Tag Archives: 4 stars

Groth Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Napa Valley, California

14 Sunday Jul 2024

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Pale lime colored with platinum highlights and a watery sheen (14% ABV). The nose has intense aromas of cut grass, passion fruit, guava, papaya, lemon, jalapeno, lemon verbena and white blossom. The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body. Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the scents. A medium (+) length finish makes me reach for more. 91 points from me for this $34 bottle makes it a 4 star effort to drink till 2029.  Salut….

Bodegas Balbas ‘Pagos de Balbas’ 2021, Ribera del Duero, Spain

08 Monday Jul 2024

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Deep ruby colored with light staining and a high viscosity (15% ABV).  Medium (-) intensity aromas of charred oak, black cherry, blackberry, coconut and dill plus a generous wafting of alcohol that is noticeable.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins that dissipate rapidly.  Flavors of black cherry, blackberry, coconut, dill, mint, coffee and some char lead to a medium (-) length finish.  This is a young wine but is drinking nicely now and will develop over time.  It gets 89 points from me as I feel the alcohol throws it out of balance.  This Tempranillo runs $23 and gets 4 stars.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Muirwood Unoaked Chardonnay 2022, Arroyo Seco, California

02 Tuesday Jul 2024

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Pale lemon with some green highlights and a watery sheen (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, peach, pineapple, white grapefruit and orange blossom. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body. Flavors of white pear, pineapple, white grapefruit, orange blossom with a hint of lemon/lime. The finish has a touch of bitterness- perhaps a little bit of phenolics. It’s medium (+) in length and sits nicely on the palate. There are times when I feel like enjoying an un-oaked Chardonnay that hasn’t gone through any MLF or Sur Lie treatment, like today. We are pairing it with Chicken Divan after a hot day in the sun. 89 points.  This bottle ran me $15 and therefore it gets 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Hermann J. Wiemer Cabernet Franc 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

30 Sunday Jun 2024

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Medium garnet colored, nearly deep in opacity with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of black plum, grilled fig, purple licorice, cracked pepper, blackcurrant and brambleberry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body and medium tannins that are polished.  Flavors of black plum, blackcurrant, brambleberry, fig, cracked pepper and a charred note, perhaps some charcoal.  It finishes with long length and is a touch bitter at the very end.  Lovely balance and nice concentration.  I have had poorer vintages from the Finger Lakes that look thin and taste runny.  This is a much more staid version and has cellared nicely, albeit only 4 years.  It should develop further and drink well till 2030.  I’m ordering pizza to pair.  91 points and for $30, it’s worthy of 4 stars.  Salut….

Boutari Agiorgitiko 2021, Nemea HQ, Greece

21 Friday Jun 2024

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity  aromas of black cherry, earth, licorice, bramble berry, caramel, blackcurrant, baking spice, cracked black pepper and singed alder.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and medium (+) tannins that are quite astringent.  Flavors of black cherry, bramble berry, black currant, caramel and licorice dominate with some charred wood and black pepper notes alongside baking spices.  The finish is medium in length and the astringency disappears, leaving some generous fruit notes.  It all balances out in the end after the dry opening that was a bit disjointed.  I like this super dry wine and will be pairing it with grilled Sirloins.  89 points from me for this $18 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2029.  Salut….

Mary Taylor ‘Annamaria Sala’ Sicilia 2022, Sicily, Italy

06 Thursday Jun 2024

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Deep purple colored with some staining and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose of this Nero d’Avola has medium intensity aromas of game, black plum, cracked pepper, purple licorice, violets, charred oak and blueberry compote.  It’s very uplifting and quite floral once past the initial waft of gaminess.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium tannins that tickle the front of my tongue.  Flavors of black cherry, black plum and ripe blueberry with somewhat muted florals and oak.  The bitterness I get on the mid palate is noticeable yet enjoyable.  The finish is medium (-) in length and trends toward earth and bitterness.  The game note I got on the nose never showed.  I like this $19 effort and think it gets 89 points which makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2028.  My pairing tonight is cast iron steaks with baked yams and roasted asparagus.  Salut….

Pecchenino Botti Langhe Nebbiolo 2021, Piedmont, Italy

20 Monday May 2024

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I wanted to introduce our tasting group to young Nebbiolo without the price tag of a Barolo, nor the monster structure of one that is not yet ready to drink.  The answer lay in Langhe where this grape is made in a more approachable and affordable style.  Pale garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of forest, messy floor (!), stinky feet (not my descriptors!), chocolate covered cherry, strawberry, flint, anise, tobacco, smoke, green and floral.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium body and medium (+) tannins that are starting to soften.  Cherry tart, tobacco, black tea, forest floor and mushrooms with a long finish.  At $27, it’s an excellent value bottle to showcase the wonderful tastes and structure of this alluring grape.  I gave it 18/20 points on our grading scale making it my #2 wine of the night.  Technically speaking I scored it 92 points and 4 stars.  Drink till 2030 with pasta.  Salut….

Inama Carmenere Piu 2021, Veneto Rosso IGT, Italy

20 Monday May 2024

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A Carmenere from Italy was next up at the 36th virtual wine tasting.  This one had a dab of Merlot added but still showed plenty of greeness, especially on days 2/3.  Our tasters found this wine to be medium garnet colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  On the nose we got toasted marshmallows (!), vanilla, white pepper, toasted nuts, black cherry, plum, black raspberry, tobacco, the telltale capsicum, cedar and tomato leaf.  The pallet was dry with medium (-) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins.  Leather, tobacco, green pepper, black cherry, prune and some toasty notes were tasted.  The finish was medium in length.  I scored it 14 points on our tasting scale.  Technically speaking I think this is a 90 pointer with good potential.  For $22, it gets 4 stars from me with a drink by 2028 window.  Salut….

Bodegas Agro de Bazan Granbazan Etiqueta Verde 2022, Rias Baixas, Spain

20 Monday May 2024

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We kicked off the 36th virtual wine tasting with this delightful Albarino, tasted chilled first and then at room temperature for comparison.   I picked this bottle as we had tasted the 2018 Gran Bazan Ambar and loved it.  Pale lemon in color with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of cantaloupe, melon, yellow apple skin, peach and saline were noted by the members.  On the palate we got medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  Minerality was a key component of the taste with saline, cantaloupe, melon, honeydew, lemon pith and peach all present.  The finish was medium in length leading to a 17 point award on our tasting scale.

The room temperature version was very muted on the nose and palate but it had more minerality, less fruit and was waxy on the mouthfeel.  There was a pithy bitterness on the back end that we did not get with the chilled version.  It showed a shorter finish as well making it a 12 point effort.

Overall I love this wine and gave it 89 points which makes it a 4 star bottle considering its $19 price point.  I would pair it with grilled Swordfish or a Paella.  Drink now.  Salut….

Vinarija Skegro Krs Crni Suho Blatina 2020, Ljubuski, Bosnia-Herzegovina

19 Sunday May 2024

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Deep garnet colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, charcoal, licorice, coffee, bramble berry, dill and cocoa.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium (+) tannins.  Flavors of blackberry, black plum, cocoa, dill, licorice and coffee wrap around the firm structure.  The finish is medium in length and nicely balanced between fruit, acidity and tannin.  I like this $ 22 bottle of Blatina- something new for me.  I will go with 89 points and 4 stars.  Drink till 2027 with steaks and grilled asparagus.  Salut….