06 Monday Mar 2017
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See through lighter shade of purple. Stunning nose of mulberry, warm berry compote and a hint of cedar wood. The palate shows off red berries, fine grained tannins and a mouthful of warm brioche notes. There’s an underlying level of acidity that continues the whole length of this delicious wine. It just smacks of warm California fruit, nicely integrated with oak, balanced tannins and a freshness I’m really enjoying. 90 points and for $15 I’m giving it 4 stars and getting some more! Salut….
06 Monday Mar 2017
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I just spent some time in Asia on vacation. The flights to and from offered an opportunity to try some interesting wines. I made the most of it! If you have never had a Gruner Veltliner, I highly recommend them. I had this one with a seafood terrine and salad. It was a great match.
Golden dark yellow in the glass. Nose of pineapple and ripe papaya. The initial taste is quite refreshing, a cutting acidity introduces some pineapple spritz, with hints of lemon zest and pomelo. Nice mouthfeel! 89 points and for $15 a really solid wine that gets 4 stars from me. Salut….
19 Sunday Feb 2017
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Have you ever had Ribena? That is exactly what this blockbuster looks like in the glass. It is a 100% Merlot from Tuscany that got huge marks from some pros. I bought in on the hype and could afford the $20 entry fee.
The nose is rich with blackberry and stone. The initial taste is really delicious, with more black berries and plum mixing it up with gorgeous tannins and acidity. I also get smoky mineral notes. These flavors transcend the mid plate and meet up with dried blueberry on the finish. The tannins are lush in this wine and give off a nice mouthfeel all the way through the finish.
I must be missing something about the 97 points given by an Italian critic, for me this is a solid wine that should get 90. For the price paid it is a really good Merlot that I will be serving with Sunday Roast- 4 stars. Salut.
19 Sunday Feb 2017
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A gift from a neighbor, I was not sure what to expect. A slight bricking on the edges of an otherwise pale purple sheen. On the nose, a beautiful bouquet of mushroom, cherry and bacon. On the palate, strawberry, cherry and upfront tannins. The mid palate reveals more cherries, but darker this time. The tannins are really starting to grip and the wine finishes very dry indeed. The gaminess I sensed on the nose has all but disappeared, taken over by brutish tannins. This is not a delicate wine, nor is it very fruit forward anymore. But it is good. In its own way, this wine exudes power and poise at the expense of fruit and finesse. I am going with 91 points for this $50 wine. 4 stars. Salut….
05 Sunday Feb 2017
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$36, 4 stars, 91 points, cabernet sauvignon, Napa, napa cabernet
Really dark purple color, impervious to light. The nose leans heavily on blackcurrants with a touch of spearmint of all things. It’s really unique and very nice. The initial attack is all dark fruits with some gripping tannins. Flavors of plum come out on the midpalate along with blackberries. The tannins are ever present. The finish is medium in length and the dryness of the tannins goes on forever. This wine will go the distance but can tackle some hearty meals right now. Really tasty- 91 points. $36 if you can find it make this a 4 star effort. Salut….
05 Sunday Feb 2017
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From Sonoma comes this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon that got great reviews. I was excited to try it when I saw the bottle and was not disappointed.
Dark purple in the glass with a nose of red berries, a touch of oak and some cinnamon. On the palate, red fruits, bright acidity and some cola. On the mid palate , a hint of sasparilla, some eucalyptus and the ever present sharpness of the acidity, now with some offsetting tannins. The finish is decent in length and gives off strawberry notes with vanilla overtones. Overall a nice wine for the short to medium term. 89 points and for $18 it should be on your radar. 4 stars. Salut….
29 Sunday Jan 2017
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I am a big fan of Trivento, as can be seen in my write-ups. The Amado Sur is a blend of Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah.
Dark purple in the glass. A nose of black currants, oregano, chocolate powder. On the palate- currant, cinnamon stick and crunchy tannins. On the mid palate there are some plum notes as well the currants. The tannins are really apparent in the finish, and give off a dry mouthfeel. This wine is balanced and tasty, but perhaps young. It will reward some cellaring but offers good flavors and structure right now to pair with prime rib, eggplant moussaka or even roast duck with orange sauce- or some cheese and chorizo like I did. I like it and am going 90 points. For $14, this is a really good deal. 4 stars. Salut….
21 Saturday Jan 2017
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$12, 4 stars, 89 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, paso robles, paso robles cabernet sauvignon
A buddy of mine brought this along. He paid $12 at Costco for it and I was impressed.
Nose of sweet cassis, blackberry and pepper. The palate shows dark fruits, solid tannins and juicy acidity. The mid palate gives plum, dark cherry and a hint of cedar. The finish is laced with mouth drying tannins and plum torte. I would pair it with many different dishes, pasta, steak, cheese plate. A really decent drop for a party and something to buy by the case. 89 points and 4 stars from me. Salut….
14 Saturday Jan 2017
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$43, 4 stars, 92 points, cabernet sauvignon, Napa, napa cabernet
One of my sons is 14 and ice-skates competitively in Synchro and Ice Dancing. He has been with his Dance partner for just over 5 months and they qualified to go to the National Skating Championships this weekend in Kansas City. They all left yesterday and I was supposed to join them today, Friday the 13th. My flight cancelled and the weather is supposed to be horrendous out there. Why do I mention all this? Because his partner’s parents gave me this bottle of wine for Christmas, so it made sense for me to open it tonight in honor of the big weekend.
First off, this wine is a really dark purple- I can almost see extraction. On the nose, really nice aromas of plum, black currant and olive strike out. On the initial attack I get more plum, some really prominent tannins that give way to primal black fruits and a hint of the wood. This wine is young but delicious. The mid palate is where the tannins really take over and coat my whole mouth, perfect for Ribeye steak! The finish is rather long and gives out some hints of berry jam, leather and still more lingering tannins. The winemaker does a masterful job of hiding the 14.9% alcohol. The acidity is perfectly balanced and this wine is ready for some cellar time. By all means drink it now, but I think you will be rewarded with 4-5 years in the darkness. Drink till 2028 and pair it with grilled meats, lamb stew or even a rustic wood oven fired Margherita pizza. I am going with 92 points on this and for about $43 this is a 4 star wine. I’m loving it! Wish us luck this weekend and Salut….
05 Thursday Jan 2017
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If you read my last post on the Beringer Pinot Noir you may put two and two together to figure out that this is the second bottle we bought that took the price up to $18 for 2 instead of $11 for one. I saved the heartier wine for later, and I am glad I did. I really enjoyed the Pinot and was hoping for a repeat performance with this Cab. I was not disappointed.
Purple with a nose of plums, eucalyptus, black currant. On the initial attack, more plums, chocolate powder and currants. Medium tannins arise on the mid palate and complement the gentle acidity for a nice mouthfeel. The finish is medium in length and offers star anise, plum ganache and black currant. I’m going with another 89 points for the Beringer twins and give this one a thumbs up 4 stars. Pair with steaks, pizza, pasta and drink till 2020. Salut….
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