19 Monday Oct 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Gorgeous pale orange color. Nose of strawberries, lemon peel and some clementine. On the palate it is bright with those same flavors, a touch of acidity and a long finish. It’s got a great mouthfeel and just the right amount cut to keep it refreshing, light and flavorful. A delicious way to start the evening. Drink this blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault now with appetizers. 88 points and 4 stars, $12. Salut….
18 Sunday Oct 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
When I started the Virtual Wine Tasting Company I wanted to educate my friends as best I could about as many varietals that we could find. This was the 39th different bottle thus far, and it has taken over as the most controversial wine yet. Some loved, others hated, and I mean with a passion. It stunk, like ass. I will just copy and paste my notes:
Bright purple in glass, nearly opaque. Fine legs.
Smells like the farm, very herbal, hay and cow pies. Funky. Burnt plastic, bell pepper.
On the palate it offers black cherry, more funk, and is smooth. Rounded. Not overly tannic nor acidic. Well with cheese.
This was an over-the-top expression of Carmenere that I enjoyed to a certain degree. Moxie gave it 1 point on my tasting scale because it was visually pleasing! I tried it on night 2 and it’s as funky as ever, not everyone’s cup of tea. I would give it 88 points from a technical standpoint but I honestly cannot recommend this $21 wine, it’s too much. The pro’s went massive on it with scores ranging from 93-94! Wowsa. Salut….
08 Thursday Oct 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Pale yellow in the glass. The nose is fruity with grapefruit, tangerine and a honeysuckle component. On the palate it is a touch sweet with warmth from the honey note. The citrus components are ripe and fresh with just a hint of acidity. The mid palate is really nice, the mouthfeel being very round and balanced. The finish is curt, weighing on the tangerine side of things and adds a nutty note at the end. It’s a tasty wine to pop as you prepare dinner or enjoy it with salad nicoise. 88 points, drink till 2023. 3 stars for this $14 effort. Salut….
01 Thursday Oct 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
This Italian Cab Sav is see-through and a lighter shade of purple in the glass. On the nose I get red currants and rhubarb with a hint of chocolate. The palate is quite tart but opens up to some nice red fruits, a bit of blueberry pie and an oaky undertone. The wine has just a touch of tannic hint which is a welcome change. The mid palate is delightful with a nice, light mouthfeel. Red berries and tart rhubarb really come through as does some pomegranate. It is quite gripping in the acid department which makes for a very precise and focused wine. There is no flab here. The finish is juicy and fruity, with barely a trace of any tannins. Structure wise- it’s slightly imbalanced between the acidity and the tannic backbone, which leads to a shorter cellar capacity. It is however a delicious and easy to drink wine that would go really well with Bolognese or Osso Bucco. Drink till 2025. 88 points. Price unknown. Salut….
03 Thursday Sep 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
It’s a very dark shade of purple in the glass, very inviting. On the nose I get sweet blackberries, plum extract and cherry cola. The palate is interesting- ripe black fruit, capsicum greeness, some cherry and dried fruit. The mid palate is very fruit forward and I get tons more of that dark cherry cola note alongside some slightly green tannins that are a touch bitter. The back end is very dry from the structure and there is a modicum of acidity. If you like ’em dry, this one’s for you. The finish is decent in length and continues the theme. I like this wine but think it may have some ripeness issues. 88 points from me and drink till 2024. For $18 this Charbono, also known as Bonarda, is a 3 star wine. If you have never had this varietal, give it a try! Salut….
22 Saturday Aug 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
$13, 4 stars, 88 points, california, chenin blanc, sonoma county
Pale yellow in the glass. On the nose I get watermelon, lime spritz and melon. On the palate it is fruity and flavorful- quince, pear and a buttery note. The mid palate continues the full bodied mouthfeel and flavor profile. The finish is decent in length and offers up some honey alongside yellow apple and more pear. It’s an interesting and tasty wine for sure, refreshing yet it has some depth and viscosity. The malolactic fermentation has given it a touch of butter and flab, enough to notice but not overdone. This wine will pair well with grilled Salmon, Cobb salad or baked Aubergine in tomatoes. Drink till 2024. For $13, this is a no-brainer to keep on hand. 88 points make it a 4 star effort. Salut….
20 Thursday Aug 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
This wine is a gorgeous shade of orange/pink. On the nose I get strawberry and lemon zest, pink grapefruit and almonds. On the palate it is a touch sweet, apricots come to mind. The strawberry component reappears on the mid palate with notes of lanolin and lemon. The finish is refreshing, a touch acidic and decent in length. Light red fruit notes carry through to the end. This is a nice, if somewhat sweet, summer sundowner. I would serve it with charcuterie, hard cheeses and some fresh figs. Drink till 2022. 88 points and 4 stars for this $13 Valdiguié, a varietal I have never tried before. Salut….
14 Friday Aug 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Darker shade of straw/pink. On the nose it’s very fruity with hints of cranberry, strawberry and pink grapefruit. On the palate it is bright, fresh and medium bodied with the light red fruit theme continuing. There is a trace of acidity to keep it fresh and it drinks very light and bouncy. A perfect summer sipper. I like the whole package for what it is. Drink till 2023 with appetizers, perhaps a charcuterie tray or light, white meats. 88 points and 5 stars for this $13 quaffer. Salut….
29 Wednesday Jul 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Pale shade of yellow, this Austrian native kicked off the Virtual Wine Tasting Company’s 6th event. We drank it at room temp as well as chilled. I did not think it performed well at the tasting and am now re-tasting the following night indoors. The nose exhibits tons of citrus, some lanolin and green apple. The palate has minerality and a nice acidic cut. Lemon/lime like a 7-Up alongside an austere green streak that make this a very sharp wine. It cuts in the right places and refreshes as it goes. I did not care for it initially, but I now think it fits the billing for a decent, inexpensive Gruner. The finish is very refreshing and would pair well with seafood, perhaps a spicy Arrabiata but it will shine poolside on a hot day. 88 points and 3 stars for this $15 white. Salut….
12 Sunday Jul 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
I tasted this wine previously and liked it enough to order some for the virtual tasting #5. I think I preferred it the first time around, this bottle seemed a little tired and over the plateau. The wine showed secondary flavors of tobacco, leather, horse whip but lacked much core fruit and tannic structure. Overall it scored 88 points from me with a drink now recommendation. $24 is not over the top, but I would not order more. We decanted 6 hours prior, that may have made the difference. 3 stars. Salut….
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