Tag Archives: $39

Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2017, California, USA

26 Saturday Jan 2019

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I wrote about the 2016 Failla recently so it was interesting to sample the younger version.  Strawberry coulis nose from this darker red Pinot Noir  On the palate I get raspberry, strawberry and crunchy tannins.  The mid palate has a pepper component alongside bing cherry.  The finish is medium in length with that strawberry core flavor returning.  The acidity is decent and the mouthfeel is good.  A touch young- it could benefit from some cellaring.  Drink till 2029.  89 points $39 make this a solid 3 star wine.  Consistent with the previous vintage.  Salut….

Paradise Springs Swagger Edition III

05 Sunday Feb 2017

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This is a dessert style red wine that my brother and sister in law gave us for Christmas.  In hails from Virginia and proves yet again that this state is an up and coming wine region.

Reddish purple with a nose of stewed raspberries, honey, raisin.  On the palate- prunes, smoke and stewed plum.  Caramel notes with sherry hints show up on the mid palate.  The 17.9 % alcohol is well disguised, so beware!  The finish has some delectable tannins that mingle with a rather long rendition of plum torte meets blueberry pie.  I’m no expert on this style of wine but I reckon it might be worth 89 points and a delightful way to end a big roast supper!  For  $39 it gets 3 stars from me.  Made from the Chambourcin grape and fortified with grape spirit brandy.  Salut….

 paradise springs swagger III wine

Clos Pegase Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

29 Tuesday Nov 2016

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Another Napa Cabernet that I got to taste at the AMEX Centurion Lounge at SFO airport.  This one was a dazzler, but give it time.

Portlike nose with honeyed blueberries and some juniper hints.  The initial attack is all blue fruits and a crescendo of brooding tannins. This is one heck of a monster, built for the long run or a trip through the vinturi.  The mid palate shows darker fruits with plum torte, espresso and a delicious minerality.  The finish carries on with the tannic structure and leaves the gums bone dry.  Give this wine a wide berth until 2019 but buy lots, it will run for many years after that. 92 points from me even though the pros gave it 90 and said drink now.  I found it online for $39 which make it a 4 star, perhaps even 5 star wine in my books.  This wine epitomizes Napa Cabernet for me.  Enjoy with a hearty pasta dish, steak with asparagus or a grilled leg of lamb.  Salut….
clos pegs napa cabernet sauvignon

Bodegas Amalaya Malbec Gran Corte 2011

25 Friday Oct 2013

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I love Malbec, Argentinian or French. They have their nuances but both regions offer up really juicy , meaty wines that offer power and finesse at the same time. This one is particularly good at both characteristics.
Dark purple in the glass with strong blackberries and vanillin on the nose. Very smooth on the initial attack of dark fruits and integrated oak. Flavors of chocolate and some cassis come through on the back end. The tannins sneak up and leave a refreshing dryness on the gums. We’ll integrated and balanced. This is a tasty wine for $39 a bottle. I just had a glass at the airport before traveling to Cali. 91 points and 4 stars. This wine is superb on its own but I bet it would kill a Filet Mignon. Treat yourself! Salut….

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Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

01 Sunday Sep 2013

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Jam on the nose, the dark purple kind I used to eat with toast as a kid in England….. On the palate, somewhat confusing. Atypical of Napa Cabernet, I get sublime hints of Herbs Du Provence, plum and cassis Kinda weird and exciting. Sulking beneath this complexity hides a strong tannic frame, very well integrated and adding to the yummy mouthfeel. I am digging this wine, but can’t pinpoint why…. It’s different, fruity, complex and interesting. 92 points and for $39- 4 stars. I think it’s drinking nicely now and will cellar for 7 years at the least.

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