Clarendon Hills Moritz Syrah 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia

06 Monday Jun 2022

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Deep hues of ruby along with a hint of age- a garnet edge.  The nose has lovely, pronounced aromas of black plum, blackcurrant, licorice, vanilla, blackberry jam, cedar and spice box.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and well-melded tannins that are grippy yet unobtrusive.  The rich, ripe black fruit flavors dominate but I get some charred oak, black tea, licorice and spices in this full bodied beaut.  It flows seamlessly to a somewhat tart and slightly tannic finish that lasts a good 20 seconds.  I really like this winery, they produce enjoyable wines that age well.  This one will keep going until 2030 at the earliest and pair well with grilled meats, rich stews and wild game.  93 points from me for this $40 wine makes it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Kay Brothers Amery Vineyards Griffon’s Key Reserve Grenache 2019, McLaren Vale, Australia

04 Saturday Jun 2022

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This Grenache is rather light, I would say pale ruby in the glass.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of raspberry, red cherry, violets, pomegranate and dried spices.  The palate is dry and lively with ripe red fruit, medium acidity, lithe tannins and a medium body.  The floral and spice components are not as pronounced on the palate but I now get some charred wood and rooibos tea instead.  The finish is medium in length and a touch tart, refreshing.  I like this $35 effort and give it 93 points and 5 stars.  It will drink well now and age gracefully till 2030.  Pair with lighter meat dishes or even poultry.  Salut….

Cakebread Cellars Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, California

04 Saturday Jun 2022

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Second tasting of this wine- it has either evolved quickly or there is some bottle variation going on.  Opaque, like nearly black in the glass.  This Napa Cab has a pronounced nose of blackberry, menthol, eucalyptus, tart blackcurrant, black plum and French oak nuance of spices and chocolate.  On the palate it is very smooth and dry with fine-grained tannins and medium acidity.  Balanced to a tee- it’s delicious stuff.  I get the dark fruit notes and oak integration, waiting for more tertiary development.  This wine is drinking beautifully now but will develop over the next 5-10 years.  94 points for this full bodied gem that runs $120 and gets 5 stars from me.  I would drink this sans food, it is so silky and delicious all by itself.  Salut….

Bodegas Marques del Atrio Reserva 2015, Rioja DOCa, Spain

30 Monday May 2022

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At 7 years of age this Tempranillo-Graciano blend is starting to show a hint of age.  Medium ruby colored with a touch of bricking in the glass.  The nose concurs- this bottle has medium intensity aromas of earth, leather, dust, prune, blackberry, vanilla, tobacco, cedar box, cinnamon and stewed red currants.  The palate is dry with gorgeous tannins that are very integrated.  The acidity is prominent with some sour red cherry notes to go alongside the numerous secondary and tertiary notes I got on the nose.  Medium bodied, this wine is silky and slips down ever-so-nicely to a somewhat tart yet long finish.  I really love Spanish Reservas- this is a great example that brings out that bramble and dust I get so often with Rioja wines.  I love it and will go with 93 points.  It will drink beautifully till 2028 at the least and pair well with lighter cuts of meat.  For  $16 this is a steal folks.  The pros dissed this one- more for me I say.  5 stars.  Salut….

Domaine de Saint Gens Gigondas Cuvee de l’Ancien Oratoire 2017, Rhone, France

28 Saturday May 2022

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A blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah, this Rhone wine has a medium ruby color in the glass.  The nose has a perfume meets rich plums and blackberry.  I am desperate to find the garigue and game these two varietals are known for but they elude me for oak influence of vanilla and coffee along with some green leaf hints.  The palate is interesting- dry and a touch tart with medium (+) tannins and medium to full body.  I get a definitive charred wood note along with the black fruit, vanilla, coffee and tomato leaf. There might be a touch of licorice in there to boot.  The wine gets pretty grippy on the back end as it flexes its muscles on the medium length finish.  I like it but feel it could use some cellaring.  It’s a bit one dimensional right now and the tannins need to mellow out a bit.  It got big scores from the pros but in my book this $30 bottle is a 91 pointer that gets 4 stars.  Drink from 2024-2030.  Salut….

Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia

27 Friday May 2022

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Deep garnet in color, this 11 year old Cabernet Sauvignon is getting paired with Wagyu Ribeye steaks for my son’s 25th birthday.  The nose is gorgeous- a mix of primary, secondary and tertiary notes that are quite pronounced.  Cassis, steeped black plum, mint, cedar, leather, tobacco, bramble, bilberry, vanilla and tar.  Wowza.  The palate is dry with firm tannins that grip, medium acidity, full body and a generous helping of the  aforementioned aromas that caress my tongue.  The finish is the only letdown here, it is quite short, albeit still bone dry from the tannins that are searing.  This wine has structure to cellar for another decade at least and will pair beautifully with our well marbled beef.  93 points for this $45 jewel makes it a 5 star wine to buy and hold/drink!  Salut….

Justin Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Paso Robles, California

26 Thursday May 2022

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I would consider this as a deep purple colored wine that has some slow moving, thick legs in the glass.  The nose reeks of ripe, sun-drenched California Cabernet.  Blackberry, blueberry, black plum, coconut, vanilla, baking spices, eucalyptus, cassis and purple licorice.  The palate is dry with grippy tannins that I would call medium (+) in intensity.  Juicy acidity makes my jaw water and the full body on this wine coats my mouth with rich black fruit, spices and oak that is deftly worked in there.  This is a delicious wine folks.  It has an astringent yet short finish that may cost a point but this wine is very balanced overall and will pair beautifully with hearty game dishes, rich stews or a fatty cut of Ribeye on the grill.  I’m going with 92 points and would drink this $23 wine till 2030.  5 stars for this level of quality at that price.  Loving it.  Salut….

Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas La Louisiane Vieilles Vignes 2017, Rhone, France

25 Wednesday May 2022

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This Grenache is medium ruby colored with thick, slow moving legs down the side of the glass showing off its 15% ABV.  The nose has raspberry, blackcurrant, red currant, toasty oak, spice box, vanilla, coconut and black cherry.  The palate is dry with fine-grained tannins balancing out some medium acidity.  The fruit flavors are delicious yet not over-ripe.  Black and red currants, some black cherry and raspberry mix with oak influence by way of the toast and spice box.  There is a licorice component I did not get on the nose and the coconut/vanilla is ever so feint on the palate.  The tannins are pretty grippy on the back end and the finish is quite a juicy and long affair.  This medium to full bodied wine is drinking nicely now but will cellar well into 2030 methinks.  It begs for rack of lamb with a garlic mousse and some grilled veggies.  93 points for this $36 effort makes it a 5 star wine in my book.  Salut….

La Rioja Alta S.A. Vina Alberdi Reserva 2016, Rioja DOCa, Spain

18 Wednesday May 2022

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Medium garnet colored, this Tempranillo has trademark aromas of leather, earthy dust, ripe blackberry, rich plum, vanilla, black cherry jam and charred wood.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and grippy tannins that coat my mouth.  The fruit is ripe and the wine is full bodied.  Black fruit flavors wrapped in a cloak of oak nuance with some signs of tertiary development make for a delicious wine.  I paid $19 for this stunning 92 pointer that gets 5 stars.  I would pair it with grilled Hangar steak and sweet potato fries.  I think this balanced and structured wine will drink well until 2030 at the least.  Salut….

Chateau d’Yquem 2010, Sauternes, France

15 Sunday May 2022

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There’s dessert wines and then there is Chateau d’Yquem.  Head and shoulders above the rest it is the only Supérieur Premier Cru in the region.  This botrytised wine was still very young but we got exactly what we wanted out of it-

Deep gold colored. Honey, apricot, lemon marmalade, orange preserves, white blossom, nuts, super sweet with medium (+) acidity.  Full bodied. Youthful, long finish. 96 points

A pretty basic write up, but when you are sipping this stunner with chocolate lava cake it’s hard to divert too much attention to making assessments.  An amazing wine to savor with friends for the next 30 years or so.  I have to agree with the pros, this is at least a 96 point wine that gets 5 stars.  Salut….