26 Sunday Apr 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
The last one of the tasting was this Tempranillo from Rioja. I have had this wine and thoroughly enjoy it’s rustic , brambly approach. There is leather, anise, licorice, plums and that earthiness that only comes from Spain. It was a hit with some but not all the tasters. One of whom claimed it was the best Rioja she had ever had! I loved it and am going 91 points for this $28 wine- 5 stars. Drink till 2030. Salut….
26 Sunday Apr 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$15, 5 stars, 92 points, cabernet sauvignon, VWTC, washington
Wine number 3 in the virtual tasting was the ringer. A $15 perennial favorite that is as consistent as the rising sun. This Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State wowed the drinkers with its intense fruity attack of blackberries, plum, great tannins and balanced acidity. It was an instant hit with friends clamoring to see where they could buy it in bulk. It will drink well till 2025 all by itself or paired with pretty much any meat dish. 5 stars for this 92 pointer. Salut….
21 Tuesday Apr 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Golden color. Loads of legs in the glass. The nose is delightful and consists of orange marmalade, honey, candied citrus. On the palate I get silky orange syrup, marmalade, honey and hazelnut. The sweetness is balanced with a brisk acidic component that gives me an unctuous mouthfeel. The finish is long and tart with some astringent orange curd and white tea components. Really interesting and delightful to drink. 93 points and 5 stars. $35 for a 375ml bottle. Drink this sweet dessert wine till 2030. Salut….
21 Tuesday Apr 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$48, 5 stars, 93 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa, napa cabernet
I tasted this wine when it was much younger. It was appealing then and more so now. Very rich purple, semi opaque. The nose is very fruity with blackberry jam, blackcurrants, toasted oak. The palate is really delightful with warm blackberry ganache, coconut, eucalyptus and iodine. On the midpalate I start to sense some tannic buzz, nothing overpowering. Gobs more black fruit reduction and a charcoal note. The finish marries up some acidity, just a touch to complete the mouthfeel and balance this very fruit-forward Napa Cab. 93 points and 5 stars for this $48 bottle. Drink till 2029. Salut….
10 Friday Apr 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
I have sat on a few of these bottle of San Felice for a while now because they were not quite ready the last time I drank one in 2017. This bottle is showing a semi opaque medium shade of purple in the glass. Really nice legs are exhibited. The nose has an earthy tone, pomegranate and cherry. I also get cardamom. Interesting. The palate is far more evolved since the last time, really nice dark cherry, rhubarb and spice box. The wine exhibits a really nice acidity that is even and of the right amount. The mouthfeel is really smooth, with a nice warmth that leads into a very delicate tannic frame. The midpalate has more of the red fruits and some dusty earthiness. The finish is very much a cherry affair, with the acidity and tannins really peaking into a dry, mouth puckering ending. It’s a really delicious wine, but not quite there yet. I am seeing evolution, with more to come. The framework will hold this wine up for a long while, giving me time to re-evaluate over the next 10-15 years with the other bottles. Overall I am sticking with my 93 point rating and 5 stars for this $45 Sangiovese. Pairing with spaghetti and sausage meatballs. Salut….
05 Sunday Apr 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$15, 5 stars, 91 points, alexander valley, california, pinot noir
Nice shade of dark red, see-through. The 14.1% alcohol evident by some nice looking legs. On the nose it is somewhat atypical. Violet, strawberry compote and cherry cola. The palate is a touch sweet with some nice stewed rhubarb notes. Cherry comes along eventually as do some nice fine grained tannins. There’s a nice acidic bite on the finish that balances it out without making me wince. It’s a very interesting wine that has a warm mouthfeel, that nice touch of sweetness countered by the acid on the back end. This wine will appeal to the novice and also provide tasting groups with an interesting mix of flavors. I’m baking up some Brisket that will pair nicely. 91 points and 5 stars for this $15 bottle to drink till 2028. Salut….
Peach Brisket, crisped to perfection
16 Monday Mar 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
Semi opaque in the glass. The nose is straight up Napa sunshine. Black currants galore, like Ribena. Licorice and cola are present to a degree. On the palate it’s as expected- rich, warm blackcurrants, lithe tannins, juicy acidity and some star anise. The iodine comes back alongside Maduro with blackberry jam on the midpalate. The structure of this wine is decent, the tannins are of medium intensity and the acidity is in check. The finish ends on a dry note of black tea, blackberry and more iodine. Quite tasty and worthy of 90 points. Drink till 2027 with charcuterie or a marbled steak. $14 and 5 stars. Salut….
16 Monday Mar 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
I did not make notes on the first night, palate fatigue…On night two- it’s a rich purple and opaque. On the nose it’s very earthy with notes of tobacco, iodine and blackberry. On the palate it is very interesting- the uniqueness of the secondary flavors piques my interest. Black cherries come out along with very concise tannins. There’s a touch of astringency on the midpalate that I’m willing to overlook- the wine is multilayered enough for me to concentrate on the other facets. It’s interesting, of decent quality and intriguing. The finish leaves me with a desire for another mouthful. 89 points 5 stars for this $14 Merlot/Cab/Franc blend. Drink till 2026. Salut….
05 Thursday Mar 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$12, 5 stars, 90 points, california, sierra foothills, zinfandel
Semi opaque and medium intensity purple. The nose has spicy blueberry jam, candy and licorice. On the palate it is very fruity, dry and mouthwatering. Blackberry paste, cedar shake and iodine caress the tongue while really nice tannins completely coat my gums. It is a luscious mouthfeel if you’re in the mood for some tannic grip. The midpalate and finish carry on the theme and it ends on a nice dry note of black jam, cinnamon, some wood influence and that licorice note. 90 points. Well made and for $12 this is a steal worthy of 5 stars. Drink till 2027 with some sirloins, perhaps venison and definitely roasted veggies. Salut….
02 Monday Mar 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Blackish blue in the glass that is somewhat murky. On the nose it’s delightful- blackberry pie, yeast, and iodine(strange, but believable). On the palate it has a unique flavor- blackberry meets charcoal. I can’t think of a better descriptor. There’s a vast cask influence here and I’m loving it, not over-oaked but the fundamentals are there. Vanilla, popcorn, coconut. It’s not over done, just a nice, deft use of it to give this wine a unique flavor. The mid palate continues the blackberry theme and the tannins creep up, barely noticeable until the finish and by then- dry gums! The whole package is mouth-filling, interesting, well structured and balanced. I like it, a lot. 91 points and 5 stars for this $19 wine. Drink till 2025. Salut….
Wine reviews 