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Tag Archives: $15

Sharon Weeks Cattoo Malbec 2021, Paso Robles, California

30 Thursday Jan 2025

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, california, Malbec, Naked Wines, paso robles


Deep purple colored with medium viscosity (14.3% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, dark chocolate, blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry and tomato stalk.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are powdery.  Medium intensity flavors of dark berries, chocolate, black cherry, and that green note I got on the nose.  Malbec is a very easy variety to love, its structure and mouthfeel are very user friendly and this is no exception.  The finish is medium (+) in length- showing off the lovely fruit as well as the gorgeous tannins.  I like this $15 effort a lot.  90 points and 5 stars.  It’s a very nice wine that we’re pairing with roast beef sandwiches.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Sharon Weeks Cattoo Malbec

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Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet Reserva 2019, Vinho Regional Tejo, Portugal

29 Wednesday Jan 2025

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$15, 5 stars, 92 points, Alicante Bouschet, portugal, tejo


The Alicante Bouschet variety is one of the select group of Teinturier grapes, the pulp being red in color.  This produces a dark wine that used to be a blending partner to lighter wines.  Nowadays, single variety bottling are more common and can be truly delicious, usually at a reasonable price point.

Deep ruby colored with very slight staining, and high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, black plum, brambleberry, eucalyptus, black currant, chocolate, spice box and vanilla.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are integrating nicely.  Rich, ripe black fruits coat the gums whilst the spicebox, vanilla, chocolate and some green herbs add nuance.  The finish is quite long and refined.  The fruit and tannins work well together and are very balanced.  I love this wine- especially at the $15 price point.  It gets 92 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet

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Albert Bichot Bourgogne Aligote 2022, Burgundy, France

11 Wednesday Sep 2024

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, aligote, burgundy, france


Medium lemon colored with medium viscosity (12% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, lemon zest, white blossom, yoghurt, baked apple, toasty oak and sea spray.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of yellow apple, lemon zest, lemon, yoghurt and toasty oak.  It has a mineral core that is surrounded by zesty citrus, warm apple notes and a touch of oak.  The finish is medium (-) in length.  I like this wine- 90 points and for $15 it gets 5 stars.  I would roast a chicken any day to pair with this little gem.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

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Vina Requingua ‘Toro de Piedra’ Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Curico Valley, Chile

02 Monday Sep 2024

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$15, 5 stars, 91 points, cabernet sauvignon, chile, curico valley


Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of mint, graphite, black plum, black cherry, blackberry, bramble and vanilla.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  The herbal notes take center stage followed by black fruit and then some coffee, oak, vanilla, and dark chocolate.  The finish has a very nice mouthfeel with the chalky tannins interwoven with fruit.  It’s a very decent drop and will develop with some cellaring.  Drink this 91 point effort till 2028.  I paid $15 which makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

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Cartlidge & Browne Pinot Noir 2015, North Coast, California

25 Thursday Jul 2024

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, california, North Coast, pinot noir


Medium garnet colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of bruised strawberry, ripe yet desiccated cherry, dusty earth, cinnamon, vanilla, crushed pomegranate and musty leather.  The palate is a hint off-dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) body and low tannins.  The fruit is somewhat tart which defies the bruised and desiccated state I noticed on the nose.  Red fruit driven with a touch of oak nuance and some tertiary development.  It’s very smooth with very little structure left yet it is seductive and alluring.  A delicious yet delicate wine that pleads for time alone without a food pairing.  It’s not expensive and this bottle was a bin end that had sat on a supermarket shelf for years yet still delivers for me and gets 90 points.  I would drink it soon if you have any.  List price is under $15 making this a 5 star wine.  Salut….

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Muirwood Unoaked Chardonnay 2022, Arroyo Seco, California

02 Tuesday Jul 2024

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$15, 4 stars, 89 points, arroyo seco, california, chardonnay


Pale lemon with some green highlights and a watery sheen (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, peach, pineapple, white grapefruit and orange blossom. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body. Flavors of white pear, pineapple, white grapefruit, orange blossom with a hint of lemon/lime. The finish has a touch of bitterness- perhaps a little bit of phenolics. It’s medium (+) in length and sits nicely on the palate. There are times when I feel like enjoying an un-oaked Chardonnay that hasn’t gone through any MLF or Sur Lie treatment, like today. We are pairing it with Chicken Divan after a hot day in the sun. 89 points.  This bottle ran me $15 and therefore it gets 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

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A to Z Wineworks Oregon Pinot Noir 2021, Oregon

16 Thursday May 2024

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, oregon, pinout noir


Pale to medium ruby colored with low viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of funky strawberry, pomegranate, rooibos tea, cherry cola, rose and sassafras.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a light to medium body and medium (-) tannins.  Flavors of red pomegranate, ripe strawberry and cherry cola pop right off the bat.  Funk, rooibos and rose come next.  It has an interesting finish- medicinal meets ginger.  Never had that before.  The acidity is marked yet the diminutive tannins seem to hold balance.  A medium length finish is enjoyed whilst savoring the red fruits.  90 points, and a steal at $15 which makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2029. Salut….

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Winzergenossenschaft Kallstadt Kobnert Dornfelder Rotwein Trocken 2019, Pfalz, Germany

08 Monday Apr 2024

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$15, 3 stars, 86 points, dornfelder, germany, pfalz


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of game, infused blackberry, funk, macerated black cherry, baking spice, elderberry and over-ripe papaya (yes, I know, but there’s a definite funkiness).  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (-) tannins on a lithe medium (-) body.  It’s an interesting melange of ripe dark fruit with some funk, game and spice.  My first foray into this relatively new grape variety that happens to be a cross of two other varietals from Germany.  The spiciness really kicks in on the medium (+) finish- very interesting.   I picked this wine to pair with grilled Pork Tomahawks, I think it will work nicely.  The funky game note will pair up with the rosemary infused Dijon mustard that will glaze the meat.  Lower acidity and low tannins will allow the fruit to shine on the white meat.  For lack of experience I will give this wine a generous 86 points, and for $15, it gets 3 stars.  Try the varietal if you are in an adventurous mood or just want to expand your palate.  This one probably needs drinking sooner rather than later.  Salut….

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Botromagno Primitivo 2021, Puglia IGT, Italy

07 Sunday Apr 2024

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$15, 3 stars, 86 points, Italy, primitivo, puglia, zinfandel


Medium to deep red-ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of bramble, mulberry, vanilla, cracked black pepper, mint, black plum and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (-) tannins.  It’s quite bitter right off the bat but then I get muted black fruit, vanilla, mint, and black pepper.  There is a coffee note to go along with a touch of the medicinal hint I got on the nose- both from oak treatment.  The astringency is cloying and sticks with me to the bitter end, which is relatively short in nature.  This wine is a bit disjointed and the bitterness is out of balance with the fruit and structure.  86 points from me for this Zinfandel that I will be pairing alongside Bison steaks.  At $15 it gets 3 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

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Bodegas Juan Gil Plata – Silver Label Monastrell 2020, Jumilla, Spain

05 Friday Apr 2024

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$15, 5 stars, 91 points, Jumilla, monastrell, Mourvèdre, spain


Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, vanilla, blackberry, game, bramble, dried herbs, baking spice, ripe black cherry and wildflowers.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium tannins.  This is a rich wine with layers of dark, ripe fruit interlaced with oak nuance, telltale game and some dried herbal notes.  It has a medium (-) length finish as far as the fruit goes, but the tannins are super fine and caress my gums for quite a while.  This is a $15 Monastrell, aka Mourvèdre that really brings value and gets 91 points from me making it a 5 star effort.  Drink till 2029 with steaks or even stews, like the Goulash I am whipping up tonight.  Salut….

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