Tag Archives: 5 stars

Kia Ora Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Marlborough, New Zealand

27 Tuesday Aug 2024

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Very pale lemon colored with titanium highlights and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of lime zest, lime, cut grass, asparagus, white blossom, orange blossom, hints of peach, grapefruit and sea spray.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  The citrus driven nose is echoed on the palate with some green notes, stone fruit and florals.  It’s a flavor driven wine for sure- delicious and refreshing with the cutting acidity.  The finish is quite long and tangy.  I paid $14 for this bottle that gets 91 points from me making it a 5 star effort to drink in the near term.  I’m frying up some Mahi Mahi and roasted veggies to pair.  Salut….

Bodegas Neo ‘Sentido’ 2020, Ribera del Duero, Spain

26 Monday Aug 2024

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Deep ruby colored, almost inky- with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, bramble, dusty earth, elderberry, coconut, charred oak and pine needles.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are slightly chalky.  Flavors of ripe black berries with that telltale dust combine with American oak nuance of coconut and dill.  The oaky charred note is there but diminished.  The finish is medium (+) in length but turns a bit hot at the end.  I like this Crianza level wine- it’s charming, structured and tasty.  92 points.  I am pairing this Tempranillo with some half-smoke sausages and fried potatoes.  For under $20, this one gets 5 stars.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Red Tail Ridge Estate Grown Pinot Noir 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

18 Sunday Aug 2024

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Pale ruby colored with a medium (-) viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of potting soil, cherry, strawberry, pomegranate and floral undertones with some smoky spice in the background.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a light body and medium (-) tannins.  It’s silky and tasty!  The red fruit and earthy notes I got on the nose are prevalent with some floral hints and a bit of minerality/granite.  This is an interesting wine that sways between light and airy with a delightfully lithe mouthfeel to a weighty Pinot that shows me it has some heft before cresting back to dancing on my tongue.  It finishes long and begs for another sip.  Delicious and worthy of 93 points.  I paid $30 at the winery for this 5 star wine that can be savored till 2035.  Salut….

Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2022, Stellenbosch, South Africa

16 Friday Aug 2024

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Medium lemon colored with gold highlights and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon verbena, lemon peel, white acacia, orange blossom, vanilla pod, melon, mango, rosewater and perhaps a touch of lychee.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body.  Exotic flavors of mango, melon, lemon zest with florals of orange blossom and acacia mixed with a definitive vanilla-like quality.  The finish is medium (+) in length and a touch bitter, perhaps some skin contact?  There is a hint of oak usage here that I am enjoying alongside the weighty mouthfeel.  Tonight’s pairing is grilled Swordfish with beurre blanc- show hold up to that.  90 points, and for $14, a 5 star effort indeed.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Black Slate Gratallops 2021, Priorat DOCa, Spain

14 Wednesday Aug 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, black licorice, grape bubble gum (!), coffee, vanilla, baking spice, blueberry compote and mint.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins. The fruit quality is very good and I get layers of dark red fruit intertwined with oak nuance.  Thankfully the bubble gum is nowhere to be found, an interesting note on the nose tho.  The texture of the tannins is sublime- slightly grippy yet silky making for a delightful mouthfeel that lasts medium length.  A well-balanced blend of Garnacha and Carignena that gets 92 points from me.  I paid $18 for this beaut and give it 5 stars.  My pairing is rack of Lamb.  Drink till 2030, Salut….

Bodega Gaintza ‘Gaintza’ 2021, Getariako Txakolina, Spain

13 Tuesday Aug 2024

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Pale to medium lemon colored with high viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lanolin, lemon curd, grapefruit zest and pith, orange blossom, salted caramel, peach, melon and cantaloupe.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body.  I don’t see any spritz in the glass but the wine tingles my tongue ever so slightly which is a feature of this region/varietal.  Citrus dominates with sea spray, blossom, peach and melon supporting.  It has a zingy finish that lasts medium in length for the flavor but long with the acidity.  It’s a very refreshing wine to pair with seafood, especially on a hot day.  I’m baking Mahi Mahi filets and this is going to work a treat.  Overall, this $20 gets high marks with me at 91 points and 5 stars.  I would drink till 2026.  85% Hondarrabi Zuri, 15% Gros Manseng.  Salut….

Glenelly Estate Reserve Red 2016, Stellenbosch, South Africa

09 Friday Aug 2024

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Deep ruby, inky in fact, with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of cassis, blackberry compote, mint, violets, tobacco, coffee, vanilla, baking spice, Rooibos tea, acai berry, blueberry and a medicinal note.  Quite layered and developing.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium tannins that have melded nicely.  Charred oak is the first thing I taste followed by ripe blackberry, cassis, blueberry, acai berry, vanilla, mint, Rooibos tea and that medicinal note (from oak).  The finish is medium (+) in length and focuses on the charred oak notes.  I like this blend of 43% Cab Sav, 21% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 11% Petit Verdot and 10% Cab Franc- it’s silky and layered reminding me of an aged Bordeaux.  It will develop more and last till 2030 methinks, getting 92 points and for $20- 5 stars.  It begs for a meat stew or grilled game.  Imma stock up on this beauty.  Salut….

Doolhof Dark Lady of the Labyrinth Pinotage 2020, Wellington, South Africa

04 Sunday Aug 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of coffee, dark chocolate, blackberry, bramble, creosote, red licorice and acai berry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of coffee and dark chocolate greet me followed by less prominent dark fruit notes and some red licorice.  The tannins are silky yet textured and have a delightful mouthfeel.  The finish is medium (+) in length and focuses on coffee and acai berry flavors.  It turns a touch tart right at the end.  Yummy stuff I am pairing with roast Duck.  91 points, drink till 2026.  For $22, this is a delicious wine worthy of 5 stars.  Salut….

Kobal ‘Roots’ Blaufrankisch 2022, Podravje, Slovenia

28 Sunday Jul 2024

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Pale to medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, acai berry, white pepper, chocolate licorice, orange peel and kirsch.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body and medium tannins.  Flavors of acai berry, red and black cherry, pomegranate along with white pepper and orange peel.  The fruit is somewhat tart, perhaps the acidity is driving the bus?  The finish is medium in length and tart, but refreshing.  This wine has a light structure but a piercing personality.  It’s a conundrum that I am enjoying.  I picked it to pair with Jerk Lamb, something with spice is a difficult pairing for reds but I feel the higher acidity of this grape with the lower tannins might work.  90 points for this $19 bottle makes it a 5 star wine to drink till 2028.  Salut….

J. Navascues ‘Cutio’ Garnacha – Carinena 2019, Carinena, Spain

27 Saturday Jul 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Garnacha (Grenache)/Cariñena (Carignan) blend has medium (-) intensity aromas of black plum, black raspberry, mulled blackberry, licorice, coffee, dried green herbs and charred oak.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins that are chalky.  Confirming dark berry and plum flavors with a dose of oak and some licorice.  It has a medium (-) finish with quite a bit of heat on the back end.  It’s quite tasty but the slight imbalance of high alcohol detracts a bit.  I am grilling beef and lamb kabobs to pair, should go nicely.  90 points and for $13 it won’t break the bank.  5 stars.  Salut….