Tag Archives: $32

Cameron Hughes Lot 699 Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Calistoga, California

02 Monday Mar 2020

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I’m tasting this one in the dark, literally.  We lost power earlier today and I have rigged up the generator but it only runs certain things, like the dishwasher😳.  

From what I can see via flashlight this is a semi opaque, dark purple looking wine.  The nose is somewhat subdued, but I managed to coax blackberries and vanilla bean.  The palate is sweet- oh my.  A very, very interesting assemblage of flavors.  Coconut, blackberry pie, mint, the list goes on.  It’s one of the most intriguing, surprising and tasty wines I have come across.  The mid palate continues the swirling bouquet of differing flavors but introduces some very nice, medium intensity tannins. I really dig this wine.  It’s finish is a nice dry affair that allows those dark fruits, coconut and vanilla flavors to once again take turns in caressing my gums.  This is an amazing display of very unique flavors, well done.  93 points.  Drink till 2030 with beef stew, steaks or just by itself.  $32 makes this a 5 star wine to stock up on.  Salut….

Loring Wine Co. Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2016, Central Coast, USA

08 Saturday Dec 2018

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Medium opacity, certainly not a light Pinot.  Explosive nose of cherry, rhubarb and violets.  On the palate, that old world nose gave way to new world juiciness, freshness and very integrated tannins.  Flavors of cherry, bramble, pie crust and cinnamon hit me at the onset.  Towards the mid palate it ramps up with a great acidity with some strawberry marching in.  The finish is long, with Kirsch and plenty of pH, alongside some oaky nuances.  I like this wine, a lot.  91 points and 4 stars- you can find it for $32 which places it in the 4 star category.  Cellar some and drink till 2026.  Salut….

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Henschke Henry’s Seven 2015, Barossa, Australia

27 Tuesday Feb 2018

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Somewhat opaque but dark purple.  The nose gives up candies, plum, oak, cherry pie, vanilla bean.  The palate is super spicy, loaded with fruit and very smooth.  Plum ganache, mocha, cafe au lait and blackberry preserve round out the initial palate.  The transition to mid palate shows off some very integrated tannins, a red berry note and some cedar plank.  The finish is mid length and coats the mouth in plum sauce, coffee and chocolate dust.  92 points from me for this $32 effort, which contradicts the pro’s 89, oh well.  I liked it and will buy again for a juicy Sunday roast companion.  5 stars for this Shiraz/Grenache/Viognier blend.  Salut….

Savignola Paolina Chianti Classico Riserva 2010

29 Sunday Sep 2013

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With Pizza, one must serve Italian wines.  I love Chianti, the Sangiovese grapes offer up a unique flavor profile that gives me strawberry, cherry and tar flavors.  In this particular bottle, there was some muted flavors, and more heavily weighed on the tart cherry side.  I think it is a little young as the tannins were very prominent.  Nicely acidic  but slightly out of balance for me, I think the wine is a little disjointed.  Perhaps a few years of slumber and the fruit will emerge, the tannins will meld and the balance will come about.  At $32, it is a pricey bottle to take a dive on.  The pro’s gave it 91, I would go 89 and 3 stars.  Salut….

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Domaine du Grand Tinel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010

11 Wednesday Sep 2013

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In 1999 we moved to England, where I started to ‘collect’ wines, and had my first CDP.  I always think of this region as unique, rich, rewarding and expensive.  Inflation has not been kind to the consumers of Châteauneuf, it’s prices going higher and higher by the vintage as the region gains accolades from ‘The Big Man’ which adds dollars to the entry fee, (mind you the quality is also coming up).  The region was named after the Pope’s New Castle, and allows seven grapes to be blended with the main Grenache varietal.  Think Cinsault, Mourvedre, Syrah and more.  Makes my mouth water just listing them.

Back to the wine at hand.  Dark purple in the glass and a nose of blackberry meets rock.  Yup, rock.  This wine has a minerality that took a while to pick up.  The palate comes across as young, yet ready to play… with Blackcurrants, stone and a green pepper component.  Very smooth tannins are built for aging yet are allowing drinkability right now if you decant/aerate (which I did).  The structure of this wine is really good, with acidity balancing the alcohol, which alarmed me initially.  This particular wine is running at 15%.  It’s main backbone coming from 80% Grenache with 18% Syrah smoothing it out and 2% Mourvedre which no doubt adds the tannic and alcohol components.  The minerality and stone notes no doubt coming from the terroir, which consists of galettes or round stones.  These galettes help maintain the day’s heat and help mold the flavors of the wines and give them that uniqueness.

For about $32, you are getting a lower priced CDP that drinks well, has good cellaring potential and is a good introduction into the region if you have never forayed there.  91 points and 4 stars.  Salut….

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