Tag Archives: 3 stars

Chateau Miraval Cotes de Provence Rose 2015, Provence, France

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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I’m not a huge Jolie-Pitt fan, but when they teamed up with the French Perrin Family they caught the wine world by surprise.  I have only just seen this wine for sale and had to try it.  The last time I drank a Rose was…..  no idea.  I must say I am way out of my comfort zone when it comes to drinking this style of wine, which I do not really like nor dislike.

Orangy pink in the glass, it reminds me of peach juice.  A nose of- you guessed it, peach!  I also get some citrus, of the tangerine variety. Intriguing.  On the palate, this wine is offering strawberry, lemon zest and pineapple.  It has very little acidity yet packs a certain bitterness I can’t quite put my finger on.  The mid palate is generous with more fruit and the finish is long.  More strawberry with flower notes on the tail end.  88 points, served with panko/parmesan crusted chicken.  I paid $21 for this light and refreshing wine.  It gets 3 stars from me but scored really well with the pros.  Salut….

Chateau Miraval Cotes de Provence Rose

Nederburg The Winemasters Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Paarl, South Africa

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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Dark purple in the glass.  Nose of black cherry and dark fruits.  The palate is somewhat muted, but notes of tar, black currants and cedar abound.  The wine possesses a certain level of acidity that balances the very mild tannins, which leave a drying sensation on the finish.  This wine is decent, but somewhat boring.  It does not transcend into anything different.  It is good, yet plain.  88 points is where I feel this wine sits and I would pair it with lamb chops, venison and perhaps roast Guinea fowl.  It can be found for about $12, which make it a 3 star wine in my books.  Salut….

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2013, Clare Valley, Australia

13 Monday Mar 2017

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One of my favorite Aussie Shiraz is the bigger brother to this wine, but I have not been able to find the McRae Wood anywhere.  The Lodge Hill is their entry level Shiraz, the McRae Wood being the $50 effort while their top cuvee is the Armagh, priced around $250.

This one looks decent in the glass, a good solid purple that is ever so see-through.  The nose is plum, cedar shavings and Ribena.  On the palate is where this wine shines.  Not overly extracted or jammy, it offers more plums, dark cherry and herbs.  The mid palate continues the theme and ramps up the tannins which are in full force by the time the finish rolls around.  The tannic component is very smooth, yet gripping.  They leave my upper gums thoroughly dry for a short period.  This is a decent wine that is not jammy yet offers lots of flavor.  I am serving it with some roast beef, it would pair beautifully with Shish Kebabs and Basmati rice.  89 points from me make this $18 offering a 3 star wine.  Salut…..

jim barry the lodge hill

Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz 2014, Barossa, Australia

13 Monday Mar 2017

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It was Moxie’s 50th birthday last week so we have been celebrating all month.  Her mother took us out for a really nice dinner last night.  The very first wine listed was the Schild Shiraz 2014.  It was priced right at $30, which is not even double retail, so I took the plunge and ordered it even though the mother-in-law was footing the bill.  I just had to try it.  You see, I have been chasing this elusive wine for a few years now.  Back in 2010 I read a stunning review of their ’08 Shiraz, it got 94 points from WS.  I was dying to try it.  I then read another, more damning article a year later that put me off-  they had ‘made more’  when they ran low.  I was stunned and saddened.  Yep, read it here.  http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/44637

Anyway, I am over it now and the mere sighting of this wine was my nod to go for it.  If you look at their earlier vintages, there were a string of 92-94 point years, followed by a slight decline.  This wine unfortunately was not in that realm of quality.

Dark purple hues.  Nose of black berries, leather and earth.  On the palate I get more dark berries, some coffee, chocolate dust and a touch of oak.  The mid palate has more dark fruits and a sinewy set of tannins. The finish is quite long and dry with the tannins really kicking in.  There is an austerity I cannot put my finger on which detracts from an otherwise very pleasant wine.  I drank it with braised Lamb Shank.  89 points and 3 stars for this $16 (retail) effort.  In hindsight, I am glad I came across this wine and look forward to future vintages that perhaps will reinstate it to a level it is capable of.  Salut….

schild shiraz

Bodega Aniello ‘006’ Pinot Noir 2015, Rio Negro, Argentina

09 Thursday Mar 2017

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When I see a wine on sale for $15 that got a 93 point rating then I am all in, especially a Pinot Noir. I bought this one without hesitation. My own notes are slightly different than the pros, could be bottle variation, age, or just my palate.

Very pale red and see through in the glass. Nose of pomegranate and cranberry. On the palate, much more body than I was expecting. Notes of strawberry coulis, violets and a touch of gaminess. The wine has some good acidity and freshness that I’m enjoying. The alcohol, at a reasonable 13.5% is somehow showing up on the finish. I plan on pairing this decent wine with some shrimp and grits… let’s see how that works. 89 points from me on this $15 offering make it a 3 star wine. Salut….

a niello pinot noir

Very pale and see through

Vinedos y Bodegas Pablo Menguante Garnacha 2012, Carinena, Spain

09 Thursday Mar 2017

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I have been on a bit of a shopping spree lately, looking for deals and trying to expand my palate.  This Spanish Grenache was a reasonable $12, came with a 91 point rating and fit the bill for me to sample.  It was see through purple in the glass.  A nose of plums and black berries with some ocean spray and a very slight trace of oak.  On the palate- black berries, iodine, and some medium level tannins. The mid palate shows off some black cherry and coffee notes that continue through to the finish.  It doesn’t end there, the tannins really hit hard on the back end and leave me with a dry sensation on the gums.  I would think this wine will last a while.  Pair with some hearty pasta dishes or a big burger on brioche.  88 points from me and 3 stars.  Salut….

MENGUANTE GARANACHA

Maison Loron & Fils Fleurie Les Saprolites 2015, Beaujolais, France

25 Saturday Feb 2017

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Disclaimer- I’m tasting this wine in the confines of an aircraft cabin, where tastes and smells are often distorted by the rarified air.  Nose of grape juice, cinnamon and a woody hint.  On the palate I’m getting plum and blueberries with a rather surprising dose of tannins that are gripping the gums in a delightful manner.  I say surprising because this style of wine from Beaujolais is made differently.  Usually macerated, it doesn’t get much contact with the skins hence the normal ‘freshness’ of the region that gives up the long term cellaring capabilities of the wine by reducing tannic structure.  In return, a generally lighter style of fruit forward wine is crafted for short to mid term cellaring.  This particular wine will run for 5-8 years more and pair beautifully with roast chicken, pizza or some carpaccio and olive starters.  89 points.  Really delicious and for about $18 per bottle it gets 3 stars from me.  Salut….
fleurie les saprolites

Bollina Tavros Primitivo di Manduria 2014, Puglia, Italy

17 Friday Feb 2017

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Right off the bat I know this is going to be a rich, extracted wine.  It is nearly black in the glass and possesses a nose of ripe, dark berries.  Some oak and black anise are also present.  Onto the palate- a very interesting initial attack of blackberry, tar, and spice with cedar shavings.  Really nice tannins greet the palate right off the bat and they continue through the mid palate and onto the drying finish which also features berry jam and cedar.  This wine packs some heat, 14.5% to be precise.  It is well masked but appeared right at the end for me, which made me search the label for the exact number.  Be careful!  This wine will do wonders for a Chicken Alfredo dish, or even roast Duck with root vegetables.  I don’t get the ratings this wine got- they range from 84-98.  I am thinking it is a solid 90 point wine on my scale and for $22, it’s a 3 star effort.  I might buy some more for the cellar.  Salut….

Bollina Tavros Primitivo di Manduria

Kestrel Vintners ‘Falcon Series’ Syrah 2011, Yakima Valley

16 Thursday Feb 2017

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Very dark purple in the glass. A nose of plum, blue berries and a funky earthiness. The initial taste is of plum sauce, black olive and acai berry. Really interesting. On the mid palate I am getting dark fruits and some fig. It’s not until the finish do I sense the dryness of tannins, with some very slight acidity. This is a tasty wine with good mouthfeel that is drinking well right now and may reward some short term cellaring. 89 points. $22 make this a 3 star wine in my books. Salut….

kestrel falcon series syrah

Matua Valley Pinot Noir 2014 Marlborough New Zealand

16 Thursday Feb 2017

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Lovely nose of strawberry, some green pepper and iodine. On the palate- sour cherry, vanilla cake and red twizzler. The mid palate piles on some strawberry and more creamy vanilla. The finish is a touch acidic, fresh and of decent length. I like this New Zealand wine and think it is worthy of 88 points.  For $13, it’s a pretty good deal and gets 3 stars from me.  Salut….

matua valley pinot noir