Tag Archives: 4 stars

Sin Fronteras Los Primos 2021, California

08 Thursday May 2025

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Deep purple colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, black plum, vanilla thread, violets, anise, cardamom, and espresso.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Fruit intensity is medium and I get the darker red fruits I mentioned on the nose alongside a bit of spice by way of anise, vanilla and espresso.  The flowery component is missing now as is the highly aromatic cardamom.  There is a slight charred oak note as well as a hint of astringency on the mid-palate but overall this wine leads nicely into a medium length finish that is fruit driven.  I like it.  89 points for this $13 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink over the near term.  Salut….

Sin Fronteras Los Primos

Arabella Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Western Cape, South Africa

02 Friday May 2025

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Medium ruby colored with slight staining, and a medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, black plum, licorice, charred oak, mint, tomato stalk, and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins that are plush. Slightly more intense flavors of black cherry, black plum, licorice, coffee, and a hint of tomato leaf.  The finish is very smooth and lush, the tannins completely melded and the ripe fruit shining through.  It’s a tasty drop with a structure to age short term that will pair nicely with filet, veal or a hearty roast duck.  I enjoyed the 2019 vintage and think this one is on par at 89 points.  Still running $13, it’s a solid 4 star wine.  Salut….

Arabella Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Franck Massard Garnacha 2021, Spain

29 Tuesday Apr 2025

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Pale ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14.2% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, garrigue, strawberry, funky mushroom, violet, and rhubarb.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins.  There’s a noticeable astringency on the mid palate.  Medium intensity flavors of red raspberry, rhubarb, pomegranate, strawberry, earthy dried herbs and some barnyard funk.  The finish is a lively, tart affair that goes on medium length.  An interesting wine that I am enjoying, as I did the 2019 vintage.  It will pair well with lighter meat dishes, tapas, or even a roast hen.  Drink till 2028.  89 points for this $15 bottling makes it a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Franck Massard Garnacha

Devocion Cabernet Franc 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

23 Wednesday Apr 2025

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Deep garnet colored, with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of green pepper, charcoal, black plum, blackberry, cassis, tomato leaf, funky mushroom, and acai berry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are a touch gritty even after a few years of age.  Medium intensity flavors of blackberry, black currant, black plum, green pepper, tomato stalk, and a smoky oak note but no sign of the funk.  The finish is nice and dry with the tannins still gripping whilst black fruit notes linger mid length.  It’s a nice drop and only runs $20.  I am more upbeat than others and will go with 90 points for this organically made wine, making it a 4 star effort to drink till 2029.  Salut….

Devocion Cabernet Franc

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