Tag Archives: 5 stars

Cameron Hughes Lot 683 Zinfandel 2017, Sierra Foothills, California

05 Thursday Mar 2020

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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….

Cameron Hughes Lot 628 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Walla Walla, Washington

02 Monday Mar 2020

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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….

Cameron Hughes Lot 635 Gruner Veltliner 2017, Clarksburg, California

02 Monday Mar 2020

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It’s very pale yellow, but it has a bright hue.  The nose gives me pears, yellow apple and ginger.  The palate is a touch sweet with that yellow apple note being prevalent.  It has a nice mouthfeel and the richness comes through on the mid palate where a warm waxy component adds to the mix.  Bosc pears come alive and the very feint acidity introduces itself.  The finish is short and to the point; pears, apples and done.  It’s a very balanced wine that will drink beautifully with my roasted Beer Can Chicken.  I would pair this all day long with steamed ginger and scallion Salmon.   The touch of sweetness and lack of acidic bite make it easy to quaff by itself.  Drink till 2025.  89 points and for $10- 5 stars and in need of stockpiling!  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 699 Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Calistoga, California

02 Monday Mar 2020

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I’m tasting this one in the dark, literally.  We lost power earlier today and I have rigged up the generator but it only runs certain things, like the dishwasher😳.  

From what I can see via flashlight this is a semi opaque, dark purple looking wine.  The nose is somewhat subdued, but I managed to coax blackberries and vanilla bean.  The palate is sweet- oh my.  A very, very interesting assemblage of flavors.  Coconut, blackberry pie, mint, the list goes on.  It’s one of the most intriguing, surprising and tasty wines I have come across.  The mid palate continues the swirling bouquet of differing flavors but introduces some very nice, medium intensity tannins. I really dig this wine.  It’s finish is a nice dry affair that allows those dark fruits, coconut and vanilla flavors to once again take turns in caressing my gums.  This is an amazing display of very unique flavors, well done.  93 points.  Drink till 2030 with beef stew, steaks or just by itself.  $32 makes this a 5 star wine to stock up on.  Salut….

Tinazzi Ca’ de’ Rocchi ‘Montere’ Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso 2013, Veneto, Italy

02 Monday Mar 2020

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It’s black in the glass and totally opaque.  The nose has hints of raisin, black cherry reduction, hoisin.  The palate is thick, a touch acidic and bursting with fig, plums, black cherries again as well as fruitcake.  The midpalate introduces some very fine grained tannins alongside the fruit medley.  There’s a nuttiness that hits towards the back end alongside blackberry jam.  This wine is very appealing. Rich and balanced.  The finish is long with that dark fruit core continuing for over 30 seconds.  I love Ripasso’s and am excited by this one.  92 points. For $20 this is a 5 star wine folks! Salut….

Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Puente Alto, Chile

04 Tuesday Feb 2020

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At $14 a bottle, this was my house Cab back in the day.  It quickly gained popularity and it’s price climbed like a homesick angel.  I went looking for other great QPR wines.  When I saw it in the shop today, I reminisced a bit and pulled the trigger on what has now become a $25 offering.  Here we go!

It’s very purply in the glass (I am using a straight hotel glass, no stemware in sight).  The nose is lush with blackberries, spice box and a touch of oak.  On the palate it is rich, balanced and gives me blackberry notes, star anise, black tea and a nice touch of tannin.  The mouthfeel is warm and smooth, acidity being very well behaved and allowing the tannins a chance to enter the fold.  They build up to a nice dry finish but don’t interfere with the fruit.  The blackberry component is strong and remains all the way to the finish.  There is a nice minerality to this wine and the dryess of the tannic grip on the finish is just enough to make this a meat – worthy wine.  Think big, juicy steaks on the fire and this one fits right in there.  I am impressed that this wine has held its quality over the past 20 years, even though the price has nearly doubled.  I’m going 91 points and 5 stars.  Welcome back you little beauty!  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Correlation Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, USA

04 Tuesday Feb 2020

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Bright shade of purple and nearly opaque.  The nose is delightful- some plums, charcoal, espresso and black cherry.  The palate is creamy, sweet with plum reduction and mouthwatering with beautiful acidity and lithe tannins.  There is a silkiness to this wine that’s just amazing.  The acidity scorches my mid palate but gets held in check by the fine grained tannins.  Nice black and blue fruits carry me to the decent length finish that introduces oak and coconut to the mix.  Delicious wine that I’m serving up with Osso Bucco and roasted Brussels Sprouts in garlic butter and capers.  Drink now if you like them with bite or cellar this beauty and enjoy till 2030.  93 points and 5 stars for this $80 treat.  Salut….

Molino di Sant’Antimo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2014, Tuscany, Italy

24 Friday Jan 2020

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Light shades of see through purple.  As expected from this varietal.  The nose is gorgeous- floral, cherry, garigue and mushroom.  It’s kinda funky, exciting and not what I thought a young Brunello could offer at this stage.

The palate is delightful, not as mature as the nose but there’s hope.  I get cherries, that funky mushroom thing, crispy acidity and very lithe tannins.  This is a bombshell of a wine folks.  There’s fresh fruit, trappings of tertiary flavors, well balanced structure and a delightful mouthfeel.  The mid palate is a seamless transition from the initial to the medium length finish.  I am so glad I got a case of this stuff, I’m going to cellar some and track the evolution.  I have high hopes.  Drink till 2030.  92 points and 5 stars for this $40 Sangiovese.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 686 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Alexander Valley, California

24 Friday Jan 2020

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Dark purple and opaque in the glass.  Iodine, plums and blackcurrants on the nose give way to a refreshingly tannic initial taste of more black fruits alongside a charcoal note.  This wine rides tough on the gums with delightful, young tannins that beg for steak.  I’m happy to oblige tonight.  The mid palate is all about the balance of fruit versus tannins.  The finish is short to medium in length and gives off note of that iodine meets Ribena.  Very tasty wine that has some nice structure and good cellaring potential.  90 points and drink till 2030.  5 stars for this $18 effort.  Salut….

Fonseca Premium Reserve Bin 27 Port, Portugal

24 Friday Jan 2020

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Black.  Opaque.  Thick.  On the nose it’s very lush- burnt damson, plum extract and raisin compote.  The palate is thick, rich and exactly what I wanted/expected. It’s delicious. Midpalate -wise it gets tannic, more dark fruits and some great mouthfeel.   This is truly a delicious dessert wine.  Rich, full-on and multi-dimensional, it ticks many boxes.  The finish is a grainy, tannic event that features some nice purple fruits with walnut notes and some raisin jam.  Delicious.  90 points and for $14, its a 5 star drinker.  Salut….