Tag Archives: 85 points

Georges Duboeuf Domaine des Rosiers Moulin-a-Vent 2021, Beaujolais, France

16 Sunday Nov 2025

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Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red grape, a green vegetal note (not loving that), pomegranate, cherry cola, and baking spice.  It’s somewhat one-dimensional.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (+) tannins that are quite grippy.  Medium intensity flavors of cherry, red grape, black tea, baking spice and pomegranate are overshadowed by a noticeable astringency.  It’s not something an aerator or decanter will fix, I think the tannins are green and hard.  The finish is medium (+) in length, but the tannic grip envelopes the whole mouth.  It gets 85 points from me, hopefully the other two bottles I have will mellow out.  Running $35 online, it’s a 2 star effort for me.  I’m going to pair it with Prime Rib, hopefully the fatty cut will sort out the tannins.  Salut….

Georges Duboeuf Domaine des Rosiers Moulin-a-Vent

Il Borgo Collinare Nero d’Avola 2023, Sicily, Italy

06 Wednesday Aug 2025

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Medium ruby colored, with a hint of staining, and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red currant, blood orange, white cherry, cinnamon-driven spice box, a hint of licorice, and pomegranate.  I can almost smell the acidity.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that are hitting on the upper cheeks.  Medium intensity flavors of red fruit, some spicebox and a hint of blood orange peel.  The finish is a zesty affair with the acidity firing on all cylinders.  It finishes a medium (-) length without much fanfare.  It’s a basic, everyday bottle that runs $8 and gets 85 points from me.  Drink sooner rather than later, this 3 star effort is made from organic grapes.  Salut….

il borgo collinare nero d'avola

Trivento Reserve Malbec 2022, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

28 Monday Oct 2024

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Deep purple colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of crushed red raspberry (ripe), super ripe strawberry compote, candied red cherry, baking spice, vanilla thread and red licorice- it’s really not my favorite set of descriptors btw.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins sitting on a medium body.  The tannins are a touch unripe and the flavors are somewhat more tart than I was expecting.  Red fruit, but not the macerated, stewed or ripe ones I smelled plus some rooibos tea.  It’s a bit unripe and disjointed tbh, not something I was expecting from this winery.  The finish is tart and a bit astringent.  This is not what I was hoping for by a long shot- 85 points instead of the 90 that JS gave it.  I paid under $10 for it and will go with 3 stars.  Drink soon as I doubt there is much cellaring capacity.  Salut….

Trivento Reserve Malbec

Marques de Monistrol Cava Reserva Selección Especial NV, Spain

16 Wednesday Oct 2024

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Pale gold colored with large bubbles and a watery sheen (11.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of yellow apple, tangerine zest, pineapple, white blossom, a touch of brioche and lemon peel.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  The mousse has disappeared from the glass but there is an effervescence on the palate- I am dubious about the provenance here.  The flavors are not as prominent as the nose but I do get the yellow apple, citrus and white blossom, no sign of the brioche that I was hoping for.  The finish is pleasant and medium (+) in length making it a refreshing and enjoyable wine.  I would like to revisit another bottle I was given as this one may have seen better days and without disgorgement dates I have no idea how old it is.  Under $8, it gets 85 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink on purchase.  Salut….

Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2019, Marlborough, New Zealand

08 Thursday Aug 2024

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I recently tasted the 2020 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir and like it, here goes with its older sibling, the 2019.  Medium ruby colored with a watery sheen (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red raspberry, red cherry compote, baking spice, vanilla, oak plank, peppermint and granite.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins.  The flavors echo the nose in both intensity and descriptors, not that much going on unfortunately.  The finish is a touch tart and medium (-) in length.  Overall this is not as good as the younger bottle and I would drink it right away, there is not enough intensity or structure for development.  85 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 2 star wine.  Salut….

Casillero del Diablo Reserva Carmenere 2021, Central Valley, Chile

15 Wednesday May 2024

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I just got back from a week in Florida where I got to taste a few wines, albeit not under the greatest conditions or with the correct glasses.  Here goes nothing…

Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Medium (-) intensity aromas of capsicum, bilberry, fresh cut oak, juniper and white raspberry.  On the palate I get medium acidity, medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins.  Medium (-) intensity flavors of the aforementioned aromas resulting in a short finish.  Pleasant but not complex or memorable- good if you’re looking for a greenish Carmenere without being too vegetal.  85 points for this $10 bottle made by Concha Y Toro makes it a 3 star effort to drink soon.  Salut….

Luis Pato Baga – Touriga Nacional 2016, Vinho Regional Beira Atlantico, Portugal

22 Monday Apr 2024

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Slightly cloudy, medium garnet colored with a low viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe raspberry, black cherry, boysenberry, dried wheat and a touch of earthiness.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body and medium tannins.  The fruit is somewhat tart, red in nature and melded with some  earthy undertones.  The finish is short-lived but lively with acidity and tart red fruit popping all over the palate.  I was expecting a tannic, brooding wine based on the Baga, but this is a relatively mild affair with the Touriga Nacional also not contributing much to the structure.  There’s plenty of acidity but not much else that we expect from these two grapes.  I guess the 8 years of age may have mellowed some of the pieces to the puzzlebut it is not complete.  85 points from me, even though I am enjoying this $18 bottle tremendously before we embark on making home-made pizza.  It gets 3 stars with a drink now window.  Salut….

 

Chariot Wines Gypsy Red 2019, California

22 Monday Aug 2022

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Nearly opaque, this deep ruby colored wine has a tinge of blue coloring on the edges.  The nose has aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, red licorice candy and ripe raspberry.  A touch of oak is also present.  The palate is dry with medium tannins and medium acidity.  There is a sourness to the palate but I get red fruit, red licorice and charcoal.  The body is medium and the finish is short.  The tannins linger mind you and there is some juiciness on the back end that I am enjoying.  It’s a Trader Joes special that runs $6.  Great for a party, this 85 pointer will not break the bank and can be served with burgers, dogs or even pizza.  3 stars from me for this blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to drink by 2024.   Salut….

Albert Morot Beaune Bressandes 2019, Beaune Premier Cru, France

13 Friday May 2022

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Every so often I get thrown a curveball.  This Burgundian Pinot Noir was tasted blind at my WSET class.  I barely passed the assessment.  This 92 point wine was not at all what I tasted- bottle variation?  Storage issues?  Did the invigilator know this was a $60 Premiere Cru and made his mind up with that knowledge?  Who knows.  My notes are pretty consistent with the majority of the class.  This wine is medium ruby colored with medium (-) intensity aromas of red currant, raspberry, red cherry, pomegranate and red plum.  I called it simple.  On the palate it is dry with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins, medium body and high alcohol.  I got medium (-) intensity flavors of the above descriptors and found the wine to have a short finish.  I marked it as being of acceptable quality with a drink now recommendation.  In my world this is barely an 85 pointer and for the cash- 1 star.  It was a real disappointment to find out it had such pedigree yet did not deliver.  I almost want to buy a bottle and have another industry pro blind taste it to confirm my suspicions- but why waste $60?  Major pass.  Salut…

J. Navascues ‘La Vadina’ Garnacha 2018, Carinena, Spain

10 Thursday Mar 2022

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This Spanish wine is a blend of 75% Garnacha and 25% Cariñena.  It is medium ruby colored:nothing too exciting there.  The nose is a bit off-putting to me.  As an amateur I’m allowed to add personal opinion.  I don’t like candy aromas and flavors in my wine.  This one is loaded with cherry hard candy and ripe raspberry.  Other notes include maraschino cherry, a touch of baking spice and some very feint charcoal.  The palate is…. interesting.  I would like to say it is dry, yet I sense some sweetness via red cherry and really ripe raspberry.  I’ll say this- it’s very smooth and easy to drink.  Medium tannins and acidity coupled with a lighter weight body make it a slippery wine that finishes dry and lasts a decent amount of time.  Not complex by any stretch, this $12 …85 pointer gets 2 stars from me.  I just don’t care for it.  Drink now.