21 Wednesday Aug 2019
Posted in Wine reviews
Quite dense and opaque purple in the glass. The nose has blueberry, iodine and espresso. On the palate it is quite sweet with creme de cassis, vanilla and butter. There is a hidden astringency from the very fine grained tannins. The midpalate glides along with the blue fruit theme and finishes with a short burst of tannic thrust that leaves the gums a little quenched. 88 points, drink till 2021 with lighter fare. For $9 it’s a pretty decent buy and gets 3 stars from me. Salut….
20 Tuesday Aug 2019
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Good rich purple color with a faint showing of legs in the glass. On the nose- blackberry cassis, charcoal and cedar. On the palate I get dark fruit compote, coffee bean and a touch of tannin. The mid palate is all Ribena alongside the very slight tannins. The finish has a more blueberry note to it, with toasty wood and the last vestiges of the tannic component. A very nice, easy drinking wine that gets 89 points from me. Drink till 2024 with grilled meats. 3 stars for this $15 blend. Pairing with grilled Tri-Tip roast and patty-pan squash. Salut….
18 Thursday Jul 2019
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Dark purple with nice legs. On the nose it’s quite bland. Black currants, blueberry pie and rubber mat finally come out of the glass. On the palate I’m getting a subdued dose of blueberry pie, cedar, breakfast tea and warm blackberry cobbler. The tannins are of medium intensity and the finish has some dark fruits and tannins. I think this wine is closed right now but it has potential. I’m gonna go with 90 points for now. The pro’s ranged greatly- from 91 to 95 points. I’m not seeing it at this point in time, hopefully it will awaken from slumber as a real powerhouse 3rd Growth Margaux. Drink from 2022/2030. Available for around $50, making it a 3 star wine. Salut….
18 Thursday Jul 2019
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I really like Petit Verdot, blended or standalone. When I saw this Argentinian bottle of it, I had to try.
As expected it is pretty dark and broody in the glass. The nose has a sweet perfume of blackberries, licorice and violet. On the palate this wine has a tartness alongside creosote, black fruit and sour cherry. The midpalate is quite dry, tannins enveloping the fruit and coating my teeth. I can feel them getting a purple stain. They don’t subside either. The finish is bone dry but I do get more blackberries and some tea. Wow, it’s a long finish too. There’s ample reason why a stand-alone PV doesn’t appeal to the masses- it can be too tannic, one dimensional and lacking in fruit whilst heavy in structure. This is a good example. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I enjoy the mouthfeel and weight every so often. 89 points and 3 stars for this $18 bottle. Drink till 2027 with Ribeye, leg of lamb or rich stew. Salut….
18 Thursday Jul 2019
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See through but with slight bricking. I noticed the cork had signs of possible seepage which gives me cause for concern. Here goes….
On the nose – it’s corked. I even tasted it….done. Luckily I’m not far from the shop so I returned it .
The second bottle looks much better in the glass. Light, see through purple. On the nose it is not very open. I’m struggling to swirl some life into it and all I get is faint cherries, some capsicum and carrot. Yes, carrot. On the palate this Nebbiolo starts off with some lush, medium tannins and a dollop of cherry juice. It’s not subtle. The mid palate has more breadth with cherries, currants, a touch of fresh oak and sassparilla. The finish is quite dry with the tannins still in full force. There is a woody note alongside red fruits and cinnamon. Tasty but restrained, I feel this wine might be hibernating. It should improve with age and drink nicely till 2028. 90 points and 3 stars for this $25 effort. Salut….
09 Tuesday Jul 2019
Posted in Wine reviews
Very thick purple color. On the nose it’s all blackberries with a hint of nutmeg. A strange one for sure but I like it. On the palate it is a touch thin but tasty. Blackberries and black currant make me think this wine will develop into a cassis laden beaut if cellared for a few years. There is a delightful tannic grip that builds as I transition to the mid palate. An oak component that hits me on the mid to back end, adding depth to the black fruits that are still prominent. However, a touch of black tea alongside some astringency on the finish that makes me wonder. Overall this is a nice wine with potential. It’s drinking young right now unless you fancy a pretty dry drop. Cellar till 2022 then drink for seven more years with steaks, pot roast or even moussakka. 88 points and 3 stars for this $15 wine. Salut….
07 Sunday Jul 2019
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$30, 3 stars, 90 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo
Opaque, deep purple in the glass with fast disappearing legs. On the nose I get bramble, iodine and blackberry. On the palate it is very appealing with a gorgeous mouthfeel of lush black fruits, lithe, yet integrated tannins and a nice acidity. The iodine note reappears on the midpalate alongside that telltale creosote that I love in Tempranillo. On the back end it is more subdued with black cherry jam and those delightful tannins finishing me off with a nice dry tinge on my gums. Well made but not long in the cellar. Drink now till 2024 with charcuterie. 90 points and 3 stars for this $30 Tempranillo. Salut….
20 Thursday Jun 2019
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Opaque and very dark in the glass. Super concentrated nose of plum, almond and strangely enough- lemon peel (only a touch). Currants and raisins pop in as well but in a supporting role. On the palate this is a refreshing style of Port that gives me blackcurrants, espresso and mocha dust. It’s delicious and fruity with a nice yet lithe set of tannins that very gently apply a dryness right on the finish. This is a nice treat. Absolutely pair this with soft, ripe cheese or perhaps a chocolate ganache. 91 points. $40 and 3 stars. Salut….
20 Thursday Jun 2019
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$64, 3 stars, 91 points, california, livermore, souzao, tempranillo, touriga
Nearly black and definitely opaque in the glass, this wine promises to be a brooding monster. On the nose I get charcoal, iodine, black cherry, olive and bacon fat. On the palate this is such an atypical wine- intriguing. Twizzler meets black currants and Rooibos tea. Delightful tannins and great mouthfeel. It’s got a long finish that keeps on giving. I’m actually at a loss for descriptors on this unique blend. It’s not everyone’s cup of vino but it is well made, tasty and worthy of a try. 91 points for this blend of 45% Touriga, 35% Tempranillo, 20% Souzao make it a 3 star effort at $64. Drink with charcuterie, steak and wild boar until 2028. Salut….
20 Thursday Jun 2019
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Dark purple, semi opaque in the glass. On the nose there’s a very concentrated plum core with a touch of oak and espresso. On the palate it introduces blackberries and tannin right off the bat. There is a black fruit component that carries through the slightly hollow midpalate into the finish of violet, black olive and plum. It lasts a while. I would cellar this baby till 2021 and then drink till 2026 with venison, roast squab or a hearty pasta dish…. steaks are an obvious pairing btw. 90 points and 3 stars for this $46 bottle. Salut….
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