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Tag Archives: $15

L’Oiseau du Paradis Rosé 2025, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, France

14 Friday Aug 2026

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syrah, carignan, grenache, cabernet sauvignon, 90 points, 5 stars, $15, france, rose, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence


Pale to medium salmon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of white strawberry, cranberry, white blossom, tangerine peel and white grapefruit pith.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity and a light body.  Medium intensity flavors lead to a decent, mid length finish that has a refreshing zing.  This wine has a bit of oomph to it, I like that.  It’s a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 15% Carignan, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.  It gets 90 points from me and for the $15 price tag- 5 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

L'Oiseau du Paradis RoséCoteaux d’Aix-en-Provence

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LYV Rose NV, IGP Pays d’Oc, France

14 Friday Aug 2026

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$15, 4 stars, 88 points, Cinsault, france, grenache, languedoc, pays d'oc, rose, syrah


Pale strawberry colored with low viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of strawberries, white cherry, cranberry, citrus and white blossom. The palate is dry, with medium acidity, and a light body. Medium intensity flavors are very pleasant and echo the nose. The finish is medium (-) in length and very refreshing. I’m really enjoying this on a hot summer day. 88 points for this $15 bottle makes it a 4 star wine. Drink now.  Salut….

 

LYV Rose

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Justice Pinot Noir 2024, Sonoma Coast, California

15 Wednesday Apr 2026

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$15, 4 stars, 89 points, california, pinot noir, sonoma coast


Pale ruby colored, with medium viscosity (13.4% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red cherry, strawberry, cranberry, pomegranate, red licorice, and orange blossom.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of red fruit, with rhubarb interjecting its sour note, along with some crunchy tannins.  I doubt this wine has seen any oak, purity of fruit is what’s on offer here.  The finish is medium (+) in length, garnering some points.  It’s a decent drop overall, but it lacks much depth and complexity.  I paid $10, reduced from $15 at Costco.  I would say it gets 89 points and for that price- 4 stars.  I am planning to pair it with Cod, and soft shelled crabs- I know…. not typical.  Drink now.  Salut….

Justice Pinot Noir

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Domaine la Guintrandy Louise d’Agoult 20, Beaumes de Venise, France

13 Saturday Dec 2025

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, beaumes-de-venise, france, grenache, southern rhone, syrah


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of black plum, black raspberry, cracked pepper, bacon, green herbs, licorice, and açaí berry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors, with black pepper being the most noticeable.  The tannins sneak up on the mid palate.  The finish has a slight green note and is medium in length.  Decent cellaring capacity unless you like a fresh wine with a slightly tannic mouthfeel.  A blend of Grenache and Syrah from the Southern Rhone that gets 90 points from me.  At $15 it’s a 5 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine la Guintrandy Louise d'Agoult Beaumes de Venise

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Bodegas Caro ‘Aruma’ Malbec 2022, Mendoza, Argentina

14 Friday Nov 2025

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$15, 4 stars, 89 points, Argentina, Malbec, Mendoza


Deep purple colored, with moderate staining, and a medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black plum, brambleberry, mint, eucalyptus, charred oak, coffee, iron, and grape licorice.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that are pretty astringent.  Medium (+) intensity flavors mirror the nose with a silky mouthfeel.  The bitterness of the tannins hits on the finish, which is medium in length, somewhat detracting from an otherwise delicious and easygoing wine.  89 points from me for this $15 effort gets it 4 stars.  Drink till 2028 with game, duck or even roast chicken.  Salut….

Bodegas Caro Aruma Malbec

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Franck Massard Garnacha 2021, Spain

29 Tuesday Apr 2025

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$15, 4 stars, 89 points, grenache, Naked Wines, spain


Pale ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14.2% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, garrigue, strawberry, funky mushroom, violet, and rhubarb.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  There’s a noticeable astringency on the mid palate.  Medium intensity flavors of red raspberry, rhubarb, pomegranate, strawberry, earthy dried herbs and some barnyard funk.  The finish is a lively, tart affair that goes on medium length.  An interesting wine that I am enjoying, as I did the 2019 vintage.  It will pair well with lighter meat dishes, tapas, or even a roast hen.  Drink till 2028.  89 points for this $15 bottling makes it a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Franck Massard Garnacha

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Benjamin Darnault Les Parcelles Grenache 2020, Languedoc, France

19 Saturday Apr 2025

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, france, grenache, languedoc, Naked Wines


Medium ruby, hinting to garnet, with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache has medium (-) intensity aromas of red raspberry, baking spice, rhubarb, lavender, orange peel, and juniper.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of raspberry, red currants, rhubarb, orange peel, and baking spice.  The finish is medium in length and charming- adding a point where the intensity of the nose lost one.  It’s had five years to meld and has done so nicely, a smooth mouthfeel and juicy red flavors without much intervention.  I am planning to pair with roasted suckling pork and sweet potatoes.  It gets 90 points from me and for $15- 5 stars.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Benjamin Darnault Les Parcelles Grenache

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Karen Birmingham Reserve Zinfandel 2021, Lodi, California

15 Tuesday Apr 2025

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$15, 5 stars, 91 points, california, Lodi, Naked Wines, zinfandel


Deep ruby colored, with medium viscosity (15.2% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of licorice, black plum, black raspberry, coffee, and violets.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (-) tannins.  Flavors of blackberry, black plum, black raspberry, toasty oak, coffee and licorice.  The finish is medium in length and silky, the mild tannins caressing.  I plan to pair with Pork Tomahawks and this lower tannin level is perfect for the white meat.  The high alcohol is noted both on the nose and the back end, but that’s to be expected of modern day Zins.   It’s a tasty drop for sure and bests the 2020 vintage of the same wine I previously tasted.  91 points from me and at $15, it’s a 5 star wine to drink till 2029.  Salut….

Karen Birmingham Reserve Lodi Zinfandel

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Brothers Miller Thankfulness Red 2022, Central Coast, California

05 Saturday Apr 2025

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$15, 4 stars, 89 points, barbera, california, central coast, grenache, Naked Wines, pinot noir, Valdigué


Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14.1% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, acai berry, a touch of game, and red licorice.  The palate is dry (perhaps a touch of RS? ), with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are crunchy.  Medium intensity flavors of black cherry, acai berry, charred oak, baking spice, black raspberry, and a medicinal hint.  The finish has quite a bit of tannic grip but the fruit flavors go on mid length.  My initial reaction to the nose was not overly favorable, but after a few sips I find myself enjoying it quite a lot.  It has an interesting bitterness to it yet the fruit is quite ripe.  Somewhat one-dimensional it lacks much complexity yet it delivers on what it has.  I like it, 89 points worth.  It came as part of a mixed case from a club and runs $15. This blend of Pinot Noir, Barbera, Grenache, and Valdigué gets 4 stars from me.  I would drink it till 2028 and pair it with corned beef, filet or even a roast chicken.  Salut….

Brothers Miller Central Coast Thankfulness Red

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Don Benigno Medium Dry Amontillado NV, Jerez, Spain

05 Wednesday Feb 2025

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$15, 4 stars, 88 points, amontillado, jerez, palomino, sherry, spain


Pale amber colored, with high viscosity (17.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dried nuts, prune, sea salt, yeast, burnished oak, dryer sheet (I know….), and Brazil nut.  The palate is dry (even though the name says medium dry), with medium acidity, and a full body.  There’s an interesting amalgamation of flavors at play- the nutty notes including Brazil and dry roasted nuts combine with the stewed fruit and oak derived nuance.  The proximity to the sea is evident by the ocean spray notes and the yeast component is a telltale that this wine started out life as a Fino under a layer of Flor.  I love the style.  At $15, you really can’t go wrong with this aperitif wine that gets 88 points from me and 4 stars.  Salut….

Don Benigno medium dry Amontillado SherryDon Benigno

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