21 Tuesday Feb 2023
Posted in Wine
This Mencia was a medium magenta/ruby color in the glass. An earthy nose of crushed gravel and licorice with blackberry and lilac aromas. The palate had medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins and a hefty body. Blackberry, gravel, licorice all featured and the finish was medium in length. Pairings for this wine would include lamb chops, beef stew or even roast duck. Drink this 90 point wine till 2026. I paid $20 but it can found for a few bucks cheaper, not bad and worthy of 5 stars. Salut….
25 Wednesday Jan 2023
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Pale to medium lemon/lime colored with a watery sheen (8.5% ABV!). The nose is intensely aromatic with rose water, apricots, ginger snaps, grass, honeysuckle, curry powder (yup, curry powder), lychees and crushed stone. The palate is off-dry as expected but has medium acidity and hint of bitterness. I feel the body is quite full, as the wine coats my palate but the low alcohol defies that logic. The fruity, aromatic, perfumed flavors echo the nose with emphasis on ginger and lychees. The finish is quite long, the perfume just lingers on the palate. It’s a delicious wine and I picked it to pair with spicy tacos- I think the level of sugar, acidity and big aromatic qualities will do well in the combination. I am thinking 91 points for this $20 wine, making it a 5 star effort. I can see myself loading up on this low alcohol, slightly sweet wine that will pour easily all summer long and pairing it with all manner of lighter fare- even some spicy dishes like mine. Drink till 2025. Salut….
23 Monday Jan 2023
Posted in Wine
Moxie and I just dropped off our daughter at university in NYC. We had a last dinner with her at this amazing Italian restaurant. I dined on herb-infused papardelle with an oxtail ragout that screamed for a juicy, yet not overly tannic red. My choices included this $20 (at retail) bottle of Montepulciano. No notes were taken but from memory I recall it being the perfect choice. Red fruit driven with medium (+) acidity, a modicum of tannic grip and a medium body. The freshness of the fruit was evident as was a touch of spice, some herbs and a hint of oak. The finish was medium in length with red fruit driving the flavors. It was thoroughly enjoyed and I will be looking for more, at that price-point this 90 point wine is getting 5 stars. I would drink it with all manner of pasta until 2025. Salut….
05 Wednesday Oct 2022
Posted in Wine
Deep, opaque purple colored with thick slow-moving legs (14.5% ABV). The nose excites me- rich black cherry, pencil shavings, bell pepper, garigue and açaí berry compote. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and very smooth medium tannins. It’s a medium to full-bodied wine that has flavors corresponding to the nose plus a bit of spice box and tobacco. A medium length finish rounds this delicious single varietal wine up nicely. I like it- 93 points and for $20 this is a steal of a 5-star effort to drink till 2025. I’m pairing mine with a combo Cottage/Shepards Pie (one side with beef the other side with lamb). Salut….
16 Friday Sep 2022
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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, california, petite sirah, winetasting, zinfandel
I was tasting wines for a prospective class and wanted to stick to single varietals, the bartender convinced me to try this red blend of Zinfandel, Cab Sav, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Syrah. In one word- Delicious! Medium ruby colored with a slight blue edge it has aromas and flavors of ripe plum, blueberry pie, coconut, charred oak, cracked pepper and allspice. Medium (-) acidity and medium tannins lead to a full bodied, mouth coating experience. A long finish adds to this wine’s appeal and solidifies my score of 91 points. Not bad for a sub $20 effort that gets 5 stars. At 15% ABV, it is obvious the winemaker has used really ripe, sun-drenched grapes to achieve this level of flavor. Yummy stuff to pair with a thick Tomahawk steak or some braised Beef ribs. Drink till 2027. Salut….
26 Sunday Jun 2022
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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, bekaa valley, cabernet sauvignon, lebanon
If you read my previous post about the Basque white we enjoyed at dinner, this is the follow up wine we ordered to accompany the Crescent Duck Breast, Young Broccoli, Rhubarb and Black Barley dish. Spectacular is what I remember as there were no notes taken. At 6 years of age this bottle looked a bit beat up but tasted great. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Cab Franc, Syrah and Cinsault thrown in for good measure it combines red fruit aromas/flavors with nicely integrated oak, supple tannins and spice box nuance alongside some tertiary notes of leather and tobacco. Really great mouthfeel and a decent length finish. If tasted properly I would score this 91 points and give it a drink till 2028 window to pair with red meat, Duck (obviously!) or even a hearty Ragout. Yummy stuff to be had for under $20 that gets 5 stars from me. Salut…. 
13 Monday Jun 2022
Posted in Wine
Medium lemon color. On the nose I get pineapple, pink grapefruit, Meyer lemon zest, nutmeg and honey. The palate is off-dry with high acidity, medium body and fresh fruit flavors of pineapple, lemon and grapefruit with some zingy minerality, finishing with some honeysuckle. The finish is medium (+) long with a fresh cut from juicy acidity. The fruit flavors linger nicely. It’s is a delicious wine that has some residual sugar but is not cloying. A 12% ABV is indicative of its sweetness level. This refreshing wine will go well poolside or served up with a chilled salad topped with steamed prawns or grilled octopus. Drink till 2028. 92 points for this $20 beauty makes it a 5 star summer wine to drink till 2027. Salut….
02 Monday May 2022
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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, cabernet sauvignon, Jumilla, monastrell, Mourvèdre, spain
It says that this wine is 70% Monastrell. Learning the different names for the same grape has been challenging in my studies but I know that this Mourvedre is also known as Mataro. There’s 30% Cab Sav thrown in for good measure. It is a deep ruby color and has very slow moving legs that give away the 15% ABV. The nose is rich with blackberry, black plum, purple licorice, hints of baking spice and toasty oak. Blueberry jam is the last thing I coax out of the glass. On the palate it is dry with medium (+) acidity and grippy tannins. Full bodied, it gives me waves of rich black and blue fruit notes with oak influenced spices and toast. The purple licorice turns black on the mid palate and the charcoal and toasted oak really come out. The finish is dry from the tannins and medium in length. This is a tasty number that will do well with grilled beef or lamb chops. The tannins, whilst balanced, are quite powerful on the back end- this wine will last till 2030 at the least. 91 points from me for this $20 make it a no-brainer 5 star effort. Salut….
23 Saturday Apr 2022
Posted in Wine
Every so often I shop the bin-ends at my local wine shop, some are hits whilst others are a waste of time and money. This blend of Cab Sav and Shiraz ran me $20. It is showing a bit of age- medium garnet in color. The nose is still fresh however with primal aromas of blackberry, mint, black pepper, ripe blueberry jam, cloves, cedar and vanilla. The palate is dry with resolved and silky tannins, high acidity, medium to full body and flavors of black and blue fruit, menthol, spicy black pepper and oak by way of vanilla and cedar. The finish is medium in length and leans on the mint/menthol as well as the blackberry fruit. It’s a tasty drop that is at peak now and will need to be drunk by 2024 if you have some. Pairing tonight with grilled steaks and salad. 90 points from me make this a 5 star wine. Salut….
21 Thursday Apr 2022
Posted in Wine
This Mencia varietal is medium garnet in the glass with interesting aromas starting with vanilla and dill. I get fruit-driven cherry, pomegranate and cranberry with secondary notes of cinnamon and smoke. The palate is lightweight for sure- it’s very easy to drink with medium (+) acidity, gentle tannins and medium intensity flavors of red fruit. The vanilla and green note taper off quickly but I do get the smoke and spice. The finish is short lived but very yummy with tannins that just fade away. This wine is begging to be drunk- it is so smooth and the lower than usual alcohol (12.7 ABV) makes it possible. We are pairing it with meatballs in Boom Boom sauce on a bed of shredded veggies. Drink this 90 point wine till 2024. It retails for $20 and gets 5 stars from me. Salut….
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