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Tag Archives: 5 stars

Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2021, Sta Rita Hills, California

27 Saturday Jul 2024

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$40, 5 stars, 92 points, california, pinot noir, Santa Rita hills, VWTC


We tasted this $40 Pinot at our virtual wine tasting.  Stunningly delicious- it is pale garnet with high viscosity (14% ABV).  On the nose the tasters found it a touch jammy with barnyard, cherry, (pickles), leather, pomegranate, stewed strawberry and a touch of oak by way of vanilla and baking spice.  On the palate it has medium acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins.  Plum jam, cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, stewed strawberry all lead up to a long finish.  I gave it 92 points and on our group scale- 16/20.  Drink this 5 star bottle till 2030.  Salut….

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Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio Colli Orientali del Friuli 2022, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

25 Thursday Jul 2024

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$25, 5 stars, 93 points, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, pinot grigio


I took this bottle of Pinot Grigio to a blind tasting a few nights ago and am just now getting around to reviewing it.  Pale gold colored with copper highlights and a watery sheen (13.5% ABV).  It’s obviously had a bit of skin contact by the color.  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of grapefruit pith, lemon and lime zest, white blossom, chamomile, orange peel and slate.  On the palate it is dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body.  The flavors have medium (+) intensity with some peach added to the citrus notes I got on the nose.  It is slightly astringent (skin contact) yet has a nice mouthfeel.  The mid palate has some melon and shies away from the citrus.  The finish is delicious and long with waves of flavors.  I like this wine a lot.  93 points and for $25 it’s a 5 star gem if you like this style.  Lovely stuff to drink till 2028 with poultry or pork dishes.  Salut….

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Cartlidge & Browne Pinot Noir 2015, North Coast, California

25 Thursday Jul 2024

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, california, North Coast, pinot noir


Medium garnet colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of bruised strawberry, ripe yet desiccated cherry, dusty earth, cinnamon, vanilla, crushed pomegranate and musty leather.  The palate is a hint off-dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) body and low tannins.  The fruit is somewhat tart which defies the bruised and desiccated state I noticed on the nose.  Red fruit driven with a touch of oak nuance and some tertiary development.  It’s very smooth with very little structure left yet it is seductive and alluring.  A delicious yet delicate wine that pleads for time alone without a food pairing.  It’s not expensive and this bottle was a bin end that had sat on a supermarket shelf for years yet still delivers for me and gets 90 points.  I would drink it soon if you have any.  List price is under $15 making this a 5 star wine.  Salut….

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Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella 2019, Ripasso Superiore Veneto, Italy

18 Thursday Jul 2024

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$26, 5 stars, 92 points, corvina, corvinone, Italy, valpolicella, veneto


Medium ruby colored with copper highlights, slight staining and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, prune, black raisin, acacia tree planks, band aid, coffee, a medicinal note, blackberry jam and dried herbs.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins that are silky.  The flavors echo the nose and are medium in intensity but leaning more to the jammy blackberry, black plum and medicinal notes.  It’s delicious and far better than the last vintage I drank- this one is layered and inviting.  A perfect pairing for grilled Rosemary Lamb Chops methinks.  I’m going with 92 points on this $26 bottle, making it a 5 star effort to drink ill 2030.  Salut….

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Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2020, Marlborough, New Zealand

14 Sunday Jul 2024

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$22, 5 stars, 90 points, marlborough, new zealand, pinot noir


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of barnyard, roses, baking spices, dusty bramble, cherry and black raspberry.  On the  palate it is dry with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins and a medium body. I get flavors of funky barnyard, cherry, raspberry, roses and deft oak that lead to a medium length finish. 90 points from me for this $22 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2028.  (It got 86 pints on release but I feel it has developed nicely, if you like a meatier, heavier style of Pinot with lashings of oak).  Salut….

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Kysela Pere et Fils Picpoul de Pinet H.B. 2023, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

07 Sunday Jul 2024

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$9, 5 stars, 89 points, france, languedoc, picpoul de pinet


Pale lemon/lime colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, white pear, sea salt, green apple, lemon zest, grapefruit and waxy lanolin.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Tart flavors of lemon zest, green apple, peach, sea spray and white pear.  The finish is tangy, zesty and medium in length.  This $9 stunner is a dead ringer for Albarino imo- cutting acidity, sea spray, peach and lemon zest remind me of that grape.  I am pairing it with steamed King Crab, seems like the natural thing to do.  89 points from me makes this a 5 star effort that I will pound this summer- after all it runs under a tenner.  Salut….

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Vinedos y Bodegas Gormaz ‘Catania’ Reserva 2017, Ribera del Duero, Spain

06 Saturday Jul 2024

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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo


Deep ruby with some copper and orange highlights and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, vanilla, baking spice, coconut shavings, mint, tobacco, loam and leather.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are a still quite grippy after 7 years.  Ripe black fruit with healthy yet well done oak treatment which gives me vanilla, coconut, baking spice and coffee.  Dried herbs with loam, mint, leather and tobacco round out the flavor profile.  The finish is long yet a touch astringent and tangy from the acidity.  It’s still youthful in structure even thought the aromas and flavors are developing nicely- it’s a bit disjointed.  I would love to revisit in a year or two, I think it has lots of potential and will score it accordingly at 91 points.  For under $20 it’s worth stocking the cellar with this Spanish Tempranillo that gets 5 stars.  Drink from 2025 till 2030.  Salut….

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Osborne Pedro Ximenez 1827 Sweet Sherry NV, Andalucia, Spain

30 Sunday Jun 2024

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$32, 5 stars, 92 points, andalucia, dessert wine, Pedro Ximenez, sherry, spain


Deep amber colored with heavy staining and a high viscosity (17% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of stewed prunes, dried nuts, desiccated blueberry, vanilla thread, raisins, Christmas cake and cherry cola syrup.  The palate is very sweet, with medium acidity and a full body that sits heavily on the tongue.  The flavors echo the nose with a touch of heat interfering on the back end.  It’s a luscious wine for sure that has a medium to long finish.  I would pair it with vanilla ice cream or a cheese board with some stinky blue on it.  Delicious stuff but a thimble-full will go a long way.  92 points, and for $32 it gets 5 stars.  Salut….

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Alpha Estate Single Vineyard Turtles Malagouzia 2021, Amyndaio, Greece

28 Friday Jun 2024

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$22, 5 stars, 91 points, Amyndaio, greece, malagouzia


Pale lemon with some green tint and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of pineapple, tangerine, melon, papaya, lanolin, crisp white pear and peach.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of white pear, peach, melon, papaya and mixed citrus make for a delightful flavor bouquet.  The finish is crisp, clean, and mouthwatering.  It last 10-15 seconds and makes me reach for another sip.  Delicious and showing complexity, this wine is a treat that I will pair with oysters.  It gets 91 points from me and for $22 it’s a 5 star wine to stock up on.   Drink till 2028.  Salut….

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Buil & Gine ‘Gine Gine’ 2020, Priorat DOCa, Spain

27 Thursday Jun 2024

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$21, 5 stars, 90 points, grenache, Priorat, spain


Deep purple/garnet with some haze, minor staining and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe black cherry, black raspberry, licorice, slate, menthol, baking spices, brambleberry and is very primal at this stage.  The palate is  dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins, bordering on high.  Rich, ripe dark cherry, raspberry and brambleberry resonate right off the bat.  I get nuance of licorice as was on the nose and also some menthol and dried herbs.  The slate/iron note is somehow absent.  The fruit is very much in charge here but the tannins kick it up on the mid-palate.  The finish is a touch dry and quite long.  This Grenache based wine has aging capacity and should soften with tertiary development till 2032.  I am going with 90 points and for $21, this is a 5 star effort.  Salut….

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