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Tag Archives: 86 points

Beaulieu Vineyard BV Reserve Tapestry 2016, Napa Valley, California

12 Monday Jan 2026

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$65, 2 stars, 86 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa, napa cabernet


If you read my blog posts regularly you will notice that my wine reviews follow a formula.  I look at the wine, I smell the wine and then I dissect the structural components before naming the flavors.  I end the review with the length of the finish, perhaps a pairing suggestion, and a cellaring window.  It’s a way for me to remain consistent, albeit boring, while still covering all the parts that make a tasting as complete as possible.  I have been to blind tastings with fellow somms and they do talk some shite, mentioning 15 or more descriptors in rapid fire succession.  Either they are far better or they are full of it.  My taste buds and nose only catch 5-10 aromas and flavors at best, but I like to concentrate on the structure of the wine more so.  It’s the one thing that everyone can agree on, versus “I get yada, yada, don’t you?”.

When I decided on this bottle of wine, I was cooking Sunday Roast, actually it had been in the slow cooker all day, so I was hovering every so often to taste the jus and make sure the veggies were not overly cooked.  I decided that watching the football and not sitting at a computer was probably a treat I should allow myself, so I opened the bottle and just enjoyed it without much thought about tannins, body, acid and flavors.

I enjoyed it, but was a little disappointed in its overall structure and concentration.  I have cellared this bottle for a few years in hopes of a gentle evolution, but it was not meant to be.  Barely an 86 point wine, it’s certainly not worth the $60+ I paid for it.  Back in the day it got 91 points and a beautiful writeup.  I can only think that time was not kind.

Anyway- thanks for reading my notes!  Salut….


Beaulieu Vineyard BV Reserve Tapestry

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Kakhuri Gvinis Marani KGM Saperavi Argo Ceramic Bottle 2023, Kakheti, Georgian Republic

28 Friday Feb 2025

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$25, 3 stars, 86 points, georgia, kakheti, saperavi


Medium ruby colored with garnet edges, and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of briar, red raspberry, black cherry, tomato stalk, cranberry, kiln dried oak, and a vegetal note (not obnoxious btw).  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins.  Medium  intensity flavors of slightly tart red raspberry, black cherry, dusty briar, tomato stalk, cranberry and that dried wood smell.  The wine thins out a bit on the back end and finishes on a light bodied, somewhat watery note.  Saperavi is a teinturier grape- the flesh is plum colored as well as the skin.  I was hoping for a bit more extraction in this $25 bottle but alas it was not meant to be.  86 points from me makes this a 3 star effort to try over the short term.  Salut….

Kakhuri Gvinis Marani Saperavi Argo Dry

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Jacqueline Bahue Cabernet Franc 2023, Lodi, California

05 Sunday Jan 2025

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$11, 3 stars, 86 points, Cabernet franc, california, Lodi, Naked Wines


Medium ruby colored with iodine highlights, slight staining, and a medium viscosity (13.2% ABV).  The nose has aromas of candied raspberry, perfume, pine sap, ripe pomegranate, leather, and lingonberry.  If I could describe smelling something sweet- this would be it.  Can’t wait to taste…..On the palate it is dry!  Medium acidity, medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins make for a very easygoing wine that sips nicely.   The red fruit driven nose is apparent on the palate along with a hint of oak but no sign of the tobacco, perfume or pine sap.  The green note I was smelling did not materialize.  The finish is relatively short and a touch tart.  This is a basic wine without much structure that will enable any cellaring.  It’s a great wine to pair with BBQ ribs or pizza.  86 points from me and for $11 it’s a 3 star effort to drink in the near term.  Salut….

Jacqueline Bahue Cabernet Franc

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Quevedo Family Red Blend Xisto 2021, Portugal

22 Sunday Dec 2024

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$11, 3 stars, 86 points, Naked Wines, portugal, sousao, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional


Deep purple colored with a watery meniscus, and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, red plum, acai berry, vanilla bean, menthol, and red licorice.  The palate is slightly off-dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Very light in the mouth with very little structure- it has nice flavors of raspberry, plum, acai berry and red licorice with some vanilla and menthol notes.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing with its fresh approach.  A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Sousão that drinks effortlessly.  This easygoing style will appeal as an aperitif or with lighter fare. It runs $11 and gets 86 points from me which makes it a 3 star wine.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

queued family xisto red

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Miriam Syrah 2021, California

02 Monday Dec 2024

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$12, 4 stars, 86 points, california, Naked Wines, syrah


Deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe red raspberry, black plum, game, vanilla, cocoa, and blackberry. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that melt away.  Flavors of ripe raspberry, plum, and blackberry with telltale meaty notes.  There is a hint of cocoa and maybe some vanilla.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing.  Not an overly complex wine, it drinks easily and will go well with a variety of dishes ranging from steaks and pasta to roasted chicken.  Overall it gets 86 points from me and at $12, 4 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Miriam California Syrah

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Concha Y Toro Casillero del Diablo Reserva Malbec 2021, Rapel Valley, Chile

01 Friday Nov 2024

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$9, 3 stars, 86 points, chile, Malbec, rapel valley


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, bramble berry, a medicinal note, baked pie, vanilla, a touch of green herb, and cracked pepper.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  The fruit takes a turn towards tart, which is accentuated by the acidity making for some mouth puckering.  The tannins grip a bit more on the mid palate.  Flavors include dark fruit, charred oak, vanilla, baking spice, and green herbs.  The finish is a bit tart and medium in length, the acidity really grabbing hold- it’s almost to the point of imbalance.  Under $9, this bottle gets 86 points from me and 3 stars.  It’s getting paired with burgers, I’m guessing it will all work out just fine.  Drink now, Salut….

Casillero del Diablo Reserva Malbec

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Bodegas Santa Ana Homage Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Maipu, Argentina

22 Tuesday Oct 2024

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$8, 4 stars, 86 points, Argentina, cabernet sauvignon, maipo valley, Mendoza


Medium ruby colored with light viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of candied plum, black cherry, menthol, blackberry and purple licorice.  It’s rather one-dimensional.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins.  Slightly tart black cherry and blackberry greet me with some interesting menthol and licorice notes.  Once again, not overly complex, but for $8 a pop I was not expecting much more.  The finish is rather short and succinct.  For an everyday drinker this is quite quaffable and gets 86 points from me- which makes it a 4 star effort in my book that needs to be popped and poured rather than cellared.  I’m gonna use some in a red wine reduction, let’s see how that works out.  Salut….

Bodegas Santa Ana Homage Cabernet Sauvignon

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Ballatore Cellars Gran Spumante NV, California

22 Saturday Jun 2024

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$10, 5 stars, 86 points, california, Sparkling wine


Pale to medium lemon/golden colored with big bubbles and low viscosity (8% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of yellow apple, melon, grapefruit pith, honeysuckle, apricot and peach. On the palate it is semi sweet with medium acidity, a nice mousse and light bodied. Flavors of pineapple, peach, melon, apple, grapefruit, and honeysuckle. The finish is delightful with some sweet notes and good vibrancy from the acidity and the mousse. It lasts short to medium and begs for another sip. The provenance of this particular bottle is actually quite poor yet it has survived years of abuse and neglect in somebody’s garage. I’m quite impressed and give it 86 points.  At $10 a go, this cheery sparkler gets 5 stars- we are pairing it with Vietnamese rolls tonight.  Salut….

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Raventos I Blanc Can Sumoi Sumoll – Garnatxa 2020, Catalonia, Spain

21 Sunday Apr 2024

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$23, 2 stars, 86 points, catalonia, grenache, spain, sumoll


Deep purple colored with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of game, black plum, black raspberry, violets and some garigue.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body and medium tannins.  Flavors of game, black cherry, black raspberry and black plum with some floral highlights.  The finish is light and medium in length, not overly complex or tantalizing.  This wine is a bit one dimensional and I can feel some alcohol yet it only rings in at a modest 12.5%.  It runs $23 and gets 86 points from me making it a 2 star effort to drink by 2025.  I am pairing mine with a smoked Beef shank.  Salud….

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Winzergenossenschaft Kallstadt Kobnert Dornfelder Rotwein Trocken 2019, Pfalz, Germany

08 Monday Apr 2024

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$15, 3 stars, 86 points, dornfelder, germany, pfalz


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of game, infused blackberry, funk, macerated black cherry, baking spice, elderberry and over-ripe papaya (yes, I know, but there’s a definite funkiness).  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (-) tannins on a lithe medium (-) body.  It’s an interesting melange of ripe dark fruit with some funk, game and spice.  My first foray into this relatively new grape variety that happens to be a cross of two other varietals from Germany.  The spiciness really kicks in on the medium (+) finish- very interesting.   I picked this wine to pair with grilled Pork Tomahawks, I think it will work nicely.  The funky game note will pair up with the rosemary infused Dijon mustard that will glaze the meat.  Lower acidity and low tannins will allow the fruit to shine on the white meat.  For lack of experience I will give this wine a generous 86 points, and for $15, it gets 3 stars.  Try the varietal if you are in an adventurous mood or just want to expand your palate.  This one probably needs drinking sooner rather than later.  Salut….

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