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Tag Archives: 3 stars

Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2006

03 Wednesday Feb 2016

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$37, 3 stars, 90 points, dessert wine, sauternes


I do love me some dessert wines…  I couldn’t resist this one, it got high marks and the price was right.

It started with an interesting nose of cork (not in a bad way), apricot jam and tangerine peel.

An initial taste of orange marmalade, honey and almond seeds. Golden color was intriguing. Orange peel and candied almonds hit on the middle palate and the finish gives way to the same marmalade notes I sensed on the front end. A definite botrytis tinge throughout. Best described as orange treacle. I’m going 90 points on this wine versus the pros. It’s decent, but not my favorite sticky.  Pro ratings up to 93 points and costing $37, I was somewhat caught off-guard.  This is a 3 star wine in my opinion and needs to be drunk before 2022.  Salut….

guiraud sauternes

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Le Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet 2011

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

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$22, 3 stars, 88 points, bordeaux, bordeaux blend


I couldn’t help myself, it was on sale at half off.  On opening- it was a see-through purple in the glass with an enticing nose of plum, spice and violets. The palate is ever so slightly subdued but some blueberry, raspberry and vanilla notes come through. There are some nice tannic touches on the mid palate and the finale has some plum torte notes with a touch of oak. There is no overpowering acidity and at 12.5% alcohol I’m thinking this wine will be drunk in short order. It’s soft, alluring and has a slight tannic bite, an easy drinker with some class. I paid $22, on sale. I’m going with 88 points and 3 stars.  I believe it is the second wine of Sociando-Mallet.  Salut….

le damoiselle de sociando-mallet

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Familia Mayol ‘Finca Pircas’ Malbec 2011

08 Tuesday Dec 2015

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$30, 3 stars, 90 points, Argentina, Malbec, Mendoza


From Argentina comes this beauty.  A nose of black damson/dark plums, possibly a hint of sagebrush. Nice dark purple color with long legs in the glass, not something I comment on normally. Full on attack of black and blue fruits with ample tannins up front. Mouth watering acidity set this wine up for a long cellar potential. Mid palate hints of violet and plum offset by the edgy tannins. There is a longish finish that indicates the level of alcohol. 14.5% is hard to hide, but it is done rather well in this offering, with just some back end heat showing up. The wine is a little closed right now but will open up in 2017-2018 and cellar well for another 7-8 years. 90 points from me and 3 stars for this decent $30 offering from Mendoza, the capital of Malbec. I reckon it will rock a steak and do justice to some BBQ ribs. The structure is perfect for something sweet and spicy or marbled like a ribeye.  Salut….

familia mayor finca pircas malbec

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Clairault Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2012

18 Sunday Oct 2015

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$12, 3 stars, 88 points, australia, cabernet merlot blend, margaret river


A Margaret River presentation with very dark purple appearance in the glass and a nose of ginger, plum, clove and vanilla. On the palate, youthful and bursting with blue fruits and plums. The mid palate shows off some wood notes and much more meaty plums. Mid range tannins and a very slight acidity make it an easy drinker right off the bat. $12, 88 points and 3 stars.  Salut….

clairault cabernet sauvignon merlot

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Domaine B. Serveau et fils Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers 2009

18 Sunday Oct 2015

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$70, 3 stars, 90 points, burgundy, pinot noir


Light purple, typical for the varietal and region. Nose of cherry, earth, a hint of oak and some funk. On the initial attack it is somewhat basic with raw flavors of cherry, strawberry and sour cranberry. This wine is way too young as it only exhibits primal features. Edgy tannins will smooth out and meld with the acidity. I reserve judgement but give it 90 points for now.  I will aerate and try again.
Much softer after double decant with more cherry and some blueberry hints. Still tannic and edgy and the acid hits right in the cheeks.  Sticking with the 90 points initially and for $70, this is a 3 star effort that may need some cellaring to really shine.  Burgundy can be a tricky pick.  Salut….

Domaine B. Serveau et fils Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers

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Havens Black and Blue Napa Valley 2012

18 Sunday Oct 2015

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$19, 3 stars, 89 points, napa blend


Bright purple edges in the glass. Nose of bramble and blue fruits. Bright and airy initial attack of blueberry pie, iodine and vanilla. Cinnamon and crime brûlée hints come out mid palate. Soft tannins and low acidity make this easy to drink now and in the near future. Full flavored yet somewhat light and lithe- this is an easy wine to enjoy with or without food. 89 points. $19 and 3 stars.  Salut….

havens black and blue

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Corymbia 2013

07 Friday Aug 2015

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$25, 3 stars, 88 points, australia, swan valley, tempranillo


I am always in search of the unique, the different.  This wine is one of those that I would classify as such.  Not yet available in the US market, I happen to know ‘a guy’ and got to try some.  Start with the label, which is a graphical display of the sunshine and rainfall on the property for the whole year…. who thinks this stuff up?  Brilliant.  The blend itself is quite intriguing.  85% Tempranillo co-fermented with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Swan Valley in Australia.  Atypical for Tempranillo it reminds me of Burgundy in its softness, melded tannins and mouthfeel. The flavor profile is much more new world though with a nose of plums and blueberry. Carbonic maceration gives it a fruit forward approach on the initial attack much like the Gamay wines of Beaujolais. Loads of blue fruit and some gentle acidity combine with the melded tannins to give a nice mouthfeel. The back end is where I get some firmer tannins and a decent finish. 88 points from me. Aus $35, U.S. $25, 3 stars.  A treat if you can find it because it allows for the broadening of the palate.  Truly unique, it drinks well as an aperitif but would go really well with some charcuterie, perhaps some hard cheese. 2015-2018.  Salut….

corymbia wine

 

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Leoville Barton 2001

07 Friday Aug 2015

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3 stars, 89 points, bordeaux, bordeaux blend


I bought a case of this many moons ago and have just started to drink the wines of this Bordeaux vintage.  The ’01 Leoville Barton I drank before was sublime.  The consensus was a 2022 peak, I’m not so sure now, or else I had bottle variation.

Still bright purple but a broken cork and low top fill gave me cause for concern.  Classic Bordeaux cassis nose with blueberry and cherry entrance were overshadowed by the fact that the wine was a little thin. Tasty mid palate but it lacked weight. Good acidity and firm tannins. Drink sooner rather than later unfortunately.  89-91 points.  3 stars now but I’m hoping it was a one-off bottle.  Salut….

leoville barton 2001

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Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

07 Friday Aug 2015

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$8, 3 stars, 86 points, cabernet sauvignon, chile, colchagua


Bright purple. Oaked up nose of blue berries and green peppers. Not my style as it has a strange tinge to it. Much better on the palate with some plums, blue fruits and some mint. A slightly green mid palate with sharp acidity comes through midway. Mild tannins and a shorter finish. 86 points and 3 stars for this $8 offering.  Salut….

montes cabernet sauvignon

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Domaine Gilles Blanchet Pouilly-Fume 2013

03 Friday Jul 2015

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$16, 3 stars, 88 points, loire valley, Sauvignon blanc


From the Loire valley comes this Sauvignon Blanc.  Pineapple and flint on the nose tell me this is going to be a rather refreshing wine.  Crunchy acidic bite of green apples and pear greet the palate for an initial impression. Good vibrancy with a citrus mid palate that leads to a generous finish. Nicely balanced if you like this style of Sauvignon Blanc- steely, lean, not overoaked and refreshing. I served it with some Cajun spiced Cod and an arugula salad. 88 points from me and definitely a re-buy for $16.  Perfect for a hot summer day with a salad, sitting by the pool or nibbling on oysters.  3 stars.  Salut….

Gilles Blanchet Pouilly-Fume

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