Tag Archives: 3 stars

Castelli del Grevepesa Panzano Gran Selezione 2017, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy

10 Thursday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of sour cherry, pomegranate, roses and perfumed lilac.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  A medium body gives me red fruit that is tart in nature along with some pretty florals and a hint of oak.  This is not a very complex Sangiovese which surprises me considering that fact that it is Gran Selezione.  I purchased it after drinking the delightful 2016 Panzano.  This vintage is of  lesser intensity and lacks power, garnering 88 points from me.  At $24 it rates 3 stars in my books.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Cordero di Montezemolo Langhe Arneis 2021, Piedmont, Italy

07 Monday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


At the 32nd virtual wine tasting we started off with this Arneis, tasted chilled and at room temp.  The attendees found this wine to be pale lemon colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Aromas and flavors of almond, pineapple, apricot, marzipan, peach and pear we evident in the chilled version.  On the palate- medium acidity and a medium (-) body that led to a short finish.  I scored it 11 points on our scale and would assign an 89 point technical rating.  The room temperature version was much more floral, but fruit-wise only the peach and pear notes came across the nose along with some honey and hazelnut.  On the palate it tasted fuller bodied and had some citrus notes by way of lemon peel in addition to pear.  I did not care as much for it at room temp- 9 points and its technical rating dropped to an 88.  For $20 it gets 3 stars from me.  Drink now with grilled fish or a shrimp salad.  Salut….

Millbrook Chardonnay Lake Placid 2021, Central Coast, California

01 Tuesday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


We are in Lake Placid for an ice skating competition so when I saw this branded wine I had to pick it up.  Made from Californian Central Coast Chardonnay -I was expecting what I tasted.  Medium lemon colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV). The nose shows some butter, a little cream, a touch of pear and green apple- obviously MLF derived. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and that buttery diacetyl taste associated with malolactic fermentation. The pear and apple fruit is round and warm with some baking spices and carries through to a medium length finish. The label says that this line is exclusively available in New York.  At $18 this 88 point wine gets three stars. Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Milani 1985 Sangiovese Primitivo 2022, Puglia IGT, Italy

02 Sunday Jul 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Deep ruby with hints of garnet- the depth of color coming from the Primitivo (Zinfandel) that is blended with the usually pale Sangiovese.  Medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV) and very little staining on the walls.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red cherry, raspberry, dusty bramble, violets and orange peel.  The palate is  slightly off-dry with juicy acidity and lithe tannins that are well integrated.  Medium body which is supporting the red fruit and fresh florals.  There is a hint of oak usage, perhaps used French barrels with the focus on freshness and verve.  This 89 point wine is going to go really well with our sausage laden pasta and Endive salad.  For $15 this is not a bad drop that gets 3 stars from me.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

David Akiyoshi Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, California

01 Saturday Jul 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Deep ruby colored, this Cali Cab has medium viscosity (13.9% ABV)m and slight staining.  The nose has aromas of bright red fruit with some candied notes along with some floral and oak notes.  Cherry candy, ripe red raspberry, red plum, licorice, mocha powder and lavender.  It’s an interesting mix.  The palate is dry? Dare I say a touch of RS?   Medium acidity with medium tannins that are very smooth and integrated.  The medium body of this wine carries the red fruits forth along with some slight oak notes.  It tastes like very ripe red fruit plus I can’t get past the residual sugar thought.  The finish is short to medium in length.  From a technical standpoint- this wine gets 87 points. For $12, it’s a decent bargain that gets 3 stars from me.  I’m grilling Try-tip to pair.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Grifalco della Lucania Daginestra Superiore Aglianico del Vulture 2018, Basilicata, Italy

27 Saturday May 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


Deep ruby/garnet colored, this Aglianico was an interesting turn for our virtual wine tasting group as not many had ever had this varietal.  Intense aromas of tobacco with blueberry, smoke, blackberry, tomato paste, lilac and pine were noted.  The palate was dry with high tannins, medium acidity, a full body (14% ABV) and had flavors resembling the nose.  A hint of ripe strawberry was also noted in addition to the florals, oak and black fruit.  A medium finish for this wine makes it a 90 point effort that gets 3 stars due to its $40 price point.  On our tasting scale- 14 points.  Drink till 2030 with food, it really needs some pasta to balance it all out.  Salut….

Weingut Winzer Krems Gruner Veltliner 2021, Niederosterreich, Austria

06 Saturday May 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Pale lemon colored with a watery sheen and some evidence of effervescence (12.5% ABV).  The nose has aromas of lemon and lime with white pepper, crunchy green apple, lanolin and wet slate.  The palate is dry with high acidity that hits on the jaw rather than the tongue.  This slightly effervescent wine has a spritz to the light body where I get flavors of citrus, white pepper, wet wool and green apple.  The finish is medium in length and leans towards slightly unripe green apple, lemon and pungent pepper.  I am tasting this wine only slightly chilled, I think it will perform better with some time in the ice bucket.  I’m going to try and pair it with pulled pork that has been slow smoked all day with a spicy dry rub.  87 points from me for this $15 effort makes it a 3 star wine to drink in the short term.  Salut….

Virtus ‘Vega del Yuso’ 2015, Ribera del Duero, Spain

30 Sunday Apr 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Deep ruby with purple accents and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has aromas of  charred oak, vanilla, toast, blackberry reduction, cassis, bramble and a dusty earth component with some baking spices thrown in for good measure.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are plush and fine-grained.  I can confirm the oak and dark fruit flavors echo the nose but there is also a licorice tinge.  The wine is full bodied and the high alcohol is very well hidden, buyer beware.  The finish is a dry affair with charred oak notes and some ripe blackberry coulis that is medium in length.  I love this style of Tempranillo, list price is rather steep though- $100.  I gave it 91 points and 3 stars for the QPR.  Drink till 2030 with grilled Filet and a bleu cheese sauce.  Salut….

Bodega Colome Estate Torrontes 2021, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina

11 Tuesday Apr 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


Pale lemon colored with medium viscosity in the glass (13% ABV). The nose has pronounced aromas of lemon, lychee and rosewater. On the palate this one has medium acidity, a medium (+) body with a waxy mouth feel. Flavors of lychee, rose, lemon, grapefruit pith . The finish is surprisingly short for this aromatic grape- 87 points.  For $11 it would be an awesome value that the pros went as high as 92 points on, but I have tasted two bottles on consecutive nights with mixed outcomes.  I will reserve judgement till I try the third bottle.  For now it is a lower score than I had hoped for due to inconsistency and lack of depth/finish.  Salut….

Famille Bougrier Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine 2020, Loire, France

29 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Pale lemon with a golden accent and a watery sheen.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon, lime, grapefruit, white blossom and green apple.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (-) body.  Citrus makes for a fresh and crisp mouthfeel alongside some floral notes.  The apple note is faint.  The wine finishes with a hint of phenolic bitterness and is medium in length.   I would enjoy this wine till 2024 with shellfish and charcuterie.  86 points for this $14 bottle makes it a 3 star wine for me.  Salut….