Tag Archives: 88 points

Torres Coronas Tempranillo 2016, Catalunya, Spain

19 Sunday Nov 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity legs in the glass (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry, dusty bramble, oaky spice, vanilla, leather, dill and desiccated plum.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that are fully melded into this medium bodied wine.   I get flavors of blackberry, bramble, a dusty component, leather and well integrated oak nuance.  This is a very smooth wine with a lovely mouthfeel that lasts for a short to medium finish.  It’s at peak now and will go nicely with lighter meat dishes as the flavors are not as pronounced as the nose.  I paid $12 as it was a bin-end, available for $15 online.  It gets 88 points from me and 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Casillero del Diablo Reserva Carmenere 2021, Central Valley, Chile

23 Saturday Sep 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has telltale pyrazines with some green veggie notes along with blackberry, black raspberry, menthol, vanilla, cocoa and charred oak. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and lithe tannins.  A medium body is layered with blackberry and black raspberry.  The green note has faded but the oak nuance is present.  The finish is a touch tart and goes on for a medium length.  Not overly complex- this is a weekday pleasure that will go great with Beef and Ale pie, lamb chops or grilled sausages.  88 points for this $8 effort makes it a 5 star wine to load up on and drink till 2025.  Salut….

Cooper’s Hawk Winery Lux Meritage NV, California

12 Tuesday Sep 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13.9% ABV).  The nose has that candied red fruit aroma I cannot stand- so…. Red cherry jubilee, pomegranate, vanilla and a streak of minerality.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that seem to be persistent on the tip of my tongue.  This wine is full bodied and tastes better than it smells to me.  Black cherry, pomegranate, toasty oak and some earthy loam.  The tannins are quite interesting- they started out a bit brash but they have come around and caress my gums now.  The finish is medium in length making this an 88 point wine for me.  It retails at the store for $40 making it a 2 star effort in my books.  Since it’s a non-vintage wine it’s hard to give a drinking window but this bottle was purchased in 2022 and will go till 2026.  Salut….

Denis Dubourdieu Pure Cadillac 2017, Cotes de Bordeaux, France

12 Tuesday Sep 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose of this 85/15 Merlot/Petit Verdot blend has aromas of black plum, perfumed florals, coffee, blackberry and blackcurrant.  A hint of mint hit me later on.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are quite chalky.  Flavors of black fruit with some basic oak treatment are evident- the coffee starting to come out.  The tannins are a touch rough, perhaps some cellaring is in order.  I like this Bordeaux outlier, it’s got some spunk and has some good structure and nice flavors.  It gets 88 points from me and at $20, 3 stars.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Elio Altare Dolcetto d’Alba 2021, Piedmont, Italy

31 Thursday Aug 2023

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


It’s pasta night so I dug out this Italian bottle for the occasion.  It’s a deep purple color with medium viscosity legs (14% ABV).  On the nose- medium intensity aromas of pomegranate, cherry, red licorice, red florals, a hint of coffee as well as a slight green vegetal note.  On the palate- medium bodied, dry,  medium acidity and medium (-) tannins that are overshadowed by tart red fruit.  The red pomegranate leads off with rhubarb and slightly underripe cherry.  Violets and red licorice follow on to the medium length finish where the whole package starts to make sense.  What started out as a bit disjointed, underripe and acidic opens up nicely into a  food friendly wine that gets 88 points from me.  At $20, this Dolcetto gets 3 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

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….