Tag Archives: 5 stars

Xavier Vignon ‘Arcane XV Le Diable’ 2015, Vin de France

20 Sunday Dec 2020

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This Mourvedre shows a rich purple color in the glass and is semi opaque. On the nose it is gorgeous, if not different. Bright purple fruits of plum and blackberry with some bacon fat and licorice. The palate is lush with ripe blackberry, smoky oak, lavender and more licorice. The tannins are very much present, really pushing my gums on the mid palate but I am enjoying them- very polished. The dark fruit theme continues and the finish is medium in length with more smoke, game, blackberry and violet. It’s a rich wine with great structure, the varietal usually being part of a blend. I like the expression of fruit in this one and think it will drink nicely till 2030. If you like them young and brawny, drink now or else decant/aerate. The pros went large on this one, 94 points. I give it 92 with a 5 star rating cause you can pick a bottle up for $24. This one is destined for the Sunday Rib roast with all the trimmings. Salut….

Longitude 120 West Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington

19 Saturday Dec 2020

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Very rich purple and about 80% opaque. This Washington state Cab Sav has notes of black cherry, black berries and oak nuances on the nose. The palate it is very interesting- sweet black fruit salad with iodine and Kirsch. The tannins are very much present but not obtrusive. The mid palate carries on the black fruit theme, primarily black berry but there is something else…. fruitcake? The finish is quite tasty with baking spices, black cherry and loads of tannins. The acidity is present but the wine is very dry at this stage of it’s youth. I like it and am looking forward to the Flank Steak and roasted asparagus that will pair tonight. 91 points from me and 5 stars for this $29 charmer. Drink till 2026. Salut….

 

 

Diez-Caballero Reserva 2011, Rioja DOCa, Spain

18 Friday Dec 2020

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This Tempranillo is inky and opaque in the glass. The nose gives me black berries, iodine, espresso bean and earthy bramble. The palate is textbook Rioja- dusty, earthy, black fruit driven, smoky and delicious. The tannins of this 9 year old wine are well integrated but the acidity is what I’m really enjoying. Jaw dripping and long. The mid palate continues the black fruit theme and I pick up some oaky notes. The finish is quite dry from the remnants of tannins that are holding this wine together and will allow it to cellar for another 5 years. Yummy stuff that I am pairing with Middle Eastern Goat stew. 90 points from me and at $15 per bottle it gets 5 stars. Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 727 Knights Valley Merlot 2018, Sonoma County, California

14 Monday Dec 2020

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This Merlot is opaque and a dark shade of purple with a gorgeous nose of steeped plum, toasty oak, licorice and iodine. On the palate it offers rich fruit, nice acidity and grippy tannins. Blackberry, plums, charred oak and blueberry pie all hit me. The mid palate is quite smooth with lush fruit interlacing the rather powerful tannins that slightly overtake the acidity. The finish is medium length and quite dry. I sense this wine is a tad young and will drink nicely till 2028. I am roasting up a rack of Lamb with mint sauce and steamed greens- should work a treat. I’m enjoying the softness of the varietal but am surprised at the structure, the tannins just won’t quit. Yummy stuff. 90 points and 5 stars from me for this $16 wine. Salut….

Joao Portugal Ramos Reserva 2016, Alentejo, Portugal

08 Tuesday Dec 2020

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This blend of Tempranillo and Trincadeira took three days for me to rate. We opened it at the 13th Virtual Wine Tasting and the panel felt it had cardboard box, pepper, black cherry, dark chocolate and earthy notes. It was tannic right off the bat but we coaxed black licorice, dark cherry, sun dried tomato and a hoppy note out of it. I recall writing that this semi opaque wine of medium purple color was quite rich, if not a tad young and rushed. On night 1 it got 12/20 on my rating scale and a technical score of 91 points. I tried it again on night 2 and found it had a muted nose with some red currants and orange peel. The palate was slightly sour with blackberry, licorice and rhubarb. It was still earthy and tannic as heck. Night 3 is when this wine finally opened up for me. Black pepper, jammy blackberry and licorice on the nose gave way to a much smoother palate of iodine, blackberry, bramble and that earthiness. Oak is now evident but restrained making this wine quite complex. It has a smooth finish with well integrated tannins now and is in balance. I’m glad I got to witness a three day evolution of this highly rated $14 wine. It finished out at 92 points from me and gets a massive 5 stars for the QPR it brings. Drink till 2027. I would pair with a hearty steak if opening right now, or decant the heck out of it to soften the tannins. Salut….

Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’ 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

06 Sunday Dec 2020

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The finale to our Virtual Wine Tasting was this stunner. I saved the best for last. It’s a 72/28 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon that is inky in the glass. On the nose we got black cherry, Damson plum, leather, fruitcake, hay, raisins, smoke and molasses. On the palate it was immediately evident that this wine is powerful, yet subtle. Very smooth with super fine grained tannins that are barely perceptible make for a gorgeous mouthfeel. Plums, fruit cake, black berry cassis and violet. The finish was a medium length affair that was simply delicious, not dry or acidic. A stunning wine that I gave 19 points out of 20. Technically speaking it is worthy of a massive 96 points from me which jibes with the pros. I would not bother pairing this beauty with anything- just drink it with a loved one and appreciate the depth of flavor, the complexity and the balance of this $70 treat. I have to go with 5 stars. Drink till 2025. Salut….

Chateau Faurie de Souchard 2010, Saint-Emilion, France

06 Sunday Dec 2020

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The 13th Virtual Wine tasting included this Right Bank Merlot. It was stunning, mature and a hit. The wine is at peak, the color showing a bit of bricking on the rim. The nose is classic Bordeaux- Earthy, smoky, molasses, black fruit jam, leather, tobacco, licorice, cloves…. that’s a lot of descriptors from the panel. On the palate it was delicious, even dreamy as one member piped out. Black cherry, blackberry, tobacco, mushroom and leather were really the key components. The wine is still robust, with very well integrated tannins and a hint of acidity. The mouthfeel is great and lingers on the decent length finish. On my 20 point scale it got 19. Technically speaking, it is a 93 point wine in my book, way higher than the pros rated it back in the day. 2010 was a great year for the Clarets and this example is showing how well the wines have held up and how they have evolved so nicely. Drink till 2025 and for $35 buy a case if you can find it. 5 stars. Salut….

Devils Advocate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, California

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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Semi opaque and a light shade of purple in the glass. The nose gives me rich plum, black cherry and fruit cake. On the palate it starts out with a rush of tannins. The fruit comes later- black in nature and laced with mocha, oak and a touch of acidity. The mid palate is very much a fruit salad of blackberry, black cherry and damson plum, it’s very tasty. The tannins take over the long finish, masking the fruit with gum coating astringency- ‘hairy’ is a descriptor Moxie likes to use. I am going to run some of this through the Vinturi and try to soften the grip a touch. Much better if you don’t like the bite. Personally, I enjoy a tannic wine with the right food, this one would pair beautifully with Beef stew, leg of Lamb or Lasagna. Drink till 2026. 90 points and for $17 it gets 5 stars. Salut….

Bodegas Ego ‘Infinito’ 2016, Jumilla, Spain

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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Dark purple and almost opaque in the glass with really long legs.  The nose is very fruity with ripe plum jam, purple licorice and cinnamon.  There’s a touch of charred oak and a hint of blueberry to boot.  On the palate it tastes of candy and black fruit salad with iodine.  Rich oak is well integrated as are the lithe tannins.  The mid palate has a pronounced dryness along with blackberries and that medicinal note.  The tannic grip hits on the long finish- it’s quite pronounced. That candy/grape bubble gum flavor is very present alongside the tannins.  There’s a modicum of acidity that may balance this wine out once the tannins mellow a bit.  For now it would pair nicely with a juicy steak.  It gets 91 points with good cellaring potential.  Drink till 2028.  A blend of Monastrell, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cab Sav. that gets 5 stars cause you can pick it up for only $17. Salut….

Decoy Chardonnay 2019, Sonoma County, California

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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Golden yellow with apple and pineapple on the nose.  On the palate- yellow apple, marzipan, pineapple and green melon. Low levels of acidity make for a full mouthfeel. It’s a very nice wine that doesn’t rely on loads of oak, rather it leans on warm fruits, lithe acidity and good length.  90 points.  Enjoy with warm goat cheese salad.  Drink till 2024. For about $15 it’s worth stocking up on as it gets 5 stars. Salut….