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Tag Archives: 3 stars

Torrevento ‘Barbuto’ Primitivo 2020, Puglia IGT, Italy

15 Monday Apr 2024

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$18, 3 stars, 87, Italy, primitivo, puglia, zinfandel


Deep ruby colored with light staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black plum, baking spice, rose, licorice, coffee, vanilla and dried green herbs.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of black plum, black cherry, vanilla, baking spice, purple licorice and black pepper.  The finish is slightly tart with the tannins starting to show more prominence.  It lasts for a good 20 seconds.  My pairing for this $18 bottle is a meat lovers pie from our local wood oven pizzeria.  It gets 87 points from me making it a 3 star effort to drink till 2025.  Salut….

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Winzergenossenschaft Kallstadt Kobnert Dornfelder Rotwein Trocken 2019, Pfalz, Germany

08 Monday Apr 2024

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$15, 3 stars, 86 points, dornfelder, germany, pfalz


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of game, infused blackberry, funk, macerated black cherry, baking spice, elderberry and over-ripe papaya (yes, I know, but there’s a definite funkiness).  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (-) tannins on a lithe medium (-) body.  It’s an interesting melange of ripe dark fruit with some funk, game and spice.  My first foray into this relatively new grape variety that happens to be a cross of two other varietals from Germany.  The spiciness really kicks in on the medium (+) finish- very interesting.   I picked this wine to pair with grilled Pork Tomahawks, I think it will work nicely.  The funky game note will pair up with the rosemary infused Dijon mustard that will glaze the meat.  Lower acidity and low tannins will allow the fruit to shine on the white meat.  For lack of experience I will give this wine a generous 86 points, and for $15, it gets 3 stars.  Try the varietal if you are in an adventurous mood or just want to expand your palate.  This one probably needs drinking sooner rather than later.  Salut….

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Botromagno Primitivo 2021, Puglia IGT, Italy

07 Sunday Apr 2024

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$15, 3 stars, 86 points, Italy, primitivo, puglia, zinfandel


Medium to deep red-ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of bramble, mulberry, vanilla, cracked black pepper, mint, black plum and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (-) tannins.  It’s quite bitter right off the bat but then I get muted black fruit, vanilla, mint, and black pepper.  There is a coffee note to go along with a touch of the medicinal hint I got on the nose- both from oak treatment.  The astringency is cloying and sticks with me to the bitter end, which is relatively short in nature.  This wine is a bit disjointed and the bitterness is out of balance with the fruit and structure.  86 points from me for this Zinfandel that I will be pairing alongside Bison steaks.  At $15 it gets 3 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

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Sena 2015, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

23 Saturday Mar 2024

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$140, 3 stars, 94 points, Aconcagua valley, Cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, carmenere, chile, merlot, petit verdot, VWTC


The penultimate wine at our 35th virtual tasting- medium ruby to garnet colored with a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of barnyard, Sweet Baby Rays (from a fellow taster!), capsicum, cardamom, licorice, coffee, bramble, blackberry, smoke, leather, vanilla, baking spices and green pistachios.  Quite a complex array of aromas!  The palate was dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that were fully integrated.  Flavors of tobacco, coffee, cranberry, bramble, blackberry, leather, vanilla and creamy milk chocolate that led to a medium (+) length finish.  Everyone loved this wine- they should.  It was $140 and got 100 points from one pro.  For me, it fell short on the finish so I gave it 19/20 on our score sheet.  Technically speaking it got 94 points and therefore it is a 3 star wine.  Lovely and age-worthy, this is an iconic Chilean blend that is right up my alley.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

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Buttonwood Grove Winery Blaufrankisch 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

15 Friday Mar 2024

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$25, 3 stars, 88 points, blaufrankisch, finger lakes, Kekfrankos, New York


Pale garnet with a watery sheen (11% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of rhubarb, pomegranate, white pepper, red cherry, strawberry leaf and tomato leaf.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a light body and very lithe tannins.  Flavors of rhubarb dominate with red cherry, white pepper and green leaf notes supporting.  The finish is a light yet zippy affair that lasts quite a while.  I picked this bottle to pair with grilled pork Tomahawks, it should do nicely as the low level of tannins will not impeded the lighter meat flavors.  I liked this wine when we toured the Finger Lakes wineries so I bought it- $25.  It gets 88 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

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Anthony Road Cabernet Franc – Lemberger 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

12 Tuesday Mar 2024

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$22, 3 stars, 88 points, blaufrankish, finger lakes, lemberger, New York, pinot noir


Pale garnet with a copper tinge and medium viscosity (13.8% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red cherry, baking spice, pomegranate, cranberry, violets and crushed rock.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins.  Red fruit coupled with some spice, minerality and a touch of violet makes for a refreshing and crisp wine with very little astringency and a nice mouthfeel.  The finish is surprisingly long on this aromatically challenged wine that I quite like.  I picked it as a lighter pairing for a traditional Lebanese dish of chicken and rice.  I think the crunchy red fruit will do nicely with the spiced rice (caraway seed) whilst the lithe tannins and zippy acidity will accentuate the chicken along with the toasted pine nuts and almond slivers.  This is an even blend of Pinot Noir and Lemberger (aka Blaufrankisch).  88 points from me for this $22 bottle makes it a 3 star wine to drink till 2028.  Salut….

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Fabre Montmayou Reserva Cabernet Franc 2022, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

29 Thursday Feb 2024

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$16, 3 stars, 88 points, Argentina, Cabernet franc, lujan de cuyo, medoza


Deep purple colored with slight straining and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of blueberry, mint, green pepper, black raspberry, lavender, cedar and violet.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium tannins.  Flavors of blueberry, black raspberry, menthol, green tea and cedar along with a phenolic bitterness.  The finish is a bit astringent with medium persistence and a focus on the raspberry and menthol notes.  It’s got decent structure, I just worry about the astringency.  88 points from me for this $16 effort makes it a 3 star wine to drink till 2027.  I’m pairing with seared Sirloin steaks.  Salut….

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Diseno Old Vine Malbec 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

25 Sunday Feb 2024

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$11, 3 stars, 87 points, Argentina, Malbec, Mendoza


From a recent dinner I took very basic notes of this Argentinian Malbec that runs a mere $11.

Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV). On the nose I get aromas of plum, acai, blueberry and coffee. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins and a medium body. Flavors of blueberry, coffee, mocha, plum and a mineral note lead to a medium length finish.  I like the balance of this wine and its mouthfeel- not overly done with pleasing acidity and tannins that are smooth and unobtrusive.  87 points makes this a 3 star wine to drink soon.  Salut….

 

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Buttonwood Grove winery Cabernet Franc 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

06 Tuesday Feb 2024

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$25, 3 stars, 90 points, Cabernet franc, finger lakes, New York


Pale ruby colored with medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of capsicum, cedar, red cherry, red plum, baking spices, currants and faint licorice.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins and a light body.  The fruit flavors mimic the nose to an extent- currants, pomegranate, red plum with cedar, vanilla, chalky tannins, faint licorice and a hint of green pepper.  The finish has medium (+) length and is slightly tart.  For a $25 wine from a difficult vintage this is a very nice drop- I’m starting to appreciate and understand this varietal when made in the Finger Lakes.  It’s different from Loire or Bordeaux Cab Franc… see-through and much lighter in style.  90 points from me makes this a 3 star effort.  Drink till 2028 with Veal, roast Chicken or baked Ham.  Salut….

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Le Pre Vaujour Chinon 2020, Loire, France

09 Tuesday Jan 2024

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$22, 3 stars, 89 points, Cabernet franc, chinon, france, loire


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose of this Cabernet Franc has medium intensity aromas of green pepper, licorice, blackberry, blackcurrant and tomato leaf.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  On the palate I get medium intensity flavors of black currant, blackberry, licorice, green pepper and charred oak.  The finish is medium in length and a touch tart yet refreshing.  Lovely and lithe, this wine will pair nicely with duck, grilled sweetbreads or bangers and mash.  Drink till 2028.  89 points and for $22- 3 stars.  Salut….

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