Tag Archives: 4 stars

Bodega Aleanna ‘El Enemigo’ Cabernet Franc 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

25 Sunday Feb 2024

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Deep purple with moderate staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of capsicum, black cherry, black plum, licorice, coffee, burnt sugar, clove, violets and acai berry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  Flavors of acai berry, black plum, black cherry, coffee, violets and smoky clove lead to a medium (+) length finish that has a nice tannic dryness and some caressing black and blue fruit.  Retasting- the body is medium (-) in weight and the density of the fruit is a little diluted. I can’t say I agree with the trio of 93 points from others, more like 90 to me. I am pairing it with Pot Roast and Yorkshire puddings, I think the tannic grip will do nicely with the fatty nature of the dish. At $22 it’s a 4 star wine to drink till 2027. Salut….

Brezza Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2018, Piedmont, Italy

24 Saturday Feb 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of cranberry, raspberry, black cherry and pomegranate. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins and a medium body.  Flavors of red fruit with cedar, red licorice and dusty earth to a medium length finish.  89 points for this $24 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2028 with pasta, Cornish hen or grilled/plank salmon. Salut….

Fox Run Vineyards Kaiser Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay 2021, Seneca Lake, New York

08 Thursday Feb 2024

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Pale lemon colored with medium viscosity (12.4% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon zest, marzipan, brioche, white blossom, grapefruit pith, vanilla thread and white pear.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of acacia, white blossom, lemon zest, marzipan and brioche with a hint of white pear.  The finish is medium in length and centers on the brioche and white blossom.  I liked this bottle at the winery and I like it now in my tasting cocoon.   It gets 89 points from me and for $17- 4 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Fox Run Vineyards Lemberger 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

05 Monday Feb 2024

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Pale ruby with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose of this Lembereger (aka Blaufrankisch) has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, smoky spice, vanilla bean and red cherry.  It’s not overly complex but rather pleasing.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins and a lightweight body.  The cherry hits first followed by that smoky note.  Blueberry, vanilla, red raspberry and tart strawberry play supporting roles.  The finish is juicy and delicious, medium in length.  This wine is light in body but full of deliciousness that made me buy three bottles at the winery when we visited .  I drank one the same night and polished off the second when we got home.  I felt obliged to restrain myself on the third bottle until I was ready to review it.  90 points from me ( I originally went 88, but I’m digging it more now).  My pairing tonight is charcoal grilled Sirloin, a low fat cut that will do well from this low tannin yet silky charmer.  It can be found for $18 and gets 4 stars from me.  Drink till 2027.  (I might have to order some more!).  Salut….

Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees Moulin-a-Vent 2020, Beaujolais, France

30 Tuesday Jan 2024

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My tasting group reconvened last night after a 9-month hiatus.  It was good to be back!  This little gem went under the radar.  No one guessed Cru Beaujolais!  I decided to bring the rest home and retry it under less stressful conditions.  The wine is medium ruby colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, cola and pepper.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium (-) body.  It has settled down since last nice, the tannic grip far smoother and less intense.  Flavors of dark red fruit coupled with cola, pepper and a granitic minerality coat my mouth ever so.  The finish is medium in length and has a slightly sour cherry note, keeping things fresh.  A delightful Gamay wine that could drink nicely till 2028.  I’m going with 89 points and for $25- 4 stars.  Salut….

Osborne Medium Sherry NV, Andalucia, Spain

17 Wednesday Jan 2024

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Pale amber colored with high viscosity (17% ABV).  The nose of this sherry has medium intensity aromas of nuts, green almonds, a touch of yeast, seaspray and burnt sugar.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a full body.  Medium intensity flavors of warmed cashews, green almonds, caramel, yeast and caramel/burnt sugar carry throughout to a long finish that has a bit of lingering heat.  It’s a tasty drop for sure that could use chilling (I’m tasting at room temp btw).  In case you missed it- Medium Sherry is an Amontillado (partial Biological age then Oxidatively aged) base wine that is sweetened to between 5-115 g/l of sugar.  I like it and think it deserves 89 points.  For $13 it gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Phebus Torrontes 2022, Mendoza, Argentina

15 Monday Jan 2024

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Pale lemon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose of this aromatic wine is quite intense with aromas of wild flower, lemon zest, grapefruit, papaya, pink guava, rosewater and tangerine.  It’s quite a potpourri!  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a refreshingly light body.  The flavors are not quite as intense as the nose but I still get loads of wild flower, citrus and tropical fruit notes. The papaya is quite prominent and reminds me of growing up in Africa.  One would be mistaken in assuming this veritable fruit salad is going to be off-dry- it’s really dry and crisp.  The finish is short to medium in length with citrus pith dominating.  I am really enjoying this Torrontes as I did with the 2021 vintage .  This one gets 89 points from me and at $13 it’s a buy-by-the-box wine for the upcoming summer.  Pair with crisp salad, grilled chicken salad or tuna fish casserole.  4 stars.  Salut….

Quinta do Crasto Superior 2016, Douro, Portugal

06 Saturday Jan 2024

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This is the third time I have tasted the Crasto Superior 2016.  It started out horribly the first time I drank it in 2022, the second bottle being far better so I ordered this one for our tasting group in hopes it would redeem itself.  Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose had aromas of blueberry, violets, vanilla, black cherry and was a touch jammy.  On the palate it had medium acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  Flavors of blueberry jam, tart cherry and powdery cocoa greeted us.  The finish was medium (-) in length.  I wrote to drink this bottle now as I feel the structure has nearly reached its end game.  At 11 points from on our grading sheet it was unimpressive, until later.  This wine opened up nicely over the next few hours and I have upgrade my initial score of 88 points to 90.  We paid $24 for it and I would say it’s a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Osborne Fino Sherry NV, Jerez, Spain

03 Wednesday Jan 2024

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Medium lemon colored with high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of green almonds, baked sourdough, lemon pith, yeast, saline and petrichor.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a full body.  Flavors of almonds, bread, yeast and some citrus are evident along with tangy salt and wet stone notes.  The finish is long and a touch hot from the lingering alcohol but I’m enjoying the balance of heat and tangy flavors.  A very enjoyable aperitif to drink now- it cost me $16 and gets 89 points making it a 4 star effort.  Best paired with nuts or a charcuterie board.  Salut….

Anton Bauer Gruner Veltliner Ried Gmirk 2021, Wagram, Austria

11 Monday Dec 2023

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Pale platinum lemon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of wool, white pepper, lemon zest, grapefruit pith, saline and petrichor.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body.  The pepper and wool notes resonate right away followed by the citrus peel, pith and zest.  Wet stone is prevalent on the mid palate with a touch of bitterness.  The back end is tart with citrus and carries on for a medium finish that is quite refreshing.  I’m baking some lemon/ butter Barramundi and rice to pair, should work quite well.  Drink this light and lively number till 2025.  89 points from me for this $17 bottle makes it a 4 star effort.  Salut….