Tag Archives: 4 stars

Tenuta di Arceno Arcanum Toscana IGT 2015, Tuscany, Italy

30 Saturday Oct 2021

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The finale for the 21st Virtual Wine Tasting was this Super Tuscan blend of Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.  With 6 years of age it is starting to show a touch of garnet in the glass that is 75% opaque.  The group were torn on this wine, some liked the tertiary notes, others did not.  The combined flavors and aromas of the group include red twizzlers, blackcurrant, blackberry, vanilla, cigar, manure, barnyard, old wood, musty old oak beams, charcoal and some dried herbs.   Leather featured on the back end and I found this wine to be more complex on the nose versus the palate.  Super smooth tannins get grippy on the finish and we felt the wine had low to medium  acidity, medium body with a long finish.  It was very layered and balanced, even if the tannins started to kick off on the very tail end.  This wine will develop more tertiary notes and has the backbone to cellar for another 10 years easily.  It calls for a rustic pasta dish with truffles.  It was the big baller of the evening at $70, which makes it a 4 star wine for me at 92 points.  Salut….

Coelho Paciencia Estate Pinot Noir 2014, Willamette Valley, Oregon

27 Wednesday Oct 2021

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I’ve had this one before, but a while ago so I thought with some cellaring it would be even better- no surprise.  It’s staring to turn a touch garnet but is of pale intensity.  The nose is quite pronounced with pomegranate, red cherry, cranberry, barnyard, dried sage and dried red plum.  The palate is delicious.  Smooth with low tannins, medium acidity , medium body and gobs of flavor.  In addition to the red fruits and tertiary notes I also get some rooibos tea.  The finish is medium length and chock full of fruit with some super fine tannins.  92 points, drink till 2027.  It runs $50 these days which makes it a 4 star wine in my books.  Salut….

Cakebread Cellars Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, California

27 Wednesday Oct 2021

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Wow- opaque AF.  The nose is loaded with black fruits, charred wood, cassis- very complex but I’m at a loss for descriptors.  The palate is dry with a herbaceous entry that leads to the blackberry, blackcurrants and black cherry notes.  The tannins are mid grade and a touch astringent, they may need more integration.  The finish is medium length and gives me more of that charred wood note.  This wine is mid weight and a touch out of balance right now but I think it will flesh out.  Drink from 2024-2029.  90 points from me at this stage but the pros averaged 92, give it time.  It’s a pricy bottle at $140 so pick the right moment to enjoy this 4 star gem.  Salut….

Chimney Rock Arete Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Stags Leap District, California

16 Saturday Oct 2021

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Opaque AF.  Bright blueberry, plum, blackcurrants and mint on the nose with some heady oak by way of vanilla and coconut.  On the palate it has medium (+) tannins, medium acidity and black fruit flavors of blackcurrant and blackberry alongside the greenish mint and oak notes plus charcoal.  Medium finish and  medium body with some high alcohol levels giving it weight.  Yummy stuff that tastes like California sunshine. 91 points and for $110 it gets 4 stars . Whilst young it drinks beautifully now and should get better with age till 2028.  Salut….

Legado de Farro Godello 2018, Castilla y León, Spain

16 Saturday Oct 2021

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Trying to pair a spicy Pork dish requires thought.  I’m gonna take a punt on this Godello which a grape from Spain.  It’s pale golden and shows no legs (12.5% ABV).  On the nose I get pronounced aromas of ripe tangerine, lemon, peach, acacia and perhaps a touch of buggle gum?  Exquisite smells.  On the palate it is dry, crisp with medium (+) acidity, low alcohol as mentioned, medium body and medium (+) flavors as on the nose, except the bubble gum!  It is very floral and aromatic, but it doesn’t pack a big punch- it’s more of a crisp wine.  The finish is medium length and tapers off with a nice minerality.  I like this wine and think it will work well with the pairing.  89 points and for $15 it gets 4 stars.  Drink now with seafood, or Jerk Pork!  Salut….

Fiuza 3 Castas Reserva 2018, Vinho Regional Tejo, Portugal

08 Friday Oct 2021

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This blend of Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet and Sousāo is pale ruby in the glass. It’s listed as 13.5% ABV which shows in the watery legs.  The nose has nice, if somewhat muted aromas of cranberry, red cherry, dried herbs, blackberry and floral notes.  The palate is very soft, with juicy acidity and mild tannins.  The blackberry and red cherry flavors are present alongside some cedar and the dried herbs I sensed on the nose.  The acidity is really intense on the back end where there is a shortish finish of bright red and black fruit.  I like this medium bodied wine, it is fresh and primary fruit driven.  The pro’s went with 90, I’m thinking 88 with a drink by 2025 window.  At under $10 per bottle it gets 4 stars.  I’m pairing it with grilled lamb kebabs and sautéed Kale.  Salut….

Chateau Marotte Blanc 2020, Bordeaux, France

02 Saturday Oct 2021

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Dinner is Jamaican Jerk Pork.  A spicy dish that needs careful consideration for a pairing.  The first varietal that comes to mind is Riesling.  Number 2 choice- Gewurtztraminer.  I have both in the fridge but opted for this young and fresh Bordeaux blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc that weighs in at a decent 12% ABV. It is very pale in the glass with a lemon color.  The aromas pop out of the glass with lots of intensity.  Lemon zest, tangerine, passion fruit, mango and geranium.  The palate is dry and packed with juicy acidity.  Citrus and floral notes abound alongside exotic fruit flavors that I got on the nose.  Although it is a crisp wine, it has a certain body and mouthfeel to it that I am really enjoying.  It is fresh and lively and will certainly give the spices in the dish a good complement.  This wine is probably best drunk young and paired with fish, pork or a vegetable tart.  It is juicy right up till the medium length finish gives out.  Yummy stuff that gets 89 points from me and at $20 it is worthy of 4 stars.  Salut….

Chateau Haut Monplaisir 2018, Cahors, France

01 Friday Oct 2021

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We went to Montreal recently and dined at a Middle Eastern restaurant that featured lots of Lamb dishes.  I selected this Malbec for its fruitiness but I was really hoping for a tannic wine to help cut the usually fatty cut of a Lamb shoulder cooked in the Tagine.  In Cahors, Malbec is known as the “Black Wine”.  It did not disappoint- Dark hued, opaque and brooding in the glass.  Black currant jam, oak, charcoal, funk and garrigue all hit me on the nose and palate where I got medium acidity and medium plus tannins.  Fresh and dry with a medium length finish of dried herbs, black licorice and jammy fruit- this 89 point wine get 4 stars from me.  You can find it for $17.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

 

 

Domaine Baptiste Boutes Minervois 2016, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

28 Tuesday Sep 2021

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I must admit- I shop the bin ends and any closeouts.  I have found some great bargains but more importantly, aged wine that someone else has fronted for and held on to so I can swoop in and get it at its prime.  So I had to chuckle when I finally red the label on this 2016 vintage blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.  It says “to be kept between one and two years of age’.  Whoops!

In the glass it’s a medium intensity ruby in color with watery legs.  On the nose- it still smells fresh!  Red currants, raspberry, blueberry, red plum and licorice.  The palate is delightful- medium acidity, lithe tannins and good expression of red fruit, a hint of oak and some black licorice.  I get a tea component on the mid palate and the finish is medium in length with charred oak, red fruit and stewed red plum. The structure is holding on and will allow this wine to be enjoyed for another few years, perhaps with Cassoulet, braised meats or a roast duck dish- it needs a rustic pairing.  89 points from me and at $14 it’s worth buying if you bump into it- 4 stars.  Salut….

Bodegas Manzanos Voche Reserva 2013, Rioja DOCa, Spain

23 Thursday Sep 2021

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I find Spanish wine to be the most consistent.  You always know what to expect and you know it will taste great- it’s my go-to in a pinch.  This particular bottle is short and squat, unlike any other wine bottle I have seen so I had to try it.  The wine is semi opaque and a nice shade of ruby.  On the nose it’s a medium intensity with aromas of stewed black plum, graphite, blackberry and that earthy/dusty quality I love in Riojas. The palate is dry and offers up rich blackberry, black plum, dust, charred wood and chocolate.  The tannins are grippy and the acidity is quite lithe.  I get black tea and earthy bramble on the mid plate and the finish is a dry affair with medium length.  Overall its a decent wine that I would cellar for another year or two unless you like them tannic.  It should drink well after that till 2028.  I’m pairing mine with Honey Bourbon London Broil.  90 points for this $40 wine makes it a 4 star effort.  Salut….