Tag Archives: $25

Wagner Vineyards Caywood East Vineyard Dry Riesling 2014, Finger Lakes, New York

05 Friday Jul 2024

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Pale lemon colored with gold highlights and a watery sheen (12.3% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of petrol followed by waxy lanolin, white grapefruit, nectarine, lime zest and a hint of- dare I say, milk chocolate.  Bizarre, I know.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body.  Flavors of white grapefruit pith, lemon zest, petrol, peach, nectarine and a flinty note.  The finish is long and mouthwatering, simply delicious with wafts of petrol, something I love in developing/developed Rieslings.  The acidity is en pointe with this delicious bottle, it cuts, but makes me beg for another sip.  93 points for this wine which I purchased ex-cellar.  Newer vintages run $25, which would make this a 5 star wine.  It has loads of cellaring capacity left and should develop even more.  Lovely stuff.  Salut….

Opolo Vineyards Petite Sirah 2019, Paso Robles, California

09 Tuesday Apr 2024

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Deep purple colored with medium staining and a high viscosity (14.4% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of vanilla, black cherry, spices, black plum, ripe mulberry, black licorice, toasty oak and hint of alcohol.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are silky.  Powerful, mouth coating black fruit- mulberry, black plum, black cherry and blackberry kick things off followed by a hefty dose of vanilla, some spices and black licorice finishing long with some toasty oak notes.  This is a powerful and thick wine- perfect for my Lamb dish.  It is youthful yet shows structure for the long haul, it is heady yet graceful.  I love it.  93 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Buttonwood Grove Winery Blaufrankisch 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

15 Friday Mar 2024

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Pale garnet with a watery sheen (11% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of rhubarb, pomegranate, white pepper, red cherry, strawberry leaf and tomato leaf.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a light body and very lithe tannins.  Flavors of rhubarb dominate with red cherry, white pepper and green leaf notes supporting.  The finish is a light yet zippy affair that lasts quite a while.  I picked this bottle to pair with grilled pork Tomahawks, it should do nicely as the low level of tannins will not impeded the lighter meat flavors.  I liked this wine when we toured the Finger Lakes wineries so I bought it- $25.  It gets 88 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Buttonwood Grove winery Cabernet Franc 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

06 Tuesday Feb 2024

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Pale ruby colored with medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of capsicum, cedar, red cherry, red plum, baking spices, currants and faint licorice.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins and a light body.  The fruit flavors mimic the nose to an extent- currants, pomegranate, red plum with cedar, vanilla, chalky tannins, faint licorice and a hint of green pepper.  The finish has medium (+) length and is slightly tart.  For a $25 wine from a difficult vintage this is a very nice drop- I’m starting to appreciate and understand this varietal when made in the Finger Lakes.  It’s different from Loire or Bordeaux Cab Franc… see-through and much lighter in style.  90 points from me makes this a 3 star effort.  Drink till 2028 with Veal, roast Chicken or baked Ham.  Salut….

Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees Moulin-a-Vent 2020, Beaujolais, France

30 Tuesday Jan 2024

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My tasting group reconvened last night after a 9-month hiatus.  It was good to be back!  This little gem went under the radar.  No one guessed Cru Beaujolais!  I decided to bring the rest home and retry it under less stressful conditions.  The wine is medium ruby colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, cola and pepper.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium (-) body.  It has settled down since last nice, the tannic grip far smoother and less intense.  Flavors of dark red fruit coupled with cola, pepper and a granitic minerality coat my mouth ever so.  The finish is medium in length and has a slightly sour cherry note, keeping things fresh.  A delightful Gamay wine that could drink nicely till 2028.  I’m going with 89 points and for $25- 4 stars.  Salut….

Precision Wine Company Method Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, California

03 Sunday Dec 2023

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Medium ruby colored with heavy staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, mint, eucalyptus, coconut, cocoa and cedar.  On the palate I get medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are fine grained to go along with a full body.  The ripeness of the dark berries is coupled with oak influence, licorice, mint and eucalyptus along with some dusty mocha.  It’s a really rich and fulfilling mouth feel that makes me reach for the glass.  The finish is medium in length and shows off this wine’s great balance.  Delicious stuff that gets 93 points from me.  I’m smoking a leg of lamb to pair with this 85/15 Cab Sav/Petite Sirah blend.  Cellar-wise drink this $25 wine till 2030.  It gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Delectus Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, California

26 Sunday Nov 2023

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Deep purple colored with high viscosity (13.8% ABV).  The nose of this Cab has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, pencil lead, black currant, licorice and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are very ripe and silky.  A full body meets me with flavors of blackberry, cassis, black plum, licorice and a hint of coconut.  The coffee shows up later.  The finish is super smooth and medium in length, delicious.  This is a 91 point wine that gets 5 stars for its $25 price point.  I’m pairing it with Eye of Round roast.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Precision Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Napa Valley, California

21 Tuesday Nov 2023

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Deep purple colored with staining on the walls and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).   The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of candied cherry, ripe black raspberry, baking spices, vanilla, dill, açaí berry, blackberry and coconut shavings.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that are lush and silky.  Coupled with a full body, this wine has a luxurious mouthfeel.  The fruit turns to black but the oak influence is present with baking spice, vanilla, coconut and dill all present for me.  The candied cherry I got on the nose (which I hate) has departed, replaced with black luxardo-like cherries and blackberry compote.  It’s a delicious wine with a long finish, better on the palate than the nose for sure.  I like it and think it’s worthy of 91 points.  It sells for $25, but my local Costco had it for $10 off making it a screamingly good deal.  Napa Cabernet of this level for $15!  It could go nicely with Filet of beef or a batch of Moussaka.  5 stars.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Camillle Benitah Volute 2020, Napa Valley, California

19 Thursday Oct 2023

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Deep ruby colored with staining on the walls and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Bordeaux blend has medium intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, black currants, a hint of eucalyptus, baking spices, vanilla, cedar and mint.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are polished.  The intensity on the palate is greater than the nose.  I get lots more black fruit which which is ripe along with mint, vanilla and baking spice.  The tannins turn a bit chalky on the back end of this full bodied wine and the finish is medium in length.  I love this style of wine  and when done with ripe fruit it can be very delicious, but this bottle seems to lack a certain depth for me.  It’s good, but not great (I’m a big fan of the winemaker btw).   90 points from me and for $25- it gets 4 stars.  I’m pairing with marinated grilled steaks and Lemon roasted potatoes.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Mission Estate Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand

31 Thursday Aug 2023

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Medium ruby with high viscosity (14% ABV) and slight staining.  Aromas of blackberry cobbler, black plum, licorice, toasty oak, vanilla, baking spices and a touch of mint.  Medium acidity coupled with medium (+) tannins and a full body lead to a delicious dark fruit melange.  Nicely integrated oak adds depth and warmth whilst the tannins caress my gums with their powdery texture- a treat to drink.  Medium length finish makes this a 91 point wine to enjoy till 2027.  I purchased it in the UK for about $25, making it a 4 star effort.  Salut….