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Tag Archives: 88 points

Le Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet 2011

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

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$22, 3 stars, 88 points, bordeaux, bordeaux blend


I couldn’t help myself, it was on sale at half off.  On opening- it was a see-through purple in the glass with an enticing nose of plum, spice and violets. The palate is ever so slightly subdued but some blueberry, raspberry and vanilla notes come through. There are some nice tannic touches on the mid palate and the finale has some plum torte notes with a touch of oak. There is no overpowering acidity and at 12.5% alcohol I’m thinking this wine will be drunk in short order. It’s soft, alluring and has a slight tannic bite, an easy drinker with some class. I paid $22, on sale. I’m going with 88 points and 3 stars.  I believe it is the second wine of Sociando-Mallet.  Salut….

le damoiselle de sociando-mallet

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Clairault Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2012

18 Sunday Oct 2015

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$12, 3 stars, 88 points, australia, cabernet merlot blend, margaret river


A Margaret River presentation with very dark purple appearance in the glass and a nose of ginger, plum, clove and vanilla. On the palate, youthful and bursting with blue fruits and plums. The mid palate shows off some wood notes and much more meaty plums. Mid range tannins and a very slight acidity make it an easy drinker right off the bat. $12, 88 points and 3 stars.  Salut….

clairault cabernet sauvignon merlot

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Corymbia 2013

07 Friday Aug 2015

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$25, 3 stars, 88 points, australia, swan valley, tempranillo


I am always in search of the unique, the different.  This wine is one of those that I would classify as such.  Not yet available in the US market, I happen to know ‘a guy’ and got to try some.  Start with the label, which is a graphical display of the sunshine and rainfall on the property for the whole year…. who thinks this stuff up?  Brilliant.  The blend itself is quite intriguing.  85% Tempranillo co-fermented with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Swan Valley in Australia.  Atypical for Tempranillo it reminds me of Burgundy in its softness, melded tannins and mouthfeel. The flavor profile is much more new world though with a nose of plums and blueberry. Carbonic maceration gives it a fruit forward approach on the initial attack much like the Gamay wines of Beaujolais. Loads of blue fruit and some gentle acidity combine with the melded tannins to give a nice mouthfeel. The back end is where I get some firmer tannins and a decent finish. 88 points from me. Aus $35, U.S. $25, 3 stars.  A treat if you can find it because it allows for the broadening of the palate.  Truly unique, it drinks well as an aperitif but would go really well with some charcuterie, perhaps some hard cheese. 2015-2018.  Salut….

corymbia wine

 

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Domaine Gilles Blanchet Pouilly-Fume 2013

03 Friday Jul 2015

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$16, 3 stars, 88 points, loire valley, Sauvignon blanc


From the Loire valley comes this Sauvignon Blanc.  Pineapple and flint on the nose tell me this is going to be a rather refreshing wine.  Crunchy acidic bite of green apples and pear greet the palate for an initial impression. Good vibrancy with a citrus mid palate that leads to a generous finish. Nicely balanced if you like this style of Sauvignon Blanc- steely, lean, not overoaked and refreshing. I served it with some Cajun spiced Cod and an arugula salad. 88 points from me and definitely a re-buy for $16.  Perfect for a hot summer day with a salad, sitting by the pool or nibbling on oysters.  3 stars.  Salut….

Gilles Blanchet Pouilly-Fume

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Dark Hundred 2012

02 Tuesday Jun 2015

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$30, 2 stars, 88 points, cabernet merlot blend, Sonoma


With no varietals mentioned on the label I took a chance on this $30 offering that was on BOGO at the local.  Brooding nose of black fruits and chocolate dust. Mouth of ripe plums, cinnamon, ganache and green pepper (kinda strange I know). Rich acidity and mellow tannins. 88 points from me and 2-3 stars.  Not sure yet, perhaps it needs some time.  This wine hails from Sonoma and I suspect it is loaded with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  Salut….

dark hundred wine

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Chateau Trocard 2010

19 Tuesday May 2015

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$12, 4 stars, 88 points, bordeaux, bordeaux superier


A wise man will try any 2009 or 2010 Bordeaux, they are consistently good.  Winemakers had an amazing back-to-back set of vintages that offer short term approachability with some wines that will cellar for 30-40 years.  This particular Bordeaux Superiore was ready for the corkscrew.  I only took basic notes as we were tired when this bottle was opened.

Rich plum, tart blackberries and some juicy acidity.  Bramble and dusty tannins on the mid palate. Decent finish of plum compote mixed with tannins and blueberry pie. My friend claims yum! 88 points and 4 stars for this $12 steal.  I plan on buying more for the near term.  2015-2019.  Salut….

chateau trocard

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Vineyard at Point Breeze Chardonnay 2012

18 Saturday Apr 2015

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88 points, chardonnay


A friend gave us some of his brother’s homemade wine which I believe comes from Virginia.  This wine won a gold in Indianapolis.  Since it was a gift and comes without any labelling it is hard to tell much more about it.  No pricing either.

Dark yellow, reminiscent of aged Riesling it has a nose of sweet apple, quince and sea air. Initial attack of pear and yellow apples with good mid palate acidity and a decent finish . I don’t sense much oak use and no malolactic fermentation. This is a cutting Chardonnay with a nutty ending. I’m drinking it with some green and black olives, a dab of hummus and some green onions. A good pairing but it begs for oysters or clams on the half though. 88 points. Salut….

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Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah 2013

05 Sunday Apr 2015

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$17, 3 stars, 88 points, syrah, washington


If you have been following the last several posts you will know I went on a California adventure with my son.  Apart from the two wineries that we visited, I made sure I was stocked with wine for each evening.  I was super excited to find numerous different Charles Smith wines, of which we cannot seem to get on the East Coast.  This was actually the second bottle that I opened.  The first was a Charles and Charles Merlot, out by the hotel fire pit while my son was making s’mores.  I took no notes, just enjoying the moment of father/son time and relishing the fresh evening breeze of the Monterey Peninsula.  The  Boom Boom is a Syrah from Washington State with pretty purple hues and a nose of candies, plum and oak.  Whilst not my favorite profile it appeals to many so I will not let that detract from the score.  A gentle entry of plum sorbet and dark cherry with a touch of heat. It’s a very easy drinker with slight tannins and a hint of acidity. This is an everyday drinker that will please many when paired with burgers, beef brisket, even barbecued chicken with a tangy sauce. 88 points from me and therefore 3 stars for this $17 effort.  Salut….

charles smith boom boom syrah

The Boom Boom

Charles and Charles Merlot- not reviewed

Charles and Charles Merlot- not reviewed

The fire pit, just at the edge of the golf course

The fire pit, just at the edge of the golf course

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Cedre Heritage Malbec Cahors 2012

05 Sunday Apr 2015

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$16, 3 stars, 88 points, cahors, Malbec


After the disappointing Chinon I was hoping for a French retribution in this bottle of Malbec from Cahors.  I love the structure of this region, where the wine is inky, tannic and not for the faint of palate.  I was not let down….Really dark in the glass- as expected.  Tar and graphite nose that were a telltale of what was coming, I was getting excited!  Stewed plum and blackberry compote on initial attack that were really interesting yet the wine was not as heavy as I expected, more fruity and uplifting.  Quite tannic as expected with a hint of acidity that rounded it out.  For the $16 I paid it was a decent effort worthy of 88 points and 3 stars.  I would drink it again without hesitation.  Salut….

cegre heritage malbec cahors

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Kirkland Signature Series Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

26 Monday Jan 2015

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$20, 3 stars, 88 points, cabernet sauvignon, Napa, napa cabernet


We were supposed to drink this at a tasting yet ran out of time. I brought it home and opened it last week to put pen to paper. Plums and graphite on the nose made for an interesting start.  Black fruits with steely tannins were overshadowed by heat from the 14.6% alcohol. I am hoping this subsides as this wine will be good after 2 more years of cellaring.  Blackberry and plums with some cherry cola start you off.  Pencil lead and more dark fruits emerge on the mid palate and the gentle tannins finish it off. 88 points with the potential for 89 if the alcohol can meld better with some aging.  For $20 you would be hard pressed to get Stags Leap Cab of any quality, making this potentially a 4 star wine.  3 for now though.  Salut….

kirkland signature series cabernet sauvignon stags leap

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