Tag Archives: 4 stars

Broadbent 10 Years Old Malmsey, Madeira, Portugal

02 Sunday Apr 2023

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Pale Amber in the glass with a very viscous sheen on the walls. The nose has pronounced aromas of walnuts, caramel, dark chocolate paste, raisins, prunes, almond skin and a touch of heat. The palate is sweet and luscious with medium acidity. Confirming the flavors on this full bodied wine that finishes long, the almond bitterness I got on the nose translates to the back end and it’s delicious. 93 points for this silky treat that runs $50 makes it a 4 star effort.  Enjoy with dessert or cheese tray.  Salut….

Saget Pere et Fils Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine 2020, Loire, France

24 Friday Mar 2023

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Pale lemon colored with light viscosity legs (12% ABV).  The nose has aromas of lemon and lime, grapefruit skin, sea air, white blossom, hard Anjou pear and citrus curd.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a light body- very crisp on the mouthfeel.  The flavors echo the citrus notes with salinity and fresh flowers.  The pear note is somewhat muted on the palate.  The finish is medium in length and refreshing- the tartness and light bodied nature of this varietal really showing through.  It begs for  some seafood or a salad with a rich dressing.  I would give this $14 wine a score of 87 and drink till 2024, making it a 4 star effort.  Salut….

G. Stepp Riesling 2020, Pfalz, Germany

21 Tuesday Mar 2023

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Medium lemon colored with a watery sheen in the glass (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon, lemon spritz, lanolin, slate, white peach that’s not quite ripe, green apple, some petrichor and perhaps- a touch of petrol.  The palate is dry with high acidity, I feel this wine is medium (-) bodied.  The palate confirms the citrus notes along with the minerality and I also get a bit of grapefruit pith on the mid palate.  The stone fruit are a little muted as is the petrol.  The finish is medium with a bit of leftover phenolics.  I like this no-nonsense Riesling for what it is- easy drinking, capable of taking on several styles of food and modestly priced at $14.  I’m pairing this 88 point wine with Thai shrimp noodles.  4 stars , to be drunk by 2026.  Salut….

Weingut Winzer Krems Blauer Zweigelt ‘St Severin’ 2021, Niederosterreich, Austria

19 Sunday Mar 2023

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Medium cherry-red colored with a watery sheen in the glass (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red licorice, maraschino cherry, red raspberry, rhubarb and Dr Pepper.  The palate has a touch of residual sugar (RS) with medium acidity and lithe tannins.  Red fruit and red licorice for flavors that are very enticing and refreshing.  I like the simplicity of this wine- no oak, no big tannins, not acidic.  The finish is quite long.  It’s very easy to drink and will pair nicely with our roasted veggie bowls with Kielbasa and Andouille off the grill.  I like this $18 offering and will buy more for the summer.  It reminds me of Gamay with it’s juiciness and light body.  88 points and 4 stars from me- drink till 2025.  Salut….

Substance ‘Me’ Vineyard Collection Stoneridge Merlot 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington

17 Friday Mar 2023

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Medium garnet, this 4 year old Merlot is starting to show a bit of age already.  The nose has some tertiary notes starting to come alive but there is still loads of primary and secondary aromas of black plum, bramble, black raspberry, vanilla, sage and violets.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and gritty, medium (+) tannins.  The brambly fruit character is there along with vanilla and spice, black raspberry and purple florals with signs of maturity by way of caramel and some desiccated plum.  The body is quite full, not surprising since this bottle boasts a 14.5% ABV.  The finish is velvety smooth and long with black raspberry dominating.  I like the vanilla/oak note on the front end,  but it disappears on the back end.  Really delicious wine that I am pairing with corned beef since it’s St. Patricks day after all.  92 points from me for this $42 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2028.  Salut….

16 Thursday Mar 2023

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Pale lemon-lime colored with a watery sheen in the glass (12% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of grated lemon rind, lime cordial, apricot and paperwhite flowers.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body.  Steely, cutting lime and lemon flavors are very precise along with some rounder apricot and floral notes- the citrus really honing in on the center of my tongue.  The acidity is very juicy and refreshing.  This wine needs some seafood to temper it a touch.  Perhaps a dozen clams on the shell with some plump oysters in all their saline beauty would do the trick.  It finishes lean with a medium length.  At $ 17 I like this 88 pointer that gets 4 stars from me.  I would drink it till 2027.  Salut….

 

Bodega Mauricio Lorca Reserve Malbec 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

09 Thursday Mar 2023

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Deep purple colored with a secondary tinge of dark brown showing a touch of turbidity.  Slow but thin legs show off the 13.6% ABV.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black currant, plum, vanilla, menthol, coffee, violets and black tea.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and tannins alongside a medium body with flavors of black plum blackberry, vanilla and coffee.  The nose is more intense and offers more complexity but the palate is very smooth and delicious.  The nose was confusing me- it has aromas that would point to Cab Sav or even Merlot but it’s the structural parts on the palate that confirm it to be a Malbec- soft and juicy with an easy to drink tannic structure coupled with lower acidity.  The finish is a touch short but there’s some charred oak notes alongside the dark fruit.  I like this $14 effort a lot and give it 89 points, making it a 4 star wine.  Tonight I am pairing it with baked Corned Beef and roasted potatoes.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Lustau Jerez Palo Cortado Peninsula Sherry, Jerez, Spain

08 Wednesday Mar 2023

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This is my first Palo Cortado style sherry.  It looks divine- pale amber in the glass.  The nose offers up nuts, yeasty notes from Flor, caramel and toffee with dried orange rind. It has quite a bitter entry with exotic flavors I have never come across.  Dry with medium (+) acidity and a full body, this wine coats my mouth with tangy yeast and nuts with a citrus twist.  It’s unique for sure and offers a glimpse into another style of winemaking that is quite different- google Palo Cortado, you’ll see what I mean.  The fortification of this wine makes it a touch hot on the back end but I am really enjoying the nutty finish with that very singular Flor component.  I paid $26 to get this bottle- it rated 90 with the pros, who am I to argue?  4 stars.  Drink upon opening, Salut….

Domaine Maillard Pere et Fils Chorey-les-Beaune 2019, Cote de Beaune, France

06 Monday Mar 2023

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We recently dined at an amazing Parisian restaurant where the entire menu, wine included was extremely reasonable yet of such a high caliber that I will include some pictures.  We drank two bottles of Burgundian Pinot Noir, the first being this Chorey Les Beaune.  I did not want to detract from dinner so very basic notes were taken.

Medium ruby, more extracted than I expected.  Aromas of strawberry, cherries jubilee, a touch of baking spices and some smoke.  Medium (-) tannins and a medium acidity lead to a medium body.  Delicious with flavors of dark cherry, strawberry coulis, baking spice and charred oak on a medium finish. 91 points and for $40 this is a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Scallops to die for

Parmesan Filet

Oh, la la

Can you say Souflé?

Perfection on a dessert plate

Laurent Fayolle Crozes-Hermitage Sens 2019, Rhone, France

01 Wednesday Mar 2023

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A quick and basic tasting note of this French Syrah- Opaque purple. Fruity nose with florals and ripe fruit.  Black plum, lavender, licorice, coffee.  Medium acidity, medium tannins, full body.  Grippy black fruits with flavors of plum, black cherry, bitter dark chocolate with a shortish finish.  88 points and for $19 it gets 4 stars.  Drink till 2025 with hearty meat stews and grilled game.  Salut….