Tag Archives: $15

Clayhouse Adobe White 2011, Central Coast, USA

27 Tuesday Jun 2017

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I don’t exactly recall buying this wine, but I think it was a last minute grab at the wine store.  It looked interesting with its blend of 49% Viognier, 26% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Grenache Blanc and 6% Princess (Never heard of her).

A golden yellow color in the glass.  The nose is what I was expecting, very similar to Conundrum White, another blend of similar grapes.  Melon, grapefruit, and a touch of lemon are the key components.  On the palate I am tasting raw almond, citrus and kiwi fruit.  The acidity is very mild and the wine has a nice mouthfeel.  There is a certain butteriness that hits on  the mid palate.  The finish is rather short, but leaves a trail of acidity that carries on for a while.  I am really enjoying this wine, it was made for sipping, summer and cold cuts with an olive tray.  I will go 88 points on this $15 wine which makes it a 3 star wine in my books.  Drink now till 2019.  Salut….

playhouse wines adobe white

Bodegas El Porvenir de Cafayate ‘Amauta Absoluto’ Tannat 2016, Cafayate, Argentina

15 Thursday Jun 2017

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Pretty dark purple in the glass.  Nose of plum and blackberry, but it’s hard to coax the flavors as this particular bottle has been chilled.  The initial taste is more blackberry with some spice box.  The tannins are very subdued as is the acidity, which is atypical for this varietal.  I get tar and creosote on the mid palate, with some blackberry.  The finish is more black berries and some fig paste.  87 points for this $15 offering make it a 2 star wine.  Salut….

Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz 2014, Barossa Valley, Australia

10 Saturday Jun 2017

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Very brooding and dark purple in the glass- promising some heady, extracted juice.  The nose is full on dark plums, blackberries and cedar plank.  The initial palate is straight up blueberry pie meets blackberry jam.  Very viscous in the mouthfeel and very smooth.  The wine glides past the mid palate with hints of plum ganache and mocha and a touch of acidity.  I had to wait until the finish to get a glimmer of the fine grained tannins that hold this package together.  I believe this wine is drinking great now and has a few years of cellaring available, say till 2022.  I would pair it with Strip steaks, perhaps a peppercorn sauce based meat or even corned beef.  The acidity and tannic structure seem ideal for casual drinking and lighter fare, not something too heavy or fatty.  It really is tasty.  90 points.  I paid $15 and would do it again for this 4 star effort.  Salut…

kessler stone horse shiraz

Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port NV, Portugal

04 Sunday Jun 2017

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As you may have read recently, I’m on a Port kick and looking to try as many styles as possible.  This one is labelled Reserve, no info on Tawn, Ruby or LBV.  It is dark purple, almost inky.  The nose is rich with fig, blueberry paste and chocolate dust.  On the palate it is refreshingly vibrant with plum, blueberry and a bracing acidic component.  I sense a warmth on the mid palate that I attribute to tannins mingling with the 19.5% alcohol.  The heat doesn’t bother me, it is well integrated as are the tannins.  On the finish I am reminded of this wine’s youth, the mouthfeel is fresh and dry. More plums and blueberry pie show up on the tail end.  The wine is tasty and well made, 89 points from me.  On sale for $15 it is a good deal- 4 stars.

cockburn's special reserve port

St. Supery Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Napa Valley, USA

01 Thursday Jun 2017

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It was a beautiful evening, 75, sunny and a gentle breeze.  The Salmon was on the grill and I cracked open this little beauty.  I don’t often drink whites, but it was the right place and the right time.  I will be buying more of it!

Dark yellow in the glass.  Nose is delightful- pineapple, honey, melon.  On the palate, very full bodied, with notes of honeydew, lemon zest and grapefruit peel.  Tasty mid plate with more citrus and almond shavings. The finish continues with the theme.  I am going with 89 points.  It can be found for $15 which makes this a solid 3 star wine.  Salut….

st super sauvignon blanc

Bodega Aniello ‘006’ Pinot Noir 2015, Rio Negro, Argentina

09 Thursday Mar 2017

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When I see a wine on sale for $15 that got a 93 point rating then I am all in, especially a Pinot Noir. I bought this one without hesitation. My own notes are slightly different than the pros, could be bottle variation, age, or just my palate.

Very pale red and see through in the glass. Nose of pomegranate and cranberry. On the palate, much more body than I was expecting. Notes of strawberry coulis, violets and a touch of gaminess. The wine has some good acidity and freshness that I’m enjoying. The alcohol, at a reasonable 13.5% is somehow showing up on the finish. I plan on pairing this decent wine with some shrimp and grits… let’s see how that works. 89 points from me on this $15 offering make it a 3 star wine. Salut….

a niello pinot noir

Very pale and see through

Muirwood Merlot 2014, Monterey, USA

06 Monday Mar 2017

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See through lighter shade of purple.  Stunning nose of mulberry, warm berry compote and a hint of cedar wood.  The palate shows off red berries, fine grained tannins and a mouthful of warm brioche notes.  There’s an underlying level of acidity that continues the whole length of this delicious wine.  It just smacks of warm California fruit, nicely integrated with oak, balanced tannins and a freshness I’m really enjoying.  90 points and for $15 I’m giving it 4 stars and getting some more!  Salut….

muir wood merlot

Weingut Laurenz V. Friendly Gruner Veltliner 2014, Kamptal, Austria

06 Monday Mar 2017

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I just spent some time in Asia on vacation.  The flights to and from offered an opportunity to try some interesting wines.  I made the most of it!  If you have never had a Gruner Veltliner, I highly recommend them.  I had this one with a seafood terrine and salad.  It was a great match.

Golden dark yellow in the glass.  Nose of pineapple and ripe papaya.  The initial taste is quite refreshing, a cutting acidity introduces some pineapple spritz, with hints of lemon zest and pomelo.  Nice mouthfeel! 89 points and for $15 a really solid wine that gets 4 stars from me.  Salut….

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Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage 2015

10 Tuesday Jan 2017

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My father asked me what I wanted for Christmas.  He has 3 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws and 5 grand kids.  I wanted something that would not bankrupt the man, but would mean something to me.  I told him “a bottle of wine”.  He hit it, right on the head with this banger.  I am so surprised at this wine and am super happy that my dad got it for me.

In case you haven’t read my notes about Pinotage, I love this varietal.  It is a quirky oddball only found in Afrique du Sud and made really well in Stellenbosch.

Reddish purple in the glass with a nose of tar, beautiful violets, black plums and a really nice hint of blueberry right at the and.  On the initial attack I get blueberry pie, some tar, cherry and plum jam. The mid palate yields some very entrenched tannins that come out of hiding and balance the acidity.  More plums hit after the tannins and they lead you into a really nice dry finish of vanilla, coffee bean, and berry.  Really good, a delicious wine.  91 points and at a shocking price point of $15 this is my first 5 star wine of the year.  Kudos to dad for popping this bad boy under the tree, he has hit wine nirvana.  I drank it with braised Beef ribs and purple potatoes.  Heaven!  I hope you have a wine that has significant meaning that hits it on all cylinders too.  Salut….

neethlingshof pinotage

Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘de Restia’ Crianza Selected Harvest, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2009

07 Wednesday Dec 2016

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A lighter purple color with a touch of orange bricking on this crianza level wine that has 7 years of cellaring.  On the nose, a subdued level of plum and dusty earth- a hallmark of the varietal.  On the palate a somewhat rustic initial attack of dark fruits, with dried oregano, earth and very dry tannins.  The acidity is somewhat lacking and is overcome by the tannins, which is not a bad thing.  The finish is decent in length and offers up more purple fruit flavors with a touch of heat.  The dryness on the gums goes on forever, which I kinda like!  The wine, at this stage of its life is giving me pause….  It has a really tannic structure yet I feel it is not able to age much more due to the low acidity.  The fruit is starting to dry up but there is not much evolution.  All in all a pop-n-pour wine that won’t break the bank at $15 and gets 88 points from me.  This 3 star effort would pair well with some charcuterie, perhaps a bowl of pasta Arrabiatta.  Salut….

Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel 'de Restia' Crianza Selected Harvest, Ribera del Duero, Spain