Tag Archives: 5 stars

EnRoute Northern Spy Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, Russian River Valley, California

09 Friday Jun 2023

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A friend brought this bottle of Russian River Pinot Noir over for a party, I got to evaluate it on day 2- here goes.

Medium ruby with a watery sheen (14.5% ABV).  Intense aromas of sweet black cherry, strawberry pie, baking spices, vanilla bean, candied cherry (like red twizzlers).  On the palate- medium (+) acidity with fine grained, medium tannins and a relatively full body. Imagine ripe, bright red fruit with subtle oak nuance of baking spices and vanilla.  A stunningly delicious and well structured New World Pinot that gets 93 points- drink till 2028.  Salut….

VIK ‘O Leão’ 2019, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

29 Monday May 2023

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We took the whole gang to Fogo de Chao for dinner last night.  It’s the same list that I discovered Vina VIK Mila Cala and fell in love with this Chilean winery.  Apparently the O Leão is produced primarily for this particular restaurant chain and is hard to find elsewhere.  If you have ever had any of their wines they follow a profile…. the most obvious being fine-grained tannins and a silky smooth mouthfeel.  This particular version is 49% Carmenere with 29% Cab Sav, 17% Syrah and the balance Cab Franc.  It has a dense ruby color bordering on garnet with medium viscosity legs (14% ABV).  Bright black fruit, baking spice, a hint of green pepper, cassis, and some red berries on the nose and palate.  It’s dry with medium acidity plus their trademark medium (+) tannins that are polished to a shine.  The finish of this medium to full-bodied wine is long and caressing.  It was delicious with our carnivorous extravaganza as the structure held up to hearty red meat yet was gentle enough for the lighter fare we gorged on.  I’m guessing a $27 retail price if you can find it.  I would drink this 92 point wine till 2027.  5 Stars.  Salut….

Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903 2020, Beaujolais, France

27 Saturday May 2023

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The surprise WOTN at our 31st virtual tasting was this cru Beaujolais made from old vine Gamay grapes.  I was expecting a bit of tannic grip from previous experiences but it turned out just lovely.  The wine is medium garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose gave us aromas of cherry coke, dark cherries, ripe/cooked strawberry and was noted as fruity- like a Jolly Rancher.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are plush and well integrated.  Medium bodied- this wine had flavors of cherry, intense ripe strawberry and the aforementioned candy notes.  I suspect partial Carbonic maceration but they have vinified the bulk traditionally to maintain structure for cellaring capacity.  It’s delicious and a star of the tasting.  I gave it 16 points on our score sheet and would go as high as 92 points for this $30 wine making it a 5 star bottle to drink till 2028.  Salut….

Meerlust Rubicon 2005, Stellenbosch, South Africa

22 Monday May 2023

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Medium garnet colored, this mature looking wine has high viscosity legs (14% ABV) and a touch of bricking on the rim.  The nose has intense aromas of cedar, tobacco, ripe cassis, dried black plum, balsamic, coffee, cocoa powder, blueberry ganache, purple licorice, a medicinal note (from oak I presume), crushed rocks and spring flowers- a truly amazing bouquet.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and high tannins that are very well integrated yet show some grip in this 18 year old blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  The palate follows the nose, but with less intensity, more structure and a full body.  The finish is slightly tart but long, reminiscent of Old World Bordeaux, to which this wine is modeled.  It’s a stunning bottle that is drinking en pointe and will do so for another 5-10 years.  It originally got 91 points with newer vintages running in the $40 range.  This bottle gets 94 points from me, had it been a touch more powerful on the palate it would have scored even higher.  Amazing stuff that has rewarded many years of cellaring.  Salut….

Lustau ‘Solera Reserva’ Pedro Ximenez San Emilio Sherry NV, Andalucia, Spain

18 Thursday May 2023

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Medium amber/brown colored with high viscosity (17% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of caramel, toasted pecans, prunes, Brazil nuts, desiccated blueberry, dark chocolate ganache, dried figs and cooked chestnut- very complex.  The palate is super sweet with medium acidity and a mouth filling texture, definitely full bodied!  Right off the bat I get dried figs galore.  The pecans, prunes, blueberry, chocolate and caramel all play supporting roles.  The sweetness is on another level- this is a syrupy elixir that needs a bowl of vanilla ice cream to be drizzled onto.  The finish is long and silky on this unctuous beauty that gets 94 points from me and at $30 a bottle it gets 5 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Weingut Winzer Krems Ried Sandgrube Gruner Veltliner 2021, Kremstal DAC, Austria

15 Monday May 2023

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Pale lemon/lime colored with very slight petulance and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose starts off with a spritzy lime zest, I can almost smell the effervescence.  White pepper, white peach, an amazing floral note of tropical flowers and orange blossom plus some vanilla thread at the very end.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body.  This is a crisp wine with cut and a burst of verve from the pettilance.  I still get white stone fruit and some citrus but the florals are missing.  I can feel rather that taste the white pepper which is an interesting opening.  The finish features the effervescence as it tingles the underside of my tongue.  It goes on for a while and is intriguing.  I picked this wine to pair with grilled Peri Peri Prawns- I think the spice of the dish will balance out the sharp acidity.  Lovely stuff- this is $16 per bottle and gets 89 points from me making it a 5 star effort to drink in the near term.  Salut….

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

15 Monday May 2023

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Medium ruby with high viscosity and staining (14.6% ABV). Intense aromas of black plum, blackberry, cassis, vanilla, cedar, cigar box and black raspberry. The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are plush and fine-grained.  Confirming the black fruit and oak on the palate- full bodied with a seductively smooth medium finish, 93 points. We are pairing this Magnum with char-grilled Ribeyes on this glorious Mother’s Day.  Drink till 2028, at $25 per 750 ml bottle this has to be one of the best QPR’s in Cali Cabs. 5 stars!  Salut….

Weingut Ewald Gruber-Roschitz Gruner Veltliner 2021, Weinviertel DAC, Austria

11 Thursday May 2023

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A beautiful shade of medium lemon with some petillance evident and a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pear, melon, white peach and a streak of minerality.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a tingle from the fizz.  The flavors correspond to the nose but I also get touch of bitterness and some herbal notes including white pepper.  The slight spritz in this wine makes it very refreshing along with the cutting acidity.  The finish is quite a tart affair with a touch of lime showing up along with the pear and pepper notes.  The finish is medium in length.  I’m pairing it with Cajun Shrimp and Andouille sausage- I think the bracing structure will offset some of the heat and will work well with the tomato base.  This is a very decent summer wine that gets 90 points from me and at $18- 5 stars.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Ondine Chattan Pinot Noir 2021, Russian River Valley, California

10 Wednesday May 2023

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Pale to medium ruby colored showing some extraction and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).   The nose has aromas of candied black cherry, ripe pomegranate, red plum paste, baking spices, red licorice and spring flower blossom.  The palate is dry with medium (-) tannins and medium (+) acidity.  The wine is medium to full bodied and carries through with the ripe, red fruit and oak nuance.  I get a touch of charred oak on the back end as the wine finishes with medium length.  I’ll be honest, it’s not my style of Pinot Noir- too heavy, too worked, too ripe- but it will appeal to many.  From a technical standpoint it gets 90 points from me.  At $19 a pop it gets 5 stars.  I’m pairing my bottle with Roast Duck and grilled Brussel Sprouts.  Drink till 2026. Salut….

Remhoogte ‘Aspect’ Merlot 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

03 Wednesday May 2023

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Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, bramble, black licorice, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, cedar slate and blackberry pie.  The palate is dry with crunchy medium tannins, medium acidity and a full body.  The black fruits coat my mouth and the oak nuances balance them out.  The finish is a touch tart, reminiscent of underripe blackberries.  It’s a silky affair with nice structure and good length that runs $24 and gets 91 points from me.  I would pair this wine with Filet, the tannins befitting the cut.  Drink till 2027.  5 stars.  Salut….