Tag Archives: 2 stars

Chateau Giscours 2013, Margaux, France

30 Monday Apr 2018

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Purple, nice.  Mint, plums, wintergreen on the palate.  Very interesting.  The palate is fresh, young and tannic.  Blue fruits, sasparilla and cedar dominate.  Fine-grained tannins are evident but not overwhelming.  On the mid palate I get a strong blueberry component along with cedar.  The finish is short to medium in length and offers blue fruits, gentle tannins and some mild acidity.  This wine is rather basic, bland and thin.  It offers short term pleasure but is not age worthy.  Drink now.  88 points and 2 stars for this $50 Third-growth Margaux.  Salut….

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2015, Australia

14 Thursday Sep 2017

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After trying the Jacob’s Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon I had to line up their Shiraz and make some comparisons.  This Shiraz displays nicely in the glass with medium opacity, purple hues and a definite show of legs.  The nose is somewhat muted even after a few big swirls.  I finally coax blackberries and eucalyptus out of it.  On the palate I get black fruits with a dose of greeness that is very prominent.  There is a touch of cedar as the wine transitions to the mid palate.  I sense very fine grained tannins approaching along with a dark cherry note.  The black fruits continue on the finish but the tannins overwhelm them in the end.  The wine has a strong acidity that I can sense on my teeth.  The green notes I talked of earlier reappear on the finish.  It’s almost like the fruit included some unripe clusters that have given this wine a certain sourness along with the over abundant acidity.  85 points from me and 2 stars for this $12 effort.  Salut….

Lionel Osmin & Cie La Reserve Malbec 2014, Vin de France

29 Thursday Jun 2017

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A reddish purple in the glass.  On the nose I am getting blueberry, vanilla and red licorice.  My initial impression is slightly tart with blueberry pie, and that’s about it.  The mid palate keeps the blueberry theme alive and adds a layer of tannins and some sour cherry.  The finish is bracing, the acidity and some green tannins really take over. Unfortunately, this wine is a little thin, lacks depth and is off balance.  85 points at best, but for only $9 I could go 2 stars.  We are grilling ribs and corn, might just work.   Salut….

Puramun Reserva Malbec 2013, Uco Valley, Argentina

28 Wednesday Jun 2017

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A very purply purple, quite distinctive.  The nose is very fruity with plums, black berries and cedar shavings.  On the palate I get more black berries, but also some red currants and a vanilla bean component.  The mid palate has more of the black berries and some bracing acidity.  Tannins are very integrated and mild, when they appear on the tail end.  There is a slight bitterness to the wine that I find odd.  It’s not tannin related, which is unfortunately a distractor.  This wine is going to rock the Strip roast I am cooking in the smoker, along with some Artichokes and a tarragon mayo.  I am going with 88 points on this wine, which I paid $20 for.  A decent wine once past the bitterness.  It may just be me as it got 91-94 points from various pros.  It gets 2 stars from me unfortunately.  Salut….

paramount malbec

 

Bodegas El Porvenir de Cafayate ‘Amauta Absoluto’ Tannat 2016, Cafayate, Argentina

15 Thursday Jun 2017

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Pretty dark purple in the glass.  Nose of plum and blackberry, but it’s hard to coax the flavors as this particular bottle has been chilled.  The initial taste is more blackberry with some spice box.  The tannins are very subdued as is the acidity, which is atypical for this varietal.  I get tar and creosote on the mid palate, with some blackberry.  The finish is more black berries and some fig paste.  87 points for this $15 offering make it a 2 star wine.  Salut….

Cosentino Sangiovese 2014, Carneros, California

24 Wednesday May 2017

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It’s pasta night and I need a Sangiovese.  This one happens to be ready to go on my daily drinking shelf and I am excited.

In the glass, the color is a pale, see through reddish purple- reminiscent of Pinot Noir.  On the nose, strawberry and cherry, just like Pinot.  The palate introduces me to delicious strawberry and capsicum flavors, but I get a dose of heat right away.  A quick glance reveals a 14.5% lurker here.

The wine transitions on the mid palate to more strawberries and a red raspberry jam.  The alcohol still permeates though and I am not sensing much in the way of tannins, until the very end.  The finish is where they appear, very well integrated but lacking a good dose of acidity, just more heat.  The wine is delicious, yet unbalanced and I fear it will not hold out well in the cellar, which is a shame as I would love to revisit this one in 10 years.  88 points, the structure and excessive alcohol being detractors.  I really do enjoy the flavors though.  For $28 it is a 2 star wine for me.  Salut….

consentino sangiovese

Bodega Tapiz ‘Zolo’ Malbec 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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Disclaimer- this was served on a United flight (No one was hurt BTW).  For an airplane wine-  Dark and brooding in the glass.  Barely a nose due to cabin air and plastic cup but I’m getting black currants, plum tart.  At first I get plums, iodine and a dose of oak.  The mid palate shows off the rather dry tannins that balance out the acidity.  On the finish I sense mostly tannins, not much fruit.  Overall, an enjoyable airplane wine to go with my pasta and meatball.  86 points from me and I was able to find it for $12 which make it a 2 star wine in my opinion.  Salut….
Bodega Tapiz 'Zolo'

Bollina Corte Medicea ‘Aros’ Rosso Toscana IGT 2014, Tuscany, Italy

10 Friday Mar 2017

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I just saw the 95 point sticker on the label, it must be good or this particular critic is dead to me…

Dark purple color, from the 50% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Lets see what the 50% Sangiovese brings.  Olives, plum jam and seaweed hit the nose.  On the palate I get a very intriguing flavor.  I can’t quite put my finger on it…Black plums, dark, dark stone fruits and perhaps black tea leaves.  I am getting a very one dimensional hit of tannins as well.  The mid palate is all black tea and tannins.  The finish is bitter, with faint notes of black plum and oversteeped tea.  I don’t get it.  This wine was hyped by a pro, written up by the seller as soft and supple, with gentle tannins.  Quite the opposite for me, and bottle variation doesn’t count here.  This wine is barely 86 points in my book and for $20 I think I will look elsewhere.  2 stars.  Salut….

aros toscana

Montalbera Ruche Di Castagnole Monferrato Laccento 2014

07 Tuesday Feb 2017

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I have never tried or even heard of the Ruche grape, so I just had to give it a go.  I’m winging it here with ratings and recommendations as I am flying blind and don’t know what to expect or what is typical.

A see through lighter purple in the glass.  Nose of candy, strawberry and red licorice, very reminiscent of California Syrah.  The initial tastes are peppery strawberry, red currants and some rather astringent tannins.  The mid palate changes it up and introduces some tar, more red fruits and a very dry mouthfeel.  Interesting to say the least.  The tannins keep going through to the end where they mix it up with more strawberry.  Somewhat one dimensional in my opinion.  I bought it for $25 and it apparently got 98 points from a critic.  I cannot agree nor can I argue, I just don’t know this grape- but for my money it comes in at 89 points and 2 stars.   I would pass unless you like the lighter style of California Syrah, with some perky tannins thrown in.  Salut….

Montalbera Ruche Di Castagnole Monferrato Laccento

Terroir la Baume Saint-Paul Fitou, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2014

01 Sunday Jan 2017

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By far the most interesting label of the year-  a metallic one on this bottle of Fitou.  I was intrigued and had to try it.  Fitou is a region in the Languedoc, southern France and the two main grapes are Grenache and Carignan.

terror la baume saint paul fitou

The wine is a medium shade of purple and offers a nose of garrigue, funk and black cherry.  This may sound horrible to the layman but in wine terms, quite legitimate descriptors and ones that are sought after by certain palates.  On the initial attack I am getting a somewhat thin veil of plums but more importantly, some off-putting tannins.  The wine is a bit disjointed and the balance is off.  It may need some time or a trip through the vinturi (Or in my case, a travel aerator).

The travel aerator

The travel aerator

Ok, after meeting my friend Bendy, the wine mellows a little but the tannins are still green and generally unpleasant.  The fruit is struggling for acceptance here and the structure is not allowing it to happen.  I am wondering if I have an off bottle.  Best I can go is 85 points at this tasting and for $16 this is a 2 star wine.  Happy New Year!  Salut….