Tag Archives: 5 stars

Substance Chardonnay 2021, Columbia Valley, Washington

01 Saturday Mar 2025

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Pale lemon colored with gold highlights, and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon zest, butter, vanilla, melon, orange blossom, and a trace of peach.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body.  Medium intensity flavors of lemon curd, melon, butter, vanilla, orange blossom, and peach.  The mouthfeel is round and pleasing, not cutting or lithe.  It begs for some grilled shrimp, Mackerel filets or smoked salmon.  The finish is medium (+) in length and gives me a salted caramel note.  It’s always a pleasure to drink wines from the house of Smith, they offer tremendous quality to price ratios and are consistent.  This one gets 92 points from and for $13 it’s a screaming good 5 star deal.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Substance Chardonnay

Santa Carolina ‘Carolina’ Reserva Carmenere 2019, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

19 Wednesday Feb 2025

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Medium ruby colored with a purple meniscus, and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of bell pepper, black raspberry, blackcurrant, licorice, violet, perfume, loam, and brambleberry.  It’s quite a green nose but intriguing and layered.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Flavor intensity is medium and mimics the fruit of the nose but with less green pepper, not as vegetal.  Violets and perfume with some earthy loam round out the flavors.  The finish is very interesting- almost sweet with ripe black fruit intertwined with some earthy and floral elements that run medium length.  I like this wine, it has complexity and balance and it’s interesting.  91 points at least and for $13, it’s a steal worthy of 5 stars.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Santa Carolina 'Carolina' Reserva Carmenere

Gramercy Cellars ‘Lower East’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Columbia Valley, Washington

16 Sunday Feb 2025

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, black plum, blackberry, vanilla, baking spice, acacia, and a slight green note (tomato stem?).  The palate is dry with medium  acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are silky.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruits, some oak integration by way of a lovely medicinal note coupled with vanilla and baking spice.  There’s a really nice finish that is medium (+) in length but super smooth, the tannins are polished and balanced nicely with the acidity.  The ripeness of the fruit is evident without being jammy- a really enjoyable bottle that gets 93 points from me and for $35- it’s a 5 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Gramercy Cellars 'Lower East' Cabernet Sauvignon

F. Stephen Millier Black Label Petite Sirah 2021, California

03 Monday Feb 2025

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Deep purple colored with medium staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  Medium  intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, grilled black plum, eucalyptus, cocoa powder, tomato leaf, and a hint of shredded coconut.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe blackberry, black currant, black plum, spice, eucalyptus, cocoa powder and that green note which I am enjoying.  The finish is lush- gobs of ripe fruit with the silky tannins make for a delicious medium length ending.  Lovely stuff that I am pairing with pan-seared ribeyes.  91 points.  Drink this $14 wine till 2028.  5 stars.  Salut….

F. Stephen Millier Black Label California Petite Sirah

Sharon Weeks Cattoo Malbec 2021, Paso Robles, California

30 Thursday Jan 2025

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Deep purple colored with medium viscosity (14.3% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, dark chocolate, blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry and tomato stalk.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are powdery.  Medium intensity flavors of dark berries, chocolate, black cherry, and that green note I got on the nose.  Malbec is a very easy variety to love, its structure and mouthfeel are very user friendly and this is no exception.  The finish is medium (+) in length- showing off the lovely fruit as well as the gorgeous tannins.  I like this $15 effort a lot.  90 points and 5 stars.  It’s a very nice wine that we’re pairing with roast beef sandwiches.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Sharon Weeks Cattoo Malbec

Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet Reserva 2019, Vinho Regional Tejo, Portugal

29 Wednesday Jan 2025

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The Alicante Bouschet variety is one of the select group of Teinturier grapes, the pulp being red in color.  This produces a dark wine that used to be a blending partner to lighter wines.  Nowadays, single variety bottling are more common and can be truly delicious, usually at a reasonable price point.

Deep ruby colored with very slight staining, and high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, black plum, brambleberry, eucalyptus, black currant, chocolate, spice box and vanilla.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are integrating nicely.  Rich, ripe black fruits coat the gums whilst the spicebox, vanilla, chocolate and some green herbs add nuance.  The finish is quite long and refined.  The fruit and tannins work well together and are very balanced.  I love this wine- especially at the $15 price point.  It gets 92 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet

Basilisco ‘Fiordimarna’ 2017, Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG, Italy

28 Tuesday Jan 2025

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Inky purple colored with slight staining, and high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of pipe tobacco, charred oak, ripe black plum, acai berry, vanilla nib, espresso, brambleberry, smoke, granite, and a medicinal note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and high tannins that literally coat my whole mouth- wowza.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe black fruit with several oak influencers including vanilla, coffee, medicinal notes, smoke, tobacco and obviously the charred oak.  The tannins may be ferocious but they melt away to a powdery finish that lasts medium length and includes some black tea.  It’s a young bottle for sure that needs some hefty steaks or a rich Ragu.  93 points from me for this $35 bottle makes it a 5 star wine that either needs a few years in cellar or a serious aerating.  Drink till 2035 easily.  Salut….

Basilisco Fiordimarna Aglianico del Vulture

Marcelo Pelleriti ‘Signature’ Cabernet Franc 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

27 Monday Jan 2025

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Medium ruby colored with light staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of blackberry, black plum, green pepper, purple licorice, spice box, cocoa powder, and a forest woodsy note.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that hit my cheeks more so than the front palate.  The fruit intensity is medium and mirrors the nose with the addition of a charred oak note.  The finish is medium in length where I also get a black tea hint- along with its astringency.  A tasty wine that averages $18 a bottle.  This to me is a 91 pointer that gets 5 stars.  It’s good and may cellar nicely till 2031.  I’m pairing with rack of lamb.  Salut….

Marcelo Pelleriti 'Signature' Cabernet Franc

Fox Run Vineyards Dry Riesling 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

24 Friday Jan 2025

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Pale golden yellow with low viscosity (12.6% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of petrol, bruised apple, lemon zest, petrichor, peach, nectarine, orange blossom, and candle wax.  (I know….).  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors coupled with the cutting acidity and lithe body make for a refreshing mouthfeel.  The finish is acid-dominant but the apple, lemon, and petrol notes do continue to medium length.  I like this style of Riesling, dry and fresh yet it offers the telltale petrol I search for in this variety.  90 points for this $18 effort makes it a 5 star wine that I believe could cellar nicely.  I’m pairing with seared scallops and steamed asparagus.  Salut….

Fox Run Vineyards Dry Riesling

Martinez Gassiot Late Bottled Vintage Port 2018, Porto Portugal

23 Thursday Jan 2025

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Deep, inky-ruby colored, with moderate staining, and high viscosity (19.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum ganache, fresh prune, blueberry jam,  cocoa powder, baking spice, leather, old oak, and a touch of juniper leaf.  The palate is sweet, with high acidity, a full body, and high levels of silky tannins that coat my gums.  The intensity of the fruit is medium (+) and mimics the nose.  It’s ripe, rich, opulent and delicious.  There’s a charcoal note on the mid palate that adds intrigue.  The finish is long and a touch astringent, which is kinda nice.  I’m thoroughly enjoying this $20 bottle that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2030 with a nice cheese tray.  Salut….

Martinez Late Bottled Vintage Port