Tag Archives: 3 stars

Clos La Coutale Cahors 2013

25 Wednesday May 2016

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I do love me some Cahors- the Black Wine of the French Southwest region made primarily from Malbec grapes.  This one was not as tannic and in-your-face as other Cahors I have tried.  A dark purple color in the glass with a nose of plum, blackberry and oaky vanilla. On the palate, very smooth intro to blueberry ganache, some purple plums and a certain spice that I can’t pinpoint. The tannins are integrated yet somewhat green. They show up on the back end with more force. The finish is decent with tannins hitting the gums and a purple fruit finish. I think this wine is at peak with another year or two before it’s too late. 87 points.  It retails for $12 and gets 3 stars from me.  Salut….

clos la coutale cahors

Wente Beyer Ranch Zinfandel 2012

25 Wednesday May 2016

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A funny thing happened on the way home.  I was on the return flight across the country, flying on United Airlines when I decided to try their other premium offering.  I asked for the Pinot Noir and was given a Chardonnay.  I returned it for something a little more red and ended up with a Zin.  The wait was excruciating, I had already paid my $15.99 for a 375 ml and was now forced to endure the flight attendant’s attempts to open the bottle.  It took a good 5 minutes longer than it should, for a good reason.  See below….

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The real story is the wine…which was served in a plastic cup again.  The notes:

I get some “nothing” on the nose, the cup does this wine no justice.  The initial taste is pleasing with black plum, some bramble and dark cherry cola. A spiciness hits the mid palate and I get some very integrated tannins on the finish. The wine is quite tasty and flows well with good mouthfeel. The 14.5% alcohol is well masked as is a touch of acidity. This wine is 4 years old and drinking at peak now. This is United’s other premium red wine offering and is worth the trade up from two smaller bottles of their regular $7.99 offerings. I’m finding Zins from Livermore are getting better and more refined. I’m glad I tried this one. 87 points and 3 stars.  The average score across the web is 84-86 points and retails for $13, I guess I was enamored!  It went great all by itself but would pair nicely with some Osso Bucco, perhaps a spicy sausage pasta or even some roasted chicken.  Salut….

wente beyers ranch zinfandel

Yup, she really did try it!!!

 

Albert Bichot Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes 2006

14 Saturday May 2016

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I bought this bottle at a wine shop that was closing and sat on it (forgot about it) until recently.  Nice, rich looking see-through purple in the glass. A nose of cherry, cola and earth. On the initial taste I got blue berries, lingonberry and a swath of swirling acidity. After a few minutes of air time the wine opens up even more, with sharper concentration of fruit with some tannins mingling with the acidity. A mid palate of plum puree hits me now and the tannins are defined, which for Pinot is rare. This wine is 10 years young and has much life left in it, I reckon maturity will hit in 2020 at the earliest. An entry level Burgundy that I really enjoyed. 88 points. $17 or so make this 3 stars in my books.  Salut….

albert bichot bourgogne vielille vignes

Grape Grinder Pinotage 2013

27 Saturday Feb 2016

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We went out to dinner with friends and I was intrigued by this South African offering.  It retails for $13 in stores but did not get great peer reviews.

Coffee. Lots of it, on the nose, palate and finish.  Earth and dark mocha in the initial surge with sour cherries on the mid palate. Typical pinotage but with a gruff ending. I made brief comments about Iodine and Beef Jerky flavors.  87 points from me and 3 stars.  Salut….

grinder pinotage

Scribe Pinot Noir III. Storm King 2014

27 Saturday Feb 2016

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From a friend’s cellar-  Nose of raspberry and Bing cherry. Initial taste consists of a certain effervescence to go with raspberry coulis and some cherry juice. Mild tannins and slight acidity make it easy drinking. The mid palate shows off more cherries and some green vegetal hints. The finish is tart with hints of pomegranate and more effervescence. 89 points from me make this $42 offering a 3 star wine.  Pairing wise, it probably could use some Venison or other game.  Salut….

scribe pinot noir storm king

Michel-Schlumberger Chardonnay Reserve Russian River Valley 2014

27 Saturday Feb 2016

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Pale gold color with long legs in the glass and a nose of apples, pears and honey. The first impression is of a somewhat flabby wine, mouth filling and full of charm. The mid palate comes alive with quince, gooseberries and a touch of vanilla. The acidity is restrained and the wine has a decent finish.  Very Cali-styled wine that got 91 points from the pros.  I’m just not that into the level of Malolactic fermentation and the weight of the oak used.  Some might love this style.  I am going with 90 points and for $38 retail it gets 3 stars.  I think it needs some fresh fish, perhaps oysters Rockefeller. Salut…..

michel schlumberger chardonnay russian river

Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2006

03 Wednesday Feb 2016

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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

Le Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet 2011

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

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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

Familia Mayol ‘Finca Pircas’ Malbec 2011

08 Tuesday Dec 2015

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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

Clairault Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2012

18 Sunday Oct 2015

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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