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Tag Archives: 4 stars

Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012, Tuscany, Italy

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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$40, 4 stars, 90 points, brunello, Italy, sangiovese, tuscany


Pale to medium garnet colored with medium tanning and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of tobacco, leather, tar, ripe cherries, prunes, a medicinal note, crushed/dried rose petals,  spice, and tamarind. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) body and medium tannins that are fully integrated. Medium (+) intensity flavors confirm the nose, especially that tamarind note that I got. It’s quite silky and quite high in acidity. A cherry note hits on the back end where the finish is medium in length. This is a decent Brunello. Nothing major. It gets 90 points for me. At $40 for newer vintages, it’s a 4 star effort.  Drink till 2032.

Bonacchi Podere Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino

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Duorum Tinto 2020, Douro, Portugal

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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$18, 4 stars, 89 points, Douro, portugal, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, VWTC


The second wine of our virtual tasting was this Portugues blend.  Deep garnet in color with a medium (+) viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry, black plum, ripe blueberry, black cherry, vanilla, and a medicinal note.  Medium (-) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins were noted.  On he plate we also got licorice in addition to the aromas already mentioned.  A pleasant, medium length finish made this an 89 point wine for me.  At $18 this wine delivered nicely and gets 4 stars.  It’s already approaching six years of age, it will last another half dozen.  Salut….

Duorum Tinto

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Bodegas Escorihuela Gascon 1884 Limited Production Cabernet Franc 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

15 Sunday Feb 2026

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$29, 4 stars, 92 points, Argentina, Cabernet franc, Mendoza


Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, black cherry, capsicum, charred wood, dark pomegranate, licorice, coffee, and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe dark-red fruit, deft oak by way of charred wood, medicinal notes, and coffee.  The telltale green pepper is not as obvious on the palate as it was on the nose.  Silky tannins make this a beautiful wine to sip, everything is in balance and delicious.  The finish is medium (+) in length and invites me to take another sip.  Really good, like 92 points worth.  I paid $29 online, making it a 4 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Bodegas Escorihuela Gascon 1884 Limited Production Cabernet Franc

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Grifone ‘1967’ Toscana IGT Rosso 2021, Tuscany, Italy

03 Tuesday Feb 2026

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$7, 4 stars, 86 points, Italy, sangiovese, toscana igt, tuscany


Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, and a low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of rhubarb, pomegranate, black cherry, green herbs, and licorice.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of black cherry, rhubarb, and pomegranate lead to a medium (-) finish.  I was not expecting much from this $7 bottle from Trader Joes, but find it to be a very serviceable weekday quaffer that gets 86 points from me, earning it 4 stars.  At 6 years of age, it’s time to drink up.  Mostly Sangiovese, with a dash of Cab Sav and a sprinkle of Syrah.  Salut….

Grifone '1967' Toscana IGT Rosso

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Teliani Vineyards Saperavi 2023, Kakheti, Georgia

30 Friday Jan 2026

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$14, 4 stars, 89 points, cachet, georgia, saperavi


Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (12% ABV).   The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, pomegranate, black cherry, pine sap, a mineral note, acai berry, and fruitcake.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors zero in on the black cherry, pomegranate and black raspberry notes with a black tea hint appearing, its astringency due to the relatively young tannins.   They grip till the very end, past the medium length finish.  I really find this grape to be very interesting.  It’s a teinturier (the flesh is pink colored), which means it is quite deep in color, the tannins are plentiful and the flavors go the dark red fruit route.  This one is nice, getting 89 points from me.  I paid $15, making it a 4 star effort.  It has some aging capacity, so drink till 2033.  Salut….

Teliani Vineyards Saperavi

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Cigar Box Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Central Valley, Chile

06 Tuesday Jan 2026

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$13, 4 stars, 88 points, cabernet sauvignon, central valley, chile


Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of – you guessed it- cigar box, along with blackberry, black plum, cassis, chocolate, coffee, and an initial green vegetal note which thankfully blew off.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are quite chalky and somewhat green.  Medium intensity flavors of black fruit and oak nuance with a focus on the tobacco note alongside black tea.  The tannins are really starting to hit under my tongue, but seem to have lost the green streak, they are just grippy and young.  The ripeness of the fruit is somewhat concerning, even though the label promotes ripeness- I feel otherwise.  The finish is driven by the tannins, it’s hard to get away from them.  The length of the fruit is quite short.  I picked up this bottle for around $13.  It gets 88 points from me making it a 4 star effort to drink till 2030, perhaps with a hunk of steak.  Salut….

Cigar Box Old Vine Hand Harvested Cabernet Sauvignon

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Clos Pissarra El Riu 2011, Priorat DOCa, Spain

05 Monday Jan 2026

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$35, 4 stars, 92 points, carignan, Priorat, spain


Pale garnet colored, with a medium (-) viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of fig, prune, nuts, stewed strawberry, cherry reduction, leather, and vanilla thread.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium(-) tannins that are fully melded.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of dried orange peel, prune, figs, desiccated cherry, stewed strawberry, leather, and a smoky hint.  The finish is long and caressing but the alcohol is noticeable, with a burn happening on the back end.  I was a little put off by the nose, thinking it was over the hill, but I think we rescued this bottle just in time as it’s really delicious, and different.  I would have thought it to be a 92 point wine back in the day.  It needs to be drunk soon as there is virtually no structure left and the fruit is hanging on by a thread.  It’s 100% Carignan, aka Samso in the region.  I paid $35, but it lists for far more.  4 stars.  Salut….

Clos Pissarra El Riu

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Chateau Musar Blanc 2013, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

25 Thursday Dec 2025

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$55, 4 stars, 91 points, bekaa valley, lebanon, Merwah, Obeideh


Pale gold in color with a watery sheen (11.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of Quince, Meyer lemon, lanolin, green almond, grapefruit pith, white blossom, and a zesty minerality.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors mimic the nose, but especially the pith- giving a touch of bitterness.  On the mid palate I get the Quince, followed by a medium (+) length finish that’s got a refreshing dose of acidity.  This is a 12 year young wine that probably needs another decade before it starts to flesh out and develop tertiary notes.  I picked it for Christmas dinner of Lobster tails and baked potatoes- a good pairing.  I like this blend of Merwah and Obeideh from my native Lebanon.  It gets 91 points and for $55- it’s a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Chateau Musar Blanc

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Nyetimber Classic Cuvee Sparkling NV, Sussex, England

28 Friday Nov 2025

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$55, 4 stars, 91 points, chardonnay, England, Pinot Meunier, pinot noir, Sparkling wine, sussex


 

Pale lemon colored with gold highlights and large bubbles (12% ABV).  The nose has subtle hints of yellow apple, brioche, lemon pith, green almond, lanolin and then some bruised red apple. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a nice mousse, and light bodied. Refreshing and zesty with some brioche notes and yellow apple. The lemon notes are very faint, it’s more driven towards the apple flavor. The finish is medium (-) in length. It gets better with air, and I revised my score from 89 to 91 points.  Albeit non-vintage, I have sat on this bottle for over two years and think it has rewarded me nicely.  Bought at the London Duty Free, it runs about $55 now, making it a 4 star wine.  A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.  Salut….

Nyetimber Classic Cuvee Sparkling

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Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Marlborough, New Zealand

19 Wednesday Nov 2025

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$13, 4 stars, 89 points, marlborough, new zealand, Sauvignon blanc


Pale stars colored, with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon/lime, grapefruit pith, peach, green almond, cut grass, and orange blossom.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors of citrus with tropical notes and a green grass overlay.  The acidity is cutting and fresh.  The finish is medium (-) in length and I notice the wine taking on a bit of weight here.  It’s making my jaw water for sure, making me reach for another sip.  A delicious and typical Kiwi Sav Blanc that will provide much enjoyment, especially if paired with seafood.  It’s worthy of 89 point from me and at $13, it gets 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc

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