Tag Archives: 4 stars

The Color Collector Gamay Noir 2023, Willamette Valley, Oregon

08 Tuesday Apr 2025

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Medium ruby colored with slight staining, and a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of grape bubble gum, violets, red raspberry, purple licorice, vanilla bean, spicebox and a gamy note once it has opened up.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a medium (-) body, and low tannins.  Medium intensity fruit flavors of red currant, red raspberry, grape bubble gum, violets, spice box and some vanilla and game.  It’s certainly a tart affair that refreshes, yet begs for food.  The finish is medium (-) in length and quite acidic.  This wine is interesting- not built like a carbonically macerated Nouveau nor does it have the structure (tannins) of a Cru Beaujolais, it has primal red fruit with high acidity and that telltale grape bubble gum note.  It’s delightful to drink and will pair beautifully with the baked Salmon I am preparing.  90 points from me for this $32 bottle makes it a 4 star wine.  I would drink till 2028.  Salut….

The Color Collector Gamay Noir

 

Brothers Miller Thankfulness Red 2022, Central Coast, California

05 Saturday Apr 2025

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Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14.1% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, acai berry, a touch of game, and red licorice.  The palate is dry (perhaps a touch of RS? ), with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are crunchy.  Medium intensity flavors of black cherry, acai berry, charred oak, baking spice, black raspberry, and a medicinal hint.  The finish has quite a bit of tannic grip but the fruit flavors go on mid length.  My initial reaction to the nose was not overly favorable, but after a few sips I find myself enjoying it quite a lot.  It has an interesting bitterness to it yet the fruit is quite ripe.  Somewhat one-dimensional it lacks much complexity yet it delivers on what it has.  I like it, 89 points worth.  It came as part of a mixed case from a club and runs $15. This blend of Pinot Noir, Barbera, Grenache, and Valdigué gets 4 stars from me.  I would drink it till 2028 and pair it with corned beef, filet or even a roast chicken.  Salut….

Brothers Miller Central Coast Thankfulness Red

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2022, Sicily, Italy

24 Monday Mar 2025

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Tasted at our virtual wine tasting- this Nerello Mascalese was pale ruby colored with high viscosity (14.8% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of green pepper, blackberry, vanilla, leather, black raspberry, cigar, coffee and a herbal, medicinal note.  The palate was dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (+) tannins.  The aromas carried through to the palate and it ended on a medium length finish.  I scored it 14 points on our sheet but gave it 91 points on technical merit.  It ran $28, making it a 4 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso

Dona Maria White 2022, Alentejo, Portugal

24 Monday Mar 2025

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My tasting group kicked off this session with this Arinto from Portugal.  We tasted it chilled and then at room temp.  We noticed it was medium lemon colored with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of grapefruit, honeysuckle, apricot, nectarine, pineapple, sea spray, and wet rock lending it a touch of  minerality.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, and a light body.  It was more tart than I was expecting with flavors of grapefruit, slightly unripe pineapple, honeysuckle, nectarine and apricot as well as some salinity.  The finish was rather short yet inviting.  I gave it 13 points on our scale.

The room temperature tasting was surprising.  Less intense aromas that kicked off with a wet wool smell.  Someone mentioned acetone- Gosh I hope not.  A more intense pineapple alongside lanolin, less intense honeysuckle, saline, wet rock and stone fruit.  The palate seemed less acidic but heavier in body.  Apricot featured the most with honeysuckle, yellow apple, and lanolin supporting.  The finish was more pronounced and longer yet I scored this one lower at 11 points on our scale.  Overall- this is a 90 point wine that I thoroughly enjoyed the following night, well chilled.  It runs $18 therefore I consider it a 4 star effort to drink by 2028.  Shrimp scampi comes to mind.  Salut….

Dona Maria White arinto

Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir 2021, Martinborough, New Zealand

16 Sunday Mar 2025

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Medium ruby colored, slightly hazy (Unfined/unfiltered?), with a medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe cranberry, red cherry compote, vanilla bean, baking spice, rhubarb pie, and lingonberry preserves.  It’s quite dense and ripe.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins.  The red fruit flavors are quite pronounced, the vanilla and accompanying oak influence is very subtle and well integrated.  The tannins melt away beautifully and give this wine a lovely mouthfeel.  The finish has a touch of charred oak alongside some ever so slight tart and bitter notes.  It’s a really nice rendition of Kiwi Pinot- extracted a bit more than Burgundy, not as jammy as a Cali and showing off its own unique terror.   Nicely done- 93 points worth for this $100 offering which makes it a 4 star effort in my books.  I’m pairing it with roast duck breast, sugar snap peas and some boiled potatoes.  Drink till 2036.  Salut….

Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir

Villa Mora Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014, Umbria, Italy

15 Saturday Mar 2025

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Deep garnet colored with a copper highlight, slight staining, and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of brambleberry, black cherry, roasted licorice, eucalyptus, singed alder, smoky dried herbs, vanilla, coffee, and old railroad ties.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and high tannins that grip.  The flavors are somewhat muted by the aggressive tannins which are stripping the enamel off my teeth.  I do finally coax black berries, black cherry and a myriad of oak nuances- coffee, vanilla, smoke, etc.  The high alcohol is well masked and the balance (apart from the tannins) is very nice.  I will aerate the rest of the bottle for a smoother sip.  I reckon this wine has quite a bit of life left and should cellar nicely till 2035.  I’m going with 91 points for this $35 bottle, making it a 4 star wine to pair with juicy steaks, pasta or grilled game.  Salut….

Villa Mora Montefalco Sagrantino

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carre 2022, Rhone Valley, France

18 Tuesday Feb 2025

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Medium ruby colored turning to a watery meniscus, with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache/Syrah blend has medium (-) intensity aromas of blueberry, red raspberry, tar, juniper, licorice, charred oak, acai berry, and tomato stalk. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are a touch gritty.  Flavors of raspberry, blueberry, acai, tar, licorice and green notes of juniper and tomato stalk.  There’s an interesting astringency that keeps me wanting another sip.  The finish is medium in length and somewhat austere.  I kinda like it!  The heat is noteworthy on the back end unfortunately.  This is a delicious, slightly green wine that will pair nicely with stews, game meats or Duck breast.  It gets 90 points from me and for $25, 4 stars.  Drink till 2032.  Ps. It has opened up nicely with a bit of air.  Salut….

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carre

Sam Plunkett The Butterfly Effect Cabernet Shiraz 2021, Victoria, Australia

11 Tuesday Feb 2025

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Deep purple colored turning slightly bluer on the edges with slight staining and medium viscosity (14.3% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe plum, eucalyptus, vanilla, blackberry, brambleberry, baking spices, purple licorice, tomato leaf, green and black peppercorns, and acai berry.  It’s jam packed with dark fruit aromas.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins that are plush.  The ripe black fruit weaves through eucalyptus, vanilla and spice notes.  The green note I caught on the nose repeats on the mid palate with a touch of unripe stem coupled with some charred oak notes.  The finish is juicy and medium (-) in length.  I am enjoying the melange of flavors in this $13 bottle and think it will benefit from some short term cellaring.  I give it 89 points and 4 stars.  Salut….

Sam Plunkett The Butterfly Effect Cabernet Shiraz

Don Benigno Medium Dry Amontillado NV, Jerez, Spain

05 Wednesday Feb 2025

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Pale amber colored, with high viscosity (17.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dried nuts, prune, sea salt, yeast, burnished oak, dryer sheet (I know….), and Brazil nut.  The palate is dry (even though the name says medium dry), with medium acidity, and a full body.  There’s an interesting amalgamation of flavors at play- the nutty notes including Brazil and dry roasted nuts combine with the stewed fruit and oak derived nuance.  The proximity to the sea is evident by the ocean spray notes and the yeast component is a telltale that this wine started out life as a Fino under a layer of Flor.  I love the style.  At $15, you really can’t go wrong with this aperitif wine that gets 88 points from me and 4 stars.  Salut….

Don Benigno medium dry Amontillado SherryDon Benigno

Wagner Vineyards Caywood East Vineyard Dry Riesling 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

04 Tuesday Feb 2025

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Pale straw colored with a watery sheen (11.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of petrol, lanolin, lemon zest, pomelo, white blossom, green almond, wet rock, strawberry leaf (I know…), nectarine, and green apple.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors of lemon zest, white grapefruit, white blossom, wet rock, and lanolin with a slight astringency on the mid palate.  The finish is quite tart, the acidity still very much in play.  Lemon, grapefruit and petrol carry through to a rather long finish.  It’s a young Riesling, with plenty of cellaring capacity and the ability to develop tertiary notes.  I paid $25 at the cellar door for this 90 point wine that gets 4 stars.  My pairing is a baked Halibut with beurre blanc.  Salut….

Wagner Vineyards Caywood East Vineyard Dry Riesling