Tag Archives: 87 points

Chateau Saint-Roch 2016, Saint-Estephe, France

13 Saturday Dec 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium ruby colored, with a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of tobacco, cassis, blackberry, green herbs, honey, a touch of earth, and petrichor.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins that are slightly overwhelmed by the acidity.  Medium intensity flavors of cassis, black raspberry, rhubarb, green herbs, and sour red cherries.  It’s an interesting wine that smells one way, and tastes another.  The shortish finish is quite tart, and lacking much fruit.  I want to give this bottle a chance to soften up, but for now it’s an 87 point wine at best.  I bought it at a wine shop in Paris and forgot to write down the price.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Chateau Saint-Roch

Monchiero Langhe Nebbiolo 2022, Piedmont, Italy

12 Sunday Oct 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


Pale ruby colored with copper highlights, and medium (-) viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red cherries, green herbs, orange peel, rose, and tobacco.  It needs coaxing.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) body, and high tannins.  The flavors are slightly more intense than the nose, yet there is a one-dimensional aspect along with some bitterness.  The tannins grip for ages, but the astringent feeling is midpalate driven and fades before the tannins.  It’s not my favorite.  The finish is medium in length and concentrates on red cherry and herbs.  I am planning on pairing it with roasted tenderloin, it should work okay as I have a Rösti on the side that might tame the tannins.  87 points from me for this $24 effort makes it a 3 star wine.  I would cellar a bottle or two and re-taste in 3-5 years.  Salut….

Monchiero Langhe Nebbiolo

Scott Peterson Rumpus Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, California

19 Sunday Jan 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium ruby to garnet colored with slight copper highlights, light staining, and high viscosity (14.8% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, ripe black raspberry, a hint of twizzlers, some smoke, coffee, black tea, and violet. The palate seems dry, but I suspect a touch of residual sugar. Medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (-) tannins. Flavors of very ripe black raspberry- almost candied, black plum, pomegranate, black tea, coffee, smoke, and that floral violet note I got on the nose. There’s a strange astringency that hits me on the mid palate, not sure where that comes from. The finish is medium in length and pleasant, with a nice mouth feel. 87 points for this $14 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2026.  (It opened up nicely after 30 or so minutes).  Salut….

Scott Peterson Rumpus California Cabernet Sauvignon

Precision Wine Company Method Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, California

01 Sunday Dec 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,


Deep ruby colored with some staining and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of candied black raspberry, red plum, boysenberry, chocolate powder, red licorice, dill, and eucalyptus.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are pretty grippy and a touch green.  Flavors of dark red fruit, some chocolate, dried green herbs, and eucalyptus.  The finish is a touch off-dry and red-fruit driven which is really not my favorite profile.  The chocolate and green herbs bring it back in line.  It lasts a medium length.  Albeit not my style of wine tbh it will appeal to many as it hints at a touch of RS.  87 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 3 star effort to drink by 2027.  I’m pairing with oven roasted Pork Ribs.  Salut….

Precision wine company Method Cabernet Sauvignon California

Gerd Anselmann Dornfelder 2023, Pfalz, Germany

18 Monday Nov 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Deep purple colored with moderate staining and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of candied raspberry, red licorice, candied red apple, grape bubble gum, spice box and green asparagus.  The palate is slightly off-dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and low tannins.  It’s super easy to sip this wine- the mouthfeel is made for easy drinking. The flavors are red fruit in nature, either ripe or I think the residual sugar is messing with my taste buds.  The green notes make way for a slightly bitter hint, akin to steeped black tea.  There is a smoky note and also some spice.  The finish is short and concise.  It’s a very interesting wine that is rather simple yet very pleasing- I like it as much as the 2020 vintage I tasted recently.  87 points for this $17 bottle make for a 3 star wine to pop-n-pour.  Pair with lighter meats or vegetarian pasta dishes.  Salut….

Gerd Anselmann Pfalz Dornfelder

Cosmologist Red Wine Knights Valley 2020, Sonoma County, California

24 Tuesday Sep 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,


Deep ruby colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (15.2% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, bramble berry, black plum, mint, eucalyptus, vanilla, licorice, fresh linen and cocoa powder.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) body and medium tannins that are a touch astringent and green.  Flavors of black plum, bramble berry, black cherry, licorice, oversteeped black tea, eucalyptus, and a hint of vanilla.  The finish is hot right off the bat, detracting from the flavors I seek.  The length is medium (-) and a bit astringent, akin to black tea that has been made too strong. To me this is a bit disjointed, albeit the fruit is nice and ripe, the tannins are a bit underripe and the high alcohol is a detractor.  I would give this wine 87 points and for the $28 price point it gets 3 stars.  Drink this blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon till 2028 with steak or stew.  Salut….

Kourtaki Mavrodaphne of Patras NV, Peloponnese, Greece

24 Friday May 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (15% ABV), which is expected.  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of prune, baked strawberry, walnut, raisins, soaked oak, (wafting alcohol, burning my nostrils!) and dried herbs.  The palate is sweet with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins.  Flavors of stewed and baked plums, strawberry and blueberry with walnuts, raisins and old oak.  The finish is long, held that way by the potent alcohol yet nicely balanced with acidity and a a touch of tannic grip.  I love dessert wines so this one is a treat to savor after our grilled steaks with blue cheese sauce.  Drink this non-vintage wine on purchase. It gets 87 points from me and for $13, 3 stars. Salut….

Diseno Old Vine Malbec 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

25 Sunday Feb 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


From a recent dinner I took very basic notes of this Argentinian Malbec that runs a mere $11.

Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV). On the nose I get aromas of plum, acai, blueberry and coffee. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins and a medium body. Flavors of blueberry, coffee, mocha, plum and a mineral note lead to a medium length finish.  I like the balance of this wine and its mouthfeel- not overly done with pleasing acidity and tannins that are smooth and unobtrusive.  87 points makes this a 3 star wine to drink soon.  Salut….

 

Arraigo Benegas Estate Wine Cabernet Franc 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

12 Tuesday Dec 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Deep purple colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of blueberry pie, with vanilla and baking spices really prominent.  Acai berry and black plum support alongside bell pepper and mint.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (-) tannins.  A medium body shows off ripe blue fruit, vanilla, spices and a hint of greeness.  The finish is a little bit tart with the blueberry tending to slightly underripe which is interesting.  The length is short to medium and very pleasant.  I like this somewhat basic wine for what it is- a $20 weekday quaffer.  It gets 87 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa

02 Thursday Nov 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Deep ruby colored with some light staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, dark plums, dried coconut, violets and baking spice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins.  A medium to full-body ensues with some tartness that hits me right off the bat.  The dark fruit I got on the nose are present as is the violets and baking spice, not so much the coconut though.  The finish is tart with some charcoal notes along with the cherry and plum notes.  It’s a bit disjointed for me, the tartness plays agains the ripeness of the fruit.  I am pairing this 87 point wine with grilled Tri-tip and Greek potatoes.   Drink till 2025.  Salut….