Siglo Saco Tempranillo 2018, Rioja, Spain

15 Thursday Sep 2022

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A Tempranillo wrapped in a sack?  Yup, and for $14 you too can get this 88 point Rioja that is a medium ruby colored with slow moving legs.  The aromas and flavors include the classic blackberry bramble, dust, musky perfume, floral garden and light, toasty oak. Medium (+) acidity coupled with medium a body and medium tannins make for a nice mouthfeel.  Not a stunner, it will be very serviceable for everyday drinking and should pair really well with tapas, Moussaka and pasta dishes.  It runs 14.5% ABV, so be careful out there.  Not cellar-worthy so drink this 3 star wine soon.  Salut….

Sokol Blosser ‘E – Evolution’ Pinot Noir 2020, Willamette Valley, Oregon

15 Thursday Sep 2022

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After the disastrous Pinot I just tasted at the wine bar I needed redemption- this 89 pointer helped.  Pale ruby colored it had a slight funk to the nose alongside spice box, cherry, earthy cinnamon and stewed raspberry which made me wonder if this was yesterdays unprotected bottle??  The palate had medium (+) acidity, medium body and medium (-) tannins- all to be expected for this varietal.  For $14 this is not a bad drop of Oregonian Pinot that you could pop-n-pour any night of the week and pair with roast Chicken or even use in Boeuf Bourguignon.  Drink this 4 star effort till 2025.  Salut….

Ramian Estate 3 Clone Selection Pinot Noir 2013, Sonoma Coast, California

15 Thursday Sep 2022

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The second wine I tasted at the wine bar was this unfortunate Pinot Noir.  So over-the-hill it was shocking for such a relatively young wine.  Pale garnet colored, the pigments ended a mm from the edge of the rim when studied at an angle.  Aromas of stewed fruit, dried figs, bruised cherry and clove.  The tertiary notes dominated the nose and palate which was tough to swallow, everything has fallen apart here.  The tertiary flavors are what I love about cellaring wine, but there comes a point of diminishing returns and this bottle passed that a while back.  No score given, a major pass.  Salut….

The Ned Waihopai River Sauvignon Blanc 20121, Marlborough, New Zealand

15 Thursday Sep 2022

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I did a tasting at a wine bar recently and this was the opener- a classic Sauvignon Blanc from NZ.  Pale lemon colored with heady aromas of cut grass, gooseberry, cat pee (yes, it’s a thing), tangerine, lemon rind, melon and Passion fruit.  High acidity and a medium body were to be expected and this varietally true wine delivered!  It runs $13 and gets 90 points from me making it a 5 star effort to drink soon.  Salut….

Marchese di Borgosole Appassimento 2020, Puglia IGT, Italy

14 Wednesday Sep 2022

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Medium ruby colored this IGT level wine comes in at 14.5% ABV which is contrary to the fast moving legs on the glass walls.  I get aromas (muted btw) of dark cherry, lavender, iron, crushed rock, blackberry and violets.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins.  Ripe black cherry, blackberry coulis, purple florals and some stoney minerality mix with a blackened cedar slate component.  The body is full and the wine finishes medium (+) in length with a touch of heat which is unusual for me to sense.   I like this rather silky brute, it presents itself with structure and fruit alongside some oak influence and unabashedly does so for $13.  It gets 89 points from me and 4 stars.  Drink till 2028 with hearty dishes.  A blend of Malvasia and Negroamara that has been air-dried on mats and then pressed after the grapes have raisined.  Salut….

 

Bodegas Olarra Reciente Reserva 2017, Rioja DOCa, Spain

12 Monday Sep 2022

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Deep ruby colored this Tempranillo has medium (-) intensity aromas of baked plums, earth, blackberry pie, leather, baking spice and bramble.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins.  The body is full and I get the expected dry earth, bramble, blackberry and spice flavors- it’s nearly textbook Rioja minus a bit of intensity and a touch more acidity.  They back end has a charred cedar note and it finishes a bit astringent on the gums.  It’s a serviceable wine that runs $15 and gets 88 points from moi- 4 stars to drink by 2026.  Salut….

William Gordon Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Alexander Valley, California

11 Sunday Sep 2022

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Deep ruby colored yet it could pass for purple, interesting considering it’s 9 years of age.  The nose has pronounced aromas of blackberry, blueberry, açaí with licorice, menthol, crushed stone and charred oak.  Refreshingly primal with some secondary notes yet not much development presently.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins that coat my gums and a full body- for sure.  The flavors start off with very ripe yet fresh blackberry, açaí berry, blueberry and black currants.  There is a sweetness that I attribute to the ample sunshine of the vintage.  Oak nuance, mint  and some signs of tertiary development fill out the flavor profile.  The finish is a touch astringent with a black tea note and some very caressing tannins.  This wine is young with lots of time to develop.  I think it warrants 93 points and for $55 it’s a 5 star wine to serve up with Sunday roast beef.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Chateau Montelena The Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley, California

09 Friday Sep 2022

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Deep garnet colored with fast moving legs- 13.9% ABV.  The nose started off with a medicinal note followed by horse saddle leather, dust, barnyard, blackcurrant, black cherry, bandaid and briar.  It is earthy with loads of tertiary aromas.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, well integrated tannins, medium (+) body and rich flavors of black fruits, dusty earth, bramble, briar and açaí berry that lead to a long finish of black tea and leather. 93 points is what I imagined this wine garnering yet the pros went lower back in the day.  It’s amazing how some wines will age so gracefully and deliver those lovely tertiary flavors after 16 years yet still show some primary fruit and  structure to age a few more years.  I would drink this $140 offering till 2026 or so with lighter beef dishes.  4 stars from me.  Salut….

Raats Original Unwooded Chenin Blanc 2019, Stellenbosch, South Africa

06 Tuesday Sep 2022

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Pale straw colored with medium intensity aromas of tangerine, pear, yellow apple and persimmon.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium (+) body.  The flavors I get are very interesting- mandarin oranges, soft pear, yellow apple and passion fruit.  There is a medium length finish that turns a bit bitter, like almond seed.  I like the fact that is is labelled as an unwooded wine, allowing the purity and character of the varietal to shine.  For $15 this 89 point wine gets 4 stars from me.  I’m at the beach so a seafood pairing is obvious.  Salut….

Chateau Fleur Cardinale 2015, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

04 Sunday Sep 2022

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This Right Bank Merlot based blend is a deep garnet color in the glass with long, lingering legs.  The nose is gorgeous- plum, steeped blackberry, cassis, licorice, vanilla bean, graphite and blueberry mixed with fresh oak and a touch of espresso.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky on the mouthfeel.  Medium to full bodied this just-maturing wine has got waves of blackberry, blueberry and plum flavors intertwined with a dash of vanilla, coffee and oak.  It is just starting to offer tertiary flavors and will develop nicely in the coming years.  It finishes long with a black tea component alongside cassis.  Very smooth and certainly delicious, this $55 bottle will drink nicely till 2032 and pair with most meat dishes and stews.  94 points from me make it a 5 star wine.  Salut…..