Tag Archives: $15

Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Eroica Gold Riesling 2015, Columbia Valley, Washington

27 Friday Nov 2020

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Pale gold.  The nose is sugary- apple juice meets apricot jam.  On the palate it’s quite sweet with great minerality, nice acidity and notes of apple cider and green apple pie.  A great midpalate with medium level acidity and some mouth filling glycerine.  It’s delicious, sweet but not unctuous and has a nice cut with a great, rounded mouthfeel.  It would work well post prandial or as an aperitif but I feel it would need some Foie Gras to mellow out the acidity and sweetness.  I’m really enjoying it. 92 points and 5 stars- $15 for 500ml bottle.  Drink till 2030. Salut….

Barker’s Marque ‘Three Brooms’ Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Marlborough, New Zealand

27 Friday Nov 2020

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Light yellow in the glass. Pineapple, apricot and lemon on the nose. The palate is semi sweet with lemon zest, green apple, cut grass and a touch of honeysuckle. Delicious with mid grade acidity that balances the sweetness perfectly.  A hint of effervescence was noted by some but I’m getting a touch of green pepper instead.  It’s a really delicious white wine that has finally gotten a thumbs up from my buddy Dusty.  He is a red drinker but this one broke through for him. 91 points and 5 stars for this $15 wine. Drink till 2024. Salut….

Quipster Merlot 2018, California

13 Friday Nov 2020

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I have been on a bit of a Merlot kick lately and this one had my name on it. It is semi opaque and a dark shade of purple in the glass. On the nose it gives off plum, cedar and spice box. Plums, baking spices and blueberry pie all hit the palate. Very fine grained tannins pop up on the middle palate along with more blue fruit flavors. There is a nice shot of acidity that keeps me on my toes, balancing out the tannins. There is a second wave of blueberry and plum flavors that really hit the back end, overriding the tannins and giving me a great fresh finish. Whilst not a big or complex wine, it drinks nicely and will do so till 2025. I’m pairing it up with some Steak and Cheese Hoagies. Should do the trick nicely. 88 points and 3 stars for this $15 wine. Salut….

Rod Easthope Level 185 Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

21 Wednesday Oct 2020

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This Kiwi treat is pale gold in the glass and has notes of lemons, watermelon, cut grass and blood orange on the nose. The palate is deelish. Yellow apple, lemon curd, melon and a nice thrust of acidity. The mid palate is very smooth and lean with nice citrus notes that pass on to the long finish. I like the acidity in this wine, it’s present but not too cutting. The mouthfeel is very refreshing and clean. Lemons and blood orange finish it up after 30 + seconds. Really enjoyable wine that I am pairing with Jerk Chicken and Jamaican veg curry. 91 points and 5 stars for this $15 wine. Salut….

Pfaffl ‘Vom Haus’ Zweigelt 2015, Niederosterreich, Austria

10 Thursday Sep 2020

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I have never tasted a Zweigelt before- so I am excited.  This one rolled in at $15 but I am concerned about seepage.  I know screw caps are supposed to be invincible but this one was wet with a thick purple liquid on the inside of the screw cap.

The color is nice- rich purple.  The nose is interesting, a melding of black cherry, charred oak, red currants and rhubarb.  On the palate it is very fruit forward with very lithe tannins.  It’s quite focused on red fruit flavors and some star anise.  Mid palate-wise there’s a new twist with some cocoa dust, rhubarb and juicy acidity.  The finish is decent in length and has a nice tannic streak that leaves my mouth a touch dry.  Very nicely balanced.  It’s not a very complex wine but it drinks well and would pair great with Duck l’Orange, marinated Sirloin or Lamb chops.  My inexperience with this Austrian varietal makes it difficult to score but I would say it gets 89 points, with a drinking window until 2025.  4 Stars, Salut….

Cameron Hughes Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Lodi, California

17 Monday Aug 2020

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A pretty shade of purple and nearly opaque.  On the nose it’s brimming with red fruit, some oak and a red licorice note.  The palate is easy going- red berries, chocolate nibs, some oak and a touch of acidity.  The mid palate is very smooth with a smidge of tannin and more red fruit melange.  The finish is simple, decent in length and features the addition of cranberries with their inherent tartness.  This is a very basic wine that will feature well at a burgers and brats barbecue.  The tannins are very slight and the structure is not intended for much cellaring.  It’s a pop’n pour weekday quaffer that gets 86 points from me and at $15- 3 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Jim Barry ‘The Barry Bros’ 2015, Clare Valley, Australia

30 Thursday Jul 2020

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I was super excited to see this wine for sale being a huge fan of their Shiraz lineup.  This one is more on the budget side and includes a dollop (31%) of Cabernet Sauvignon and a hint(4%) of Malbec- here goes.

Dark purple, opaque but not showing legs in the glass.  The nose is briary with some poached plums, a touch of charred wood and coffee bean.  The palate is very rich with black fruits, cedar box, leather and espresso.  There is a hint of tannins, but loads of acidity.  Very tart on the mid palate but refreshing.  I start to get sour blueberry as well as the black fruit compote, leading to a bit of mouth watering.  A very interesting melange of flavors and mouthfeel.  The finish is medium length, tasty and really juicy. The black fruit theme continues as does that charred note.  It’s a very fruit forward wine meant to enjoyed in the short term.  It’s no Armagh or MacRae Wood- but it has evidence of deft winemaking and decent fruit.  Enjoy till 2023 with grilled steaks.  89 points from me and 5 stars for this $15 effort.  Salut….

Domäne Wachau – Freie Weingartner Terrassen Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 2018, Wachau, Austria

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

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Pale shade of yellow, this Austrian native kicked off the Virtual Wine Tasting Company’s 6th event.  We drank it at room temp as well as chilled.  I did not think it performed well at the tasting and am now re-tasting the following night indoors.  The nose exhibits tons of citrus, some lanolin and green apple.  The palate has minerality and a nice acidic cut.  Lemon/lime like a 7-Up alongside an austere green streak that make this a very sharp wine.  It cuts in the right places and refreshes as it goes.  I did not care for it initially, but I now think it fits the billing for a decent, inexpensive Gruner.  The finish is very refreshing and would pair well with seafood, perhaps a spicy Arrabiata but it will shine poolside on a hot day.  88 points and 3 stars for this $15 white.  Salut….

Barboursville Vineyards Phileo NV, Monticello, USA

23 Tuesday Jun 2020

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Very pale yellow in the glass.  The nose is very floral with strong peach and apricot notes. I also get walnut shells.  On the palate this wine is very sweet- but not unctuous like a Sauternes.  It’s got a silky mouthfeel but is quite refreshing as a chilled wine.  Mango, passion fruit and peach all hit my tastebuds.  There’s a very small trace of acidity which lends body to the mid palate.  It’s a unique wine for sure- a cross between Riesling, a big Napa Chard, Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Grigio.  Each of which give either to the flavors or the unique mouthfeel.  Lychees and tropical fruits are the finish, which is decent in length on this Moscato blend.  They say to pair this with dessert- without a doubt.  It’s working as an aperitif for me though.  Unique style, interesting flavors and the ability to start or finish an evening make this a special wine.  I love this winery and think this is a bottle you should look for.  89 points and 5 stars for this $15 treat.  Salut….

The Cleaver Red Blend 2017, Amador County, California

30 Saturday May 2020

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This is the 5th wine in the SplashWines lineup.  A blend from Amador County, which has been showing some real quality of late.  This one is a nice purple hue in the glass and is semi-opaque.  On the nose I get pepper, plum, mocha and blackberries.  The initial palate is interesting, a touch sweet from cassis and spice.  It has some zest to it, I like that.  The mid palate has some tar, more dark fruits and a charcoal note.  Very lithe tannins appear and there is a nice acidity to the wine.  The tar and spice components carry through to the finish, but there is an astringency that hits me, some greenness.  It’s not all bad, as the sweet cassis nullifies it.  The finish is quite tart, with good length.  Overall this is a decent bottle that gets 89 points from me.  Drink with summer BBQ, perhaps pizza and definitely a red pasta.  For $15 it’s a 3 star Zinfandel blend that includes some Petite Sirah and Syrah.  Drink now.  Salut….