Tag Archives: 3 stars

The Buccaneer Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

19 Tuesday May 2015

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I needed some wine for a friends evening so I stopped into Bevmo to pick some up.  I was confronted with their 5Cent sale, buy from a selection of wines at full price and the second bottle is only 5 cents- basically a BOGO offer.  This one was appealing from the shelf talker so I thought ‘what the heck’.  $10 per bottle for California Cabernet?  No brainer.

Bright damson nose with tar and plum on the first sip.   Mild tannins and gentle acidity make this very approachable.  Cinnamon and spice on the mid palate add a level of complexity and there is a longish finish of tannins and acidity that I only just noticed. 89 points with a window of 2015-2022 make this wine is a lurker. Good value from Bevmo at $20 for 2. At full price this would be a 3 star wine.  Salut….

the buccaneer cabernet sauvignon

Chateau Gaudin 2010

19 Tuesday May 2015

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Every once in a while I like to just drink the wine, no notes, no sucking air between my teeth- just the pleasure of the grapes.  This past weekend my best friend from childhood came over for dinner.  In his usual style he showed up with a decent bottle of wine.  He was raised well and has class.  His offering was this 2010 Bordeaux from the Pauillac commune which I happen to love.  He also brought some pretty hefty cheeses and salami shavings to get the evening going.

Without notes I cannot tell you the specifics, only that this wine reaffirms my statements about 2009 and 2010 Bordeaux.  Run, don’t walk to the shops.  The next three vintages offer wines much lower in quality without reflection in price.  This wine retails at $40 or so dollars and is a notch below the Cru Classe in terms of quality.  It had everything going for it with regard to flavor, structure and cellaring potential.  Others have given it 90 points, I won’t argue.  3 stars and well worth looking for.  Salut….

chateau gaudin

Santa Julia Reserva Malbec Valle de Uco 2013

19 Tuesday May 2015

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With a nose of candied plum and some oak I kinda knew what I was getting into. First sip was a pleasant surprise. Easy drinking and not overly cloying with some plum, currants and a generous amount of acidity. This is a pop-n-pour wine that should be consumed young. The tannins are very slight and the balance is slightly off yet it is a fun drop that will entertain many at a party. Cooking burgers? This one will fit the bill. 87 points for this basic red wine that is fresh and lively from Argentina.   $12 makes it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

santa julia reserva malbec valle de uco

Alexander Valley Vineyard Wine Club Reserve 2012

19 Tuesday May 2015

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Next in my tasting series from Alexander Valley Vineyard is this gem.  45% Cab Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot makes this a Meritage in anyone’s books.  How I love Cab Franc and more importantly how it melds into the Bordeaux style blend !  This was one bottle I was looking forward to.

Dark purple with a nose of black currant, eucalyptus, wood shavings and pencil lead. On the palate is a vibrant, somewhat tannic attack of currants, black berries and more  graphite. Very young wine with a good cellaring potential. 89 points with a drinking window of 2016-2022. (Or you could run it through a Vinturi and pair it with a ribeye!)  I paid $24 at the winery and give it 3 stars.  Salut….

alexander valley vineyards wine club reserve

Sullivan Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

19 Tuesday May 2015

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Mocha and plum nose that entices.  Initial taste of dark plum and black cherry with some ganache. Still young with firm tannins and crunchy acidity. Mid palate hints of  coffee and chocolate powder. Very dry finish that coats the teeth and gums which tells me this wine is a keeper.  I may have poured too soon.  It got 94 points from the pro’s but I’m going with 90 for now. 2017-2025 would be a suggested window to let the tannins meld more.  It lists at $85, which is rather steep making it a 3 star wine in my books.  Salut….

Sullivan 2013 Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard 2008

18 Saturday Apr 2015

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This is my second Turley from this vineyard.  It was given to us as a very generous gift.  This Napa Valley offering is a black wine in the glass hinting to some deep extraction.  You know how I love this varietal, especially when it is rich and coating.  It boasts a thick nose of black fruits, bramble and violets.  The initial attack consists of black berries, cherry and some Pomegranate.  Tannic yet balanced with some bracing acidity, this should cellar well. Medium finish and a well hidden 15.4% alcohol. 2015-2020. 91 points for this $80 offering make it a 3 star effort.  Wish I had more.  Salut….

turley hayne petite syrah

Jettlynn Black Label Gout De Miel NV

18 Saturday Apr 2015

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The third wine from Jettlynn that I purchased at Costco for about $17.  Pale yellow with a citrus nose and perhaps a touch of yeast welcomed me.  A creamy mouthfeel of green pear, yellow apple and cardamom. An interesting blend of 65% Grenache Blanc, 15% Muscat, 10% Chardonnay and 10% Riesling.  Mild acidity and a decent finish for 87 points make it a solid 3 star wine in my books.  12.9% alcohol was light and refreshing.  This wine would rock some blackened fish, perhaps a brick oven white pizza….mmmm.  Non-vintage from Paso Robles.  Salut….

jettlynn gout de miel

Jettlynn Winery Mon Couer Masters Blend

05 Sunday Apr 2015

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I forgot to not the vintage and the picture does not show it so I am going with NV.  I bought it at Costco for $17, but the winery advertises it at $70.  Wow.

Anyway, I have tried the Jettlynn Cabernet Sauvignon before and was happy with it.  I was looking forward to this bottle as it blends together many of my favorites, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah amongst the staples of Cab Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.  Purple hued with a nose of violets, blackberry jam and eucalyptus.  A fresh and tannic intro of black berries, cinnamon, plum and orange peel. Young tannins are still integrating but it won’t stop you from popping it with some grilled lamb. Not much acidity, which makes me curious about its cellaring potential. 5 years?? 89 points and very tasty.  For the $17 its a no-brainer 3 star wine.  Get some if you see it for that price.  Salut….

jettlynn mon couer

Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah 2013

05 Sunday Apr 2015

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If you have been following the last several posts you will know I went on a California adventure with my son.  Apart from the two wineries that we visited, I made sure I was stocked with wine for each evening.  I was super excited to find numerous different Charles Smith wines, of which we cannot seem to get on the East Coast.  This was actually the second bottle that I opened.  The first was a Charles and Charles Merlot, out by the hotel fire pit while my son was making s’mores.  I took no notes, just enjoying the moment of father/son time and relishing the fresh evening breeze of the Monterey Peninsula.  The  Boom Boom is a Syrah from Washington State with pretty purple hues and a nose of candies, plum and oak.  Whilst not my favorite profile it appeals to many so I will not let that detract from the score.  A gentle entry of plum sorbet and dark cherry with a touch of heat. It’s a very easy drinker with slight tannins and a hint of acidity. This is an everyday drinker that will please many when paired with burgers, beef brisket, even barbecued chicken with a tangy sauce. 88 points from me and therefore 3 stars for this $17 effort.  Salut….

charles smith boom boom syrah

The Boom Boom

Charles and Charles Merlot- not reviewed

Charles and Charles Merlot- not reviewed

The fire pit, just at the edge of the golf course

The fire pit, just at the edge of the golf course

Cedre Heritage Malbec Cahors 2012

05 Sunday Apr 2015

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After the disappointing Chinon I was hoping for a French retribution in this bottle of Malbec from Cahors.  I love the structure of this region, where the wine is inky, tannic and not for the faint of palate.  I was not let down….Really dark in the glass- as expected.  Tar and graphite nose that were a telltale of what was coming, I was getting excited!  Stewed plum and blackberry compote on initial attack that were really interesting yet the wine was not as heavy as I expected, more fruity and uplifting.  Quite tannic as expected with a hint of acidity that rounded it out.  For the $16 I paid it was a decent effort worthy of 88 points and 3 stars.  I would drink it again without hesitation.  Salut….

cegre heritage malbec cahors