Tag Archives: 5 stars

Chateau Marjosse 2018, Bordeaux, France

26 Thursday Oct 2023

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity and very slight staining (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, charcoal, mint, cassis, hedgerow, blackberry pie and rose petals.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are chalky and bristle a touch.  The wine is full bodied with rich flavors of black fruit and oak coupled with some pretty florals.  A nicely balanced and maturing blend of Merlot, Cab Sav and Cab Franc with a touch of old-school Malbec that makes this Right Bank blend a pleasure to drink.  I am pairing it with Ox tail stew and rice with pees.  It will develop further and cellar nicely till 2029.  For $28 this 91 point bottle gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Myburgh Bros. Chenin Blanc Old Vine 2022, Paarl, South Africa

24 Tuesday Oct 2023

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Pale lemon colored with yellow highlights and a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, both zest and pith.  A wooly note permeates and I also get straw, white blossom, saline and a waxy honey note.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of citrus with that waxy, wooly note alongside some blossom and peach.  The wine finishes with a medium length- tasty stuff that gets 91 points from me and at $12- a veritable steal that gets 5 stars.  Drink till 2025.  Salut…

 

Chateau de la Gardine Rasteau 2019, Rhone, France

12 Thursday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Grenache/Syrah blend has intense aromas of raspberry, both black and red, violets, hints of vanilla, walnuts, red plum and a touch of game.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that caress.  A full body with flavors of raspberries, vanilla and spice from oak, violets and that telltale game note from the varietal. It’s more Syrah driven imho but the blend is 75/25 the other way.  The finish is lengthy and delicious.  It’s a lovely drop that gets 91 points from me and at $18- 5 stars.  I am grilling Hangar steak to pair alongside Miso glazed King Oyster mushrooms.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Sam Plunkett ‘Gentle Annie’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Victoria, Australia

10 Tuesday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+)  intensity aromas of mint, blackberry, black plum, eucalyptus, violets, graphite and espresso.  The palate is full bodied and dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are fine grained.  The palate has ripe dark fruit, telltale mint and eucalyptus for this varietal and region plus oak nuance with the espresso.  The finish is tart from the acidity and refreshing.  It lasts for a decent length, inviting me back for another taste.  Lovely stuff that gets 91 points from me.  We are painting it with Pot Roast but a hearty steak will do the trick as would some lamb chops.  Drink this $18 offering till 2030.  5 stars.  Salut….

Aldi Specially Selected Reserve 2018, Rioja, Spain

09 Monday Oct 2023

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose is earthy with dried plum, black berry, vanilla, dust, graphite and aloe.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are pretty smooth.  The medium weight body carries the oak laced dark fruit along to a medium length finish that is fresh with a touch of red fruit.  The earthy nature of a classic Rioja shows itself in this $9 wine that has been aged for 30 months in oak.  I like it- 90 points worth which makes this Aldi branded Tempranillo a 5 star effort to stock up on.  It’s a great value.  Drink till 2026 with hearty meat dishes.  Salut….

Clos Apalta ‘Le Petit Clos’ 2019, Apalta Valley, Chile

08 Sunday Oct 2023

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Inky deep ruby colored with staining on the walls and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of açaí berry, cassis, mint, vanilla, coffee bean, blueberry, kir and powdered mocha.  It’s amazing to smell.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are very fine grained.  A full body with rich flavors of açaí, blueberry, cassis and oak lashings leads to a medium (+) length finish that turns a touch tart.  Delicious stuff that gets 94 points from me.  It’s drinking beautifully now but will develop nicely till 2032.  For $40, it’s a no-brainer to stock up on that gets 5 stars.  I’m pairing with Sunday roast and a Port wine reduction. It’s a blend of 49% Carmenere, 30% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot.  Salut….

i-Latina La Armonia Vineyard Petit Verdot 2020, Curico Valley, Chile

02 Monday Oct 2023

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Deep ruby with inky highlights and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has gorgeous aromas of ripe blackberry, menthol, eucalyptus, violet, charred oak, acai berry, black plum and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins on top of a full body.  The flavors are delicious, ripe and inviting.  Black fruit, eucalyptus and violets, oak nuance and a medium length finish make this a yummy wine that gets 92 points from me.  It will drink nicely till 2028 and I would pair it with Filet and béarnaise.  For $16, this is a stunner that gets 5 stars from me- I need to order more.  Salut….

Casillero del Diablo Reserva Carmenere 2021, Central Valley, Chile

23 Saturday Sep 2023

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Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has telltale pyrazines with some green veggie notes along with blackberry, black raspberry, menthol, vanilla, cocoa and charred oak. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and lithe tannins.  A medium body is layered with blackberry and black raspberry.  The green note has faded but the oak nuance is present.  The finish is a touch tart and goes on for a medium length.  Not overly complex- this is a weekday pleasure that will go great with Beef and Ale pie, lamb chops or grilled sausages.  88 points for this $8 effort makes it a 5 star wine to load up on and drink till 2025.  Salut….

Specially Selected Vidal Icewine 2021, Niagara-on-the-lake, Canada

23 Saturday Sep 2023

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I must say I’m intrigued- a sub $15 Icewine from ALDI?  Yup, Moxie and I went shopping there yesterday and I came across this little gem from Canada.  It has a beautiful pale gold color with high viscosity (10.5% ABV, but plenty of RS).  The nose has intense aromas of honey, apricot, orange peel, candied/sugared citrus rings, white blossom and yellow apple.  The palate is sweet with high acidity and a full body.  Rich flavors of honey, desiccated apricot, orange zest and a tropical note like candied pineapple.  It’s silky smooth and unctuous with the acidity really dominant throughout the journey to a medium length finish.  It’s a real treat, something that will go well with an apple tart or almond cake.  This wine may last a while, the structure is there and for the price- you may as well buy a case and watch its evolution.  I’m off to buy more in the morning.  Delicious stuff that gets 91 points from me and an obvious 5 star rating.  Salut….

Carmen Stevens Red Blend 2020, Western Cape, South Africa

22 Friday Sep 2023

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Medium purple with hints of ruby and high viscosity (14.9% ABV).  The nose has ripe aromas of blackberry, black cherry, vanilla bean, blueberry cobbler, capsicum, lavender and baking spices.  It’s a very enticing nose- can’t wait to taste.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins.  The ripe fruit I got on the nose is a touch subdued but the dark berry and cherry is evident as is the oak influence.  The tannins turn a touch chalky on the mid palate but this full bodied wine delivers a nice mouthfeel.  The heat is a bit noticeable on the back end which has a medium length finish.  I like it!  I’m going with 89 points for this $13 blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon making it a 5 star effort.  I would pair it with BBQ, perhaps a stew or even Osso Bucco.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….