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Tag Archives: $42

VIK A Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

30 Sunday Oct 2022

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$42, 4 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, cachapoal valley, carmenere, chile, Naked Wines


Deep ruby with a touch of turbidity and thick legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has black currants, some black plum, blackberry and menthol.  I get some baking spices and ripe strawberries with some extra swirling.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and gentle (medium) tannins that are well integrated.  This Cabernet blend has 12% Carmenere and 3% Syrah that give it some angularity.  The black fruit and strawberry are present as is the spice box.  I sense a hint of oak alongside the minty note that adds complexity.  Full bodied, this wine carries through to a long finish that turns a touch astringent.  Something tells me the Carmenere was a touch green.  Over-all this is a decent wine from a good producer that will drink nicely with our 24 hour Sous-vide  beef chuck roast.  I would enjoy this wine till 2025.  At $42 it gets 90 points and 4 stars from me.  Salut….

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Beringer Vineyards Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Sonoma County, California

08 Tuesday Mar 2022

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$42, 5 stars, 94 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, sonoma county


A deep ruby, bordering on ink in the glass.  I get pronounced aromas of blackberry, cassis, black plum, eucalyptus, oak, coffee and ripe blueberry jam.  The palate is super smooth, rich, warm and delightful.  Dry and slightly tannic, this full bodied wine has great flavors of ripe black and blue fruits, excellent barrel integration with coffee, oak and vanilla notes to go with medium acidity.  The finish is medium (+) in length and quite dry from the persistent yet integrated tannins.  A very well balanced wine with great mouthfeel that will drink beautifully till 2030 with wild game, grilled meats, rich cheese platters or just all by itself.  94 points from me make this $42 stunner a 5 star effort.  Glad I got a case.  Salut….

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Massaya Gold Reserve Rouge 2012, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

28 Thursday Oct 2021

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$42, 5 stars, 92 points, bekaa valley, cabernet sauvignon, lebanon, Mourvèdre


I bought this aged Lebanese blend of 50% Cab Sav, 40% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah from Quebec.  It’s starting to turn garnet but is opaque in the glass with nice legs showing off the potent 15% ABV.  The nose is quite intense with lovely aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, charcoal, black plum, cloves, chocolate nibs and espresso bean.  The palate is young with grippy tannins and gentle acidity.  The flavors are all black fruit and oak driven.  The tannic grip is a little overpowering for the fruit on the initial attack but I do get the flavors on the mid palate.  Full bodied.  The finish is medium but quite dry from the tannins that coat my tongue and gums.  There is a depth of flavor I sense that will make this wine really shine in the future.  It may be 9 years old already but it’s an infant-  powerful and layered, it will drink nicely from 2024-2030.  92 points for this $42 bottle make it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

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Frog’s Leap Heritage Blend 2017, Napa Valley, California

01 Saturday May 2021

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$42, 3 stars, 89 points, california, charbono, Napa


This is a very interesting blend of 48% Charbono, 27% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignan, 7% Gamay, 4% Mourvedre, 4% Mondeuse and 1% Riesling! Wow…. BTW- Charbono is also known as Bonarda. The wine itself is deep purple and nearly opaque. The lack of legs made me search the label- 12.8% ABV- shocking in these modern times where super ripe fruit (high sugar=high alcohol) is the norm.

The nose has candied plum, blueberry and a herbaceous note. On the palate it is refreshingly tart with nice flavors of white plum, blueberries and charred wood. The green notes not showing up. Medium tannins accompany the fruit and I get a dry back-end from the tart acidity and tannin components. It’s a lighter weight wine that will pair nicely with duck or grilled stuffed mushrooms. It’s certainly an interesting combination of grapes and for $42, you too can try this 89 point wine! 3 stars from me, drink till 2026. Salut….

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Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2013

09 Wednesday Nov 2016

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$42, 3 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, Napa, napa cabernet


A college friend moved to our area last year and we have been trying to meet up more than just once every six months, so when he suggested bringing over some vino and charcuterie on a beautiful Saturday afternoon….  I lit the outdoor fire and cleared the patio.

First up was this gem from Napa.  Relatively young, I figured it could use decanting.  We drank it with various cold meets and cheeses and talked of the old days.  It was a fun afternoon and the wine certainly made it a memorable experience.  I did not take notes but am relying on my memory.

Color was textbook and the nose had plum, dark fruits and a hint of oak.  On the palate, super smooth.  If nothing else, this wine glides like buttah.  A rounded mouthfeel full of more dark plum and black berries.  The tannins were very integrated and not drying.  Either the decanting really did the trick or the wine is very stealthy with hiding them.  A balanced acidity make this wine very easy to drink now, but I think it will cellar well for a few years (Say till 2022).  Our pairing was excellent with the cold cuts but think this wine will be great with a fall dish like Osso Bucco, Coq au Vin or even Venison stew.  I’m liking it a bunch and will go 90 points on this $42 offering.  3 stars and worthy of splashing out with good friends.  Salut…

stags leap artemis

 

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Scribe Pinot Noir III. Storm King 2014

27 Saturday Feb 2016

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$42, 3 stars, 89 points, carneros, carneros pinot noir, Napa, pinot noir


From a friend’s cellar-  Nose of raspberry and Bing cherry. Initial taste consists of a certain effervescence to go with raspberry coulis and some cherry juice. Mild tannins and slight acidity make it easy drinking. The mid palate shows off more cherries and some green vegetal hints. The finish is tart with hints of pomegranate and more effervescence. 89 points from me make this $42 offering a 3 star wine.  Pairing wise, it probably could use some Venison or other game.  Salut….

scribe pinot noir storm king

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Tudor Pinot Noir 2006

25 Wednesday Dec 2013

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$42, 3 stars, 90 points, pinot noir, santa lucia highlands


From the Santa Lucia Highlands comes this modern styled Pinot Noir.  Bright cherries and gobs full of green pepper swirled around in some decent acidity with a nice finish. Not exactly my style of Pinot, but certainly well made and delicious.  I would bet this wine is popular with New World fans as it offers upfront fruit and a touch of the wood.  It is very smooth at 7 years of age and will probably go for another 5 years.  I don’t see much evolution a’la Burgundy but it will retain its freshness.  WS gave it 91, I’m going with 90.  I believe it can be found for $42 now which makes it a solid 3 star wine for me.  I would drink this with Roast Chicken or by itself, keeping a watch on the sneaky 14.2% alcohol so it doesn’t sideswipe you.  Salut….

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Torbreck ‘The Struie’ 2010

17 Sunday Nov 2013

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$42, 4 stars, 91 points, aussie shiraz, Barossa Shiraz


This is a massive wine with great credentials.  Almost black in the glass I knew I was in for a treat.  Hoping for complexity, finesse and not the usual Aussie fruit bomb, I was not disappointed.  This wine offered layers of blackberry, blueberry and chocolate with ripe plums interlaced .  The tannins are fully integrated now and there is a gentle acidity to balance the package up.  2010 was a great year for Barossa and it shows in this gem.  Moxie and I paired this up with some massive Ribeyes, Spaghetti Squash, roasted Rutabaga and sautéed greens.  The combination worked and allowed the wine to shine against the relatively basic flavors.  This wine got large points  (93 WA, 91 WS) for a good reason.  It is well made and will provide lots of enjoyment for the $42 price, I agree with 91 and give it 4 stars.  Salut….
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Carpineto Vigneto Poggio Sant’Enrico 2001

17 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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$42, 4 stars, 92 points, Nobile di Montepulciano, sangiovese


A Vino Nobile di Montepulciano made from the Sangiovese grape.  I have been sitting on this one for a while waiting for the right time and the right meal.  Tonight my stars aligned.  Moxie went nuts and cooked the mother of all Paleo meals- a Ribeye, Bang Bang Shrimp, sauteed mushrooms, roasted Yam fries and a Kale/Brussell sprout salad with homemade French country dressing.

IMG_0031The wine was superb.  I just love Sangiovese and this one was so typical of the grape.  Cherries and a delicious use of oak.  This wine is 12 years old and is just now coming to life.  A great tannic profile with racy acidity have given this wine an iron-clad structure.  It still shows purple/red in the glass with no bricking.  It’s nose is dark cherry and strawberry.  Secondary flavors of earth, capsicum and leather really excite me.  I am getting a long finish and the tannins are mouth puckering, yet smooth.  Alcohol on this wine is 13.5% which is about where my threshold lies.  This wine started out at over $60, can be found today for about $42 and will not let you down with a big steak, pasta or rack of Lamb.  A serious wine that gave me much enjoyment, 92 points and a 4 banger.  Salut….

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