Tag Archives: 88 points

Marques De Riscal Rioja Reserva 2008

21 Sunday Dec 2014

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I have an affinity to this winery, having drunk many vintages over the years.  I also happen to have friends who have vintages dating back to 1968 in their cellar.  His father used to be on the Board, hence the connection.  Anyway…..  I always think of them and my visit to Spain when I see the unmistakable bottle with it’s wire cage.  Always well priced at around $15, it is consistent and decent.  Here we go.

Bright opaque purple color with a classic earthy Tempranillo nose laced with some oak.
Iodine, black cherry and blackberry hints come through after a bit of air.  On the palate, slightly less fruit, more secondary flavors of tar, black tea, black berry and some Asian plum.  A slightly hollow mid palate has me concerned but the wine has an acidic crunch at the end that I kinda liked. Totally melded tannins that still have some good grip. 88 points is my guess.  Very enjoyable, with points off for the hollowness. 2014-2017 and 3 stars.  Salut….

marques de riscal rioja reserva

 

Francois Parent Volnay Premier Cru Fremiets 2005

13 Saturday Dec 2014

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I bought this and several other bottles of Burgundy several years ago at a local wine shop.  I have been waiting patiently for this 93 point (WS) wine and figured that now I am on Christmas break- it’s time.  I opened it last night to go with some spectacular Boeuf Bourguignon I whipped up.  Incidentally I used a bottle of Apothic Red  to cook with that wound up in my cellar as a gracious gift…. I digress.

I figured it was time to pop this premier cru wine and was hoping for a monster worthy of it’s $75 price tag.  Here is what I got.

Darker purple shades in the glass than I was expecting.  Somewhat muted nose, I couldn’t quite make out any normal Burgundy or even Pinot hints.  On the initial attack there were crunchy sour cherries with cranberries intermingling.  I had to take note of the very juicy mouthfeel made up of acidity and a touch of heat.  This wine is slightly off balance, perhaps in slumber?  No earthiness or funk, kinda boring where my overall impressions although it did mellow somewhat after some air time.  I have to disagree with the pro’s, this is at best an 88 point wine, and 2 stars for its price point.  Lacking complexity, unbalanced and showing no sign of secondary evolution  make this a major  pass in my book.  Salut….

francois parent volnay fremiets

Chateau Genot-Boulanger Mercurey 2005

06 Saturday Dec 2014

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I bought this bottle several years ago when a local wine shop was closing down.  I had no clues, ideas or preconceptions.  I just knew it was Burgundy, and it was on sale for 50% off.  I can’t imagine this village level wine being more than $25.  It was a pale purple with very light intensity, I was expecting that from a Pinot Noir based Burgundy wine.  It had a nose of funk, cherry and straw which was interesting.  Delightful yet light strawberry and cherry notes with a crisp and delicious acidity, mouthwatering.
I could sense a tinge of melded tannins which is atypical for me and Pinot.  If you read my other notes on this varietal you will know I have a difficult time detecting tannins in Pinot.  This is a very serviceable wine that gets 88 points from me and 3 stars.  I don’t think I would search for it but if there are any still in the cellar I know what to pair them with; grilled Salmon and boiled potatoes with a herb butter sauce, yum.  Salut….

genot-boulanger mercurey

BriO de Cantenac Brown 2010

28 Friday Nov 2014

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Oops, I’ve done it again, infanticide on a young bottle of red.  The second wine from Margaux property Cantenac Brown, it has good potential and high marks from several pro’s. Beautiful purple fruit nose that transcended plums, violets and blueberry notes.  Still young with juicy strawberry and cranberry flavors on the initial attack that cloak the greenish tannins.  Sour cherry kirsch on the mid palate leads into a long finish of cherry crumble and blueberry tart. A touch of oak here and there amongst the acidity. 88 points from me and 3 stars for this $40 effort.  A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.  Definitely cellar this for more pleasure, 2016-2022.  Salut….

brio de cantenac brown

Bayten Sauvignon Blanc 2013

18 Saturday Oct 2014

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From the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa comes this sleek racy number.  We ordered it at our Seasons 52 dinner for those who wanted white.  I only got a sip or two in from Moxie’s glass so my notes were very thin.  I will say it was a good wine and was enjoyed by all that partook.  Lemon zest, apple and cut grass nose that led into a melange of key limes, gooseberry and some slate.  Medium acidity with a mid palate cut finished out the lovely mouthfeel of this wine.  I gave it 88 points.  Having looked it up after the fact WS gave it 90, and it can be had for about $16- a decent price for this calibre of wine.  4 stars I reckon.  Salut….

bayten sauvignon blanc

Cedre Heritage Malbec Cahors 2011

03 Friday Oct 2014

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To put the words Malbec and Cahors together in the title is a bit redundant.  The only wines allowed in the AOC are Malbecs, a minimum of 70% with either Tannat or Syrah allowed into the blend.  It is also known as the Black Wine, due to the style in this region.  Unlike Malbecs from Argentina, this style is much more tannic, less fruit forward and much more intense.  These are generally age worthy and backwards yet can offer much up  front pleasure if treated right.

This particular bottle costs about $15 and is a great starting point for those looking to explore Cahors.  As I mentioned earlier this wine was expected to be dark in the glass, no problem- it was black.  A funky nose of tar, black fruits and oak that kept rolling over and changing was intriguing.  Tannic and brooding with some juicy acidity, plums, cola, black cherry and creosote hit the palate in stages.  Some funky notes were interplayed and I noted that this wine is less fruity yet more structured than most, belying it’s heritage and style.  We ended up running it through an aerator to try and tame some of the tannins and to help blow off some of the funk, it worked.  The wine mellowed somewhat with some air time and was very approachable.  For me this is an 88 point wine and worthy of 3 stars.  If you try a Cahors, keep an aerator on hand just in case and perhaps pair it with some hearty fare.  Salut….

cedre heritage malbec cahors

Settesoli Nero d’Avola 2012

25 Thursday Sep 2014

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I really dig Nero d’Avola, it’s a Sicilian specialty that offers up great tannins and a nice mouthfeel of plums and dark fruits.  This particular bottling has Syrah added to brighten it up slightly.  I enjoyed the plums and blackcurrants of this bottling along with some oaky, smoky hints and star anise.  Cherry cola comes to mind as a mid-palate descriptor.  Smooth tannins balance the mild acidity and give this wine a nice, if short finish.  An easy drinker that won’t break the bank, it offers a medium body with some level of complexity at only $15 a bottle.  88 points from me make this a solid 3 star wine that introduces this neat grape to the masses.  Look for it and serve it up with some pasta, perhaps even osso bucco.  Salut….

settesoli nero d'avola

La Croix-Barton 2009

08 Monday Sep 2014

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By far the most widely searched wine on my blog has been the La Croix-Barton 2008.  I did not particularly care for it, but apparently many people googled it and ended up reading my 2 cents worth.  When I saw the ’09 I did not hesitate.  Priced at around $14 it provides gratification with oak and mulberry on the nose to get things started.  Tart cherry and plums greet the palate but they are slightly thin right now.  Juicy acidity and young tannins make this an interesting wine to drink now yet I feel it could do with another 2 years in a cellar.  This wine is vibrant and lively but should settle down and gain some weight in short order.  It is interesting to taste wines from the same winery but from an average year versus a far superior one to see the nuances.  This particular example highlights just how much variation you can get between vintages.  I’m going with 88 points and 3 stars for this Merlot/Cab Sauvignon blend from Bordeaux.  Salut….
la croix barton

Yalumba The Guardian Shiraz Viognier 2010

10 Sunday Aug 2014

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One of my mates brought this little Eden Valley charmer to the party.  I found it online for about $20.  My first impression was the color- nearly black in the glass, beautiful.  Plums and cherries on the nose were an interesting combination for me as I was expecting some black currants.  On the first sip I only got blue fruits and some oak with bracing acidity but felt the wine was a little thin.  Slight tannins and mid palate pluminess gave me the impression that the wine is slightly unbalanced.  A noticeable oak touch came through on the back end with a clove hint.  88 points is a fair number for this wine although it got 90 from WS.  I am giving it 3 stars and would drink it after some cellaring with a pasta dish, perhaps some bruschetta.  Salut….
yalumba the guardian

Chateau Ampelia 2007

07 Thursday Aug 2014

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From the Cotes de Castillon appellation on the eastern part of Bordeaux comes this blend.  2007 was not a fantastic year for the region, nor was it terrible, hence my willingness to part with $14 to help expand my palate.  Unfortunately this wine was not showing well and is past its prime.  I knew it as soon as I poured the first glass.  Slightly orange on the edges, a sure sign that maturity is at hand.  Ripe blueberry nose with orange peel tried to welcome me as did the black fruits and brush notes on the palate.  Drying tannins emerged and the wine had a decent finish.  It’s a shame because I reckon this would have been a really decent drop for the price, perhaps 88 points in its youth.  Salut….

chateau ampelia