04 Thursday Oct 2018
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Medium opacity, good color. Nose is full of espresso, black berry and lush plums. The palate is very smooth, slightly acidic and starts off with black currants, charred oak and olives. The mid palate has more black fruit with the tannins starting to grip. I like the deft use of oak here and it smooths the wine nicely. The finish is medium in length, brimming with black cherry with the tannins receding nicely. 88 points and 5 stars for this $11 wine. Great value from Chile. Salut….
17 Friday Aug 2018
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Medium intensity in the glass. The nose is a bit funky, heavy on the oak and reeking of red fruits. Not particularly my favorite profile btw. The palate is very woody- raspberry and black cherry are the predominant flavors with a tart note to boot. There is a greeness to the midpalate to go along with the medium tannins. Acidity is decent and the wine balances on the finish. It’s a bit disjointed initially but comes together on a decent length ending. 88 points and 3 stars for this $11 effort. I may not purchase again as I don’t like the profile, some others may enjoy it though. Touriga Naconal 38%, Tinta Barroca 26%, Tinta Roriz 20%, Touriga Franca 14%, Tinto Cao 2%. Salut….
25 Friday May 2018
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$11, 5 stars, 90 points, oregon, pinot noir, willamette valley
The Brown truck arrived today with a box full of these. They were on sale so I decided to pull the trigger on 6. I probably should have let this one rest a few days, but there are more in case it shows poorly.
Slightly more opaque than what I was expecting from Pinot Noir. The nose is airy and uplifting, with strawberry, that certain Pinot scent that I get and some elderberry. The palate is exactly what I was expecting, New World all the way but not in a powerful, jammy way. Smooth strawberry with a lithe vanilla stripe and more of that wild berry fruit. The acidity is on pointe, just a nudge every now and then. The mouthfeel is great with some ever so slight tannins swirling around. Cherry/Strawberry cooler happens on the finish with that sourness that is really okay in Pinot. My mouth feels a tad dry from the acidity/tannins when it’s all said and done. I like this wine and am serving it with some smoked pulled pork that I just finished. The acidity is perfect to counter the fattiness and smoke from the meat. I’m going with 90 points here and for the $11 I paid, it’s a 5 star wine. Drink now till 2024. Salut….
16 Wednesday May 2018
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Very opaque purple. Nose of blackberry, oak and plum purée. The palate is nothing what I was expecting. Lush, but lithe with dark blackberry pie notes, loads of acidity with some very fine grained tannins. The mid palate exudes smoothness with more dark fruit compote, a small dose of wood and very drinkable tannins/acidity. The finish is rather dry with some plums appearing amongst the dark berries. I also come away with mocha, tobacco and a touch of jam. 90 points and 5 stars for this $11 wine. Salut….
20 Tuesday Mar 2018
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Very purple in the glass with a nose of Ribena, sweet oak, white pepper and blackberry jam. On the palate it is smooth, supple and has tons of blackberry, silky tannins, cedar slate, vanilla bean and ripe acidity. The mid palate stresses the vanilla component and allows the tannins to really shine. The finish focuses on dark fruits and the astringency of the tannins. The wine is decent, full bodied and quite tasty. 89 points and 4 stars for this $11 wine. Salut….
27 Monday Nov 2017
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If you read my post about the Eve Chardonnay, you will know I am a fan of Charles Smith Wines. I couldn’t help myself and bought this Merlot for the tasing.
It appears as a very light purple with low opacity. The nose gives off candied plum, not my favorite profile mind you. There’s a bit of oak in there as well. I am leery going in for the first sip.
All is good- it is a decent wine, not overly oaked and offering ripe tannins, juicy acidity and plums galore. I get Blackberry on the mid palate transition after the initial plum injection. The wine is somewhat one dimensional but it will appeal to many for its smoothness and bracing tannins. The dryness is great if you are into that kinda thing. Overall, refreshing and tasty. An easy going wine that will do well with grilled New York Strip, perhaps a hearty baked ziti. I paid a mere $11 for it and am going with 89 points and 4 stars. You may want to sit on a few bottles until 2019 to see how they develop. Salut….
27 Wednesday Sep 2017
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$11, 5 stars, 90 points, Baga, portugal, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional
I have said it recently and i will affirm it again- Portugal is a go-to wine source. In tonight’s case, I needed something full of flavor to go with Braised Lamb Shanks in Rosemary Mint sauce. Sounds fancy huh? Costco…
This particular wine rings in at $11 and was worth a punt when I saw it with free shipping. Here goes- It comes in at 13% and is a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz and 20% Baga. It is of medium shade in the glass and has no ‘legs’. The nose is of dark fruits and wood smoke. I also get some spice, like cinnamon. On the palate, this wine is very soft, gentle and supple. The flavors of black cherry, plum and espresso are very tasty. The mid palate shows off some very fine tannins and an earthiness along with cherry. The finish is somewhat tart, with acidity coming through as cherry and rhubarb. This wine is rocking the full flavored Lamb and has just the right amount of acidity to cut the fat while the flavors complement the herbs of the dish. I am going 90 points and 5 stars for this bargain. Drink now till 2022. Salut….
26 Tuesday Sep 2017
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A pleasant purple with medium density. On the nose I get plums, a faint hint of cinnamon, black cherry and creosote thanks to the 9% addition of Pinotage. The balance is Cabernet Sauvignon. The initial taste is very Pinotage heavy, with more plums, some dark fruits and the telltale chemical note, often likened to nail polish remover. I like it. The wine transitions nicely and some very delightful tannins caress throughout. The flavor profile doesn’t change much throughout and the acidity is very fine, barely noticeable. The finish is relatively long, with the dark fruit balancing nicely with a hint of oak. The bitterness of the tannins is apparent right at the end but is not detracting. This is a tasty weekday wine that I would pop with stew, chili, grilled sausages and even burgers. 89 points and 4 stars for this $11 wine. Salut….
26 Tuesday Sep 2017
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Portugal is where it’s at in the value wine market today. Inky, dark and brooding in the glass. The nose is of black berries, iodine. The palate is full of dark fruits, a hint of oak, sweet black grapes and an earthiness. The mid palate transcends that profile and adds some very integrated tannins to the mix. The finish is long, dry and inky. Black berry pie finishes it all off at the end. It is a blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro. 91 points, and an amazing 5 stars for this $11 marvel. To be bought by the case in my opinion. Drink till 2024. I’m having mine with grilled kale salad and London broil. Salut….
01 Tuesday Aug 2017
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See through purple, not what I was expecting from a Tempranillo out of Rioja. The nose is however right up that alley. Red currants, earth and a tar component greet me. The telltale creosote is alive and kicking in this wine, as is a touch of vanilla. On the palate, I get a brutish, young and cocky wine full of red fruit, with raspberries, strawberries and currants popping. The acidity is vibrant and the tannins are lithe. The mid palate carries the red fruit theme and amps up the acidity factor. On the tail end the finish is fresh with tannins and strawberry extract. More red currants sneak in right at the close. Very smooth and nicely balanced, but I don’t get a hint of the yearlong oak maturation after the initial whiff. Might be well integrated, who knows. This wine is a great summer addition to a party, serve it with dry rubbed ribs, perhaps a bourbon glazed pork chop on the grill or even just a basic Mezze. I’m going with 90 points on this $11 stunner that makes it a 5 star wine. Drink now till 2022. Salut….
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