Tag Archives: 5 stars

Hyland Estates Old Vine Gewurztraminer 2022, Willamette Valley, Oregon

23 Saturday Mar 2024

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We held our 35th Virtual Wine tasting last night and it was one of the best yet.  Kicking it off was this Gewurztraminer from Oregon that we tasted chilled and then at room temp.  Normally, I have found more expression and wider appeal with the room temp versions of white wines, but that was not the case.  Pale lemon colored with high viscosity (13.7% ABV).  You could smell the aromas from a mile away- so intense!  Lychee, yellow apple, nectarine, peach, red grapefruit, rosewater, apricot and honey- quite a melange.  On the palate this wine was dry with medium (-) acidity and a medium (+) body.  This varietal is often made in an off-dry style but this one was fully dry and slightly viscous in the mouthfeel.  Notes of apricot, honey, lychee, rosewater, grapefruit and pear went on to a medium to long finish.  It was delicious and got 17.5 points on our scoring sheet.

The room temp version was far less aromatic, which is counterintuitive.  More lychee  but less overall aromas that consisted of grapefruit, cotton candy, apricot, (Laundry detergent- in a fresh sense), crayon (not my words btw).  On the palate it was fuller in body but the acidity was somewhat even less pronounced.  Primarily honey and lychee driven, we also got cotton candy and some apricot.  I gave it 13 points on our sheet.

Overall this wine was a success, but drink it chilled!  I scored it at 91 points and for $20 it’s an excellent intro to this highly aromatic and wonderful grape.  5 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Bodega Garzon Reserva Cabernet Franc 2021, Maldonado, Uruguay

19 Tuesday Mar 2024

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Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of capsicum, bilberry, black raspberry, red plum, coffee, caramel, vanilla and smoke.  The palate is dry with a medium body and medium tannins.  Flavors of blueberry, plum, black raspberry, coffee and a remnant of the green pepper go on for a medium length finish.  This $16 bottle is delicious and well balanced, albeit not overly complex.  I would say it is worthy of 90 points and therefore- 5 stars.  I have always enjoyed the wines from Bodega Garzon and find them to be exceptional value for money- their Tannat is awesome.  My pairing tonight is a grilled Tri-tip with steamed Japanese yams.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli 2022, Getariako Txakolina, Spain

18 Monday Mar 2024

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Medium lemon colored with a deceptively high viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of white blossom, lemon zest, lime zest, tangerine, honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, grapefruit pith and cheese curd.  The palate is slightly off-dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  The tartness of the wine sharpens the citrus notes that now dominate.  The florals, which were quite lopsided on the nose now play second fiddle.  This is turning into a food wine for sure, it needs seafood to balance it out.  Delicious, en pointe and very zesty it has medium length finish.  I paid $18 for this bottle that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Made from Hondarrabi Zuri grapes.  Drink this delicious drop till 2025.  Salut….

Errazuriz Max Reserva Carmenere 2020, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

17 Sunday Mar 2024

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Deep ruby with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of bell pepper, black cherry, black plum, licorice, espresso, vanilla, baking spice and blueberry ganache.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium (-) tannins.  Flavors of plum, black cherry and blueberry with green pepper and oak derived accents.  There is a charred note on the mid palate where the green, herbaceous note fades.  The finish is medium (-) in length but very pleasing.  I like the structure of this wine- not too heavy, not too serious, not too tannic or tart- a perfect accompaniment to my Corned Beef dinner where the meat is soft in texture and slightly fatty served with a mustard gravy.  Drink this 90 point wine till 2027.  For $14 it’s a 5 star bottle to stock up on.  Salut….

Chateau Poujeaux 2018, Moulis-en-Medoc, France

11 Monday Mar 2024

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Deep ruby colored with minor staining and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, tobacco, cedar, black plum, camphor, mint, black coffee and iodine.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky and crunchy.  Flavors of ripe blackcurrant, black plum, tobacco, cedar, coffee and that sanguine iodine note caress the tongue and carry on to a longish finish.  I like the tannic structure- it’s grippy yet lets the fruit do its job.  I like the flavor profile, it’s a classic Left Bank Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  Lovely stuff that gets 92 points from me and for $34- 5 stars.  It’s open for business now if you like ’em a bit dry and astringent, or you could wait.  This beauty will last till 2035.  I’m charring up some Sirloins with a pepper sauce.  Salut….

McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand

09 Saturday Mar 2024

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Pale straw colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of cut grass, asparagus, gooseberry, Kaffir lime, peach and orange blossom.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Tart yet refreshing I get medium (+) intensity flavors of lemon, Kaffir lime, gooseberry, cut grass and dare I say it- cat pee?  (I actually like this note in my Sav Blanc every so often).  The wine has a crispness to it and is laser focused.  The finish is medium to long in length and the fruit warms up a bit- not as zesty as the opening.  I like this $13 bottle- a lot.  91 points worth and 5 stars from me.  A fascinating story about the winemakers- look it up here https://www.mcbridesisters.com/pages/story.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Botani Old Vines Moscatel 2022, Sierras de Malaga, Spain

02 Saturday Mar 2024

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Pale lemon colored with copper highlights and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, jasmine, lemon curd, white blossom, honeysuckle, tangerine peel and a waxy lanolin. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and some bitterness (skin contact perhaps?). Flavors of Jasmine tea, honeysuckle, lemon and tangerine skin, hints of peach and a salty minerality.  The finish is medium in length and the bitterness has worn off at this juncture leaving the mouthfeel a touch waxy with some saline and honey.  I am really enjoying the tropical notes of this rather aromatic wine, albeit not overly complex.  It gets 90 points from me and 5 stars, I paid just under $15 for it.  I’m gonna pair it with roast duck leg and mashed sweet potato.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Senorio de Villarrica Reserva 2018, Rioja DOCa, Spain

01 Friday Mar 2024

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Deep garnet colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose of this Tempranillo has medium (+) intensity aromas of vanilla, coconut, back plum, black cherry, tobacco, dust, cassis, Maduro wrapper, mint, dried green herbs, dried orange peel and blueberry compote.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  Flavors of black plum, black cherry, cassis, coconut, vanilla, baking spice, dusty earth, mint and tobacco persist to a long finish.  I’m impressed with this wine’s complexity and balance- 92 points from me and 5 stars since it runs $23.  I believe it has great cellaring potential, till 2033 but is drinking beautifully now.  Pairing tonight with Shish Kebabs.  Salut….

Clai ‘Baracija’ Refosk 2002, Istria, Croatia

23 Friday Feb 2024

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Deep ruby colored with medium intensity viscosity (13.0% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of garigue and funk, Cinnamon, bramble berry, blackcurrant pie, açaí berry, gamy meat and damp forest wood. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  Flavors of charred oak, açaí, blackcurrants, earth and some baking spice lead to a medium (-) finish.  The game note reverberates at the end.  Well balanced with taut grip, this wine gets 91 points from me. $26, 5 stars.  First time for me with the Refosk grape btw.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Xavier Vignon ‘Arcane Le Fou’ NV, Rhone, France

21 Wednesday Feb 2024

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Deep purple colored with slight staining and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, black olives, licorice, blackberry ganache, black cherry, granite and petrichor.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, full body and medium tannins.  The flavors are quite pronounced- black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry, licorice, charred cedar, olives and that mineral granite note.  The finish is long and silky with the tannins slinking away to reveal loads of dark raspberry and cherry notes.  The slight oak nuance is nice, as is the earthy minerality.  I like this $26 wine- 93 points worth, making it a 5 star effort.  I would pair it with hearty stews, game meat or meatloaf.  It’s drinking beautifully now and will do so for quite a few years.  Mostly Grenache, there’s other Rhone varietals from different vintages thrown in for good measure.  Look out for this wine.  It’s yummy.  Salut….