Tag Archives: 3 stars

Tomas Achaval Nomade ‘Las Mulas’ 2017, Uco Valley, Argentina

04 Sunday Oct 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with very slight staining, and a medium viscosity (13.9% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black plum, bramble, baker’s spice, vanilla, and cracked pepper.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of dark berries, charcoal, vanilla and a green herb note.  It’s a brooding wine that finishes slightly bitter and medium in length.  It may open up some with a bit of air/time  We are having Sunday roast, so this 60/40 Syrah/Malbec blend will work nicely with the relatively lean Round of Beef.  89 points, and for $27, 3 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Tomas Achaval Nomade 'Las Mulas'

Bodegas Franco-Espanolas Royal Reserva 2018, Rioja DOCa, Spain

26 Saturday Sep 2026

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Medium garnet colored, with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dark plum puree, vanilla, baking spice, coconut, black cherry pie, powdered cocoa, and espresso bean.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are pretty youthful and grippy.  Medium intensity flavors show fruit that is not as developed as the nose, still fresh.  The tannins are very prominent in this eight year-old bottle, hopefully they soften and allow the wine to develop.  The finish is medium (+) in length.  Overall this is not a bad drop, with some cellaring capacity available but I would drink sooner rather than take a chance on tertiary development.  89 points from me for this $15 wine makes it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

Bodegas Franco-Espanolas Royal Reserva

Chateau la Tour de l’Eveque Rose 2025, Cotes de Provence, France

16 Wednesday Sep 2026

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Pale salmon colored, with low viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of strawberry, white peach, orange blossom, white cherry, and pomegranate. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors echo the nose. This blend of 46% Cinsault, 34% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah, 2% Rolle, 2% Sémillon is lightly bitter on the mid palate, leading to a medium length finish. 89 points from me for this $22 offering makes it a 3 star wine to drink now with lighter fare.  Salut….

Chateau la Tour de l'Eveque Cotes de Provence Rose

Un Jour Un Rose 2025, IGP Pays d’Oc, France

08 Tuesday Sep 2026

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Pale to medium salmon colored, with a low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lanolin, white strawberry, grapefruit pith, orange blossom, and underripe blueberry.  The palate is dry, with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors echo the nose and the tartness of the acidity is quite intense.  This wine cuts.  The finish is certainly tart, and medium (-) in length.  A very refreshing wine made from Grenache that should be drunk in youth.  87 points from me for this $15 bottle makes it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

Un Jour Un Rose

Domaine de La Bégude Rosé 2025, Bandol, France

01 Tuesday Sep 2026

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Pale copper colored, with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of strawberry, white cherry, white peach, orange blossom, lanolin, and white grapefruit pith.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, and a light body.  Medium intensity flavors echo the nose and lead to a medium (-) length finish that has a touch of bitterness.  It’s a decent wine, but the color is simply stunning.  It gets 90 points from me and for the $45 price point, 3 stars.  Drink now with lighter summer fare.  A blend of 71% Mourvèdre, 23% Cinsault, and 6% Grenache Noir.  Salut….

Domaine de La Bégude Rosé

Ribbon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023, Ribbon Ridge, Oregon

29 Wednesday Jul 2026

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Pale garnet colored, with medium viscosity (13.8% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of cherry compote, red raspberry, cranberry, sassafras, cola, cedar, and pomegranate.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins that are fine grained.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of red fruit and cola/root beer alongside some cedar notes lead to a medium length finish.  It’s a tasty Pinot Noir that has some cellaring capacity yet would pair beautifully right away with roast Chicken, grilled Salmon, perhaps a Pork chop and some Ratatouille.  90 points from me for this $43 effort makes it a 3 star wine to drink till 2032.  Salut….

Ribbon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir

Penley Estate ‘Francis’ Cabernet Franc 2023, Coonawarra, Australia

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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A most unique smelling and tasting Cabernet Franc that we opened at the 42nd virtual wine tasting.  Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (12.5% ABV).  A medium (+) intensity nose of sweet red apples, cranberry juice, bubble gum, green pepper, and rhubarb.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  A dry, medium (-) finish left me bewildered at the flavor profile of this wine.  Some hated it, others were indifferent, I was intrigued.  We paid $20 per bottle and I am thinking it is an 88 point wine, making it worthy of 3 stars.  Drink soon.  Salut….


Penley Estate 'Francis' Cabernet Franc

Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Grigio 2023, Alto Adige Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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This Pinot Grigio from Trento-Doc was served both chilled and at room temperature at the 42nd virtual wine tasting.  The tasters found it to be pale lemon in color with low viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas and flavors of unripe pear, lemon rind, a mineral twist and green apple.  It was dry, with medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  The finish was medium (-) in duration and unremarkable.  The room temperature version was just flatter, less intense and felt heavier on the body with lower acidity.  I vacillated between 87 and 89 points so the average rules here- 88 points for this $19 bottle makes it a 3 star wine.  I would drink in the short term.  Salut….

Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Grigio

King Family Vineyards Crosé Rose 2024, Monticello, Virginia

19 Monday Jan 2026

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Pale peach colored with a watery sheen, indicating low viscosity (11% ABV).  On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of strawberry, papaya, grapefruit pith, almond, and lanolin. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (-) body. Medium intensity flavors of strawberry slushy, grapefruit, papaya and a white flower note. The finish is medium (-) in length. We are pairing this Merlot based wine with Vietnamese rolls. It gets 87 points from me and at $23 ex-chateau, it gets 3 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

King Family Vineyards Crose Rose

 

Kakhuri Gvinis Marani KGM Saperavi 2023, Kakheti, Georgian Republic

09 Friday Jan 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of boysenberry, elderberry, spice, a slight vegetal note, damp earth, petrichor, and mushroom.  It’s quite herbal driven.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins. A very smooth mouthfeel.  The fruit is silky and echoes the nose, except no vegetal note, just herbal and black fruit driven.  The finish is medium (-) in length.  It’s a very easy drinker but lacks long term cellaring capacity due to the structure and fruit concentration.  It will pair well with our flank steak and mushroom spaetzle.  87 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

Kakhuri Gvinis Marani KGM Saperavi Kakheti