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Tag Archives: 5 stars

Loosen Bros Dr. L Riesling 2023, Mosel, Germany

09 Monday Dec 2024

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$12, 5 stars, 89 points, germany, mosel, riesling


Pale straw/lemon colored with high viscosity (8.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon zest, petrol, green apple skin, white and orange blossom, slightly underripe apricot, and a hint of wet slate.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a medium body.  The viscosity in the glass is obviously a result of the RS (residual sugar) and not the alcohol content.  The flavors are slightly muted by the piercing acidity, even though it is tempered by the sugar.  Citrus zest, green apple, apricot, and that stony mineral note make it through the powerful facade of this refreshing yet weighty wine.  It’s an interesting dichotomy.  I’m enjoying it very much as an aperitif to a Greek Chicken Souvlaki dinner, which has a lemon-based marinade.  The finish is very interesting- a ying and yang of sweetness versus tartness.  It lasts quite a long while.  Loving this $12 bottle that gets a decent 89 point score from me and 5 stars.  I will be stocking up on this porch pounder.  It will pair beautifully with spicy dishes as well as Asian inspired cuisine.  I think it has some cellaring capacity and would be interested to hide a few bottles for extended periods, checking every so often on the development.  Yummy.  Salut….

dr loosen dr l riesling

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Quinta da Foz Reserva 2020, Douro, Portugal

08 Sunday Dec 2024

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$25, 5 stars, 94 points, Douro, portugal, Tina Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional


Deep purple colored with medium staining, and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, vanilla, coffee, dark chocolate, menthol, bramble berry, and a medicinal note.  It’s very enticing.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins that are melding nicely.  The richness of the fruit is profound- dark berry with oak nuance by way of vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and a medicinal note.  The menthol note only appears on the back end. The finish is juicy and medium (+) in length.  A delicious blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tina Roriz.  I have tasted two earlier vintages of this Reserva with equally impressive notes and high scores.  I will go with 94 points this time and for $25- I’m stocking up.  5 stars with a drink till 2030 window.  Salut….

Quinta da Foz Reserva

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Domaine Clavel Régulus 2023, Côtes du Rhône, France

07 Saturday Dec 2024

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$14, 5 stars, 91 points, Cotes du rhone, france, grenache, marselan, syrah


Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, red plum, smoke, game, tomato stalk, red licorice, pomegranate, and blackberry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium  body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of dark raspberry, plum, blackberry, pomegranate, with some less intense red licorice, smoke, game and green from the stalk.  The finish is quite short but well received- it’s certainly fruity and has some nice juiciness thanks to the acidity.  This is a very delicious wine that drinks nicely now and could perhaps evolve till 2028.  It gets 91 points from me and at $14- a 5 star winner.  A blend of Grenache 60%, Syrah 30% and Marselan 10%.  Salut….

Domaine Clavel Régulus cotes du rhone

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Real Companhia Velha Quinta das Carvalhas Late Bottle Vintage Port 2019, Portugal

05 Thursday Dec 2024

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$23, 5 stars, 92 points, portugal, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional


Dark ruby colored with medium staining and a high viscosity (20% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of macerated bramble berry, blackberry pie, dried cigar wrapper, old oak, dark chocolate, sweet prune, and a hint of wintergreen.  The palate is semi-sweet with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are polished.  The flavor intensity is medium (+) and echoes the nose- leading to a long finish that is slightly sweet, slightly dry, and slightly tangy giving a wonderful mouthfeel.  I have had the 2018 vintage and enjoyed it thoroughly.  This one is perhaps even better and gets 92 points from me.  I paid $23 and give it 5 stars.  Delicious and deserving of some Bleu cheese to pair.  Drink till 2035.  Salut….

quinta das carvalhas lbv 2019

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La Reserve De L’enclave Cotes du Rhone Villages 2022, Southern Rhone, France

21 Thursday Nov 2024

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$18, 5 stars, 91 points, Cotes du rhone, france, grenache, southern rhone, syrah


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red and black raspberry, steeped black cherry, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, blueberry, wildflower, black pepper and granite.  The palate is dry (very), with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Flavors of dark red fruit- cherry and raspberry, with some green notes of fresh tobacco leaf, wildflower, pepper (both green and black), as well as some granite.  The fruit/tannins are quite sharp and produce a distinct dryness on the mid palate.  The finish is a bit mouthwatering and of medium length.  The astringent nature of this wine is akin to over steeped black tea- but it’s quite pleasant.  A blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah- I don’t get the gaminess associated with the latter, but it does offer up the candied red fruit I dislike.  Overall this $18 is very tasty and will cellar nicely till 2030.  91 points from me and 5 stars.  Grilled meats are the ticket here.  Salut….

La Reserve De L'enclave Cotes du Rhone Villages

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Babylonstoren Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Simonsberg-Paarl, South Africa

16 Saturday Nov 2024

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$20, 5 stars, 92 points, cabernet sauvignon, Simonsberg-Paarl, South Africa


Deep purple colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has  medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry, black plum, vanilla, coffee, acai berry, mint, cedar plank and charred oak.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruits with nicely integrated oak – giving vanilla, coffee, cedar and charred oak notes.  It has a medium (+) ending that wraps the fruit and oak into a focussed finish.  The tannins resolve quickly btw leaving a nice mouthfeel.  I dig this $20 effort and think it’s a 92 point wine to drink till 2028.  5 stars for the price/quality ratio.  Salut….

babylonstoren Cabernet Sauvignon

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Eccentric Malbec Bourbon Barrel 2022, Mendoza, Argentina

07 Thursday Nov 2024

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$11, 5 stars, 91 points, Argentina, Malbec, Mendoza


Deep purple colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe black plum, black cherry, cassis, vanilla, acai berry and cedar plank.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity, medium body, and medium tannins that caress.  Flavor intensity is medium and has the plum, cherry, vanilla and acai I got on the nose.  It’s more oak driven than the nose with smoke and coffee also present.  The finish is surprisingly long and mouthwatering.  The acidity must have just caught up to the party!  It’s a soft wine, like I would expect from this varietal but the Bourbon barrel aging gives it a bit of oak drive and the vanilla is on point.  I don’t like over-oaked wines, this one is en pointe.  I’m really enjoying this 91 point that ran me $11- for sure a 5 star effort to enjoy in the near term.  Salut….

Eccentric Malbec Bourbon Barrel

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Fanal Madeira Rainwater Old Reserve 10 year NV, Madeira, Portugal

06 Wednesday Nov 2024

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$30, 5 stars, 91 points, madeira, portugal


Pale amber with purple and copper hues and high viscosity (18% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of walnuts, caramel, raisins, prune, desiccated lemon peel, dried flowers and railroad tie shavings.  The palate is medium sweet with a full body and medium (+) acidity.  An intriguing set of flavors layer themselves on the tip of my tongue- a melange of dried nuts, dessicated fruit, dried lemon pith and that unique shaved railroad tie note.  The finish is long but the wine is a touch thinner than other styles of Madeira so it runs lean and slightly tart from the acidity.  Unique stuff with history as to how it is made and why this style evolved.  My boss brought it from Madeira.   Price-wise I believe it was in the $30 range.  Getting 91 points from me makes it a 5 star effort to search out if you want to try something different.  Drink for the next 50 years!  Salut.

Fanal Madeira Rainwater

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RARECAT Old Toll Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, California

06 Wednesday Nov 2024

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$155, 5 stars, 94 points, cabernet sauvignon, califiornia, napa cabernet, napa valley, spring mountain district


Deep ruby colored with moderate staining, high viscosity (14.7% ABV) and slightly hazy indicating the lack of fining/filtration?  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe black cherry, bramble berry, anise, dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, cassis, mint, dust, leather and cigar box.  Very layered and showing primary, secondary and tertiary development.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky and fine grained.  Rich dark cherry, bramble berry, cassis, anise, chocolate, coffee leather and cigar box notes.  The tannins melt nicely and leave me with a long finish that resonates rich, ripe fruit and  lovely oak integration.  Really yummy stuff that gets 94 points from me.  At $155 ex-chateau it’s a treat wine that gets 5 stars from me.  This beauty has tons of cellaring capacity left but is drinking nicely now.  I would pair it with Filet Mignon with Peppercorn sauce or Prime Rib.  Drink till 2035.  Salut….

RARECAT Old Toll Cabernet Sauvignon

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Catena Zapata ‘Catena Appellation San Carlos’ Cabernet Franc 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

04 Monday Nov 2024

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$22, 5 stars, 91 points, argentine, Cabernet franc, Mendoza


Medium to deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red plum, ripe raspberry, vanilla, baking spice, capsicum, acai berry, cracked black pepper and mint.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins atop a medium to full body.  The flavors are medium in intensity and mirror the nose.  It’s quite a silky wine with the tannin/acid balance and nice ripe fruit that is enveloped in deft oak.  The finish is medium in length and very smooth.  I like it and for $22 it gets 5 stars for its 91 point rating.  I would drink till 2027 with lighter meat dishes, nothing too fatty.  Salut….

Catena Zapata San Carlos Cabernet Franc

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