Tag Archives: $21

Jen Pfeiffer The Rebel Shiraz 2019, Australia

02 Monday Nov 2020

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This Shiraz is a rich purple and is nearly opaque. On the nose I get plum extract, blackberry and espresso. It’s very fruit driven but there is a touch of oak as well. On the palate is shows tar, plum and raspberry jam. It’s very tasty with a very nice balance. The tannins are present but are very fine grained and unobtrusive. The acidity on the other hand is quite pronounced leaving my jaw dripping. The mid palate has a vanilla component as well as the black fruits. The finish turns slightly dry from the crescendo of tannins that finally grip. It’s not a typical Aussie Shiraz, it’s more restrained yet still fruit forward. I like it. 89 points and 4 stars for this $21 effort. Drink till 2024. Salut….

Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Carmenere 2016, Central Valley, Chile

18 Sunday Oct 2020

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When I started the Virtual Wine Tasting Company I wanted to educate my friends as best I could about as many varietals that we could find. This was the 39th different bottle thus far, and it has taken over as the most controversial wine yet. Some loved, others hated, and I mean with a passion. It stunk, like ass. I will just copy and paste my notes:

Bright purple in glass, nearly opaque. Fine legs.

Smells like the farm, very herbal, hay and cow pies. Funky.  Burnt plastic, bell pepper.

On the palate it offers black cherry, more funk, and is smooth.  Rounded. Not overly tannic nor acidic.  Well with cheese. 

This was an over-the-top expression of Carmenere that I enjoyed to a certain degree. Moxie gave it 1 point on my tasting scale because it was visually pleasing! I tried it on night 2 and it’s as funky as ever, not everyone’s cup of tea. I would give it 88 points from a technical standpoint but I honestly cannot recommend this $21 wine, it’s too much. The pro’s went massive on it with scores ranging from 93-94! Wowsa. Salut….

Amalthea Cellars Reserve Merlot 2015, Outer Coastal Plain, USA

22 Monday Oct 2018

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This is the second bottle of Amalthea that my cousin brought over.  Bluish purple with nice legs showing in the glass.  The nose has plum, blueberry and filberts.  The palate has rich blue fruits, juicy acidity, nice tannins from the outset and a hint of that nuttiness I caught on the nose.  The wine transitions nicely to the mid-palate and finish where the tannins really grip.  More blueberries, black tea and a mineral note close it out.  The wine is very balanced with really well crafted tannins that give a nice level of dryness without astringency.  This is a much smoother wine than the Cabernet, which can be expected with the varietals.  It paired nicely with my Tri-Tip roast, Yorkshire pudding and roasted potatoes.  Drink till 2024.  91 points and 5 stars for this $21 effort.  Of note- both wines have had freezing issues which does not harm the wine, only crystalizing some sediment in the glass.  Salut….

Crystals from freezing

Tri Tip Roast

 

Koyle Royale Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Colchagua Valley, Chile

18 Wednesday Oct 2017

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Dark purple.  Nice nose of dark currant, mint and oak slivers.  On the palate it is a pleasing wine with freshness, good dry tannins and flavors of Ribena, plum, bitter chocolate as well as a meaty note.  The tannins really kick in on the mid palate and the finish.  The wine is full bodied, full flavored and not shy about its structure.  It is somewhat tilted toward the tannic end with hardly discernible acidity at this time.  I think this wine needs some cellaring for a year or two to mellow out just a touch.  I’m going to be pessimistic and go with 90 points but I think it may improve.  If you must drink it now pair with Lamb Shanks and Couscous or maybe a seasoned T-bone on the charcoal.  I paid $12.80 each for two bottles on sale.  Regularly $21. 4 stars.  Salut….

Koyle Royale Cabernet Sauvignon

Chateau Miraval Cotes de Provence Rose 2015, Provence, France

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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I’m not a huge Jolie-Pitt fan, but when they teamed up with the French Perrin Family they caught the wine world by surprise.  I have only just seen this wine for sale and had to try it.  The last time I drank a Rose was…..  no idea.  I must say I am way out of my comfort zone when it comes to drinking this style of wine, which I do not really like nor dislike.

Orangy pink in the glass, it reminds me of peach juice.  A nose of- you guessed it, peach!  I also get some citrus, of the tangerine variety. Intriguing.  On the palate, this wine is offering strawberry, lemon zest and pineapple.  It has very little acidity yet packs a certain bitterness I can’t quite put my finger on.  The mid palate is generous with more fruit and the finish is long.  More strawberry with flower notes on the tail end.  88 points, served with panko/parmesan crusted chicken.  I paid $21 for this light and refreshing wine.  It gets 3 stars from me but scored really well with the pros.  Salut….

Chateau Miraval Cotes de Provence Rose

Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2011, Portugal

06 Monday Mar 2017

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Rich, thick purple in the glass- youth with power.  Nose of plum extract, coupled with blackberry jam.  Powerful and unctuous for a red dessert wine.  On the palate, pure Port expression of dark fruits meeting iodine, old oak cask and blackberry jam.  A stunning display of power, elegance and drinkability all wrapped up in one tight package.  A hint of well hidden tannins leave the midpalate with a slightly dry sensation while the acidity offsets the very slight tannins.  The finish is shorter than hoped for but who cares?  It has a definitive bitterness that I find intriguing.  This is a really good wine worthy of 92 points.  I’m not going to lie, I just ordered a bunch for $21.  If you like Port, give this 5 star effort a go.  Salut….

dow's late bottled vintage port 2011

Cosentino Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California 2005

23 Friday Dec 2016

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I bought several bottles of the Cosentino Cabernet and really liked it.  This is a follow-up after three more years in cellar.

Rich dark purple hues in the glass.  A nose of cedar, cigar, plum, violets and black berries.  The initial attack is sublime- smooth as silk plum jam, blackberry confit and some vanilla bean come right out and introduce this gorgeous wine.  On the mid palate I’m getting more of the same notes with a touch of heat and some acidity showing up.  The tannins are so melded it’s scary.  There is depth and width to this wine.  The finish is medium length with some blue fruits entering the fray, the tannins are starting to show up and leave a drying finish to the wine.  92 points from me make this wine a 5 star effort if you could still find it at the release price of $21.  I drank mine with a Standing Rib Roast, perfection.  Salut….
cosentino cabernet sauvignon napa valley

Morgan Metallic Unoaked Chardonnay Monterey County Central Coast California 2013

08 Saturday Oct 2016

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My folks were in town and took us out to dinner at this great new seafood place.  Mum loves the Chard and we were there for seafood so it made sense to order something white and refreshing.  On the nose this wine presents apple, melon and a hint of citrus.  Being unoaked I was expecting something really steely, perhaps overly flinty or minerally but this wine was well balanced and did not overstretch itself.  Anjou pear, a touch of minerality and some citrus notes were what was on offer.  Well balanced and not too acidic.  The folks and Moxie don’t like them to cut too much.  I enjoyed this wine immensely and my folks raved about it.  I think it warrants 89 points and I have found it online for $21, which is shocking considering we only paid $35 at the restaurant.  3 stars and worthy of buying a few for some trout on the grill, perhaps some shrimp scampi.  Salut….

morgan unoaked chardonnay