Cave Dog Albarino 2019, Napa Valley, California

17 Friday Jun 2022

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A New World Albariño, I’m excited!  Medium lemon colored, it has fast moving legs belying its modest 13% ABV.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pineapple, lemon zest, bruised apple, geranium and baking spice.  On the palate it is dry, really dry, with high acidity and a tart opener.  Lemon, underripe pineapple, green apple and spice.  There is a piercing minerality on the mid palate that I am really enjoying.  The body is fairly light whilst the finish is medium in length and refreshing with the cut I got initially.  A nicely crafted wine that gets 90 points from me and 4 stars for it’s $37 sticker price.  I am pairing it with Thai beef salad and some Szechuan fried veggies.  Drink now.  Salut….

Clarendon Hills Romas Grenache 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia

16 Thursday Jun 2022

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Medium/deep ruby to garnet colored, this 11 year old Grenache is playing tricks on my old eyes.  The nose has generous aromas of rich red raspberry, red licorice, coconut, rooibos tea, dried herbs, menthol and black cherry.  The palate is dry with crispy tannins that coat my upper gums.  Low acidity and medium to full bodied, this delicious wine has ripe flavors of red and black fruit with red licorice, cocoa powder, menthol, rooibos tea, dusty bramble, leather and that garrigue I got on the nose.  I’m generally impervious to the alcohol level as I find it difficult to ascertain but this one does have a bit of heat on the back end (14.5% ABV).  The finish is medium plus in length with the tannins fading faster than the fruit.  I pretty much love everything that comes out of this winery- this bottle is no exception.  The alcohol detracts a bit but I think it is well made and delicious, worthy of 93 points from me. It runs  upwards of $70 per bottle making it a 5 star treat wine to drink till 2027.  I think it will develop more tertiary notes by then and be even better.  Roast game, grilled lamb leg or even Moroccan tagine.  Much better than the previous tasting of this wine.  Salut….

Herencia Altes La Peluda 2016, Terra Alta, Spain

15 Wednesday Jun 2022

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I had to look up the varietal- Garnaxa Peluda.  It literally translates into “hairy Grenache”, a variant of the workhorse grape that develops a thin film layer on the underside of the leaves to protect the vine from transpiration in a warm climate.  This particularly offering is medium garnet colored and has slow moving legs confirming a high ABV (15%).  The nose has pronounced aromas of red raspberry, garigue, ripe black cherry, menthol, vanilla, coffee, popcorn? and bramble.  I’m surprised I did not get tertiary notes from aging as this wine is already 6 years old.  The palate is dry with grippy tannins and medium (+) acidity.  The body is medium in weight and I get nice flavors of raspberry, black cherry, some charred oak, coffee and vanilla.  I lost the popcorn and menthol along the way.  The tannins really take over on the finish, leaving my mouth covered in a black tea component.  The flavors last a decent length even when masked by the tannins.  The mouthfeel is a little rough, the astringency being a little out of balance for me.  I would need to throw a juicy, fatty steak at this wine, which is probably what it was made for.  I give this 91 points and think it should cellar for a little longer.  For $15 it’s a steal btw that gets 5 stars.  Be patient with this blockbuster as it needs to meld a touch more.  Salut….

Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Michelle’ Brut NV, Columbia Valley, Washington

14 Tuesday Jun 2022

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It’s mid-June and I need a refreshing drink.  This one is labelled as a Brut, meaning it can have up to 12 g/l of sugar.  After a bit of digging I found it runs 6.3 g/l, just slightly into the Brut category.  It shows 11.5% ABV, which is normal for a traditional method sparkling wine.  The color is medium lemon and the mousse is quite fine.  On the nose I get aromas of brioche, Meyer lemon zest, cinnamon, toast, biscuit, Mandarin orange and vanilla lollipop.  The palate is actually quite dry with delightfully fine bubbles that tickle ever so slightly.  Medium acidity creates a defining cut to the wine and the autolytic flavors I got on the nose are all present with the citrusy notes focusing more on a lemon and Meyer lemon profile with a touch of green apple.  I don’t get any vanilla or cinnamon at this stage.  The finish is medium in length and the wine is very balanced.  I have to say, this $12 sparkling wine is a stunning value that gets 89 points from me.  This 5 star effort is one to buy by the case to have handy, you never know!  I’m pairing mine with clams and pasta.  Drink now.  Salut….

El Coto ‘Coto de Imaz’ Gran Reserva 2015, Rioja DOCa, Spain

13 Monday Jun 2022

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I have drunk gallons of this wine, from several vintages.  Always a great experience, especially at $27 per bottle.  This is the youngest version I have tried thus far and it looks promising with deep ruby/purple shades in the glass and really thick, slow moving legs on the rim giving away the 14.5% ABV.  Intense aromas of black and red fruit, leather, dust, coconut, vanilla, coffee bean-stunning and fresh.  The palate is dry with rich flavors of blackberry, cassis, red raspberry, leather, tobacco, vanilla, coffee and bramble.  Rioja wines are very rustic IMO.  I love that dusty, earthy character which this one delivers.  The acidity is quite high and the tannins are integrated and of medium intensity.  The body is full for sure and the finish is medium in length.  Another delicious wine that gets 93 points from me and 5 stars.  This Tempranillo will last a while in cellar and drink beautifully until 2030 at the earliest.  I would pair it with tapas, grilled beef or lamb and definitely a peppercorn steak.  Salut….

Weis Vineyards Semi-Dry Riesling 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

13 Monday Jun 2022

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Medium lemon color. On the nose I get pineapple, pink grapefruit, Meyer lemon zest, nutmeg and honey.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity, medium body and fresh fruit flavors of pineapple, lemon and grapefruit with some zingy minerality, finishing with  some honeysuckle.  The finish is medium (+) long with a fresh cut from juicy acidity.  The fruit flavors linger nicely. It’s is a delicious wine that has some residual sugar but is not cloying.  A 12% ABV is indicative of its sweetness level.  This refreshing wine will go well poolside or served up with a chilled salad topped with steamed prawns or grilled octopus.  Drink till 2028.  92 points for this $20 beauty makes it a 5 star summer wine to drink till 2027.  Salut….

Aubert Lefas Bourgogne Rouge Les Grandes Carelles 2018, Burgundy, France

08 Wednesday Jun 2022

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This Pinot Noir is slightly more extracted than usual showing a medium ruby color in the glass with small, fast moving legs showing off the moderate 13% ABV.  The nose gives me telltale rose and funky barnyard aromas typically associated with this varietal.  I also get cherry, strawberry, straw and orange peel.  The palate is dry, low in tannins, silky smooth and delicious.  Juicy acidity hits by way of sour cherry and pomegranate- the strawberry and orange peel having vanished by now.  Light to medium bodied this racy wine has got a tart yet delightful finish that is medium (+) in length.  Pommard produces some delicious, powerful and rich wines, this regional example is true to the style.  At $24 this 91 point wine gets 5 stars from me.  Pair it with duck, venison, roast Cornish hens or just by itself!  I would drink this wine till 2028.  Salut….

Iapetus ‘Subduction’ Red 2019, Vermont

07 Tuesday Jun 2022

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This is a curious wine, made in Vermont from 100% Marquette grapes.  In the glass it is a deep purple color with some haze that confirms the data sheet- unfined and unfiltered.  Here we go!  Medium intensity aromas of wild blackberry, baking spices, black cherry, sour cherry, leather and a minty greeness.  The palate is dry with juicy acidity, low tannins, medium body and sprite flavors of dark fruit, oak nuance and that green note I caught on the nose.  It finishes tart and dry with lithe tannins tickling my cheeks.  The sour cherry taking pole position.  I had to look up this grape’s lineage, it is a crossing of two other hybrids.  They were trying to make a cold-hardy grape that is disease resistant.  I like it.  It reminds me of Sangiovese without the searing tannins.  That sour cherry note being the key here.  I would imagine this wine will evolve a little but it should be drunk by 2026.  It can be found for $27 online and gets 90 points from me making it a 4 star effort.  Try something different!  I would pair it with pasta, grilled duck breast or peppercorn steaks.  Salut….

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….