Tag Archives: 88 points

Cellar Works Grenache Sangiovese 2019, South Australia

28 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I read the label, which tells me this wine is 44% Sangiovese, the balance- Grenache. Looking at the see thorough red hued glass I would have guessed it was a New World Pinot. It is so light and vibrant I can’t wait to taste.

The nose gives me red fruits and cedar. The initial palate is quite rich- a mouthful of raspberry pie with some Marashcino cherries. There is a juicy acidity right off the bat that makes this wine fresh. The red fruit theme continues with rhubarb in addition to rooibos tea and very fine grained tannins. The finish is quite tart, my teeth are a bit fuzzy. The raspberry flavors have given way to a sour cherry and rhubarb melange and the acidity is not to be trifled with. This is quite an interesting blend that is tasty yet slightly off balance with a ton of pH. It will drink well with rich sauced dishes or even a Mediterranean dinner. I would enjoy till 2025. 88 points and 3 stars for this $18 wine. Salut….

Richard Bruno Pinot Noir 2019, Clarksburg, California

26 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


See through dark shade of red in the glass.  The nose has red currants and pomegranate.  The palate gives me mulling spices, currant reduction and dried red fruit.  There is a healthy dose of slightly green tannins that immediately dry out my gums.  The mid palate is quite astringent with notes of red fruit- mainly currants but a bit of rhubarb adding some acidity to the mix.  The finish is relatively short but I do get some really nice flavors and the tannins tend to mellow pretty quickly.  This one is a touch young and the greeness of the tannins worries me.  It’s not a subtle Pinot nor is it over-extracted, a nice balance of flavor, structure and freshness.  88 points and 3 stars for this $22 wine. Drink till 2027 with roast Chicken, perhaps eggplant parmigiana. Salut….

Gerard Bertrand ‘Cote des Roses’ Rose 2019, Languedoc, France

19 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,


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….

Clos de Luz Massal 1945 Carmenere 2016, Central Valley, Chile

18 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


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….

Badissa Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, IGT, Italy

08 Thursday Oct 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


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….

Primi Soli Cabernet Sauvignon Colli Berici 2019,Veneto, Italy

01 Thursday Oct 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


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….

Cameron Hughes Lot 726 Charbono 2018, Napa Valley, California

03 Thursday Sep 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


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….

Cameron Hughes Lot 722 Chenin Blanc 2018, Sonoma County, California

22 Saturday Aug 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


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….

 

 

Cameron Hughes Lot 639 Rosé 2017, Monterey County, California

20 Thursday Aug 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


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….

Cameron Hughes Lot 720 Rosé, Haut Alpes, France

14 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


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….