Tag Archives: 88 points

In Situ Reserva Pinot Noir 2020, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

31 Thursday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Very pale ruby, medium viscosity (13% ABV). The nose has telltale Pinot aromas of cherry, strawberry, baking spices, pomegranate and straw.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a trace of tannic grip.  Light to medium bodied it’s a delicate affair that gives me red fruit, baking spices and some earthiness.  I like this wine.  It has a shortish finish but for $ 15 it’s not a bad drop.  I ordered it for dinner to pair with braised lamb shanks – plus a chicken liver starter.  It should work.  88 points.  Drink this 4 point wine now.  Salut….

El Coto de Imaz Blanco 2022, Rioja, Spain

18 Friday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Pale straw colored with some effervescence and medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit, white blossom, passion fruit, Bartlett pear and a white phenolic note.  The palate is dry, a touch bitter and has a medium (-) body.  Crisp flavors replicate the aromas but with a slight pithy divergence.  It’s an interesting wine for sure- one that is refreshing yet I feel would become tiresome after a while.  Made from Viura, this lightweight white would pair well with fresh seafood or a richly dressed salad.  Drink now.  For $12, it’s a great 88 point wine to pound all summer long.  4 stars.  Salut….

Kotrotsos Mavrodaphne 2018, Patras, Greece

14 Monday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


Pale garnet, almost like strawberry juice- with high viscosity (15% ABV).  On the nose I get stewed cherry, some warm nuts, orange peel, strawberry coulis, caramel and vanilla bean.  The palate is sweet, bordering on luscious, with low tannins and a full body.  The red fruit really comes out, but not quite so ripe as the nose.  Caramel and nuts with vanilla on the back end.  Medium length on the finish, it’s a delicious affair if you like them this sweet.  I plan on pairing this with poached pears and ice cream.  Not overly complex, it only runs $14 and get 88 points from me making it a 4 star effort to drink now.  Salut….

Castelli del Grevepesa Panzano Gran Selezione 2017, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy

10 Thursday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of sour cherry, pomegranate, roses and perfumed lilac.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  A medium body gives me red fruit that is tart in nature along with some pretty florals and a hint of oak.  This is not a very complex Sangiovese which surprises me considering that fact that it is Gran Selezione.  I purchased it after drinking the delightful 2016 Panzano.  This vintage is of  lesser intensity and lacks power, garnering 88 points from me.  At $24 it rates 3 stars in my books.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Cordero di Montezemolo Langhe Arneis 2021, Piedmont, Italy

07 Monday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


At the 32nd virtual wine tasting we started off with this Arneis, tasted chilled and at room temp.  The attendees found this wine to be pale lemon colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Aromas and flavors of almond, pineapple, apricot, marzipan, peach and pear we evident in the chilled version.  On the palate- medium acidity and a medium (-) body that led to a short finish.  I scored it 11 points on our scale and would assign an 89 point technical rating.  The room temperature version was much more floral, but fruit-wise only the peach and pear notes came across the nose along with some honey and hazelnut.  On the palate it tasted fuller bodied and had some citrus notes by way of lemon peel in addition to pear.  I did not care as much for it at room temp- 9 points and its technical rating dropped to an 88.  For $20 it gets 3 stars from me.  Drink now with grilled fish or a shrimp salad.  Salut….

Millbrook Chardonnay Lake Placid 2021, Central Coast, California

01 Tuesday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


We are in Lake Placid for an ice skating competition so when I saw this branded wine I had to pick it up.  Made from Californian Central Coast Chardonnay -I was expecting what I tasted.  Medium lemon colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV). The nose shows some butter, a little cream, a touch of pear and green apple- obviously MLF derived. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and that buttery diacetyl taste associated with malolactic fermentation. The pear and apple fruit is round and warm with some baking spices and carries through to a medium length finish. The label says that this line is exclusively available in New York.  At $18 this 88 point wine gets three stars. Drink till 2025.  Salut….

True Oak Estate Red Blend 2020, Napa Valley, California

21 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,


Deep ruby with medium viscosity legs (13.8% ABV).  The nose has got candied dark red fruit aromas with ripe blackberry and a touch of vanilla and cocoa.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are a touch green.  Ripe black and dark red fruit with some oak influence are noted on the medium to full body.  The finish offers a bit of black tea with the astringency to go with it alongside blackberry and candied cherry.  It’s a medium length affair that I’m enjoying.  88 points- I cannot remember the price I paid at Costco.  Pair this red blend with Hangar steaks and drink till 2026.  Salut….

Marchesi Antinori Santa Cristina 2014, Chianti Superiore DOCG Tuscany, Italy

31 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


Every so often I’ll buy a bin-end wine to hopefully give it one last shot at stardom.  This Chianti is pretty old and perhaps over the hill.  In the glass it is medium garnet with high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose shows it’s age- stewed plum, baked cherry, dried herbs, porcini mushrooms, a touch of vanilla and coconut along with some coffee.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are pretty well integrated.  The fruit notes are somewhat subdued and center around tart cherry pie with some baking spices and vanilla.  The stewed/cooked nature of the fruit is not as pronounced on the palate as the nose.  The body is medium in weight and carries through to a shortish finish.  It’s not a bad drop all things considered as I only paid $11 for it.  List was originally $22.  As for a score- 88 points from me and a drink by 2024 window, it’s getting tired and the structure won’t hold up much more.  4 stars considering what I paid.  I found this Sangiovese online for $14 for current vintages.  Salut….

Hugl Wimmer Gruner Veltliner Classic 2021, Niederosterreich, Austria

09 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Pale lemon/lime colored with medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of white pepper, lanolin, lime, pear, red apple and wet stone.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of silky lanolin with spicy white pepper and Bartlett pear mix with slightly underripe red apple and zingy citrus.  The finish is medium in length and a touch tart from the high acidity.  It’s refreshing, yet the full body is counterintuitive.  This comes in a 1 litre bottle for $16 and gets 88 points from me.  I’m pairing this 4 star wine with Thai Beef Kaprow and a vegetarian Green Curry.  Drink now.  Salut….

Marietta Cellars OVR Old Vine Red NV, California

04 Thursday May 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Deep ruby, not quite opaque but with high viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  The nose has aromas of purple licorice, black pepper, candied plum and Luxardo cherries.  There’s a hint of gaminess as well.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and silky smooth medium tannins that make for a creamy mouthfeel.  The body is medium to full and I get a dichotomy of ripeness- tart blueberries coupled with super ripe plum and black cherry.  There is a phenolic bitterness that hits mid-palate which leads to a rather long finish where the fruit melds together.  The candied nature of the aromas dissipated on the palate (thank goodness).  There is very little oak noted on this Zinfandel blend.  I like it and would pair it with BBQ, smoked meats or even a deep fried Turkey.  88 points from me for this $12 offering makes it a 4 star wine to buy in bulk for those summer parties.  Drink now.  Salut….