Tag Archives: $45

Jean Biecher et Fils Pfersigberg Grand Cru Riesling 2017, Alsace, France

11 Sunday Nov 2018

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Very pale yellow, probably the lightest colored wine I have ever seen.  The nose has pineapple, quince, peach and nectarines.  On the palate it is enticing- mainly peaches to begin with.  There’s a petroleum note that typifies the varietal alongside some yellow apples.  Super tasty mind you, with some focused acidity to keep things sharp. The midpalate has some enjoyable flab, a weightiness that fills the mouth and adds to the body.  The finish gets all serious with some flinty minerality, a resurgence of the apple theme as well as the nectarines and is medium in length and smooth.  Overall this is a terrific wine that gets 92 points from me.  Drink till 2025.  $45 is rather steep, but this one’s a keeper that gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Storm Chaser Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Reserve 2015

03 Saturday Nov 2018

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One of the lightest, most clear wines I have ever seen.  On the nose- strawberry, violets, maraschino cherry and a faint touch of oak.  On the palate it is lithe, smooth, tasty and well balanced.  Strawberries and rhubarb hit me.  The mid palate is so smooth and brimming with red fruits.  The tannins are quite present for a Pinot, I am enjoying them immensely.  The dryness continues on the medium to long finish which has more strawberry.  92 points for this very seductive wine made by Eola Hills that gets 5 stars.  $45 at the cellar door.   Drink till 2025 with roast Cornish hens, NY Strip or some cheese and crackers.  Salut….

Vite Colte Barolo Docg 2012, Italy

26 Tuesday Dec 2017

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Very pale and see through, just like a Pinot.  On the nose I get crushed cherry, strawberry  and slate.  Kinda like Pinot!  On the palate it’s different, much more brooding than lets on.  The flavor profile is more strawberry but I get a dark fruit note as well.  Tannins are grippy and give the wine a juicy mouthfeel.  The finish is generous with dark fruits coming through on its medium length.  This wine needs a bit of time, 2019-2027.  It gets 91 points from me and for the $45 list price- a 4 star effort.  Salut….

San Felice Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012, Tuscany, Italy

05 Sunday Nov 2017

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I really loved the 2010 Campogiovanni when I drank it last year.  So much so that I bought six bottles of the 2012 on spec.  It got great ratings (96 WS), was priced right at $45 and delivered free.

This one shows a slight orange tinge when I poured it, which is unusual for such a young wine.  The nose is cherry, earthy funk, mushroom, oak and a trace of truffle.  On the palate it shows primal fruit flavors of cherry, leather, gorgeous tannins and a juiciness from the impeccably balanced acidity.  The tannins deserve a sentence of their own- fine grained, discrete at the beginning, working themselves squarely into the mid palate and reaching a crescendo on the finish.  Not mouth puckering, but certainly apparent, very lithe yet powerful.  They hold the wine together nicely.  The finish has an oak hint to go along with the cherry and game notes.  This wine is very young, and holds promise for many years of cellaring that will help it develop secondary notes, maturing into a great Brunello.  I can’t wait to taste the evolution, perhaps starting in 2020.  I will have to go with 93 points right now and 5 stars.  Tonight’s pairing is with a Beef Pot Roast, bathed in Petite Sirah and braised for 6 hours.  Salut….

Cosentino Winery The Poet Meritage 2013, Napa Valley, USA

21 Sunday May 2017

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Just a gorgeous dark purple in the glass, it shows promise!  On the nose I get lavender, plums, and a remarkable blackberry hint.  On the palate I am getting delicious plums, black cherry kirsch and a hint of upfront tannins. As the wine progresses to the mid palate the tannins firm up a touch and the fruit mellows somewhat, indicating youth in this wine.  The finish shows off a blueberry component which has me confused.  Plums, Blackberry, Black Cherry and now blueberry.  It cannot be possible, yet here it is, bathed in very well integrated tannins and just a touch of acidity.  This wine is delicious, it really is.  My choice was to pair it with Strip Steak, steamed Artichokes and a Cauliflower puree.  A perfect match.  This wine gets 91 points from and for $45 it is a 4 star effort.  51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot are the make up of this Bordeaux style wine, which as you know really excites me.  Drink till 2022 at the least.  Salut….

Cosentino Winery The Poet Meritage, Napa Valley, USA

Merryvale Merlot Napa Valley 2008

18 Saturday Apr 2015

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I like this winery’s style.  Merryvale gets the right balance of extraction and finesse.  I tried to visit their tasting room last month in Napa but it was not my scene.  Dark and crowded with drunks falling off the bar stools, it reminded me of the old west or Georgetown on a Friday night during my college days.  I didn’t let that detract from my impressions and enjoyment of their wine though.  This Merlot is very dark and brooding in the glass with a nose of black currants, oregano and dried herbs.  A crisp linear initial attack of currant, stewed plum and dark berry compote. Immense tannic thrust on the gums is delightful and balanced by mouth watering acidity. Wowsa. This wine has a long finish and good cellaring potential. I enjoyed it with Cajun rubbed ribeyes, a perfect combination. 2015/2022 would be a good estimate.  92 points make this $45 wine worthy of 4 stars.  Salut….

merryvale merlot napa valley

Branaire-Ducru 2002

15 Wednesday Oct 2014

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A Bordeaux from St. Julien- albeit not the greatest of vintages.  I was pleasantly surprised by this wine.  Deep purple color with no signs of aging.
Plums and cedar with thyme and sandalwood on the nose opened the way for some plums, oak and cassis on the initial attack.  Blueberry jam and rhubarb stew came across along with some long integrated tannins and balanced acidity.  90 points from me for this cellared wine which you can find for about $45.  Drinking nicely now till 2020 at least make this a 3 star effort.  Salut….

branaire-ducr

Cadence Ciel Du Cheval 2006

31 Tuesday Dec 2013

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Mr. Leebering brought this one to the party, having stashed it in his cellar for a few years.  Unfortunately, it had an oxidized nose.  The good news is that the flavors were not too distorted.  This Red Mountain wine is a Meritage blend of 36% Cab Sav, 32% Cab Franc, 20% Merlot and 12% Petite Verdot- my style of wine!  A very smooth mouthfeel with black fruits and a coffee tinge on the initial attack.  Mellow tannins made it easy to drink with no hint of the 14.4% alcohol.  I wish this wine was not flawed as I feel it had the potential for greatness.  I cannot pass judgement on it as such but a quick look online shows a WS score of 93 making it a good value for the $45 price point.  Salut….

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