20 Thursday Jun 2019
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$38, 2 stars, 89 points, california, livermore, Sauvignon blanc
Very light gold in the glass. A sweet nectar nose with honeysuckle, peach stone and cut grass. On the palate it is a touch biting with some nice acidity to go along with the grapefruit. 89 points and 2 stars for this $38 white. Salut….
19 Wednesday Jun 2019
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Really bright purple in the glass, nice legs too! On the nose I get candied plum, oak shavings, blackberry preserves. On the palate it is quite tart, but interesting. Plums, ganache, chocolate dust and curt tannins all hit me on the initial. The mid palate is where the tannic grip takes hold. Dark stone fruits galore and an astringent tea make up the main profile. On the finish this wine gives me black olives, plums, tea and that tannic bite which lasts for over thirty seconds. Not a bad drop. 89 points from me and 5 stars for this $10 Malbec. Drink now with hearty dishes or cellar medium term for a smoother drinking wine. Salut….
19 Wednesday Jun 2019
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I have drunk tons of the 95 and 96 Garraud vintages and when I saw this I got excited. It is of medium darkness and opacity, with nice legs showing. On the nose I get plum, charcoal and currants. The palate is young and slightly corky, not in the ‘corked’ way, it just tastes like cork. Iodine is also present as are black plums and licorice. The mid palate is really where this wine opens up- black fruits melding with a tannic dryness that builds slowly. The tannins are still a little green, I hope they soften a touch. There is a black olive note and more of that iodine on the finish that make this a brooding wine that I hope will mature like it’s predecessors. With a bit of bottle age this winery has turned out some great Bordeaux beauties that drink well for 10-15 years. I think this one has the stuffing, it comes from a great vintage- I just think it needs cellaring for a while. Drink from 2022 till 2030. Pairings will change as the wine matures, for now- if you pop and pour, stick with red meats and hearty cheeses to pair. I’m going with 89 points for now, with a possible upgrade in the future depending on the tannins and how they assimilate. 3 stars for this $30 Bordeaux wine. Salut….
30 Tuesday Apr 2019
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Medium purple, somewhat opaque int the glass. On the nose I get bramble, black cherry and bacon. On the palate it has a unique flavor profile. Very meaty with that black cherry note along with licorice. Smoke and tar really hit me on the mid palate alongside black berry and mid level tannins. The finish is black, dark- brooding and tannic. Black fruits dominate with some Lapsang Souchong tea notes. Earthy, smoky and strong. This is a unique wine which is composed of the following grapes: Corvina, Primitivo, Nero d’Avola. The pros went with red fruits, I am sticking with black. This is a non-vintage wine, so there is room for wiggle on style and tastes. It gets 89 points from me- forget the 98 rating it splashes on the bottle, that guy uses a strange rating system. Pair it with steaks, pasta (of course) or a heavy duty stew. It’s tasty, unique and worth a try, but at $30, it’s a bit pricey. 2 Stars. Salut….
28 Sunday Apr 2019
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Medium shade of gold in the glass. The nose has definitely got butter. Marzipan, banana and lemon peel also feature. On the palate it is very round, tasty and full bodied. That marzipan comes back at me with lemon, beeswax and oak staves. The mid palate shows some citrus and floral components that move on to the finish. I get almost a tannic bite right at the end- interesting. Very easy to drink without a huge dose of acidity. It’s a nice aperitif and will pair well with my grilled hens and bacon draped Brussel sprouts. 89 points and 5 stars if you like this style of oaky Chard that sells for $14. Drink now. Salut….$14
11 Thursday Apr 2019
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Really pale, straw yellow in the glass. On the nose it is very citrusy with melon and bartlett pear notes as well as a touch of rose water. On the palate it is much meatier with a creaminess that I was not expecting. Hazelnuts hit me alongside green apple and lemon zest. The acidity is of medium intensity with a nice long finish of lemon. 89 points and 4 stars for this $14 effort. Drink till 2022 with seafood, baked chicken or even Fettucine Alfredo. Salut….
02 Tuesday Apr 2019
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Very purple/black in the glass. Brush, black cherry, blackberries and tar on the nose. On the palate it is round, soft and full of fruit. Black fruits galore, cedar shake, olives and that creosote all hit me across the front. The midpalate offers more blackberries and gentle, yet fine grained tannins. The black cherry reappears on the finale with a touch of dryness on the gums that adds to the mouthfeel. 89 points for this $20 Corvina/Rondinella blend and 3 stars. Pair with Pasta, Veal and grilled Tuna from now till 2023. Salut….
31 Sunday Mar 2019
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I’m excited to try the 2014 version of Zenato’s Ripassa. I reviewed the 2012 version previously. In the glass it is as expected- dark, opaque, thick. On the nose- somewhat fresh, with blackberries, raisins, chocolate ganache and sandalwood. On the palate it is lush, filled with black fruits, purple licorice and mouth coating tannins. It does however leave me feeling a little short changed. I remember this wine as being richer, with mouthfuls of fruit, much more upfront and reduced. This version seems a little more subdued, more mainstream. It’s plenty flavorful, with good balance between acidity and tannic structure- don’t get me wrong. Perhaps they have changed styles into a more refined approach.
The mid palate and finish pretty much carry on from the initial palate and let the tannins crescendo at the end. There is however a slight astringency that hits me on the back end. I cannot quite pinpoint it. Serve with charcuterie or grilled steak from now till 2025. 89 points and 3 stars for this $24 effort. Salut….
08 Friday Mar 2019
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$15, 3 stars, 89 points, corvina, Italy, ripasso, rondinella, valpolicella
Medium opacity purple, with a nice sheen in the glass. The nose offers up bacon, plum paste, raisins and …… On the palate I get nice round blackberry cobbler notes, bright acidity and very fine grained tannins. If you know how Ripasso is made you would expect a bit more weight, extra flavor and a heavier mouthfeel. This wine is a touch more refined, somewhat lighter and a bit fresher. The mid palate has a nice cherry meets plum characteristic that feeds into the decent length finish. The tannins taper off leaving a somewhat astringent mouthfeel right at the end. It’s certainly interesting. 89 points and 3 stars for this $15 blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella. Drink till 2026. Salut….
04 Monday Mar 2019
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$24, 3 stars, 89 points, cabernet merlot blend, Italy, sangiovese, Tuscan
I bough this wine on its pedigree for $24. Medium opacity purple in the glass with visible legs. The nose has kirsch, raspberry and bing cherry by the boatload. On the palate it is brimming with red fruits, bright acidity and delightful tannins. Young and vibrant- it needs a little time to settle down. It is slightly one-dimensional at this time. I hope it evolves and gains tertiary flavors. The mid palate is more or less the same. The finish is of medium length with more cherry extract and a dose of rhubarb as well as lingonberry. The tartness of which shows up at the end. Overall- a decent wine that gets 89 points from me and 3 stars. Cab, Merlot and Sangiovese make up this Tuscan red. Drink from 2022 till 2027. Salut….
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