Tag Archives: $18

Michel & Stephane Ogier d’Ampuis Plan de Dieu Le Temps est Venu 2020, Cotes du Rhone Villages, France

04 Saturday Jul 2026

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The second wine of the 44th tasting was the opener in the Rhône series.  From the broader AOC, Côtes du Rhône came this little number that runs $18 and provided us all with great pleasure.  Medium ruby/garnet colored, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of stewed strawberry, black cherry, black pepper, funk, compost, sage and garigue.  The palate was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of black pepper, tobacco, ashtray, black cherry and funk led to a medium length finish.  The tasting group enjoyed this entry-level grenache blend and I gave it 90 points on a technical scale, 14 on our tasting sheet.  For the price- it gets 5 stars.  Drink till 20230.   Salut….

Michel & Stephane Ogier d'Ampuis Plan de Dieu Le Temps est Venu

Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala ‘Bramito del Cervo’ Chardonnay 2023, Umbria IGT, Italy

04 Saturday Jul 2026

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We opened the 44th virtual wine tasting with this delicious Italian Chardonnay.  I like the style- unoaked, no MLF…. purity of fruit driven.  Pale straw colored low viscosity (12.5% ABV), it had medium intensity aromas of peach, green apples, citrus, white flower, stone fruit, and pineapple.  High in acidity, it had a medium (-) body that was refreshing, versus cloying.  The palate had lanolin, stone fruit, citrus, lemon, bitter lime and concluded in a long finish.  We tasted the same wine at room temp and found the aroma to be a bit more intense.  This time around- caramel apple, less citrus driven, lower acidity with a heavier body.  Bigger flavor intensity, less citrus on the palate and hints of butter with a shorter finish.  I scored the wine 90 points on a technical scale and on our tasting sheet- 17 for the chilled and 14 for the room temp.  5 stars from me for the $18 price point.  Drink over the short term.  Salut….

Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala 'Bramito del Cervo' Chardonnay

Bodega Garzon Reserva Tannat 2022, Maldonado, Uruguay

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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The WOTN for almost everyone at the 42nd virtual wine tasting.  This one keeps hitting on all cylinders.  I have opened various vintages and they are all top rated wines that please the crowds.  This one was typical- deep ruby colored, with slight staining.  Medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, black berry, plum, licorice, charcoal, vanilla, and a touch of alcohol peeking through.  On the palate, it was dry, with med (-) acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors and a medium (+) length finish made this black fruit driven wine shine.  It got 90+ point from me and on our tasting score sheet- 15/20.  We paid $18 for it, making this a 5 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Bodega Garzon Reserva Tannat

Duorum Tinto 2020, Douro, Portugal

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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The second wine of our virtual tasting was this Portugues blend.  Deep garnet in color with a medium (+) viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry, black plum, ripe blueberry, black cherry, vanilla, and a medicinal note.  Medium (-) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins were noted.  On he plate we also got licorice in addition to the aromas already mentioned.  A pleasant, medium length finish made this an 89 point wine for me.  At $18 this wine delivered nicely and gets 4 stars.  It’s already approaching six years of age, it will last another half dozen.  Salut….

Duorum Tinto

Paolo Scavino Sorriso Langhe Bianco 2023, Piedmont, Italy

23 Tuesday Sep 2025

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Medium lemon colored with gold accents, and a watery sheen (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lanolin, lemon pith, lime, tangerine, white grapefruit, peach, green herbs, and wet rock.  The palate is dry, with a medium (+) body and medium acidity.  The fullness of the wine detracts initially from the flavors- of which I get grapefruit, melon, peach, lemon zest, and bouquet garni.  The finish is medium (+) in length and the acidity starts to grip at that point, the fruit lingering ever so.  Delicious and pairing beautifully with roast Cod and Brussel Sprouts.  91 points for this $18 bottle makes it a 5 star effort.  A delicious un-oaked Chardonnay/SavBlanc/Viognier blend that has not gone through MLF.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Paolo Scavino Sorriso Langhe Bianco

Shumi Winery ‘Iberiuli’ Mukuzani 2022, Georgian Republic

15 Monday Sep 2025

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Deep ruby colored, with moderate staining, and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red and black plum, vanilla bean, blackberry, acai berry, a medicinal note, and dried green herbs.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  The flavors are of medium intensity but get sidelined by the really seductive tannins.  Black fruit, oak influence by way of vanilla and a medicinal note, coupled with some dried herbs.  The finish is pretty decent in length and adds a bit of charred oak to the mix.  The Saperavi variety is one of two main teinturier grapes that are produced- the flesh is not clear, but pink colored which makes the wine very dark when fermented on the skins.  I paid $18 for this delicious wine that will be paired with Oxtail stew.  It gets 91 points from me and therefore- 5 stars!  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Shumi Winery 'Iberiuli' Mukuzani

Dona Maria White 2022, Alentejo, Portugal

24 Monday Mar 2025

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My tasting group kicked off this session with this Arinto from Portugal.  We tasted it chilled and then at room temp.  We noticed it was medium lemon colored with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of grapefruit, honeysuckle, apricot, nectarine, pineapple, sea spray, and wet rock lending it a touch of  minerality.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, and a light body.  It was more tart than I was expecting with flavors of grapefruit, slightly unripe pineapple, honeysuckle, nectarine and apricot as well as some salinity.  The finish was rather short yet inviting.  I gave it 13 points on our scale.

The room temperature tasting was surprising.  Less intense aromas that kicked off with a wet wool smell.  Someone mentioned acetone- Gosh I hope not.  A more intense pineapple alongside lanolin, less intense honeysuckle, saline, wet rock and stone fruit.  The palate seemed less acidic but heavier in body.  Apricot featured the most with honeysuckle, yellow apple, and lanolin supporting.  The finish was more pronounced and longer yet I scored this one lower at 11 points on our scale.  Overall- this is a 90 point wine that I thoroughly enjoyed the following night, well chilled.  It runs $18 therefore I consider it a 4 star effort to drink by 2028.  Shrimp scampi comes to mind.  Salut….

Dona Maria White arinto

Marcelo Pelleriti ‘Signature’ Cabernet Franc 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

27 Monday Jan 2025

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Medium ruby colored with light staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of blackberry, black plum, green pepper, purple licorice, spice box, cocoa powder, and a forest woodsy note.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that hit my cheeks more so than the front palate.  The fruit intensity is medium and mirrors the nose with the addition of a charred oak note.  The finish is medium in length where I also get a black tea hint- along with its astringency.  A tasty wine that averages $18 a bottle.  This to me is a 91 pointer that gets 5 stars.  It’s good and may cellar nicely till 2031.  I’m pairing with rack of lamb.  Salut….

Marcelo Pelleriti 'Signature' Cabernet Franc

Fox Run Vineyards Dry Riesling 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

24 Friday Jan 2025

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Pale golden yellow with low viscosity (12.6% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of petrol, bruised apple, lemon zest, petrichor, peach, nectarine, orange blossom, and candle wax.  (I know….).  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors coupled with the cutting acidity and lithe body make for a refreshing mouthfeel.  The finish is acid-dominant but the apple, lemon, and petrol notes do continue to medium length.  I like this style of Riesling, dry and fresh yet it offers the telltale petrol I search for in this variety.  90 points for this $18 effort makes it a 5 star wine that I believe could cellar nicely.  I’m pairing with seared scallops and steamed asparagus.  Salut….

Fox Run Vineyards Dry Riesling

La Reserve De L’enclave Cotes du Rhone Villages 2022, Southern Rhone, France

21 Thursday Nov 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red and black raspberry, steeped black cherry, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, blueberry, wildflower, black pepper and granite.  The palate is dry (very), with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Flavors of dark red fruit- cherry and raspberry, with some green notes of fresh tobacco leaf, wildflower, pepper (both green and black), as well as some granite.  The fruit/tannins are quite sharp and produce a distinct dryness on the mid palate.  The finish is a bit mouthwatering and of medium length.  The astringent nature of this wine is akin to over steeped black tea- but it’s quite pleasant.  A blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah- I don’t get the gaminess associated with the latter, but it does offer up the candied red fruit I dislike.  Overall this $18 is very tasty and will cellar nicely till 2030.  91 points from me and 5 stars.  Grilled meats are the ticket here.  Salut….

La Reserve De L'enclave Cotes du Rhone Villages