Tag Archives: 3 stars

Cooper’s Hawk Winery Petite Sirah NV, California

25 Friday Nov 2022

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Deep purple colored with some slight rim variation showing a bluish hue.  Fast moving legs show off the 13.5% ABV.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of blackberry, chocolate powder and charred oak.  Perfume and some floral notes add to the layers of flavor.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and medium tannins.  It’s very smooth without too much structure to detract from the flavors of blueberry, blackberry, chocolate and charcoal.  Medium bodied it has a short finish that I am enjoying.  It’s rather simple but very easily quaffable- this $21 bottle gets 87 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink soon with rich stews and winter dishes.  Salut….

Gerd Anselmann Dornfelder 2020, Pfalz, Germany

21 Monday Nov 2022

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Dornfelder is a new grape for me.  It grows mostly in Germany and was developed as a cross back in 1979.  Medium purple colored it has a watery sheen in the glass (12.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of black cherry, spice box, blackcurrant that is a touch green, blackberry leaf and a hint of charcoal.  The palate is seemingly a touch off-dry with juicy acidity and very low tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of grape, blackberry leaf, black cherry and blackcurrant.  Medium bodied- it carries on to a medium length finish that has some really nice acidity.  It conjures up thoughts of Gamay meets Pinot Noir, a very easy-going wine with lithe tannins and a nice mouthfeel.  The acidity offsets the trace residual sugars that make it a touch off-dry. This wine screams out for smoked meats, even a semi-spicy bowl of chili.  I like it and am glad I tried this varietal.  You too can get a bottle for $17.  Not wildly complex or cellar worthy, it gets 87 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink soon.  Salut….

Mauricio Lorca Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Mendoza, Argentina

31 Monday Oct 2022

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Deep ruby/purple colored with a tinge of blue on the edges.  The nose gives me aromas of blueberry, açaí berry, plum, mint, candied black cherry and smoke.  Th palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins.  I get flavors of açaí, blueberry, charcoal, candied black cherry and plums from this medium to full bodied wine.  I also get some heat on the back end even though it only sports a 13.6% ABV.  The finish is short in duration and I get some charred oak notes along with the fading tannins and blueberry.  It’s a decent weekday wine that gets 87 points from me and for $11 it’s a decent value that gets 3 stars. Drink now with burgers, pizza or other family favorites.  Salut….

Chateau du Jaunay Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2021, Loire, France

27 Thursday Oct 2022

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Pale lemon-lime colored with a watery sheen on the wall (11.5% ABV).  The nose is of medium intensity with aromas of green pear, lemon/lime, white blossom, brioche and firm pineapple.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  Tart fruit with lemon and lime kick off the show with pear and flower petals rounding it out.  I’m a little surprised that this wine is so crisp and lightweight considering it was aged Sur-lie.  I don’t get any autolytic flavors, just the initial aroma of brioche from this Melon De Bourgogne varietal.  Must be from a cool vintage that struggled to ripen, hence the lower alcohol and sharp acidity.  Overall a tasty drop to pair with pan roasted Pork cutlets and potato puree.  88 points.  For $15 it’s a 3 star effort in my books to drink till 2025.  Salut….

Forte Incanto Primitivo 2020, Salento IGT Puglia, Italy

01 Saturday Oct 2022

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Primitivo is also known as Tribidrag and Crljenak Kasteljanski in Croatia, but more common to us- Zinfandel.  This Italian bottle has a deep ruby coloring and thick legs.  The nose is pronounced with aromas of black cherry, licorice, charcoal, black pepper, black plum and dark currants.  The palate is dry with bracing tannins and a good dose of acidity.  There is an astringent and green sensation that is immediate on the attack, downplaying the fruit.  When I finally get to the flavors- dark fruit with charred oak notes and licorice.  Medium to full bodied it has a medium length finish.  It’s a young wine that needs cellaring or decanting/aerating.  I am pairing it with spaghetti and meat sauce, probably the best choice for this very dry and tannic red.  88 points from me and for $16 it gets 3 stars.  Drink from 2024-2028.  Salut….

Benjamin Darnault Pinot Noir 2020, Languedoc, France

23 Friday Sep 2022

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Pale ruby with a hint of red on the edges.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of raspberry, rose petal, red cherry, baking spice, pomegranate and red currant.  The palate is dry with low tannins and high acidity.  Flavorful- it has a medium body and I get candied cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, red currant and baking spice.  The balance is nice but the wine finishes a bit short.  I like it and would pair it with roast chicken, grilled Mackerel or even baked Salmon.  88 points and for $13 you can enjoy this 3 star wine till 2025 whilst tasting the sunshine of the South of France.  Salut….

Department 66 ‘Others’ Red Blend 2017, IGP Cotes Catalanes, France

22 Thursday Sep 2022

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From the South of France comes this blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan that is deep ruby colored and seriously opaque.  The thick, blobby legs warn of the incoming 15.2% ABV, watch out.  The nose, once the alcohol blows off, gives me aromas of ripe blackberry, tons of vanilla, blackcurrant pastis, black licorice, clove and ripe blueberry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins, full body and heady flavors of black and blue fruit, lots of oak nuance and a somewhat astringent mid palate streak.  A short finish closes it out.  The impression I get is that this wine has some ripe fruit quality along with lashings of oak yet they allowed the green stems to unbalance the wine with that bitterness.  A shame, because it started out on a high note for me.  88 points for this $28 wine makes it a 3 star effort to drink with grilled Lamb chops.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Siglo Saco Tempranillo 2018, Rioja, Spain

15 Thursday Sep 2022

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A Tempranillo wrapped in a sack?  Yup, and for $14 you too can get this 88 point Rioja that is a medium ruby colored with slow moving legs.  The aromas and flavors include the classic blackberry bramble, dust, musky perfume, floral garden and light, toasty oak. Medium (+) acidity coupled with medium a body and medium tannins make for a nice mouthfeel.  Not a stunner, it will be very serviceable for everyday drinking and should pair really well with tapas, Moussaka and pasta dishes.  It runs 14.5% ABV, so be careful out there.  Not cellar-worthy so drink this 3 star wine soon.  Salut….

Tenuta di Renieri Chianti Classico DOCG 2019, Tuscany, Italy

29 Monday Aug 2022

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Pale ruby colored, this Sangiovese has lovely aromas of red cherry, tar, rose petals, orange peel, leather, green herbs (dill) and sandalwood.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  Medium to full bodied- I get flavors of tart red cherry, leather, rose petal and that dill component.  A slight charred oak note follows on at the mid palate and the finish is short.  A serviceable Chianti that lacks a real oomph, it gets 89 points from me and for $22 it is a 3 star effort to drink till 2027.  Salut….

Chariot Wines Gypsy Red 2019, California

22 Monday Aug 2022

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Nearly opaque, this deep ruby colored wine has a tinge of blue coloring on the edges.  The nose has aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, red licorice candy and ripe raspberry.  A touch of oak is also present.  The palate is dry with medium tannins and medium acidity.  There is a sourness to the palate but I get red fruit, red licorice and charcoal.  The body is medium and the finish is short.  The tannins linger mind you and there is some juiciness on the back end that I am enjoying.  It’s a Trader Joes special that runs $6.  Great for a party, this 85 pointer will not break the bank and can be served with burgers, dogs or even pizza.  3 stars from me for this blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to drink by 2024.   Salut….