Tag Archives: 5 stars

Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico DOCG 2016, Tuscany, Italy

07 Sunday Jul 2019

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Semi opaque yet intriguingly purple in the glass.  On the nose I’m getting sour cherry kirsch, strawberries and rooibos tea.  On the palate it is light, tart and tasty- just what I was expecting.  The opening notes are much the same…. cherry juice, strawberry coulis and rhubarb.  There are some gripping tannins that hit the mid palate and that sour cherry must be the source of the bracing acidity.  These factors, combined with the young fruit are going to bode well for a patient lover of Sangiovese.  It will evolve nicely I think.  91 points and 5 stars for this $12 wine.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Barboursville Vineyards Reserve Viognier 2017, Virginia, USA

07 Sunday Jul 2019

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Very pale yellow in the glass, I was expecting a more honeyed glint.  On the nose it’s very refreshing with a peach hint, some beeswax and papaya.  I’m excited!  On the palate it is super delicious- crisp, clean with just a hint of acidity let the flavors of peach stone, nectarine and pink grapefruit really shine.  The mid palate allows the gentle acidity some room to refresh the palate.  The finish is medium in length with a great mouthfeel that balances freshness with a touch of flab that just tastes and feels right.  This is a rather nice bottle- Virginia really does great Viognier and Barboursville perfects it.  91 points and 5 stars for this $22 charmer.  Drink till 2027 with grilled fish, chicken kebabs or raw clams.  Salut…. 

Santa Julia Reserva Malbec 2017, Uco Valley, Argentina

07 Sunday Jul 2019

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The stickers read- Decanter 93, RP 90.  I’m intrigued.  On the nose I get a nice blackberry, cassis and iodine note.  On the palate it is very lush with mouth coating blackberry jam, delicious yet lithe tannins and a minerality that I was not expecting.  The mid palate is full blown black fruit but it’s the finish that has me lusting for another mouthful. There’s so much body and ripe fruit that it is almost overflowing.  The black berry compote is dark, sweet and ripe.  The tannins are just right, not over done yet they give a nice mouthfeel for a long finish.  This is a drink now till 2027 wine that will reward some patience yet give pleasure right away with everything from Bangers and Mash to hearty roasts, steak and pasta.  I think Decanter went the right direction with this one- 92 points from me and it’s a steal for $10, worthy of 5 stars.  Glad I found it.  Salut….

Boedecker Cellars Stewart Pinot Noir 2014, Willamette Valley, USA

19 Wednesday Jun 2019

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Very typical in the glass for Pinot- seethrough, lighter shade of purple and showing fine-strained legs.  On the nose I get strawberry pie, spice box and rooibos tea.  On the initial palate it’s more cherry than strawberry but they coexist nicely.  

The wine transitions beautifully to the mid palate where I get some ginger and allspice.  The back end is where they sneak some lithe tannins in that barely caress my gums- very deftly.  There’s a nice acidity alongside violets and that red tea component- delicious.  91 points- drink till 2025 with lighter fare such as Cornish Hens, Filet or even charcuterie.  $30 and 5 stars.  Salut….

Santa Julia Vida Organica Malbec 2018, Mendoza, Argentina

19 Wednesday Jun 2019

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Really bright purple in the glass, nice legs too!  On the nose I get candied plum, oak shavings, blackberry preserves.  On the palate it is quite tart, but interesting.  Plums, ganache, chocolate dust and curt tannins all hit me on the initial.  The mid palate is where the tannic grip takes hold.  Dark stone fruits galore and an astringent tea make up the main profile.  On the finish this wine gives me black olives, plums, tea and that tannic bite which lasts for over thirty seconds.  Not a bad drop.  89 points from me and 5 stars for this $10 Malbec.  Drink now with hearty dishes or cellar medium term for a smoother drinking wine.  Salut….

La Loggia ‘Toscaia’ Rosso Toscana IGT 2017, Tuscany, Italy

07 Tuesday May 2019

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It’s a pretty shade of purple in the glass with a 98 point sticker on the bottle….. hmmm.  The nose is thin but offers up strawberry coulis and cherry juice.  On the palate it has much more presence.  A rich mouthful of dark cherry, strawberry extract and cola hit me square on.  Tannins introduce themselves right away and are not holding back.  This is a hefty wine, with structure to boot.  The mid palate has more of that extracted cherry that is almost overwhelmed by the tannic grip.  Wow, this wine is built.  The finish is very astringent yet tasty.  Red fruits swirl alongside black tea and jaw drying tannins.  It’s certainly an interesting wine that I am really enjoying, yet wondering what the cellaring potential is as there is very little acidity.  The tannins and fruit are certainly present, I am just a little concerned about the long term structure.  Let’s see in a few years.  For now, enjoy this Merlot/Sangiovese blend with pasta, steaks or moussaka.  It gets a realistic 91 points from me and 5 stars for the $14 price I paid.  Drink till 2027 at the least.  Salut….

Buttercream Chardonnay 2017, California, USA

28 Sunday Apr 2019

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Medium shade of gold in the glass.  The nose has definitely got butter. Marzipan, banana and lemon peel also feature.  On the palate it is very round, tasty and full bodied.  That marzipan comes back at me with lemon, beeswax and oak staves.  The mid palate shows some citrus and floral components that move on to the finish.  I get almost a tannic bite right at the end- interesting.  Very easy to drink without a huge dose of acidity.  It’s a nice aperitif and will pair well with my grilled hens and bacon draped Brussel sprouts.  89 points and 5 stars if you like this style of oaky Chard that sells for $14.  Drink now.  Salut….$14

Havens Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2016, Sonoma, California

25 Thursday Apr 2019

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In the glass this wine is textbook Pinot Noir- bright red, see-through with lithe legs.  On the nose I get cherry cola, strawberry and faint wood.  On the palate it screams New World Pinot with strawberry coulis, bing cherry and delightful tannins that ease into a full blown black tea extravaganza that leave my gums puckered and my teeth thoroughly dry.  The mid palate turns a little blue on me with berries and tar.  The finish is back to the original strawberry/cherry combo that I love.  The finish is long with nice balanced acidity offsetting the tannins.  91 points for this $20 wine makes it a 5 star effort IMHO.  Drink now till 2027.  I am pairing it with roasted Cornish Hens, baked Sweet Potatoes with Feta and sautéed Zucchini.  Salut….

Angeline Pinot Noir 2017, California, USA

25 Thursday Apr 2019

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Darker and more opaque than most Pinot Noirs.  The nose has a strawberry candy note plus blueberry paste and a fig component.  Sounds strange- I know.  On the palate it delivers on that fig thing, surprisingly.  I also get blueberry and some oak.  The tannins are crispy, appearing on the midpalate and carrying us through to the finish which has blueberry and charcoal.  Very tasty indeed.  The tannins are long lived, drying out my gums for well over a minute.  This will will age nicely methinks .  90 points and 5 stars for this $11 wine.  Salut….

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 14 Doctor’s Creek Pinot Noir 2017, Marlborough, New Zealand

21 Thursday Mar 2019

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Quite dark but lacking much opacity in the glass.  On the nose it reeks of New World Pinot goodness.  Cherry cobbler, vanilla and strawberry coulis all hit me on the nose.  The palate has a gorgeous initial streak of bing cherry, blueberry (yup), cedar and spice box.  There is a fruitcake note on the midpalate that tempers some acidity.  The wine finishes with a slightly green note- capsicum comes to mind, but it’s quite nice.  The vegetal twist alongside the red fruit works well here.  There is an underlying astringency from the very feint tannins.  This is a delicious wine for immediate consumption or a few years in the cellar. 90 points and 5 stars for this $19 effort.  Pair with roast chicken, grilled salmon or Veal chops.  You can read my previous reviews of the Saint Clair lineup to see I am a huge fan, for good reason.  Salut….