Tag Archives: $40

Refugio Ranch Petite Sirah 2016, Santa Ynez Valley, USA

25 Wednesday Mar 2020

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Dark and dense, totally opaque.  The nose gives me blackberry jam, florals, cinnamon, but just a touch.  On the palate it’s as rich as it smells.  Full throttle with the black fruits, a touch of sour black cherry and a definitive tea component.  There is an upfront astringency that goes head to head with a brisk acidity.  Somewhat overpowering but balanced. The midpalate is all about the to-and-fro with these two components.  The finish is really juicy, black fruited and tannic.  Petite Sirah is typical of these notes.  90 points and 4 stars for this $40 wine.  Pair with Moussaka or Bangers and Mash and drink till 2025.  Salut….

Molino di Sant’Antimo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2014, Tuscany, Italy

24 Friday Jan 2020

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Light shades of see through purple.  As expected from this varietal.  The nose is gorgeous- floral, cherry, garigue and mushroom.  It’s kinda funky, exciting and not what I thought a young Brunello could offer at this stage.

The palate is delightful, not as mature as the nose but there’s hope.  I get cherries, that funky mushroom thing, crispy acidity and very lithe tannins.  This is a bombshell of a wine folks.  There’s fresh fruit, trappings of tertiary flavors, well balanced structure and a delightful mouthfeel.  The mid palate is a seamless transition from the initial to the medium length finish.  I am so glad I got a case of this stuff, I’m going to cellar some and track the evolution.  I have high hopes.  Drink till 2030.  92 points and 5 stars for this $40 Sangiovese.  Salut….

Coelho Winery Paciencia Estate Pinot Noir 2014, Willamette Valley, USA

24 Friday Jan 2020

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See through pale purple with nice legs in the glass.  The nose is all about strawberries.  After a good swirl there’s violets and some yellow cherries.  On the palate it’s a very smooth rendition of strawberry meets cherry cobbler.  A touch of oak is a nice nuance.  The mid palate continues the theme and some acidity kicks in.  There’s a nice mouthfeel to this wine that carries it on to a decent length finish .  I’m digging it and the beercan chicken is gonna pair beautifully.  90 points.  Drink till 2026.  This wine gets 3 stars for its $40 average price.  Salut….

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

26 Friday Jul 2019

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The second tasting of the Les Vergelesses.  See-through reddish-purple with some hints of bricking.  On the nose I get fresh cherries, blackberry extract and nutmeg.  On the palate it is light, refreshing and young.  There is a red cherry component alongside strawberry coulis and pomegranate- which is adding some zesty acidity.  The mid palate is somewhat one dimensional with just strawberry and juicy acidity.  The back end finds those darker fruits again with black cherry dominating.  There’s a cedar note in there alongside some fruitcake.  This wine is still way too young and primal.  I foresee some great evolution in the next ten years, which is quite a stretch for a nine year old.  If you like refreshing, young Pinot- five in.  I’m holding my other bottle for a few years, looking for more secondary Burgundian flavors to emerge.  92 points and 4 stars for this $40 effort.  Salut….

Murrieta’s Well Port 2017, Livermore Valley, USA

20 Thursday Jun 2019

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Opaque and very dark in the glass.  Super concentrated nose of plum, almond and strangely enough- lemon peel (only a touch).  Currants and raisins pop in as well but in a supporting role.  On the palate this is a refreshing style of Port that gives me blackcurrants, espresso and mocha dust.  It’s delicious and fruity with a nice yet lithe set of tannins that very gently apply a dryness right on the finish.  This is a nice treat.  Absolutely pair this with soft, ripe cheese or perhaps a chocolate ganache.  91 points. $40 and 3 stars.  Salut….

Fattoria Vignavecchia Odoardo Beccari 2014, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Italy

09 Sunday Jun 2019

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Quite dark and opaque for a Sangiovese.  On the nose it’s quite purply ( is that even a word?). Plum pie, black currants and a dose of chocolate cake.  On the palate it is quite fresh, young in presence and fruit forward.  Cherry essence is the first on a list of palate notes- rhubarb comes in second.  There are some strawberry hints as well as kirsch- but no dark fruits.  Very strange, I was expecting more black notes and ended up with red.  The mid palate has some heat and the comings of some young tannins.  The dryness hits the base of my teeth.  Nice.  On the back end it’s all red fruits and some acidic charm to counter the tannic pinch.  Overall a decent wine that will drink nicely to 2024.  90 points and 3 stars for this $40 wine.  Salut….

Matt Parish Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, USA

09 Sunday Jun 2019

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Dark shades of purple in the glass.  The nose is overflowing with blackberries.  There’s a slight oak tint as well as blueberry torte once the blackberry subsided.  On the palate it is a touch astringent right up front but good fruit structure rolls in as well as some gripping tannins.  Black stone fruits are the main focus, with violets and cranberries- for their tartness- seem to coexist.  The tannins are relentless. Aerating would be key here unless you have a fatty, juicy steak.  Nice finish with blackberry and dry tea.  Astringent as heck but mouth watering and tasty.  90 points and 4 stars for this $40 effort.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Liparita Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, USA

05 Tuesday Mar 2019

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Bright purple- almost sparkly in the glass.   The nose is full-on Napa cab.  Rich plums, blackberries and cedar.  The palate mirrors- and it’s super smooth with a gentle ramp up of tannins.  The mid palate continues the dark fruit theme but this is where the black tea, crunchy tannins and Maduro leaf appear.  The finish is very dry, long and filled with blackberry jam, more tea and a touch of oak.  Delicious and worth 91 points in my book.  The only thing holding it back is the slight greenness of the tannins.  I’m serving up Sunday roast with this beauty.  4 stars for this $40 Cabernet that can be cellared or drunk till 2028.  Salut….

Raats Cabernet Franc 2015, Stellenbosch, South Africa

01 Friday Mar 2019

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Very dark purple in the glass.  Bramble, creosote, black berries and blueberry jam on the nose.  On the palate this is a tannic beast- full of dark fruits, young and brooding.  It is laced with blackberries, toasty oak and mouth coating tannins.  The midpalate has some telltale violets- the varietal shines thru.  On the finish this wine offers black berries, more charred wood notes and those really grippy tannins.  A touch young- it needs aerating or cellaring. Drink till 2027 with braised lamb, Moussaka or a thick steak.  91 points and 4 stars for this $40 Cab Franc.  Salut….

Quinta do Covão 2014, Dao, Portugal

23 Saturday Feb 2019

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Bright purple in the glass.  Plums and black berry come off on the palate with some earthiness that I love in Portuguese wines.  There’s a dusty component reminiscent of desert air that pops up as well.  On the palate it has telltale Tinto Roriz and Touriga Nacional notes.  There’s a tar component alongside spice box and blackberry.  The tannins are very integrated, of medium intensity and not astringent.  I like the mouthfeel and the balance is great.  The mid palate and finish are both steeped in black fruits and that spiciness.  The dry, dusty notes I mentioned earlier slip back in right at the end.  This is a tasty wine that gets 91 points from me.  The $40 price point makes it a 4 star effort.  Salut….