Tag Archives: 5 stars

Tom Shula Merlot 2019, California

29 Sunday Aug 2021

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About 75% opaque, it sports a nice ruby color with thin legs in the glass.  The nose offers up plum, blackcurrants, licorice and smoky oak.  The palate is smooth with gentle tannins, rich flavors and medium acidity.  There’s a smokiness that I’m really enjoying alongside the black fruit components.  The finish is mid length and the wine has a great mouthfeel.  I picked this to pair with pork chops, I think the softness of the wine with the lower tannic grip will do the trick.  89 points and 5 stars for this $10 wine.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Angove ‘Family Crest’ Grenache – Shiraz – Mourvedre 2016, McLaren Vale, Australia

29 Sunday Aug 2021

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Medium ruby with watery legs.  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry, raspberry, red plum, violet, black pepper, charred wood, cedar and is meaty.  It is quite complex and developing. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins, high alcohol, medium body and medium (+) intensity flavors of raspberry, red plum, coffee, black pepper, cedar and that meaty note.  There is nice complexity to this wine that has a medium (-) finish.  Overall I really like this blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre that is drinking well now but has potential for aging.  91 points for this $22 bottle make it a 5 star effort.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Domaine Sangouard-Guyot Pouilly-Fuisse Authentique 2020, Maconnais, France

28 Saturday Aug 2021

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Medium gold color. Pronounced aromas of lemon, lime, apricot, biscuit and bread.  The palate is dry with citrus and floral flavors plus more of that bakery hint and some nice toasty oak notes.  Medium acidity keeps the wine fresh and the finish is medium in length.  There’s a flavor that most Chardonnay’s have that I get on the back end, I’m not a huge fan but it is to be expected.  Overall a very nice tipple on a hot summer evening that gets 91 points from me.  I’m pairing it with grilled chicken, rice pilaf and Marsala sauce.  Drink till 2025.  I think you can find it for around $20, pretty reasonable and worthy of 5 stars. Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Dr. Loosen Erdener Treppchen Kabinett 2019, Mosel, Germany

12 Thursday Aug 2021

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It is hot outside, like 93F plus.  One can only think of a cool crisp white wine at happy hour, plus I am grilling some spatchcocked chickens on the Weber and think a Riesling will do the trick in tempering the spices I rubbed on the bird.

Medium lemon colored with watery legs, giving away its lithe 9.5% ABV.  On the nose I get pronounced lemon, lime and grapefruit aromas along with blossom and ginger.  The palate is off-dry with good acidity, nice weight on the body and lively flavors of citrus- lemon, tangerine, lime and grapefruit.  The ginger component happens a little later, on the mid palate as does the floral note.  The low alcohol makes this wine a little lighter and fresher with the acidity helping to keep it spry.  Very refreshing, I think the hint of sweetness will meld nicely with the cajun style spice on the bird.  Really yummy stuff that begs for a swimming pool on a hot day to sit by and sip this easy going yet rather complex wine.  91 points from me and for $29 it’s a good intro to this style of Mosel Riesling.  5 stars.  Salut….

Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2018, Napa Valley, California

09 Monday Aug 2021

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Deep lemon color with a nose of tangerine, lemons, popcorn and acacia. The palate is bright and very citrusy, yet the butter component is missing.  I’m confused.  Green apple, baked bread and pear are playing second fiddle to lemon and tangerine.  It’s evident that Malolactic fermentation has been blocked, keeping the fruit vibrant and fresh.  Oak influence is also evident, albeit deft.  The wine has medium acidity and is quite full bodied.  On the finish I get a nuttiness- like stone fruit seed.  Yummy stuff that gets 92 points.  This is an iconic wine that merits a try, even though it rolls in at $50. 5 stars from me.  Pair with seafood, perhaps even some stuffed, baked mushrooms.  Salut….

Poet’s Row Meritage 2013, Napa Valley, California

04 Wednesday Aug 2021

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This Bordeaux blend is quite deceiving- not very opaque at all considering it should be a blend of Merlot, Cab Sav and perhaps Cab Franc.  Definitely Cab Franc as I get perfume and violets on the nose, plus some cassis, blackcurrants, toasty oak and eucalyptus.  The palate is very smooth and well endowed with rich black fruits, well integrated tannins and juicy acidity.  The mid palate has some pencil shavings and a metallic tinge, kinda interesting.  The rich blackberry and blackcurrant flavors carry through to the long finish where some black tea notes are found alongside vanilla.  This wine has good complexity, a nice full body and plenty of fruit and structure to reward patient cellaring but it drinks beautifully right now at 8 years of age.  I am really digging the mouthfeel and think this wine gets 93 points.  It would normally run around the $25 mark making it a 5 star effort for sure.  Serve it up with some grilled sausages and steak.  Salut….

Boedecker Cellars Hirschy Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015, Yamhill-Carlton District, Oregon

03 Tuesday Aug 2021

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This Pinot Noir is deep purple and semi opaque in the glass.  On the nose it is quite intense with red and black cherry, raspberry, oak and strawberry bubble gum.  The palate is gorgeous- smooth with lithe tannins, gentle acidity and a ton of fruit flavor.  Layers or cherry, raspberry and mocha notes intertwine, some strawberry is present but the complexity of this wine is awesome.  I love restrained Pinots, wines that are seductive and not overpowering.  This one is definitely a more fruit forward version, New Worldish yet it has such purity of fruit and is not over-the-top extracted.  The finish is long.  The fact that it is only 13.3% ABV makes it a refreshing change from the monsters I have been drinking lately.  Drink till 2026 with lean cuts of beef, maybe a hearty Salmon on the grill or some well seasoned Cornish hens.  92 points from me for this $58 treat.  I love this winery and have enjoyed several of their previous wines.  5 stars.  Salut….

Boeckel Zotzenberg Gewurztraminer 2017, Alsace Grand Cru, France

02 Monday Aug 2021

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I’ve been cooking Sous Vide Pork Belly steaks in a fiery Sambal Oelek sauce for the past 18 hours, it’s going on a fried rice dish.  The spice of this dish needs an aromatic white I do believe, so this Grand Cru Alsatian is getting the nod.

It is deep lemon in the glass and has pronounced aromas of lychee, rosewater, strawberry, blossom and some nuttiness.  On the palate it is semi-dry with medium acidity, medium (+) body, medium alcohol and medium (+) intensity flavors of lychee, rose, strawberry, honeysuckle and blossom.  The nutty note comes on the back end, where the finish is medium in length.  It’s a flavorful, yummy wine that has a touch of residual sugar to help offset the chilies in the marinade.  The floral and tropical fruit will meld well with the white meat and veggies.  This wine seems like it will develop some more in the bottle, so there’s no rush to pop’n’pour.  I’m really enjoying it and think it is a 91 pointer.  At $40 it’s a serious player that gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz 2018, South Australia

02 Monday Aug 2021

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For the finale at our Virtual Wine tasting #20 I selected an oldie but goodie.  It’s been a few years since I drank any Mollydooker wines.  They are a treat but buyer beware- they pack a punch.  It all starts with the obligatory Mollydooker Shake, which is an important part of tasting this wine correctly.  I had all the participants open the screw cap and pour off a half cup of wine into another wine glass.  After re-sealing the bottle we shook vigorously to help release the Nitrogen that these wines are bottled under.  Once done I had them pour regular glasses and we compared the smell of the original wine versus the shaken version- a stunning difference in aroma.

The wine is bright purple, opaque and menacing in the glass once you read the label and realize it has 16% ABV.  On the nose it is jammy with blackberry, raisin, plum, pepper, coffee, black tea and vanilla.  Our group got flavors of coffee, blackberry jam, cinnamon, and someone mentioned ‘grape’.  Lithe tannins and medium (-) acidity make for an easy mouthfeel once you clear the alcohol hurdle.  A decent finish was enjoyed as I reflected on the length and depth of fruit flavor coming out of this bottle. The body is most def full, the grapes being extracted to the max.  This is not a lightweight.  I am a little stumped as to what I would pair it with- the richness will overpower most foods- oh well…drink it all by itself.  91 points from me make this $30 wine a 5 star effort that needs to be on your short list.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Spier 21 Gables Pinotage 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

02 Monday Aug 2021

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My wine tasting group has not tried Pinotage yet, so I though it would be appropriate to introduce this unique South African varietal to them.  Spier is well known and produces several different cuvees, ranging from the lighter everyday wines to blockbuster collectables.  This one is middle of the road and offers a glimpse into the style of wine that can be enjoyed over time.  Quite brooding and inky it has a funky nose with forest floor, tar, licorice, fresh cut wood, plantain, creamy coffee, Sel Gris and blackberry.  On the palate it exhibited textbook flavors of coffee, blackberry, Rooibos tea, baked raspberry, blueberry, acetate and raisin.  The word jammy was used.  Tannins were medium as was the acidity.  This cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault is much darker and intense than either of its parents, which surprised many in the group.  Overall it was well received and got 91 points from me.  We paid $36 per bottle making it a 5 star effort that can be drunk now or cellared till 2026.  Salut….