Tag Archives: 5 stars

Nugan Estate Parish Vineyard Shiraz 2018, McLaren Vale, Australia

25 Tuesday Jan 2022

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A deep purple color with thick legs in the glass.  On the nose I get pronounced aromas of blackcurrant, ripe black plum, jammy blueberry, anise, chocolate and a dusting of white pepper.  The palate is technically dry but the ripeness of the fruit makes it seem sweet- like jam.  Spicy yet it really shows off the sun-drenched fruit.  Black and blue berries with licorice, pepper, and a slight oak influence with mocha/chocolate.  This wine is max throttle.  Full bodied, silky smooth tannins, medium (-) acidity and a long finish.  Amazing stuff if you like a brash Shiraz.  For $20 I’m glad I loaded up on this 93 pointer that will drink beautifully till 2028 and pair with most grilled meats or hearty stews.  5 stars.  Salut….

Sojourn Cellars Wohler Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018, Russian River Valley, California

21 Friday Jan 2022

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Pale garnet in the glass this wine exhibits big legs showing off its 14.2% ABV.  The nose is classic Pinot- cherry, strawberry, baking spice, cola, a bit of bramble and a touch of earthiness.  The palate is very precise with cherry driving the way.  The baking spice, cola and bramble/earth are all present but the red fruit really shines.  Juicy acidity and very svelte tannins make for a ‘sour cherry’ feel that I am really enjoying.  Medium bodied it has a medium finish that is really fruity.  I have had this brand before, enjoying it every time.  This one happens to be out of a Magnum and we are pairing it with appetizers of roasted Beef Marrow, charcuterie and phyllo cups filled with goodies.  It will work well with roast pork, chicken, filet mignon or duck.  92 points from me for this slippery smooth charmer that runs $54 and gets 5 stars.  I love this region BTW, the Russian River makes top notch Pinot that I look out for.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Dr. Konstantin Frank Gewurztraminer 2020,Finger Lakes, New York

17 Monday Jan 2022

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On our recent trip to the Finger Lakes I picked up some bottles to bring home for a more in-depth tasting and evaluation.  We kick off that series with this aromatic white made from the Gewürztraminer grape.  It’s a medium shade of gold in the glass.  The nose is full of aromatics- lychee, rose water, lemon verbena and finely sliced ginger.  There is a sharp focus in this wine and some minerality to boot.  Th palate tastes off-dry but I doubt there is any residual sugar- the 13% ABV points to a full fermentation.  Beautiful flavors of lychee, lemon verbena, ginger, honeysuckle and apricot would make me think I am drinking nectar.  Medium acidity makes for a great mouthfeel- this wine coats the palate with it’s full bodied weight and finishes long.  I am a big fan of this grape and look for it when shopping- this 91 point effort is well worth ordering if you like an interesting wine that veers away from the usual.  At $17 it gets 5 stars from me.  I would pair this with spicy dishes, Asian fare, even Jamaican Curry.  Drink chilled sooner rather than later to preserve the freshness.  Salut….

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….