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Tag Archives: 3 stars

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

09 Thursday Mar 2017

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$15, 3 stars, 89 points, Argentina, patagonia, pinot noir


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

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Vinedos y Bodegas Pablo Menguante Garnacha 2012, Carinena, Spain

09 Thursday Mar 2017

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$12, 3 stars, 88 points, grenache, spain


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

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

25 Saturday Feb 2017

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$18, 3 stars, 89 points, beaujolais, fleurie, france, gamay


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

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Bollina Tavros Primitivo di Manduria 2014, Puglia, Italy

17 Friday Feb 2017

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$22, 3 stars, 90 points, Italy, primitivo, puglia


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

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Kestrel Vintners ‘Falcon Series’ Syrah 2011, Yakima Valley

16 Thursday Feb 2017

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$22, 3 stars, 89 points, syrah, washington, yakima valley


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

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Matua Valley Pinot Noir 2014 Marlborough New Zealand

16 Thursday Feb 2017

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$13, 3 stars, 88 points, marlborough, new zealand, pinot noir


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

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National Park Foundation Yosemite White Artisan Blend NV

06 Monday Feb 2017

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$13, 3 stars, 87 points, california, moscato, Sauvignon blanc, viognier


This is an interesting wine, made by Adler Fels winery and sold with a cause in mind.  Some of the proceeds go to the National Park Foundation.  It is a blend of Viognier, Moscato, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.  Very rustic in the glass, it is a very dark gold in color.  An interesting nose of green guava, melon and pear.  On the palate, grapefruit, melon and more pear.  This wine is not overly acidic and the mouthfeel is quite warm, medium bodied.  It drinks nicely and will go well with the pan roasted Cod I am preparing.  It runs $13 and gets 87 points from me making it a 3 star wine.  Salut….

yosemite artisan white wine

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Riebeek Cellars Pinotage 2011

05 Sunday Feb 2017

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$11, 3 stars, 88 points, Pinotage, South Africa, swartland


We want to my mate Mel’s 60th birthday bash last night and being from South Africa they had this on offer.  I love the varietal and had to try it.

See-through purple in the glass with a nose of burnt cherry and creosote, very enticing.  The initial taste is black cherry, smoke, espresso bean and some lithe tannins.  The 14% alcohol peaks through on the midpalate and promptly goes away.  The finish is of medium length and is laced with tannins and dark fruit.  88 points make this $11 wine a decent value, especially if you like the unique taste of Pinotage.  3 stars from me.  Salut….

riebeek cellars pinotage

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Paradise Springs Swagger Edition III

05 Sunday Feb 2017

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$39, 3 stars, 89 points, chambourcin, fortified


This is a dessert style red wine that my brother and sister in law gave us for Christmas.  In hails from Virginia and proves yet again that this state is an up and coming wine region.

Reddish purple with a nose of stewed raspberries, honey, raisin.  On the palate- prunes, smoke and stewed plum.  Caramel notes with sherry hints show up on the mid palate.  The 17.9 % alcohol is well disguised, so beware!  The finish has some delectable tannins that mingle with a rather long rendition of plum torte meets blueberry pie.  I’m no expert on this style of wine but I reckon it might be worth 89 points and a delightful way to end a big roast supper!  For  $39 it gets 3 stars from me.  Made from the Chambourcin grape and fortified with grape spirit brandy.  Salut….

 paradise springs swagger III wine

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Bello Family Vineyards Megahertz Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Napa Valley

29 Sunday Jan 2017

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$24, 3 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, Napa, napa cabernet


A rich opaque purple in the glass with a beautiful nose of Black and Blue berries. On the palate- very smooth, like buttah… A delicious mix of blue berry , cherry, and ginger spice. Fine grained tannins and a touch of acidity give this wine a great mouthfeel, easy to drink. This wine is made in a very elegant, understated style. The fruit is allowed to express itself, the tannins are not pumped up and the acidity is gentle yet balanced. Very delicious wine with medium term aging potential. Tonight I will pair it with Roasted Beef Tenderloin, probably the best cut for such a lithe wine that isn’t overly tannic. 90 points and 3 stars for this $24 effort. Salut….
megahertz cabernet sauvignon

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