Tag Archives: 3 stars

Concannon Vineyard Founder’s Petite Sirah 2014, San Francisco Bay, USA

25 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,


A lighter purple color which kinda surprised me.  I get fig, black cherry and dates on the nose, a strange combination but I write ’em as I see ’em.  The initial taste consists of a lighter set fruits, mostly blueberry, with some currants.  Gentle tannins and mild acidity give this a nice easy mouthfeel while the mid palate shows off black berries and spice.  The wine stays true to form on the finish with more blackberry and some very slight tannins.  Not a blockbuster, but certainly an easy going wine to pull out at parties, barbecues or just a lazy evening.  It will pair with many summer dishes and I would even use it for Coq au Vin.  I think it merits 87 points and for $11 will be a repeat purchase worthy of 3 stars.  Salut….

colcannon petite sirrah san francisco bay

Ceja Vineyards Pinot Noir 2012, Carneros, USA

24 Saturday Jun 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Reddish purple but nearly see through in the glass.  The nose is of strawberry and rhubarb.  On the palate it is strawberry pie meets cherry with a noticeable up front acidity.  The mid palate is where it’s at with this wine- much rounder mouthfeel with flavors of red berries, more rhubarb and some tannins that are ever so gently caressing my gums.  The finish is really smooth, long and reminiscent of more strawberry notes.  Roasted chicken with garlic comes to mind.  89 points and 3 stars for this $56 effort.  Salut….

ceja pinot noir

 

Mission Estate Winery Cabernet – Merlot 2014, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

10 Saturday Jun 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,


Really dark purple, almost opaque in the glass.  The nose is an interesting compilation of Cherry and Iodine meets blue fruits.  On the palate it’s a different story.  Much more focused on blueberry and some black berries plus a touch of oak.  The acidity is present from the get go and the tannins ramp up gently, closing out the finish with a nice dryness.  The mid palate exhibits blue and black berries as well as some nutmeg.  This is a decent wine that gets 89 points from me and will do well with Osso Bucco or perhaps a mixed grill on the barbie.  I paid $18 for it and give it 3 stars.  Salut….

WillaKenzie Estate ‘Estate Grown’ Pinot Gris 2015, Willamette Valley, USA

04 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


My folks are in town for JJ’s Ballet performance.  Mum likes the whites and I figured some Pinot Grigio/Gris would work well for a warmish weekend.  This one was a very pale yellow- which is a good thing for this varietal.  Nose of lemons, pomelo and green apples.  The initial taste is rather surprising- more body than I imagined with hints of wax, lemons, bergamot.  The mid palate exhibits a citrusy component that I’m enjoying.  The acidity is very mild and doesn’t really hit the palate until the finish.  Speaking of which, it is mid length and laden with more citrus in the form of lemon peel and a hint of lanolin.  89 points and a great opener to a Friday night!  $17 buys this charmer all day long and it gets 3 stars from me, I’m buying more!  Salut….

willakenzie pinot gris

Terra d’Oro Zinfandel Port, Amador County, USA

01 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


This is a Port wine made from Zinfandel grapes in California.  Rich, dark purple in the glass.  The nose is stewed plum and vanilla cola.  The initial taste is rather abrupt-  plum compote, raisins and a balsamic note.  Acidic without a bite, but a touch of tannin keep this dessert wine balanced.  The finish is decent in length but the flavor is rather medicinal.  Its 19% alcohol is well hidden.  This wine is delightful and interesting, certainly not what I was expecting.  90 points from me.  I paid $22 for it which makes it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

St. Supery Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Napa Valley, USA

01 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


It was a beautiful evening, 75, sunny and a gentle breeze.  The Salmon was on the grill and I cracked open this little beauty.  I don’t often drink whites, but it was the right place and the right time.  I will be buying more of it!

Dark yellow in the glass.  Nose is delightful- pineapple, honey, melon.  On the palate, very full bodied, with notes of honeydew, lemon zest and grapefruit peel.  Tasty mid plate with more citrus and almond shavings. The finish continues with the theme.  I am going with 89 points.  It can be found for $15 which makes this a solid 3 star wine.  Salut….

st super sauvignon blanc

Proemio Malbec 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

30 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


A lighter shade of purple than I was expecting from an Argentinian Malbec.  On the nose I am getting blueberries and and fruit cake.  My initial taste is of blue fruits with very ripe mashed plums.  Strange, I know.  As the wine transitions to the mid palate I am getting a touch of tannins with a hint of dryness, some blueberry compote and a touch of spice box.  The finish has a flavor that I cannot even begin to describe, banana meets wet paper.  It is interesting, yet so unfamiliar.  I am not sure this wine is    what I was expecting.  It is a little disjointed, lacks a long term structure and is kinda meh.  86 points is all I can go, which is a shame as I am rocking a Porterhouse tonight that was begging for a hearty, tannic red full of bold flavors.  It got a monster 94 points from Ultimate Beverage Challenge, I’m just not seeing it, but for $11 it is a decent weekday quaffer.  3 stars only because the price is so good.  Salut….

proemio malbec

Korta Katarina Plavac Mali 2011, Srednja I Juzna Dalmacija, Croatia

30 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


A friend of mine just brought this from Croatia.  He loved the winery and enjoyed their wines, so I got the spoils!  It travelled 3/4 of the way around the world before I let it sit for a week to settle down.  The varietal, Plavac Mali is found predominantly in Croatia and is a distant relative to Zinfandel.  It is tannic, high in alcohol and produces rich wines.  This one is see-through, light purple, almost a touch orange.  Delightful nose of black currants, cranberry and green peepers.  The initial taste is interesting to say the least:  upfront tannins and a dose of blue fruits with some licorice.  The dryness of the tannins carries on throughout and is the finale.  On the mid palate more red than blue fruits but I also get some acidity interlaced with the tannins.  The finish is all tannins, with just a hint of blueberry.  This wine would rock some minced meat kebabs, perhaps a grilled lamb chop too.  89 points for this delicious wine.  The 14.5% alcohol is hidden well and the structure is solid here.  I couldn’t find much info on pricing, but one place in Europe used to sell it for 28 Euros.  That would make this a 3 star effort.  Salut….
sorta katarina plavac mali

Rivallana Crianza 2013, Rioja DOCa, Spain

13 Saturday May 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Nearly see-through medium shade of purple.  A somewhat subdued nose of black currants and earth.  The initial taste is of more black fruits, including black cherries and some currants.  The wine is not as full bodied as I thought it would be but it has a certain elegance that I am enjoying.  The mid palate has plum tart and a toasty oak hint.  The wine shows a decent amount of acidity and the tannins are very fine grained and well integrated.  The finish shows a touch oak and some raisins.  I would pair this wine with grilled pork chops, eggplant parmesan or some cheese, ham, and olives.  89 points from me but the label says it got 95 Decanter points, I’m not seeing that. I paid $14, which make it a 3 star wine.   Salut….

Rivallana Crianza, Rioja DOCa, Spain

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2010, Franschhoek Valley, South Africa

13 Saturday May 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


I just recently had a birthday, not quite the big one, but just shy.  I had a few mates over for what turned out to be a large night.  We hit many regions and varietals, really hard.  Anyway, this was a gift from one of my South African friends, I did not drink it that night, saving it for a proper tasting night.  I’m glad I did!

A pretty purple color.  Gorgeous nose of blueberries, oak, plums and leather.  The initial taste consists of a very smooth dollop of blueberries, some fig paste and a dash of funky dryness that I can’t pinpoint.  Tannins are well integrated but there is a nagging bitterness that troubles me.  The midpalate has some very nice plums, a generous dose of acidity and some oak.  The wine finishes strong with a dusty component and more blue fruits.  This wine has a nice ‘spice meets leather and earth’ combo.  I’m digging it if not for that irksome bitterness at the front end, which drops the score to a 90.  The pros went high on this one, up to 94, but the consensus amongst the amateur crowd is in line with my rating.  This wine is pricy if bought in the US, $50+, but a very sexy and seductive version of Syrah that should be enjoyed with a nice Filet.  3 stars.  Salut….

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah, Franschhoek Valley, South Africa