Tag Archives: $15

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….

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone 2016, France

20 Wednesday May 2020

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The second wine of our tasting lineup showed bright purple in the glass with nice legs giving caution to the 14.5% alcohol.  I listened to all the inputs from our group and concurred that this wine had loads of pepper, game, plum and garrigue.  The longer the wine sat out, the smoother it got and the terroir really shone.  Mass produced yet very good at 91 points from me.  Drink this blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre till 2027 with stews, leg of lamb or a hearty pasta.  5 stars for this sub $15 ringer.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 721 ‘Plan de Dieu’ 2018, Cotes Du Rhone, France

14 Thursday May 2020

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A touch murky in the glass with medium dark purple.  Semi opaque.  On the nose I get plum, bramble, white pepper.  The initial palate is very pleasing, if not a touch sweet.  Lush, ripe plums alongside blackberry and violets.  The mid palate has a nice tangy acidic bite alongside very ingrained, lithe tannins.  More purple fruit flavors and a spiciness comprise the profile I get on the back end with a nice, dry finish that is quite long.  This is a very drinkable pop-n-pour wine that gets 89 points from me.  I like it a lot for short term enjoyment.  Drink till 2024.  It’s a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre.  For $15 it gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Bodega Garzon Reserva Cabernet Franc 2018, Maldonado, Uruguay

09 Saturday May 2020

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I was impressed with the Garzon Tannat so I am hoping for equal results with this Cabernet Franc.  It’s very dark in the glass, lovely rich color.  The nose is very fruity with black berries, boysenberry and rich oak.  The palate is very appealing, light in a spright kind of way but thick with flavor.  Black fruits dominate with violets and a mint component thrown in for good measure.  This wine is very easy on the palate, with lithe tannins and a juicy acidity.  The mid palate continues the blackberry theme but in a more restrained way.  It’s not jammy or full throttle.  Very seductive, as I like in Cab Franc.  The finish is decent in length and shows off some oak with the black fruit.  It fades within 20 seconds and leaves me wanting another sip.  Overall this is a good wine, but not up to the standard of the Tannat.  90 points and 5 stars for this $15 wine.  Salut….

CVNE Vina Real Crianza 2016, Rioja DOCa, Spain

07 Thursday May 2020

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A beautiful reddish shade of purple in the glass.  The nose is fresh and shows off raspberry, mint and red currants.  The palate has red fruits and delightful tannins- juicy.  There is a minerality to this wine to go with its cutting approach.  It sure is mouth watering.  Currants, pomegranate and a touch of that Spanish creosote all come together for me.  The finish turns a little more earthy and that Rioja garrigue comes in to play.  This is a nice wine with very precise flavors and a tannin/acid balance.  The finish is a little short and that will cost it a point but it’s really enjoyable and I would pair it with pasta, beef stew or grilled garlic chicken.  Drink till 2028.  90 points and 5 stars for this $15 Tempranillo.  Salut….