Tag Archives: 5 stars

Clos Pegase Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

29 Tuesday Nov 2016

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Another Napa Cabernet that I got to taste at the AMEX Centurion Lounge at SFO airport.  This one was a dazzler, but give it time.

Portlike nose with honeyed blueberries and some juniper hints.  The initial attack is all blue fruits and a crescendo of brooding tannins. This is one heck of a monster, built for the long run or a trip through the vinturi.  The mid palate shows darker fruits with plum torte, espresso and a delicious minerality.  The finish carries on with the tannic structure and leaves the gums bone dry.  Give this wine a wide berth until 2019 but buy lots, it will run for many years after that. 92 points from me even though the pros gave it 90 and said drink now.  I found it online for $39 which make it a 4 star, perhaps even 5 star wine in my books.  This wine epitomizes Napa Cabernet for me.  Enjoy with a hearty pasta dish, steak with asparagus or a grilled leg of lamb.  Salut….
clos pegs napa cabernet sauvignon

Chateau Lanessan Haut Medoc 2000

26 Saturday Nov 2016

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I can’t remember the exact details of when or where I bought this 3 Liter Double Magnum but it has been many years. This is a really nice Bordeaux wine which hailed from the amazing 2000 vintage.  I have saved it for the right moment and hoped it had matured nicely and was not over the hill or premature.  My first concern was the crumbling cork.  I ended up with it inside the bottle and my shirt getting the first tastes before my Thanksgiving guests arrived.  I was pleasantly surprised and thankful for my patience.

Still beautifully purple with no signs of bricking.  The nose is sublime.  Leather, plums, tobacco.  The initial taste is very smooth, refined and balanced.  More creamy purple fruits and leather show up as the wine works its way along. The tannins show up on the mid palate in a very subdued way.  The finish has vanilla, plum torte and cassis berries.  The tannins really kick in after a while and are gripping on the finish.  91 points and drinking nicely till 2023 at the least.  I found it online for $30 but it got terrible ratings from the pros.  I disagree but maybe that is because mine was in a large format bottle.  I love aged Bordeaux and this one hit it on all cylinders for me.  5 stars if you are looking for a good deal on something that offers freshness with old world charm and some secondary flavors of maturity starting to emerge.  Salut….

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Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris Columbia Valley 2015

24 Monday Oct 2016

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Pale yellow, almost cloud-like in the glass.  A nose of lemon curd, green melon and kumquat.  The flavors on the initial attack are pear, lemon and seven-up.  This wine reminds me of a steely Chablis, very minerally and biting.  Acidity is present but subsides nicely into a mid palate and finish of green pear and lemon drops.  This winery is very consistent and I really enjoy what they make.  88 points and 5 stars for this $9 effort.  A go-to winery in a pinch and on a budget.  I served it up with grilled Salmon. Salut….

set michelle pinot gris

Bulgariana Imperial Red Blend Thracian Valley 2009

19 Wednesday Oct 2016

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I’m not holding my breath on this $8 offering.  I just had to try it, for the sake of seeking out a high QPR wine.  The wine is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cab Sav and 5% each of Rubin and Mavrud- both of which I have never heard of let alone try.  The wine is 7 years old so I am a little surprised that my local Costco was carrying it in bulk.  Anyway, it begins with a dark purple in the glass and a nose of spices, mulled plums and sushi.   I know that sounds strange but there is a component that is intriguing me and it reminds me of the seaweed in a sushi roll.  I’m kinda digging it!
On the palate this wine is really delicious with some searing tannins.  I am impressed.  Plums, black cherry, a touch of wood and cola syrup.  This wine reminds me of a monster Tannat, thick, brooding and bone dry with tannins running amuck.  It is young and needs several more years to mellow.  I am returning for more and sticking them in the cellar.  I think it would work great with a well marbled steak, Lamb stew or something else needing the tannins to offset fatty dishes.  The wine could also be sent through a Vinturi or decanted but it really is delicious by itself if you like the dry ones.  I’m going 90 points and for sure 5 stars for its exceptional QPR (Quality Price Ratio).  PS.  I searched for it online, it runs $14- still a great value.  Salut….
bulgariana imperial red blend

Michael David Petite Petit Lodi Central Valley California 2014

12 Wednesday Oct 2016

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Moxie and I went to the local Costco yesterday and I steered us into the wine aisle…  I picked up some interesting wines but the label on this one sold both Moxie and me.  She’s a graphic artist by trade and has a good eye for marketing.  This label was a winner.  I glanced at the back label and immediately decided I needed to try this blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot.

Wow, what a beautiful dark purple in the glass.  A nose of twizzlers, strawberry jam and some oak.  It’s not my favorite profile but I’ll wait to taste.  The initial taste is deelish.  This is a rich wine that starts off with black cherries, dark stone fruit and strawberries on the mid palate.  Ripe tannins round it out for a balanced mouthfeel. The wine finishes strong with notes of cherries jubilee laced with some tannins.  I’m loving the flavor profile if not the aromas.  I bought this wine for $12.89 at Costco.  You know I love both Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot which makes this wine really appealing.  It rates a 90 with me and that makes it a must buy and 5 stars.  I’m getting more in the morning.  Drink now till 2019 with red meat, venison and stews.  A perfect fall wine.  Besides, look at that cool label- winner!  Salut….
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San Felice Campogiovanni docg Brunello Di Montalcino Tuscany Italy 2010

17 Saturday Sep 2016

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Run, don’t walk to your local wine shop if you have any desire to taste a delicious Brunello.  I don’t have notes on this wine as I drank it at a company hosted dinner and thought it would be rude to whip out the ole iPhone and ignore the boss for the sake of a review.  I will say that I took away some main points- it is textbook Sangiovese that is drinking on pointe, the flavors are rich and balanced, the acidity and tannins are right where they need to be and the wine was a superb accompaniment to the Lamb chops with mint sauce.

Good Brunellos will evolve and in their evolution will take on Pinot Noir characteristics reminiscent of aged Burgundy.  This wine is on the path and I am super excited for it- the trail is well marked and it has the backbone, stuffing and correct components to get there and provide years of pleasure.  While it drinks beautifully now, it will no doubt be an amazing wine in another 10 years and more.  The pro’s gave this one huge scores and I will do so as well.  96 was the highest and WS gave it 95.   I concur and given its $40 price tag this wine is a steal and worthy of 5+ points.  Salut….

san felice campo giovanni brunello di montalcino 2010

Finca Antigua Crianza la Mancha, Castilla, Spain 2009

08 Monday Aug 2016

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I bought this on sale for $11 and couldn’t be happier.  I got three bottles but may have to re-order by the case!  Opaque dark red/purple from this 50% Tempranillo, 20% Merlot, 20% Cab, 10% Syrah blend. The nose gives up mint, capsicum and a touch of blueberry. On the palate an interesting mix of blueberry, earth and pomegranate. The wine exhibits some forward acidity which explains the pomegranate component. It finishes nicely with a healthy, balanced dose of tannins that rest in the gums and make me reach for the glass. This is a yummy wine that defies the typical Spanish profile yet provides juicy, interesting flavors that should evolve and mature. 90 points and 5 stars for this great quality to price ratio.  Salut….

finca antigua crianza

Clos St. Thomas ‘Chateau St. Thomas’ Rouge, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon 2008

08 Monday Aug 2016

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I have recently started to modify the titles of my posts to more closely reflect what other sites use.  One site in particular has added my blog to their reviews section and I want to make sure they are cataloged properly.  I may go back and modify some of the reviews I have done to become more searchable and SEO friendly. In the meantime, I plan on doing more tastings and more reviews.  This particular wine is a favorite.  My father and uncle both got me a few bottles of the 2008 St. Thomas, of which their cousin owns.  When I drank it 18 months ago it was really good, yet still primal.  The notes that follow will hopefully show you the evolution and value of cellaring certain wines.  What was a 91 point wine has now come out as worthy of 92, and 5 stars for it’s incredible $22 value.

Mature, bold and balanced. This wine has finally rounded it’s tannins and now the whole package is seamless and smooth. The mouthfeel is gorgeous with rich plum, cassis, leather and vanilla. The tannins are ever present but not dominating. They counter the acidity perfectly. This wine has evolved incredibly. The mid palate is especially present with rich plum and a hint of the oak. It will evolve further and run for another 10 years minimum. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and Syrah blended.  92 points. I’m serving it with grilled rib steaks and home-grown tomato salad.  Salut….

clos st. thomas wine

Alexander Valley Vineyards Wetzel Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

05 Friday Aug 2016

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I was recently in an airport lounge and saw this wine being offered.  I am a fan of the winery since our visit there in 2015.  If you are ever in the area and want to enjoy a nice tasting, fun staff and cool dog I suggest you visit Alexander Valley Vineyards.

Nice rich purple in the glass with a nose of eucalyptus and plum jam -maybe blackberry reduction. The initial taste is super smooth. I mean seriously smooth, with blackberry, nutmeg and tobacco flavors. This wine has a seamless transition from front to back. Amazing and extremely balanced. I’m loving it. 92 points, which is high but this wine is drinking on pointe and deserves credit for its immediate satisfaction. It may cellar for another 3-5 years but why wait?  I found it online for $15, but MSRP is around $22.  They blended a touch of my favorites in for color, aroma and balance.  Merlot at 6%, with a touch of Cab Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. For sure a 5 star wine, stock up and serve alone or with pretty much all the classic red wine pairings.  Salut….

wetzel fmly estate cab sauv alex valley sonoma county north coast california usa

 

Chateau Arnaud, Saint Estephe, France 2010

25 Monday Jul 2016

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A see-through purple hue in the glass with some damson and leather on the nose.  The initial taste is super smooth with plum, tobacco, a touch of oak and very well balanced tannins.  The acidity is present, but only just showing itself.  The mid palate is interesting, with the tannins and acidity swirling around, mixing it up with more dark fruits and what appears to be the beginnings of secondary flavors.  I also get a telltale hint of violets.  When Bordeaux wines mature, the better made ones will start to lose the fruit and gain tertiary flavors that most claret drinkers love.  I am hoping this wine will evolve more as I have another 10 bottles and am going to enjoy the journey.  The finish is what I would consider ‘normal’.  Not long, not persistent but still showing off some of the fruit and tannins.  2010 was an exceptional year for Bordeaux, this wine is making the most of it.  The fruit is still ever present and the structure is great, holding the wine together and giving it a cellaring potential of another 7-8 years. In that timeframe I imagine some interesting things may happen.  I am going with 91 points and 5 stars for this $22 effort that is 30% Merlot, 60% Cab Sav and 10% Cabernet Franc (Which is probably why I like it so much!)  Salut….

chateau arnaud