Marietta Cellars ‘Roman’ Estate Grown Zinfandel 2019, North Coast, California

Tags

, , , , , ,


Our second wine at the 28th virtual tasting was this Zinfandel that had a smidge of Petite Sirah and Barbera mixed in.  It tied as my wine of the night.

Medium ruby colored it’s not as opaque as I was expecting.  The nose had tobacco, ripe boysenberry, cherry cola, chocolate covered cherries, black pepper, dark plums and green peppercorns.  The palate was dry with low tannins, medium acidity and deliciously smooth flavors of pepper, freeze-dried strawberry, tobacco, dried cherry and raisin.  Medium bodied, this wine was lower in alcohol than I was assuming- 14.7% ABV.  It’s a lot, but I have seen Zins in the 16% range.  A long finish was this wine’s crowning achievement making it a 19 pointer on our grading scale.  I would rate it 93 points and for $21 I might have to load up on this 5 star effort.  Drink until 2025 with lean red meat dishes.  Salut….

Remi Niero Condrieu Chery 2019, Rhone, France

Tags

, , , , , , ,


The 28th episode of our virtual wine tasting group kicked off last night with this Viognier from the Northern Rhone appellation of Condrieu.  We tasted it at room temp first, followed by a chilled version.  Medium straw colored this 15% ABV wine had a beautiful sheen to it in the glass.  The nose was interesting- honeysuckle, pineapple, apricot, pear, nutmeg, honeycomb and a burnt smell plus the sensation it was going to be waxy.  On the palate it was dry with low acidity.  I noted it was very smooth, others remarked that it was waxy.  Full bodied the main fruit note we got was a lingering apricot note and some buttery components.  The finish was long.  I gave it 18 points on our grading scale.

The chilled version had aromas of brioche, citrus, honeydew and pear.  The palate was waxy and we got a bitter citrus pith note alongside apricot , pineapple, butter and brioche.  The finish seemed a bit shorter in length for some reason.  It thought I was going to prefer the chilled version, but alas- 15 points did not tilt me.  Once again the room temperature version of a white wine was the preferred serving for the majority.

Overall I liked this wine and would give it 92 points but at $50, it’s only a 4 star wine IMO.  We discussed pairings- white fish with perhaps a cream sauce would work well.  Drink now.  Salut….

Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estates Selection 2017, Napa Valley, California

Tags

, , , , ,


Very deep purple colored, like ink.  The nose has pronounced aromas of blackberry, cassis, vanilla, coconut, bilberry, cedar, sassafras, dust, baking spice, green peppers and a yeasty component.  The palate is dry with beautiful fine-grained tannins that caress the gums.  Acidity is medium (-) and the wine has a full body.  Flavors of black fruit, sassafras, baking spice and green pepper carry on to a long finish.  This is delicious-  pure Napa sunshine and ripe fruit with enough oak treatment without overdoing it.  Fantastic stuff to pair with steaks till 2032.  The structure is great and it’s open for business now.  94 points from me for this $70 stunner makes it a 5 star treat.  Salut….

Castello di Bibbione Gran Selezione 2016, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium garnet colored, this 6 year old Sangiovese is showing a bit of age already.  The nose has aromas of warm cherry, leather, rose, cinnamon, pomegranate, cranberry and fresh cut pine.  The palate is dry with high acidity and mouth coating tannins.  It is a young wine in texture, but the fruit is already mingling with tertiary flavors.  Red fruit (tart) with leather, rose, cigar box and that fresh wood note.  The acidity and tannins are very powerful and opposing in this medium (+) bodied wine.  The finish is a short, sour affair with the tannins really coating my gums.  I like this rather youthful wine and think it will develop and soften with time.  If you want something zippy for a pasta dinner or grilled steaks, this is open for business.  Drink till 2030.   92 points for this $25 wine makes it a solid 5 star effort.  Salut….

Chilano Reserva Carménère 2018, Colchagua, Chile

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium intensity purple colored, this 13% ABV wine has a watery sheen on the glass sides.  The nose has got an interesting aroma of boysenberry, purple licorice, charcoal, cloves and black pepper.  The palate is dry yet there is sweet, ripe fruit there.  Tart acidity and lithe tannins get the show started.  Fruit forward with boysenberry, red plum, raspberry and very little oak influence here.  The acidity is making my teeth buzz.  Body-wise this wine is medium with a medium length finish that has a touch of herbaceousness to it.  It’s a fruity affair with lots of tartness that will pair well with lighter meats, fatty cheese (think aged, gooey Brie) or stuffed portobellos.  I would drink this till 2025.  It gets 89 points from me.  No pricing info but I would guess sub $15.  4 stars.  Salut….

Castelli del Grevepesa Lamole 2016, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Italy

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium ruby colored this Sangiovese has pretty thick legs running down the glass that would concur with the 14% ABV.  The nose gives me coconut, red cherry, rose, cedar and coffee.  The palate is a dry and tart affair with fine grained tannins that are medium intensity and well integrated.  The high acidity really takes center stage on the initial attack.  Flavors of red cherry, coconut, rose, rhubarb and cranberry fill my mouth with a red fruit cocktail laced with tart, almost underripe cherry at the core.  It’s an interesting wine that feels a bit out of balance yet I keep wanting to take another sip.  The finish is medium length and really jaw watering.  The tannins are fighting the acidity.  This wine will pair beautifully with a pasta of sautéed veggies and olives in thin spaghetti.  I would even put it up against Osso Bucco or Veal parmigiana.  I’m going 91 points, slightly lower than the pros but at $28 it is a respectable 4 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

M. Chapoutier Cotes du Rhone Belleruche 2019, Rhone, France

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Deep purple- gamy on the nose with licorice, garigue, raspberry and black fruit.  Charred wood notes and stewed blackberry finish it off.  On the palate this Grenache/Syrah blend is dry with somewhat coarse tannins, medium (-) acidity and a medium body.  I get definitive game and earthy notes with dark red fruit and oak influence from the charred wood.  Licorice is quite present.  The tannins smooth out towards the back end where the finish is medium in length and includes a Lapsang Souchong tea component.  A very serviceable wine that gets 88 points from me to drink till 2026.  At $13 it’s a relative bargain that gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Clarendon Hills ‘Kangarilla’ Grenache 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia

Tags

, , , , ,


Deep ruby colored with pronounced aromas of black plum, coconut, blackberry, sassafras, loam, cedar and baking spices. The palate is dry with well integrated, powerful tannins. Medium to full bodied I get rich fruit cake flavors, black cherry, black plum, vanilla and spice. The acidity is medium and very balanced with the tannic structure. The finish falls off rather rapidly but it’s okay- the fruit intensity up till then was really great.  It finishes with a touch of charcoal, some tannic grip and black fruit. Very little tertiary notes at this time even though the wine is 11 years old. It should last another five or six years and drink really well with some grilled meats. 93 points, possibly higher if the finish were a little bit longer.  For $50 it is a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Villa Sparina Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG 2021, Piedmont, Italy

Tags

, , , , , ,


This is a new one for me- the Cortese grape from Italy.  This bottle is deceivingly tinted making me think I was going to pour a deep yellow wine.  Instead I found it to be pale gold with aromas of green pear, chamomile, lemon zest, lime and lanolin.  The palate is dry with a full body that coats my mouth with a waxy lemon/lime component, green pear, spice and floral notes.  The finish is medium length and the waxy mouthfeel hangs on for a while.  Having never had this varietal it is difficult to rate but I thoroughly enjoyed the textural aspect of this wine and the fruit flavors were delicious.  90 points for this really yummy wine that I paired with grilled Jerk chicken.  Bought for $14, it gets 5 stars.  Try it this summer with seafood or white meats.  Salut….

Chateau Figeac 2000, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France

Tags

, , , , ,


I have owned and stored this Magnum for nearly 20 years.  I chose it for our dinner with friends Keef and Arty at our favorite restaurant, Chez Francois where we dined on Wagyu Beef Cheeks, Rack of Lamb and Chateaurbriand.  An amazing evening that lasted 3+ hours and culminated with their signature Soufflé.  This bottle was decanted and the sommelier and I agreed that it was youthful in color, showing no bricking- just a clear, deep ruby color.  With a touch of air in the large decanter the nose was stupendous.  No notes were taken but I can say that it was all there.  Cassis, leather, tobacco, cedar, blackberry, black cherry.  The tannins were so well integrated and the acidity was en Pointe.  The mouthfeel on this wine was exceptional- balanced to a tee with fruit, structure, secondary and tertiary flavors and aromas- the whole lot.  It is drinking at its prime now and will last another 5-8 years methinks.  If you have it in 750 ml, start consuming it sooner rather than later.  A stunning, smooth and delicious Right Bank Merlot that was worth the wait.  95 points from me.  If you can find a regular bottle it will run you $250, a Magnum would be roughly $600.  Drink this beauty with friends for a very special occasion.  5 stars.  Salut….