23 Tuesday Oct 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Inky purple with medium opaque hues. Nose is crushed blueberries with black berry jam. The palate is lovely, blueberry with açaí berry and fig. The tannins are so sleek, they sneak up on me at the end. The mid palate has a nice body to it and shows off more blue fruits. The finish is of medium length, slightly dry and more of a black fruit tint. 90 points and 5 stars for this $12 wine. Paired with Truffled Ravioli, seared Petit Sirloin and tomato jam. Drink till 2022. Salut….
22 Monday Oct 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$21, 5 stars, 91 points, merlot, New Jersey, outer coastal plain
This is the second bottle of Amalthea that my cousin brought over. Bluish purple with nice legs showing in the glass. The nose has plum, blueberry and filberts. The palate has rich blue fruits, juicy acidity, nice tannins from the outset and a hint of that nuttiness I caught on the nose. The wine transitions nicely to the mid-palate and finish where the tannins really grip. More blueberries, black tea and a mineral note close it out. The wine is very balanced with really well crafted tannins that give a nice level of dryness without astringency. This is a much smoother wine than the Cabernet, which can be expected with the varietals. It paired nicely with my Tri-Tip roast, Yorkshire pudding and roasted potatoes. Drink till 2024. 91 points and 5 stars for this $21 effort. Of note- both wines have had freezing issues which does not harm the wine, only crystalizing some sediment in the glass. Salut….
Crystals from freezing
Tri Tip Roast
04 Thursday Oct 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
Medium opacity, good color. Nose is full of espresso, black berry and lush plums. The palate is very smooth, slightly acidic and starts off with black currants, charred oak and olives. The mid palate has more black fruit with the tannins starting to grip. I like the deft use of oak here and it smooths the wine nicely. The finish is medium in length, brimming with black cherry with the tannins receding nicely. 88 points and 5 stars for this $11 wine. Great value from Chile. Salut….
09 Sunday Sep 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
Rich plums and thick oak staves fill the nose on this nearly black wine. On the palate I get delicious black berries, lush dark currants and a tar component. I’m trying hard to pinpoint the missing flavor, could it be coffee? Tannins are present but not obtrusive, with dark fruits and more wood present on the mdi to back end. 90 points and 5 stars for this uniquely labelled Cab that runs about $18. Salut….
26 Sunday Aug 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$22, 5 stars, 91 points, merlot, South Africa, stellenbosch wine
I have had two other wines from Vergelegen. Both were excellent so when I saw this Reserve offering I had to buy it! Medium intensity in the glass. Black currants, olive tapenade, charcoal and pencil on the nose. The palate has a ton of dark, ripe plums coupled with anise and violets. Rich and tannic, this wine has weight. The midpalate is all black currant. The grippy tannins don’t let go- all the way through the medium length finish. Dark fruits aplenty here. 91 points, drink till 2025. 5 stars again for this $22 bottle. Salut….
17 Friday Aug 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$20, 5 stars, 91 points, marlborough, new zealand, pinot noir
A couple of us met up and had a tasting of several nice wines. We started with this Pinot Noir, building our way up to the Bordeaux by way of some Portuguese, South African and Spanish bottles. Read on for the highlights!
Gorgeous purple- see through but clear. The nose is heavy on the strawberry. Nutmeg is present, spice box and vanilla bean round it out. On the palate it is lush, light and layered. Strawberry coulis mixed with cedar plank and cherry abound. The mid palate exhibits a darker fruit component and more spices that I found on the nose. The wine has a very nice acidity and the very lithe tannins only show up at the finale. An excellent bottle that drinks beautifully now and will go on for another 5/7 years. 91 points for this Pinot and 5 stars. It is a perennial favorite of mine and is consistent, year in and year out. $20. Salut….
17 Friday Aug 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Wow…. super dark and brooding. I get nice, rich blackberry notes with coffee bean and vanilla extract on the nose. The initial palate is thick with black fruit preserves, finely integrated tannins, chocolate powder and an oak hint. The mid palate continues the theme but the tannins start to build. By the finish my mouth is coated with caressing dryness and a blackberry meets tar note. Intriguing. I think this wine will open up with decanting and develop somewhat in the glass. It is young and the potential for it to gain tertiary flavors is definitely there. I would cellar for another 2-3 years and pair it with roast lamb all day long. Delicious, powerful, well made and worthy of 92 points. For $36 it is not an everyday wine, but it gets 5 stars from me. Salut….
26 Tuesday Jun 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$40, 5 stars, 93 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo
As you may know, we are moving. Our last dinner gathering included two magnums that were still at the house. I did not want to move them, so the opportunity to enjoy was present. I did not take notes of the second bottle, the Perbrun- as I was hoping to do so the following day with what was left over. Unfortunately, it was not as good as I had hoped and the leftovers had a ton of sediment. It was originally $57 my price for the 2010 vintage. Glad we started with the Spaniard!
Nearly black in the glass. Nose is earthy, with tons of plums, black berry and violets. The initial palate is very upfront with black, tarry fruit, ripe tannins, earth and a floral component. The mid palate is quite dry, the tannins ruling the roost. Eventually it transitions to a Ribena like finish with loads of rich black fruit. Oak is present, but not overpowering. It adds a vanilla dimension to the finish and smooths it out some. This wine is still in youth, 17 years after vintage. It will last another 10 at least, mellowing out along the way. 93 points is what the pro’s gave this Tempranillo and I agree. For the $40 entry fee it is a solid 4 star wine, but I am going to up it to 5 as I think this wine will evolve some more as it mellows. I roasted two Beef Tri-tips for the pairing with an endive and frissee salad laced with Balsamic infused Shallots. It was a grand last evening of fun in my beloved home. Salut….
Delicious and young
Not quite as good
23 Saturday Jun 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Some more Kirkland Signature wines are on the horizon in my search for value priced offerings. This one cost $10. It shows nicely in the glass with a see-through medium hued purple. The nose is mostly plum with a hint of nutmeg. The palate is very inviting, easy to drink and fresh. Blue fruits dominate with a touch of tannic vibrancy that tickles the gums. Acidity is present and the wine has a really nice balance. The mid palate has a core of plum that carries through to the finish. There’s not much complexity here, but it does serve the purpose. This wine is great value for a Sonoma County Cabernet that drinks easily, will handle burgers, pizza and make an awesome coq au vin. I would buy it up, serving all summer long out by the grill. Drink till 2020. 89 points and 5 stars. Salut….
22 Friday Jun 2018
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
Another in the low priced series that I have been working through. This one rings in at $14. It has a nice medium intensity of purple in the glass. The nose is very rich with plums, black berry and leather. On the palate it is more fruit forward than I had imagined. Very upfront with plums, cedar shavings and a touch of eucalyptus. There is a really delicious mid palate core of sweet black cherry that I am thoroughly enjoying. Tannins are very smooth, balanced and lithe. The finish exhibits a nice acidity and more plums. The dry leather component I found earlier appear ever so slightly and rounds out the finish. This is a very tasty wine, which gets 91 points from me- contrary to the 89-90 ratings the pro’s gave it. I think it will pair well with tonights flat iron steaks, Buffalo Cauliflower and sautéed asparagus. Certainly a 5 star wine that I think will get stocked up on. Summer party season is here and this one is front and center. Drink now till 2020. Salut….
Wine reviews 