Tag Archives: 5 stars

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….

Ondine Chattan Pinot Noir 2019, Russian River Valley, California

30 Monday Nov 2020

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Reddish purple and semi opaque in the glass. The nose gives me pomegranate, strawberry, black pepper and rich cherry extract. On the palate it is silky smooth with a very gentle intro to the fruit- it’s more a melange of ripe red fruits that are melded together. Bright acidity and a touch of tannin all make this a pretty full bodied wine. The mid palate has a purple streak, like damson plum jam. There’s a nutmeg spice note as well. The finish is quite dry and still loaded with those purple fruit notes. It’s an interesting take on New World Pinot that I am enjoying. If you like them full-throttle, this one is up your alley. 91 points from me and 5 stars for this $38 gem. Drink till 2026. Salut….

Scott Peterson Rumpus Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, California

28 Saturday Nov 2020

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It’s a semi opaque pale purple wine in the glass. The nose has candied cherries, cinnamon stick, black currants and cedar. On the palate it is really rich and warm. Gobs of black fruits with toasty oak, spice and very lithe tannins all form the first wave. The mid palate has a nice acidic pop alongside the black fruit cocktail. The tannins are present but not obtrusive on the somewhat dry finish that has tons more fruit to offer including black cherry. Nice mouthfeel, it’s an easy Cab to drink right now and will cellar till 2025. I really like it and will be pairing it with Sous Vide Strip steaks. For $20 it’s a great deal ’cause it gets 90 points from me and 5 stars. Salut….

Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Eroica Gold Riesling 2015, Columbia Valley, Washington

27 Friday Nov 2020

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Pale gold.  The nose is sugary- apple juice meets apricot jam.  On the palate it’s quite sweet with great minerality, nice acidity and notes of apple cider and green apple pie.  A great midpalate with medium level acidity and some mouth filling glycerine.  It’s delicious, sweet but not unctuous and has a nice cut with a great, rounded mouthfeel.  It would work well post prandial or as an aperitif but I feel it would need some Foie Gras to mellow out the acidity and sweetness.  I’m really enjoying it. 92 points and 5 stars- $15 for 500ml bottle.  Drink till 2030. Salut….

Barker’s Marque ‘Three Brooms’ Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Marlborough, New Zealand

27 Friday Nov 2020

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Light yellow in the glass. Pineapple, apricot and lemon on the nose. The palate is semi sweet with lemon zest, green apple, cut grass and a touch of honeysuckle. Delicious with mid grade acidity that balances the sweetness perfectly.  A hint of effervescence was noted by some but I’m getting a touch of green pepper instead.  It’s a really delicious white wine that has finally gotten a thumbs up from my buddy Dusty.  He is a red drinker but this one broke through for him. 91 points and 5 stars for this $15 wine. Drink till 2024. Salut….

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2003, Pauillac, France

27 Friday Nov 2020

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It’s Thanksgiving today and I am opening some stunners tonight, this was the first red. Nearly black in the glass and opaque AF.  This wine is blowing me away on the nose- cassis, tobacco, leather and the umami of dried mushrooms.  On the palate this Bordeaux beauty is at peak.  The primal fruit has given way to the most amazing tertiary notes that we can only hope to taste in mature wine.  Earth, funk, leather, Maduro tobacco, rich cassis and a hint of tannins on the very back end.  It is stunning, graceful, developed and powerful in a staid manner.  I’m floored that this mediocre, hot vintage has held itself together for 17 years and rewarded my cellaring in such an amazing manner.  95 points for tonights bottle which is a massive step up from the last time I drank a Magnum of the stuff. You can read my original notes here. Not cheap, nor is it easy to find- at $150 for a regular size or close to $350 for the big boy. 5 stars with a drink now window. Yummm. Salut….

Tasca d’Almerita Tenuta Regaleali Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia IGT 2016, Sicily, Italy

22 Sunday Nov 2020

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The finale for the 12th virtual wine tasting was a stunner. Dark purple, opaque and very powerful on the nose. Spice box, vanilla, cocoa powder, black cherry and jam were all noted as was, dare I say- plastic and banana. The palate gave us black fruit jam, black tea bursting with beautiful tannins that really coated the mouth. This wine was delicious and I made note that the oak use was very judicious and well played. There was a shot of pepper on the short finish, which took a few points off the table. Still young, it will develop nicely and drink well till 2030. I’m going lower than the pros with 92 points and 5 stars. $50 is not cheap, but this wine has loads of stuffing to it and will get better with time. Salut….

Pulenta Estate Malbec I 2017, Agrelo, Argentina

22 Sunday Nov 2020

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This Malbec was the Wine of the Night (WOTN) for many at the 12th virtual wine tasting. We enjoyed menthol, lilac, raspberry, Damson plum, smoke tar, leather, violets and gravel on the nose. That’s a lot of descriptors. On the palate it is very fruity with just enough tannic grip to give it structure. Plums, dark fruit, licorice and ‘Cognac’ flavors were noted and I felt the wine had a jammy concentration to it. There was a definitive jab of acidity on the decent length finish and the wine had a very pleasing mouthfeel. It was elegant and full of flavor making it the go-to drink after the tasting was over. Well made and worthy of 92 points from me which gets it 5 stars for the $25 price tag. Drink till 2025. Salut….