Tag Archives: $40

Baer Winery Arctos 2013, Columbia Valley, USA

09 Sunday Sep 2018

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Very dark in the glass, somewhat murky.  The nose is lush with plums, eucalyptus, bramble and fir tree.  On the palate it echoes the flavors with delicious purple plum paste and fresh earthy herbs.  A green note pops up on the mid palate which gives a bit of pique.  The tannins are well integrated and the acidity shines through at the end.   Green bitterness hits right on the back end which detracted me for a sec.  I love the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (84%) with the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  The greenness I’m guessing is from the Verdot.  Overall a very delicious, layered wine that drinks well now through 2022.  90 points and 4 stars for this $40 effort.  Salut….

Bodegas Balbas Reserva 2001, Ribera del Duero, Spain

26 Tuesday Jun 2018

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As you may know, we are moving.  Our last dinner gathering included two magnums that were still at the house.  I did not want to move them, so the opportunity to enjoy was present.  I did not take notes of the second bottle, the Perbrun- as I was hoping to do so the following day with what was left over.  Unfortunately, it was not as good as I had hoped and the leftovers had a ton of sediment.  It was originally $57 my price for the 2010 vintage.  Glad we started with the Spaniard!

Nearly black in the glass.  Nose is earthy, with tons of plums, black berry and violets.  The initial palate is very upfront with black, tarry fruit, ripe tannins, earth and a floral component.  The mid palate is quite dry, the tannins ruling the roost.  Eventually it transitions to a Ribena like finish with loads of rich black fruit.  Oak is present, but not overpowering.  It adds a vanilla dimension to the finish and smooths it out some. This wine is still in youth, 17 years after vintage.  It will last another 10 at least, mellowing out along the way.  93 points is what the pro’s gave this Tempranillo and I agree.  For the $40 entry fee it is a solid 4 star wine, but I am going to up it to 5 as I think this wine will evolve some more as it mellows.  I roasted two Beef Tri-tips for the pairing with an endive and frissee salad laced with Balsamic infused Shallots.  It was a grand last evening of fun in my beloved home.  Salut….

Delicious and young

Not quite as good

EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir 2015, Russian River Valley, USA

07 Monday May 2018

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A darker purple then expected from Pinot Noir.  Nose gives off gobs of strawberry, cherry pie and cedar plank.  The palate gives me some spicy notes of red fruits, violets and fig paste.  The finish is lengthy with very caressing, smooth tannins that are in perfect balance with the acidity.

This is a delicious wine that will reward instant gratification yet will cellar well for another 10 years.  I paired it with some of the best Lamb Chops I have had in a long time.  91 points and 5 stars for this $40 effort.   I’m buying some for the cellar.  Salut….

Domaine Louis Boillot Clos de la Chapelle 2008, Volnay Premier Cru, France

11 Friday Aug 2017

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I wrote about the 2008 Louis Boillot Volnay back in 2012 and promised to re-taste.  It was not a year later, but several.  Anyway, here goes.

Almost an orange purple see-through complexion.  Signs of middle age perhaps?  The nose has an earthiness to it alongside cranberries, strawberries and some wheat kernels.  You probably never saw that one as a descriptor!  The wine tastes much better than I remember, with a nice intro to some strawberry, barnyard and green peppers. It is very smooth with barely perceptible tannins until they reach a crescendo on the finish.  The wine’s acidity is on pointe with a nice cut to it.  The mid palate is all about secondary flavors.  The development is a treat.  This wine has evolved very nicely from what I thought was atypical Burgundy, into the quintessential Pinot Noir that defines Old World charm and character.  I am loving it!  I paid $40 per bottle back in the day and it looks like I ordered 6 bottles, I am hoping to cellar dive and come up with the other 4!  92 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

louis billet volley Close de la Chapelle

Domaine Jean Fery & Fils Les Vergelesses 2010, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru, France

03 Thursday Aug 2017

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I don’t think I have seen a lighter opacity in a wine before.  It is see-through and barely purple, more of a red. After a swirl in the BAG (Big Assed Glass), shaped like a tulip and made specially for Burgundy wines- I get an amazing cherry meets forest floor and mushrooms kinda scent.  Strawberries feature, but only just.  On the palate, super smooth offerings of violet, bing cherry, some acidity and a touch of dryness.  The mid palate has an earthier component to it and the mushrooms pop up again.  The acidity is prevalent here and continues to makes its presence known throughout the rather long finish.  This is an elegant wine that is still too young at 7 years of age.  It will mellow more and develop some nice secondary flavors IMHO.  I would drink until 2025 at the least if not more.  I’m grilling up some bourbon/honey marinated skirt steaks and sauteed creamy Kale.  I think the combo will work.  I reckon this is a 91 point effort that gets 4 stars for its $40 quality to price ratio.  Salut….

Domaine Jean Fery & Fils Les Vergelesses, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru

Clos du Bois Marlstone, Alexander Valley, USA 2012

23 Friday Dec 2016

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I started to suffer ‘Palate Fatigue’, otherwise known as getting tipsy when we finally got around to this sleek Meritage blend from California’s Alexander Valley.  Very dark extracted purple in the glass.  A nose of mulled plum, black stone fruits and violet.  The initial taste is plums, blueberry and a floral bouquet.  The mid palate shows off more blue fruits and a generous tannic backbone that hold this wine together.  The acidity is very subdued and the finish is medium in length.  I love this style of Bordeaux blend with a large majority (72%) Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot for roundness, 5% Petit Verdot for some tannic backbone, a smidge of Malbec and some Cabernet Franc for the softness and floral notes.  90 points from me make this $40 offering a 3 star wine and a serious contender for space in the cellar.  Drink now till 2022 and pair with any roasted meats, hearty pasta dishes or even some charcuterie beside a winters fire.  Salut….
clos du bois marlstone

Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz 2011 revisited

03 Saturday Dec 2016

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I’m a huge fan of this winery and am working my way through their offerings and revisiting some that I have had a chance to cellar.  I keep a stash of wines in my locker at ‘work’.  Those of you that know me will realize that my locker is half way around the world from home, but I have some gems in there that have been sitting patiently in near perfect conditions- 60 F, humid and dark.  I met up with a mate from downunda, whom we shall call Mr. Rangley and I pulled this one out for a tasting.  The last time I drank the 2011 Blue Eyed Boy it was delicious so I was really looking forward to it.

Blueberry nose with plum ganache- delicious.  On the palate is a thick, long blueberry note with dark chocolate and graphite.  The mid palate involves a full blown explosion of more blue fruits, vanilla bean and rolling tannins.  I detect some heat which makes sense as this one packs 16% alcohol.  The finish is long and full of blueberry pie, 92 points all day long.  I did not notice too much evolution over the past three years which is interesting.  I’m not sure where this wine is going over its life span but it is built for the long haul and may yet develop nuances of age and secondary flavors.  If it doesn’t that is fine too – a unique tasting Shiraz that is well made and a treat.  5 stars at $40.  Drink all by itself for the ultimate experience of this wine but if you must pair it- Filet Mignon with Bearnaise sauce and some asparagus will do the trick.  Salut….

blue eyed boy shiraz

 

 

 

Cosentino Petite Sirah Napa Valley 2014

26 Saturday Nov 2016

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Blackish purple in the glass. Nose of cedar, black plums and tea. On the palate this wine immediately lets you know it is well built with hefty tannins. The flavors of plum, black cherry and pepper are fighting for control with the amazing tannins. I am loving this wine’s mouthfeel today in particular because it will pair beautifully with the ribeyes on the grill. If the dryness is overpowering for you I suggest a trip through a vinturi or decanting. The wine has a nice finish and the tannins go on forever. I really love this varietal and this is one excellent example.  92 points and 4 stars for this $40 offering.  Salut….

cosentino petite sirah

San Felice Campogiovanni docg Brunello Di Montalcino Tuscany Italy 2010

17 Saturday Sep 2016

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Run, don’t walk to your local wine shop if you have any desire to taste a delicious Brunello.  I don’t have notes on this wine as I drank it at a company hosted dinner and thought it would be rude to whip out the ole iPhone and ignore the boss for the sake of a review.  I will say that I took away some main points- it is textbook Sangiovese that is drinking on pointe, the flavors are rich and balanced, the acidity and tannins are right where they need to be and the wine was a superb accompaniment to the Lamb chops with mint sauce.

Good Brunellos will evolve and in their evolution will take on Pinot Noir characteristics reminiscent of aged Burgundy.  This wine is on the path and I am super excited for it- the trail is well marked and it has the backbone, stuffing and correct components to get there and provide years of pleasure.  While it drinks beautifully now, it will no doubt be an amazing wine in another 10 years and more.  The pro’s gave this one huge scores and I will do so as well.  96 was the highest and WS gave it 95.   I concur and given its $40 price tag this wine is a steal and worthy of 5+ points.  Salut….

san felice campo giovanni brunello di montalcino 2010

BriO de Cantenac Brown 2010, revisited

28 Thursday Jul 2016

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I last tasted this wine in it’s infancy, with instructions to revisit later.  Eighteen months on and it’s starting to open up, evolve and change in fruit flavors.  When I initially reviewed the BriO I only gave it 88 points.  This time is different.

Deep, rich purple hues with a nose of black currants, violets and cinnamon. The initial attack consists of blackberry, tar, and plum pudding. The wine is still showing some primal tannins, but they integrate well with the acidity. The mid palate and finish offer up more plums and a hint of eucalyptus. A medium length ending that leaves a certain tannic edge that begs for some red meat- good thing I’m doing kebabs tonight. I think this wine is just opening up and will drink well for another 5 years. 90 points and 3 stars for this $40 bottle.  Salut….

brio de cantina brown 2010