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Tag Archives: $12

David Akiyoshi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Clarksburg, California

15 Wednesday Jan 2025

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$12, 3 stars, 84 points, cabernet sauvignon, califiornia, clarksburg, Naked Wines


Medium ruby with garnet highlights, slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.4% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of candied raspberry, red plum, cranberry jam, cedar, tomato leaf, and pomegranate- decidedly red fruit driven.  The palate is ever-so slightly off-dry, with medium acidity, medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  The red fruit is sweet in nature and off-putting tbh.  It tastes a little manufactured and will likely appeal to many, just not me.  The structure is decent with some neat tannins, but nothing that screams ‘I’m a Cabernet Sauvignon’.  The finish is a little hot and medium (-) in length.  Whilst pleasant to drink, it will pair nicely with lighter meats or BBQ.  I would drink this 84 pointer till 2027.  For $12, it gets 3 stars from me.  Salut….

David Akiyoshi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

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Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling 2021, Salta, Argentina

05 Sunday Jan 2025

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$12, 5 star, 91 points, Argentina, riesling, salta, Torrontes, VWTC


We kicked off the 38th virtual wine tasting with this Torrontes/Riesling blend (85/15%), served initially chilled then at room temperature.  Pale yellow colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV), it gave the tasters medium (+) intensity aromas of honeysuckle, lemon, nectarine, peach, pear, lychee, and rose water.  On the palate it is dry with medium (+) acidity thanks to the Riesling, with a light body.  The flavors were similar to the nose with the addition of vanilla- the finish was long.  We then tasted the room temperature version which gave us more pear, some petrol, a hint of ginger, and perhaps vanilla thread.  The acidity was a bit subdued but the body felt heavier with tangerine, pear, honeysuckle, and a citrus driven finish that went on for ages.  I scored it 15 and 14 on our tasting sheet but this $12 bottle gets 91 points on technical merit making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling

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Loosen Bros Dr. L Riesling 2023, Mosel, Germany

09 Monday Dec 2024

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$12, 5 stars, 89 points, germany, mosel, riesling


Pale straw/lemon colored with high viscosity (8.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon zest, petrol, green apple skin, white and orange blossom, slightly underripe apricot, and a hint of wet slate.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a medium body.  The viscosity in the glass is obviously a result of the RS (residual sugar) and not the alcohol content.  The flavors are slightly muted by the piercing acidity, even though it is tempered by the sugar.  Citrus zest, green apple, apricot, and that stony mineral note make it through the powerful facade of this refreshing yet weighty wine.  It’s an interesting dichotomy.  I’m enjoying it very much as an aperitif to a Greek Chicken Souvlaki dinner, which has a lemon-based marinade.  The finish is very interesting- a ying and yang of sweetness versus tartness.  It lasts quite a long while.  Loving this $12 bottle that gets a decent 89 point score from me and 5 stars.  I will be stocking up on this porch pounder.  It will pair beautifully with spicy dishes as well as Asian inspired cuisine.  I think it has some cellaring capacity and would be interested to hide a few bottles for extended periods, checking every so often on the development.  Yummy.  Salut….

dr loosen dr l riesling

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Miriam Syrah 2021, California

02 Monday Dec 2024

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$12, 4 stars, 86 points, california, Naked Wines, syrah


Deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe red raspberry, black plum, game, vanilla, cocoa, and blackberry. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that melt away.  Flavors of ripe raspberry, plum, and blackberry with telltale meaty notes.  There is a hint of cocoa and maybe some vanilla.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing.  Not an overly complex wine, it drinks easily and will go well with a variety of dishes ranging from steaks and pasta to roasted chicken.  Overall it gets 86 points from me and at $12, 4 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Miriam California Syrah

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Quinta Das Carvalhas Red Blend 2021, Douro, Portugal

14 Thursday Nov 2024

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$12, 4 stars, 88 points, Douro, portugal, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional


Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has muted aromas of black raspberry, licorice, coffee, dark chocolate, acai berry, red plum and dried coconut husk.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium (-) tannins.  The flavors are slightly more intense than the nose and offer up black raspberry, red plum, acai berry, mint, coffee, dark chocolate and a touch of anise.  The dried husk disappeared.  The finish is medium in length and refreshing, the tannins completely resolve by now.  The acidity keeps it fresh and lifts the fruit.  It’s not a very complex wine and the muted nose detracts from the points but I like this weekday bottle.  It garners 88 points from me and for $12 it gets 4 stars.  Blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 40% Tinta Roriz and 20% Touriga Franca .   Drink till 2027.  Salut….

quinta das carvalhas red blend

 

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Silk & Spice ‘Spice Road’ Intense Red Blend 2020, Portugal

26 Monday Feb 2024

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$12, 4 stars, 88 points, Alicante Bouschet, baga, portugal, Touriga Nacional


Deep ruby (inky) with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, baking spices, camphor (?), ripe blueberry, vanilla thread, boysenberry and Rooibos tea. The palate is slightly off-dry with medium (+) acidity, medium body and medium (+) tannins that are youthful. I get flavors of boysenberry, black cherry, a green vegetal note, dark chocolate, vanilla and baking spices. The finish is slightly tart and quite long.  The camphor note I previously smelled has returned on the back end. A blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Alicante Bouschet and 30% Baga that gets 88 points from me and for $12- 4 stars.  Drink now with hearty stews and grilled meats. Salut….

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Famille Bougrier Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Vin de France, France

14 Wednesday Feb 2024

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$12, 5 stars, 89 points, france, Sauvignon blanc


First time I picked up one of these bottles it was in Phoenix and I was traveling on business.  I needed something easy that was going to bring pleasure without breaking the bank- Decanter gave this 95 points so I figured I could not go wrong.  It’s pale lemon colored with a watery sheen (11.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon, grapefruit zest, green grass, orange blossom, pineapple and wet slate.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a light body.  It’s a crisp and refreshing wine with flavors of grapefruit zest, lemon, pineapple and a slaty minerality.  The finish is medium in length and zippy- the light body coupled with the level of acidity making it easy to drink and refreshing.  It’s not a 95 pointer but it gets 89  from me and for a mere $12- 5 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

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Myburgh Bros. Chenin Blanc Old Vine 2022, Paarl, South Africa

24 Tuesday Oct 2023

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$12, 5 stars, 91 points, chenin blanc, paarl, South Africa


Pale lemon colored with yellow highlights and a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, both zest and pith.  A wooly note permeates and I also get straw, white blossom, saline and a waxy honey note.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of citrus with that waxy, wooly note alongside some blossom and peach.  The wine finishes with a medium length- tasty stuff that gets 91 points from me and at $12- a veritable steal that gets 5 stars.  Drink till 2025.  Salut…

 

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Terra d’Uro ‘La Enfermera’ 2021, Toro, Spain

29 Friday Sep 2023

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$12, 4 stars, 87 points, spain, tempranillo, tinta de toro, toro


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose on this Tempranillo has medium intensity aromas of black plum, charred oak, licorice, candied black cherry, dusty earth and acai berry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are a touch astringent and grippy.  Flavors of sour black cherry, black plum, licorice and brambly earth coat my mouth in this full bodied wine. The finish is short to medium in length and a touch tart and bitter.  Overall this $ 12 bottle gets 87 points from me making it a 4 star effort to drink till 2026.  Salut….

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La Vostra Prosecco NV, Veneto, Italy

05 Tuesday Sep 2023

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$12, 3 stars, 87 points, glera, Italy, veneto


Pale straw colored with very little mousse.  The nose has aromas of white flower, apricot, green almond and melon.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a light body, the effervescence finally appearing and in a not-too-subtle way.  Florals are the main driver on the palate with some melon, pear and almond backing them up.  The finish is medium in length.  87 points from me for this $12 bottle makes it a 3 star wine that I actually bought to mix with Vincenzi Rosso- like a spritz.  It was on sale for a penny, the catch being that you need to mix it with something fizzy so I had to pop for the bubbly.  The bottle I got is cherry flavored and the resulting cocktail is decent on a hot summer’s eve.  Salut….

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