04 Tuesday Feb 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Very dark purple in the glass. The legs are almost nonexistent, belying the 14.5% alcohol. The nose has sweet cassis, fresh figs and a blueberry reduction. The palate is delightful, rich and smooth. Layers of blackberry, dark cherry, charcoal and anise flow from the initial to the finish. It’s a seamless transition with a nice touch of tannic bite at the end. I’m pairing with Picanha, mashed potatoes and grilled Brussel sprouts. Drink till 2028. 90 points and 4 stars for this $25 Cab. Salut….
04 Tuesday Feb 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
It’s been a while since I had a bottle of the Faithful Hound, so when I saw it- had to be done even though the new label is completely boring compared to the older versions! The wine looks a touch cloudy and semi opaque in the glass. The nose shows off nice plums, blackberry and licorice notes. The palate is very juicy with a nice plum core, very fine grained tannins that are not obtrusive at all and a decent graphite note. The mid palate gives me more dark fruit and a jolt of that acidity, it’s rather pleasing. The finish is a touch dry but not overbearing. The licorice and graphite notes are very prominent. Blackberry jam features as well. It lasts a good 20 seconds. A tasty, easy drinking wine that will pair well with a variety of foods. Drink till 2025. 89 points, and 4 stars for this $17 Bordeaux blend. Salut….
24 Friday Jan 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Really dark purple, brooding. On the nose I get violets, plum extract and black currants. On the palate it is juicy, mouth filling and packed with tight grained tannins. Black currant notes, black tea and some oaky vanilla start the wine off. The mid palate gets a dose of the tannins and some sour black cherries. That black tea component reappears with mouth puckering astringency, which is balanced nicely with the fruit and acidity. The finish is very dry with black fruit extraction and charcoal notes. 91 points and 4 stars for this $50 wine. Drink till 2030. Salut….
24 Friday Jan 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
In Magnum, I was hoping for a repeat of last years tasting of the 2008 Cab Franc. Dark purple, medium opacity. Nose is exquisite- plum reduction, oaky warmth, tobacco and leather. On the palate it shows purple framboise, some cassis, more tobacco and that delicious tertiary note of leather. The midpalate has a touch of tart cranberry compote alongside the flavors already noted. The finish is medium length, fresh and a touch tannic. This wine is at peak now. Drink till 2023. 91 points and 4 stars. Available from the winery as part of their library collection for $180, or $60 for a regular 750 mill- wow. Salut….
24 Friday Jan 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$12, 4 stars, 88 points, oregon, pinot gris, willamette valley
Very light yellow in the glass. The nose is lemony, bright and green apple. The palate is not as I expected- it’s got some citrus, but not overly tart. I get pineapple instead of the expected apple and lemon. There’s a hint of green melon and gooseberry. The midpalate has a waxy mouthfeel that makes the chilled wine seem warm. The finish is rather short but flavorful. That gooseberry note picks up and the acidity kicks in a touch. This is a really tasty Pinot Gris that has a bit of weight to it. I’m digging it. 88 points and 4 stars for this $12 effort. Drink with chilled shrimp or some fresh shucked oysters. Salut….
07 Saturday Dec 2019
Posted in Wine reviews
Quite pale yellow in the glass with fine grained legs belying it’s 13% alcohol. On the nose I get lemon zest, minerality and slate. I’m expecting a cutting wine versus a sweet version of this varietal. On the palate I was wrong, it’s not tart, bracing or edgy. It has a warmth that surrounds yellow apples with lemon curd. The acidity is well in check but still obviously present. There’s a raw lemon component that appears on the midpalate and there is a nuttiness too. The mouthfeel transitions to a racier version with some nice honeyed notes on the mid-length finish. Very tasty and flexible, this one is going to pair nicely with my blackened salmon. Drink till 2030. 90 points and 4 stars for this $25 effort. (The pro’s went way higher BTW). Salut….
27 Wednesday Nov 2019
Posted in Wine reviews
Medium intensity purple in the glass with a nose of black cherries, eucalyptus and iodine. The palate gives me a dry, tart opening of blackberry reduction coupled with balsamic and that iodine note. The mid palate is very dry with the tannins coating my gums. Black fruits and Ribena are prominent. The finish is decent length with the tannins really gripping. There’s black cherry and a hint of oak back there amongst the black tea reduction. Well crafted and built for the long haul. Drink now if you like em dry or cellar for 3 years, until 2029. 91 points. For $30, this wine gets 4 stars. Salut….
22 Tuesday Oct 2019
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
I have really started to enjoy Sangiovese lately and seek out different variants. This Chianti weighs in at 13.5% alcohol and is medium purple with little opacity. Kinda what I expect from this varietal as well as Pinot. On the nose it is fresh with strawberries, cedar plank, a green capsicum component and garigue. The palate is refreshing with red fruits, crunchy tannins and a touch of wood. The strawberry I initially sensed gives way to red cherry and currants. There’s a rhubarb component on the mid palate that marries well with the acidity and tannins. The finish is lightweight but decent in length and continues the red fruit theme very nicely. The tannins slowly fade after leaving my gums rather dry. It’s a young wine which is drinking nicely and will cellar for another 10 years minimum. Drink till 2029 with eggplant parmigiana, beef stew or slow cooked chicken cacciatore. 90 points from me make this $17 wine a 4 star effort. Salut….
18 Friday Oct 2019
Posted in Wine reviews
Decent shade of color, medium opacity. On the nose I get purple fruit and charcoal. With a bit of swirling it morphs into raspberry. The initial palate has some nice black cherry and oaky char with a certain warmness to it. Fine grained tannins immediately show up and carry me to the mid palate which turns the fruit back to that plummy, purple note I caught on the nose. The finish is medium length, tannic and features more fruit and a dry black tea. Overall I’m enjoying this wine for what it is- a weekday quaffer that won’t break the bank. I would pair it with spaghetti, moussaka or even ratatouille. 87 points and 4 stars for this $8 offering, drink till 2021. Salut….
19 Thursday Sep 2019
Posted in Wine reviews
Medium intensity purple, almost seethrough. On the nose there’s a definitive charcoal note alongside blackberries and bramble. Licorice kicks in a little later after a good swirl. On the palate it’s pretty tasty with black cherry, coffee and more licorice. Tempranillo sometimes has a dusty, earthy component that I enjoy in Riojas, this wine has a hint of that. The tannins grip on the midpalate alongside dark fruits . There is a certain amount of oak at play here, but it’s not overdone. The long finish is a touch dry from the decent tannic kick. More blackberry and some vanilla carry me through to the very end. Drink till 2026 with hearty pastas, steak or roasted chicken- this wine needs food. 90 points from me and 4 stars for its $18 price point. Salut….
Wine reviews 