Tag Archives: 4 stars

Arabella Reserve Pinotage 2020, Western Cape, South Africa

10 Tuesday Jan 2023

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Opaque, deep purple colored with slow moving legs (14% ABV).  The nose has aromas of dark plum, black cherry, purple licorice and a touch of smoke and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and bold tannins that cover my cheeks.  Flavors of black cherry, blackberry and black plum with coffee and smoke on the back end.  There is a touch of bitterness on the finish showing perhaps some greeness in the tannins?   Full bodied with a medium finish, this is going to pair well with my grilled Tri-tip and Boerewors sausage.  Not overly complex or rich, it is tasty and easygoing wine with short term cellaring capacity.  I would drink this 87 pointer till 2025 and for $13 it’s a 4 star effort to stock up on for barbecues and parties.  Salut….

Ondine Chattan Gewurztraminer 2021, Mendocino, California

07 Saturday Jan 2023

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Pale lemon colored this aromatic varietal has a pretty intense nose.  Aromas of pineapple, rose petals, white flowers, marshmallows and orange peel.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a boatload of flavors.  I get exotic pineapple, orange pith, white flowers, rose water and that marshmallow note, which I have never encountered in wine.  There is a touch of bitterness that I think contributed to the orange pith note that sits on the roof of my mouth.  The acidity is very balanced with the level of fruit ripeness and this 13% ABV wine is medium to full bodied.  It’s certainly delicious and the finish carries for a decent length.  I love this varietal, hence the purchase.  This one would pair beautifully with some Thai food of medium spice or even Indian fare.  It’s rare to think of a wine harmoniously working with spicy foods but this one has the ripeness and acidity to go the distance.  I would drink this sooner rather than later and chill it slightly for maximum enjoyment.  89 points for this $14 effort making it a 4 star wine in my books.  Salut….

Prophecy Pinot Noir 2018, California

19 Monday Dec 2022

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I have just returned from Lebanon and the UK, so Moxie decided to cook a meal for me and Beef Bourguignon it is!  She did not venture into the cellar for a bottle of Pinot, opting to remain clear and go directly to the wine shop where she picked up this $11 California offering.  It shows medium opacity and a somewhat dull ruby color with medium looking legs (13.8% ABV).  The nose is interesting for a New World Pinot- there’s quite a bit of earthiness to alongside the cherry, pomegranate and raspberry aromas.  I also get some baking spices and a touch of funky red licorice.  The palate is dry with very lithe tannins and low acidity.  It’s a fruit forward wine that bursts with cherry and strawberry, pomegranate and black raspberry.  The spices are present but very subdued.  Medium bodied with a short finish- quite tasty.  This is a not an age worthy wine, but it rocks as a pop-n-pour and doesn’t break the bank.  It gets 87 points from me and 4 stars.  Very smooth and appealing.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc 2019, Pessac-Leognan, France

27 Sunday Nov 2022

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Last night we drank four wines at the 29th Virtual Wine tasting.  Opening up with both a chilled and room temp serving of this Bordeaux blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon the group found the wine to be a pale lemon color with the textbook aromas of cut grass, citrus and dare I say- cat pee.  Other aromas and flavors included peaches, algae (?), pineapple, grapefruit and lemon curd.  The wine was dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body leading to a short finish.  I think this $45 bottle is worthy of 91 points, slightly shy of the pros who went as high as 94.  It’s delicious now and will keep for a few more years but why wait on this 4 star effort.  Seafood or poached chicken would pair nicely.  Salut….

Kotrotsos Moschofilero 2021, Pelopennese, Greece

14 Monday Nov 2022

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Pale lemon colored with medium intensity aromas of lush tropical fruit- pineapple, papaya and kiwi fruit intermingled with pear, rose petals and bruised red apple.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and medium body.  Flavors of papaya and pear dominate with kiwi and bruised red apple supporting. The papaya and apple both have a unique, overripe accent that makes this quite interesting and adds to the body of this lush wine.  It has a medium length finish with a touch of astringency from almond seed that I find intriguing.  This is an interesting varietal that I am thoroughly enjoying.  Tonight I am pairing it with Chinese inspired dishes including some spicy chili infused plates.  I believe the wine will stand up to the heat and complexity of the fare.  89 points for this $18 wine makes it a 4 star effort to try out.  Drink now.  Salut….

VIK A Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

30 Sunday Oct 2022

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Deep ruby with a touch of turbidity and thick legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has black currants, some black plum, blackberry and menthol.  I get some baking spices and ripe strawberries with some extra swirling.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and gentle (medium) tannins that are well integrated.  This Cabernet blend has 12% Carmenere and 3% Syrah that give it some angularity.  The black fruit and strawberry are present as is the spice box.  I sense a hint of oak alongside the minty note that adds complexity.  Full bodied, this wine carries through to a long finish that turns a touch astringent.  Something tells me the Carmenere was a touch green.  Over-all this is a decent wine from a good producer that will drink nicely with our 24 hour Sous-vide  beef chuck roast.  I would enjoy this wine till 2025.  At $42 it gets 90 points and 4 stars from me.  Salut….

Eguren Ugarte Cincuenta 2016, Rioja DOCa, Spain

29 Saturday Oct 2022

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Marked as unfiltered with no indication of aging (ie. Reserva, Crianza etc), this Joven level wine is 6 years old and showing dep ruby in the glass with pretty slow moving legs (14% ABV).  The nose is a bit tart smelling with nice red fruit aromas of raspberry, red plum, hints of vanilla, purple licorice and perhaps some menthol.  Surprisingly, no tertiary aromas yet.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins. The acid is making my jaw ache.  It is medium bodied with flavors of sour cherry, black raspberry, plum, feint vanilla and a bit of menthol.  The finish is medium in length and tart.  The tannins fade pretty fast on this one, leaving it a bit unbalanced by the acidity and thinning fruit.  It runs $15 nowadays and gets 90 points from me with a drink by 2024 window.  4 stars for this Tempranillo that I am pairing with grilled Chicken and plantains.  Salut….’

Benjamin Darnault Côtes du Rhône Plus 2020, Rhone Valley, France

25 Tuesday Oct 2022

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This Grenache/Syrah blend is deep ruby colored with thick, slow moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has nice aromas of red plum, black raspberry, red licorice, herbs, candied cherry and rose.  It’s quite complex once you swirl it around.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins- the grip I got initially quickly faded.  Flavors of plum, black raspberry, charred oak, some red licorice and earthy florals/herbs.  It is medium (+) bodied with a medium finish of dark red fruit plus a healthy dose of heat.  Made from very ripe fruit, it is flavorful but at a price- the alcohol is quite noticeable on the back end.  We are pairing this bold wine with spiced burgers and potato wedges.  It would also go well with hearty BBQ, maybe smoked brisket with a rich sauce.  89 points from me for this $15 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2026.  Salut….

Maxville Lake Winery ‘Maxville’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, California

23 Sunday Oct 2022

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Deep ruby colored with a touch of staining on the walls and slow moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has pronounced aromas of cassis, menthol, blackberry, blueberry coulis, chocolate dust, açaí berry and some baking spice- very complex but primal in nature.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and really grippy medium (+) tannins that are very fine-grained.  Full bodied, this wine coats my mouth with cassis, blackberry, açaí, blueberry jam and some hints of oak.  The finish is long with a slightly bitter vein.  I like this wine- it screams Cali sunshine in it’s ripeness and fullness.  91 points for this $56 effort makes it a 4 star wine.  I’m pairing it with roasted Sirloin Cap and a mushroom gravy.  Drink this relatively cellar-worthy wine till 2028.  Salut….

Antonio Díez Martín Tempranillo Crianza 2017, Ribera del Duero, Spain

26 Monday Sep 2022

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This wine is deep ruby colored with thin, piercing legs that move slowly indicating a high alcohol level (14.5% ABV).  The nose gives me vanilla and dust right off the bat. Pomegranate, black plum, açaí, clove and sarsaparilla come next.  The palate is dry with medium (+) tannins and medium (+) acidity.  This full-bodied wine has flavors of bramble, black plum, pomegranate and oak by way of vanilla, clove and a charcoal note.  Typical for the region I get dusty, earthy hints and the wine goes on to a medium length finish.  The fruit doesn’t taste fully ripe to me, it’s somewhat green unfortunately and this will cost it a point or two.  The structure is there but the finish is  quite astringent.  Perhaps a decant is in order?   I’m roasting a Rump Steak with all the trimmings, it should pair nicely.  For $17 this 88 point wine gets 4 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….