Tag Archives: $18

Tsantali Naoussa 2018, Macedonia, Greece

21 Tuesday May 2024

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Pale to medium garnet with copper highlights and low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of brambleberry, red plum, cloves, coffee, mint, coconut shavings, cedar.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins that fade fast.  Flavors are medium in intensity and give me red fruit, some oak integration with cedar, cloves, coffee and mint but the coconut I thought I smelled is not present.  The finish is pleasant and medium in length with the tannins surprisingly tickling under my tongue.  I like this fun Xinomavro and will be pairing it with grilled lamb chops, middle eastern rice and pickles.  88 points and for $18, it gets 3 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Anton Bauer Zweigelt Feuersbrunn 2019, Wagram, Austria

29 Monday Apr 2024

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Medium to deep purple colored with a watery sheen (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of acai berry, blueberry, vanilla, black cherry, a medicinal note, black raspberry and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins giving this wine a very light and carefree mouthfeel.  The flavors mimic the nose with blue and dark red fruit coupled with a bit of oak nuance- it’s a very delightful package imho and more than I was expecting after the somewhat one-dimensional nose that I was greeted with.  I like it and would pair with pork chops, grilled chicken, veal dishes and even Moussaka.  90 points for this $18 effort makes it a 5 star wine to drink till 2027.  Salut….

Luis Pato Baga – Touriga Nacional 2016, Vinho Regional Beira Atlantico, Portugal

22 Monday Apr 2024

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Slightly cloudy, medium garnet colored with a low viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe raspberry, black cherry, boysenberry, dried wheat and a touch of earthiness.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body and medium tannins.  The fruit is somewhat tart, red in nature and melded with some  earthy undertones.  The finish is short-lived but lively with acidity and tart red fruit popping all over the palate.  I was expecting a tannic, brooding wine based on the Baga, but this is a relatively mild affair with the Touriga Nacional also not contributing much to the structure.  There’s plenty of acidity but not much else that we expect from these two grapes.  I guess the 8 years of age may have mellowed some of the pieces to the puzzlebut it is not complete.  85 points from me, even though I am enjoying this $18 bottle tremendously before we embark on making home-made pizza.  It gets 3 stars with a drink now window.  Salut….

 

Torrevento ‘Barbuto’ Primitivo 2020, Puglia IGT, Italy

15 Monday Apr 2024

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Deep ruby colored with light staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black plum, baking spice, rose, licorice, coffee, vanilla and dried green herbs.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of black plum, black cherry, vanilla, baking spice, purple licorice and black pepper.  The finish is slightly tart with the tannins starting to show more prominence.  It lasts for a good 20 seconds.  My pairing for this $18 bottle is a meat lovers pie from our local wood oven pizzeria.  It gets 87 points from me making it a 3 star effort to drink till 2025.  Salut….

Alexakis Winery Kotsifali – Syrah 2016, PGI Crete, Greece

11 Thursday Apr 2024

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Deep garnet with slight bricking and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of dried red plum, desiccated raspberry, bacon, game, dried lavender, baking spices, cocoa, espresso and purple licorice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins with a medium body.  Flavors of drying red fruit, game and dried herbs combine with some cocoa, coffee and licorice nuance.  The finish is quite long and tends towards forest floor notes along with smoky oak.  I like this wine but feel it is at peak or just past.  The entry fee is $18 to try out this indigenous Cretian variety that has been blended with Syrah for some structure.  88 points from me and 4 stars.  Salut….

Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli 2022, Getariako Txakolina, Spain

18 Monday Mar 2024

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Medium lemon colored with a deceptively high viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of white blossom, lemon zest, lime zest, tangerine, honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, grapefruit pith and cheese curd.  The palate is slightly off-dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  The tartness of the wine sharpens the citrus notes that now dominate.  The florals, which were quite lopsided on the nose now play second fiddle.  This is turning into a food wine for sure, it needs seafood to balance it out.  Delicious, en pointe and very zesty it has medium length finish.  I paid $18 for this bottle that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Made from Hondarrabi Zuri grapes.  Drink this delicious drop till 2025.  Salut….

Fox Run Vineyards Lemberger 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

05 Monday Feb 2024

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Pale ruby with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose of this Lembereger (aka Blaufrankisch) has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, smoky spice, vanilla bean and red cherry.  It’s not overly complex but rather pleasing.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins and a lightweight body.  The cherry hits first followed by that smoky note.  Blueberry, vanilla, red raspberry and tart strawberry play supporting roles.  The finish is juicy and delicious, medium in length.  This wine is light in body but full of deliciousness that made me buy three bottles at the winery when we visited .  I drank one the same night and polished off the second when we got home.  I felt obliged to restrain myself on the third bottle until I was ready to review it.  90 points from me ( I originally went 88, but I’m digging it more now).  My pairing tonight is charcoal grilled Sirloin, a low fat cut that will do well from this low tannin yet silky charmer.  It can be found for $18 and gets 4 stars from me.  Drink till 2027.  (I might have to order some more!).  Salut….

Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Muscat NV, Rutherglen, Australia

22 Wednesday Nov 2023

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Pale amber with copper hints and high viscosity (18% ABV).  The nose is stunning.  Intense aromas of blood orange marmalade, honey, pretty florals, dried orange peel- it’s very linear but full on.  The palate is sweet, smooth and luscious with medium (+) acidity to counter the sugar.  Full bodied, this wine just lays on your tongue and lets it soak up the rich flavors of orange marmalade, spun honey, bitter almond and blossom.  The finish is long, super long.  An amazing and delicious wine to savor for dessert that will improve with age- they say a Rutherglen Muscat is indestructible.  94 points for this $18 per half bottle wine that gets 5 stars.  I might be back for more.  Salut….

Chateau de la Gardine Rasteau 2019, Rhone, France

12 Thursday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache/Syrah blend has intense aromas of raspberry, both black and red, violets, hints of vanilla, walnuts, red plum and a touch of game.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that caress.  A full body with flavors of raspberries, vanilla and spice from oak, violets and that telltale game note from the varietal. It’s more Syrah driven imho but the blend is 75/25 the other way.  The finish is lengthy and delicious.  It’s a lovely drop that gets 91 points from me and at $18- 5 stars.  I am grilling Hangar steak to pair alongside Miso glazed King Oyster mushrooms.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Sam Plunkett ‘Gentle Annie’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Victoria, Australia

10 Tuesday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+)  intensity aromas of mint, blackberry, black plum, eucalyptus, violets, graphite and espresso.  The palate is full bodied and dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are fine grained.  The palate has ripe dark fruit, telltale mint and eucalyptus for this varietal and region plus oak nuance with the espresso.  The finish is tart from the acidity and refreshing.  It lasts for a decent length, inviting me back for another taste.  Lovely stuff that gets 91 points from me.  We are painting it with Pot Roast but a hearty steak will do the trick as would some lamb chops.  Drink this $18 offering till 2030.  5 stars.  Salut….