Tag Archives: 5 stars

Cade Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Howell Mountain, California

16 Sunday Jan 2022

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It’s Sunday Roast and I’m cooking a rather lean cut of meat today- Eye of Round.  It needs a fruit driven, medium tannin wine to complement the texture and lack of fat in the meat.  I would normally depend on an aged Bordeaux for this type of meal but today it’s a younger Napa Cab.

Inky purple in the glass the thin legs don’t hint at the whopping 15.6% ABV.  Wow.  The nose is exactly what I was hoping for- deep rich black fruit, oak nuance, steely minerality.  I get aromas of blackberry coulis, blackcurrant cassis, sweet coconut, baking spices and mint.  The palate is loaded with ripe fruit, medium tannins (perfect for my beef choice), juicy acidity, full body and a long finish.  The black fruit, oak influence and varietal hint (mint) are all present alongside some charred wood and a gritty graphite streak.  The mineral note hits on the mid palate.  This wine is still young and will drink beautifully for many years, maturing along the way and hopefully developing tertiary notes.  I would hold on to some till 2027 at the least and pair with steaks, roasts or a tray full of cold cuts and cheese.  This complex and layered wine gets 94 points from me and for the princely sum of one C-note you too can drink this 5-star elixir.  Salut….

Clos Apalta ‘Le Petit Clos’ 2017, Apalta Valley, Chile

11 Tuesday Jan 2022

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I cheated for the fourth wine at our 23rd virtual wine tasting night.  I have had this stunning Bordeaux blend before and knew it would get accolades.  Why not close out a tasting session on a proven winner?  You can read my original notes on the Petite Clos here.

It is a deep claret color with rich blackberry, coconut, sarsaparilla, anise, toast and black cherry on the nose.  Rich fruit is what I noted for the palate- we got black plum, black cherry, cherry coke, coconut and anise on the palate which has great tannic structure, medium (+) acidity, medium finish and is full bodied.  The mouthfeel on this wine is going to be spectacular with a bit of cellaring.  Drink this 93 point beauty till 2030 at the least with hearty grilled meat, heavy duty stews or rich dishes.  Great job on this $40 wine that gets 5 stars from me.  Slam-dunk if you are looking for a surefire winner for a tasting.  Salut….

Chateau de Belcier 2010, Cotes de Castillon, France

11 Tuesday Jan 2022

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Number two wine at our 23rd virtual tasting was this mature Merlot-based Bordeaux blend from the great 2010 vintage. Deep garnet with evidence of bricking in the glass.  Nose of black cherry, tobacco, graphite, musty and earthy with leather, pencil shavings, cassis and stewed strawberry.  The palate is very smooth with integrated tannins that are fully resolved.  The tertiary notes are all present alongside smoke, blackberry, blackcurrant and cedar.  The wine has a milder taste and is quite dry.  Medium bodied it has a medium length finish.  I’m going with 91 points and a drinking window up till 2025.  At $20- it’s a great intro to an aged Right Bank wine that gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Orin Swift Mannequin Chardonnay 2018, California

05 Wednesday Jan 2022

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I am experimenting tonight with sous vide Salmon.  Never cooked it this way before and I’m finishing it with a cilantro and garlic butter so I needed a full bodied, rich white.  Orin Swift makes delicious reds which are powerful, extracted and definitely high on the alcohol side of things so I figured I would give their white a try.  It is a deep gold color in the glass and shows a watery sheen on the sides which does not indicate a thing about the monster 15% ABV which I noticed on the label.  The nose has pronounced lemon and lime aromas alongside hazelnuts, green apple, cut grass (strange aroma for this varietal), a touch of toast and butter.  The palate is classic west coast Chard.  Buttery, rich, full bodied, citrusy with a hint of that chardonnay yeastiness aka bakers spice.  The acidity is on the lower end of the spectrum but the wine is definitely bold, with big fruit flavors and plenty of mouthfeel.  The finish is decent in length and the malolactic notes (toast, butter, brioche) really feature on the back end.  This wine is 5 years old and is drinking nicely now but will potentially cellar till 2027.  I think the pairing will work nicely as would roast game hens, Paella or Gumbo.  $32 gets you a bottle of this 91 point wine.  5 stars but beware the well hidden alcohol, it will sneak up!  Salut….

Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2018, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

04 Tuesday Jan 2022

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I have drunk numerous vintages of this Malbec, in copious quantities to boot- so when I was looking for a red wine to try and pair with Andouille and Shrimp Creole I thought this might just work.  Spicy foods need to stay away from very tannic wines which need to be very fruit forward and cannot flaunt too much acidity.  This varietal is just that; medium tannins, high in fruit and mild in acidity.

This Reserve offering is inky purple in the glass, like opaque.  The nose is very fruity with ripe plum, toast, cinnamon, blackcurrant, black cherry and anise.  The palate is beautiful- full bodied yet super smooth with black fruits galore, gentle acidity and lithe tannins.  A virtual compote of black and dark red fruit with hints of oak.  A long finish that is all fruit, little astringency and mildly tart- perfect for my needs.  I would also pair this wine with roast poultry, venison, even a pork tenderloin and obviously steaks.  It will drink nicely till 2026 and gets 91 points from me.  At $18 it’s a steal that gets 5 stars.  If you like round, plush, fruity wines that are not very tart or astringent then look for this gem.  Salut….

Karen Birmingham Special Bottling Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

27 Monday Dec 2021

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It’s the night after all the Christmas guests (family) have left and Moxie and I are recovering.  A Lodi Cab Sav to pair with leftover Prime Rib seems in order.  This one is nearly opaque and bright ruby in the glass.  The nose is an interesting mix of pomegranate, plum, blackberry and black currant.  Sweet cassis, a touch of oak and some pie crust hit me after a good swirl.  The palate is tannic right off the bat with grippy sensations on my gums and teeth.  The dark fruit flavors are pronounced with some oak and pie nuances in there as well.  Medium bodied it has a shortish finish but I am having a hard time with the tannins which are overtaking any semblance of acidity on the back end.  Slightly unbalanced structurally I think this will pass as the tannins integrate and allow the fruit and acidity to all play together on a more even keel.  Aerate this wine or cellar it for a while and you will be rewarded.  I would drink it from 2023 till 2028 with all plethora of grilled meats and hearty stews.  89 points for this $13 wine makes it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Xavier Vignon Lirac 2016, Rhone, France

26 Sunday Dec 2021

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This blend of Grenache and Syrah is semi opaque and shows off a bright ruby color in the glass.  The legs are-a-watering- with 15% ABV that is to be expected.  The nose is quite exuberant- plums, raspberry, red licorice, blueberry pie, bacon fat, violets and charcoal.  The palate is dry with caressing tannins and medium acidity that keeps the fruit fresh.  Medium bodied- the red and blue fruits are quite pronounced and the meaty component alongside oak nuance is present as well.  The finish is medium in length and has a tannic grip for a while.  There is a slight imbalance that I cannot point a finger at that will detract a point or two.  Drinking nicely now this wine will pair with rich meaty stews, venison roasts or pasta till 2026.  90 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Joel Gott Wines Merlot 2016, California

23 Thursday Dec 2021

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Deep ruby color which is surprising considering the age of this Merlot (5 years old).  I was expecting a bit of garnet.  The nose is wafting…. and is a bit dusty right off the bat.  A good swirl and aromas of black currant, bramble, cassis, charred oak, stewed black plum, coconut and sweet raspberry pie.  The palate is very smooth, spicy and chock full of fruit.  Flavors of black currants, plum, cassis, dusty bramble with oak hints of coconut and charred wood mingle with some red fruit.  I like it.  The tannins are fully integrated and there is a balancing acidity making for a very smooth mouthfeel that has medium body and a medium finish.  This wine is at peak and I am pairing it with grilled Tri-tip and mashed potatoes alongside some charred eggplant and onion salad.  90 points, drink this $20 wine that gets 5 stars from me till 2024.  Salut….

Domaine Tour Saint-Michel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee des Deux Soeurs 2019, Rhone, France

19 Sunday Dec 2021

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This youthful blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre is semi opaque with a pretty shade of ruby/purple.  The nose is chock full of ripe raspberry, red currants, pomegranate, bacon, evergreen leaf, granite and white pepper- quite complex.  The palate is dry with pronounced flavors of red fruit, minerality, earthiness and game.  Medium bodied, this semi tannic/medium acidity wine has a nice mouthfeel with a decent length finish. Whilst young, it is offering ripe fruit enjoyment with the structure to age and develop.  I would love to have a case to document the evolution over the next 12 years.  It got high marks from the pros, I agree.  93 points for this $55 bottle makes it a 5 star effort.  I am pairing it with Venison tenderloins and an eggplant tagine.  Salut….

Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Rosso Irpinia 2018, Campania, Italy

13 Monday Dec 2021

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This Aglianico is opaque and murky, a deep shade of garnet with slim legs in the glass.    The nose is showing bottle age- prunes, stewed black fruit, caramel, game, blackberry, coffee bean and black truffle.  The palate is fresher than I thought it would be.  Clean flavors of blackberry, coffee, game (also some bacon fat), caramel and a touch of the prunes/stewed fruits.  The wine is dry and the tannins are pretty integrated now but they have a presence- remember…. this varietal is extremely tannic in youth.  It’s not a very acidic wine but there is balance with the fruit, structure and body (mid to full).  The finish is medium but dominated by the tannins which have by now started to grip. A nice, mature Italian red that has softened with age, picked up tertiary nuance and will drink well till 2025.  I am pairing it with sausage and collard infused Arrabbiata on a bed of garbanzo pasta.  Should be interesting.  92 points for this $40 bottle makes it a 5 star effort.  Salut….