Tag Archives: 3 stars

Quevedo Family Red Blend Xisto 2021, Portugal

22 Sunday Dec 2024

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Deep purple colored with a watery meniscus, and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, red plum, acai berry, vanilla bean, menthol, and red licorice.  The palate is slightly off-dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Very light in the mouth with very little structure- it has nice flavors of raspberry, plum, acai berry and red licorice with some vanilla and menthol notes.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing with its fresh approach.  A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Sousão that drinks effortlessly.  This easygoing style will appeal as an aperitif or with lighter fare. It runs $11 and gets 86 points from me which makes it a 3 star wine.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

queued family xisto red

Barboursville Vineyards Octagon 2017, Monticello, Virginia

15 Sunday Dec 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pencil lead, blackberry, cassis, menthol, orange peel, bramble berry, black plum, and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that build on the mid palate.  Medium intensity flavors of blackberry, plum, cassis, bramble berry, coffee, menthol, and graphite.  The finish is very dry and long.  The tannins really grip here along with some juicy acidity.  It’s a delicious wine that is evolving nicely but I think the 2016 might be better (I gave it 93 points).  This one gets 91 points from me and at $95 it gets 3 stars.  I’m pairing with Sunday roast for the treat.  A classic Right Bank blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot.  Salut….

barboursville octagon

Precision Wine Company Method Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, California

01 Sunday Dec 2024

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Deep ruby colored with some staining and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of candied black raspberry, red plum, boysenberry, chocolate powder, red licorice, dill, and eucalyptus.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are pretty grippy and a touch green.  Flavors of dark red fruit, some chocolate, dried green herbs, and eucalyptus.  The finish is a touch off-dry and red-fruit driven which is really not my favorite profile.  The chocolate and green herbs bring it back in line.  It lasts a medium length.  Albeit not my style of wine tbh it will appeal to many as it hints at a touch of RS.  87 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 3 star effort to drink by 2027.  I’m pairing with oven roasted Pork Ribs.  Salut….

Precision wine company Method Cabernet Sauvignon California

Gerd Anselmann Dornfelder 2023, Pfalz, Germany

18 Monday Nov 2024

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Deep purple colored with moderate staining and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of candied raspberry, red licorice, candied red apple, grape bubble gum, spice box and green asparagus.  The palate is slightly off-dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and low tannins.  It’s super easy to sip this wine- the mouthfeel is made for easy drinking. The flavors are red fruit in nature, either ripe or I think the residual sugar is messing with my taste buds.  The green notes make way for a slightly bitter hint, akin to steeped black tea.  There is a smoky note and also some spice.  The finish is short and concise.  It’s a very interesting wine that is rather simple yet very pleasing- I like it as much as the 2020 vintage I tasted recently.  87 points for this $17 bottle make for a 3 star wine to pop-n-pour.  Pair with lighter meats or vegetarian pasta dishes.  Salut….

Gerd Anselmann Pfalz Dornfelder

Concha Y Toro Casillero del Diablo Reserva Malbec 2021, Rapel Valley, Chile

01 Friday Nov 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, bramble berry, a medicinal note, baked pie, vanilla, a touch of green herb, and cracked pepper.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  The fruit takes a turn towards tart, which is accentuated by the acidity making for some mouth puckering.  The tannins grip a bit more on the mid palate.  Flavors include dark fruit, charred oak, vanilla, baking spice, and green herbs.  The finish is a bit tart and medium in length, the acidity really grabbing hold- it’s almost to the point of imbalance.  Under $9, this bottle gets 86 points from me and 3 stars.  It’s getting paired with burgers, I’m guessing it will all work out just fine.  Drink now, Salut….

Casillero del Diablo Reserva Malbec

Trivento Reserve Malbec 2022, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

28 Monday Oct 2024

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Deep purple colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of crushed red raspberry (ripe), super ripe strawberry compote, candied red cherry, baking spice, vanilla thread and red licorice- it’s really not my favorite set of descriptors btw.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins sitting on a medium body.  The tannins are a touch unripe and the flavors are somewhat more tart than I was expecting.  Red fruit, but not the macerated, stewed or ripe ones I smelled plus some rooibos tea.  It’s a bit unripe and disjointed tbh, not something I was expecting from this winery.  The finish is tart and a bit astringent.  This is not what I was hoping for by a long shot- 85 points instead of the 90 that JS gave it.  I paid under $10 for it and will go with 3 stars.  Drink soon as I doubt there is much cellaring capacity.  Salut….

Trivento Reserve Malbec

Marques de Monistrol Cava Reserva Selección Especial NV, Spain

16 Wednesday Oct 2024

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Pale gold colored with large bubbles and a watery sheen (11.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of yellow apple, tangerine zest, pineapple, white blossom, a touch of brioche and lemon peel.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  The mousse has disappeared from the glass but there is an effervescence on the palate- I am dubious about the provenance here.  The flavors are not as prominent as the nose but I do get the yellow apple, citrus and white blossom, no sign of the brioche that I was hoping for.  The finish is pleasant and medium (+) in length making it a refreshing and enjoyable wine.  I would like to revisit another bottle I was given as this one may have seen better days and without disgorgement dates I have no idea how old it is.  Under $8, it gets 85 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink on purchase.  Salut….

Connell Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Chalk Hill, Sonoma County, California

01 Tuesday Oct 2024

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Deep purple colored with red highlights on the rim, medium staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black cherry, black plum, blackberry, mint, acai berry, singed alder, capsicum and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and high tannins that are grippy.  The alcohol shines through easily and overpowers me on the first sip.  Letting that blow off I get ripe black and blue fruit, some green notes from mint and bell pepper with a hint of oak integration by way of that medicinal note and coffee.  The finish is a dry affair that lasts medium in length.  It’s a young wine for sure, but I see promise once the tannins sort themselves out.  Hopefully the heat integrates better with the whole package as I think it can cellar nicely and gets 91 points from me.  From their website you can order this limited production Bordeaux blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot for $75.  That makes this a 3 star effort to pair with Ribeyes or a hearty Lamb dish.  Salut….

Cosmologist Red Wine Knights Valley 2020, Sonoma County, California

24 Tuesday Sep 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (15.2% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, bramble berry, black plum, mint, eucalyptus, vanilla, licorice, fresh linen and cocoa powder.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) body and medium tannins that are a touch astringent and green.  Flavors of black plum, bramble berry, black cherry, licorice, oversteeped black tea, eucalyptus, and a hint of vanilla.  The finish is hot right off the bat, detracting from the flavors I seek.  The length is medium (-) and a bit astringent, akin to black tea that has been made too strong. To me this is a bit disjointed, albeit the fruit is nice and ripe, the tannins are a bit underripe and the high alcohol is a detractor.  I would give this wine 87 points and for the $28 price point it gets 3 stars.  Drink this blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon till 2028 with steak or stew.  Salut….

Precision Wine Co. Gait Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Napa Valley, California

14 Saturday Sep 2024

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Deep purple with light staining and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black plum, black raspberry, eucalyptus, chocolate powder, coffee, violets and acai berry.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity, a medium body and medium (-) tannins that are gritty. Flavor intensity is higher than the nose and I get the dark blue fruit again with coffee and chocolate notes.  The florality is more pronounced with violets alongside anise.  The finish is a mixed bag for me- the fruit fades as the tannins finally smooth out and get interesting.  A bit disjointed methinks.  I paid $25 for this bottle that scored very highly, for me it’s an 89 pointer that gets 3 stars.  Drink till 2028.  My pairing is grilled Lamb kabobs and lemon potatoes.  Salut….