanilla and dark red licorice.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins.  Medium bodied, I get dark red fruit flavors with the tar note I love in this varietal.  Blackberry sneaks in as does some licorice, both black and dark red.  The mouthfeel is a touch astringent at the back end where the finish is medium in length.  Charred wood and blackberry are the two main flavors that are left.  I like this wine and will pair it tonight alongside Cowboy steaks with baked spuds and grilled asparagus.  89 points from me for this $8, yes, eight bones, bottle makes it a 5 star effort.  Drink this vintage till 2025.  Salut….

Compania Bodeguera Valenciso 2019, Rioja DOCa, Spain

13 Thursday Apr 2023

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Medium lemon colored with high viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon rind, Meyer lemon, honeysuckle, white flower, honeydew and a nut component.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a rather large dose of bitterness right off the bat.  The body is medium and I get flavors of Meyer lemon, brioche, some baking spice, melon and hazelnut.  This wine has obviously seen some oak and perhaps a little lees stirring.  The finish is quite lengthy- with bitter hazelnut skins and lemon notes alongside the brioche and vanilla. It runs $25 and gets 91 points from me.  I would drink till 2028 with heavier dishes of chicken, perhaps an Alfredo.  This blend of 70 % Viura and 30% White Grenache gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Remhoogte Reserve ‘Honeybunch’ Chenin Blanc 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa

11 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Pale gold colored with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of Meyer lemon, ginger, white flower, pink grapefruit, citrus pith, a touch of brioche and honeysuckle.  The palate has hint of sweetness, or else it is from really ripe fruit but it reminds me of honey.  Medium (+) acidity leads to a pretty full body. The flavors of Meyer lemon and grapefruit coat my mouth along with the florals and some bitterness from citrus pith.  The use of oak maturation and a bit of skin contact leave this with with a rounded mouthfeel that has a bitterness that I am enjoying.  It’s not a buttery, oaked Chard yet it has similar traits to one that has seen a deft hand.  I like it.  The finish is medium (+) in length and the citrus bows out early, leaving some brioche/vanilla and baking spice notes to carry through to the end.  For $25, this is a great wine to pair with grilled salmon or roast chicken.  My particular pairing is a vegetarian Tagine with lots of spices, preserved lemon and toasted almonds.  I would drink it over the next few years.  It gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Salut….

Bodega Colome Estate Torrontes 2021, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina

11 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Pale lemon colored with medium viscosity in the glass (13% ABV). The nose has pronounced aromas of lemon, lychee and rosewater. On the palate this one has medium acidity, a medium (+) body with a waxy mouth feel. Flavors of lychee, rose, lemon, grapefruit pith . The finish is surprisingly short for this aromatic grape- 87 points.  For $11 it would be an awesome value that the pros went as high as 92 points on, but I have tasted two bottles on consecutive nights with mixed outcomes.  I will reserve judgement till I try the third bottle.  For now it is a lower score than I had hoped for due to inconsistency and lack of depth/finish.  Salut….

Felice Abbona & Figli ‘Abbona’ 2020, Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Italy

07 Friday Apr 2023

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Deep ruby colored with a brownish tinge and medium viscosity tears (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this wine has medium intensity aromas of red cherry, red raspberry, dried herbs, a gamy note and some licorice.  The palate is dry with high acidity and low tannins, kinda crisp.  The body is medium (+) and I get red fruit flavors and licorice.  The gaminess returns on the back end alongside tart red cherry.  It is a food-friendly wine from the Piedmont that is quite bracing in it’s acidity yet has a nice freshness to it.  Made from the Barbera grape, this will pair well with rich pasta (obviously!) as well as grilled pork chops or even Moussaka.  It runs $20 and gets 89 points from me making it a 4 star effort.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Chateau Treytins 2016, Montagne-Saint-Emilion, France

06 Thursday Apr 2023

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A hazy deep ruby color with some staining on the walls and medium to high viscosity legs (14% ABV).  On the nose I get classic Bordeaux aromas of cassis, leather, pencil lead, ripe black plum, boysenberry and elderberry.  Coffee and dark chocolate with some menthol also come to mind.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins and a medium (+) body.  The brooding dark berry with coffee, licorice and dark chocolate notes are all present alongside some black tea which gives a touch of mid palate astringency.  The finish is powerful and long with grippy tannins taking center stage.  I have drunk gallons of this delicious Merlot dominant Right Bank wine over the years and am glad to revisit an old friend that runs $25 and gets 91 points from me.  Drink this 5 star wine till 2028 with a sizzling steak and some au gratin.  Salut….

Hugel ‘Gentil’ 2019, Alsace, France

04 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Pale lemon colored with medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  The nose has peach, lemon, lime curd, papaya, pineapple, ginger, white flowers, orange blossom and grapefruit.  Quite a layered set of aromas!  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  The exotic and citrus aromas are confirmed on the palate with a touch of bitterness but no ginger.  The florals are feint but present.  I start to get lychee on the mid palate from the Gewürztraminer.  This wine also blends in Sylvaner, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Muscat- the Noble grapes of Alsace.  It is a refreshing yet multi-layered wine that has a crisp, medium length finish.  It will go beautifully with our garlic Scampi but I would also pair it with salads, grilled salmon or some charcoal chicken.  It’s well worth the $15 price point and gets 90 points and 5 stars from me.  Stock up for summer y’all.  Salut….

Carmen Gran Reserva Carmenere 2020, Apalta, Chile

02 Sunday Apr 2023

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Medium purple colored with viscous legs (14% ABV) and a touch of turbidity.  The nose gives me candied red plum and raspberry with licorice and a hint of green pepper.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (-) tannins.  Medium to full bodied, this wine has delicious flavors of red plum, raspberry, coffee, mocha and green pepper.  I usually find Carmenere to either be lush and fruity or overly herbaceous.  This one is delicious and the flavors carry on to a long finish.  It’s very smooth and the candied aromas on the nose (which do not appeal to me btw) blow away and the mouthfeel and flavors are in unison- delicious and worthy of 92 points.  I am pairing this $18 wine with roast Sirloin Cap, aka Picanha roast. It gets 5 stars for sure with a drinking window till 2027.  Salut….

Broadbent 10 Years Old Malmsey, Madeira, Portugal

02 Sunday Apr 2023

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Pale Amber in the glass with a very viscous sheen on the walls. The nose has pronounced aromas of walnuts, caramel, dark chocolate paste, raisins, prunes, almond skin and a touch of heat. The palate is sweet and luscious with medium acidity. Confirming the flavors on this full bodied wine that finishes long, the almond bitterness I got on the nose translates to the back end and it’s delicious. 93 points for this silky treat that runs $50 makes it a 4 star effort.  Enjoy with dessert or cheese tray.  Salut….

Famille Bougrier Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine 2020, Loire, France

29 Wednesday Mar 2023

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Pale lemon with a golden accent and a watery sheen.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon, lime, grapefruit, white blossom and green apple.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (-) body.  Citrus makes for a fresh and crisp mouthfeel alongside some floral notes.  The apple note is faint.  The wine finishes with a hint of phenolic bitterness and is medium in length.   I would enjoy this wine till 2024 with shellfish and charcuterie.  86 points for this $14 bottle makes it a 3 star wine for me.  Salut….