Tag Archives: 89 points

Proemio Reserve Petit Verdot 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

18 Thursday Jul 2019

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I really like Petit Verdot, blended or standalone.  When I saw this Argentinian bottle of it, I had to try.

As expected it is pretty dark and broody in the glass.  The nose has a sweet perfume of blackberries, licorice and violet.  On the palate this wine has a tartness alongside creosote, black fruit and sour cherry.  The midpalate is quite dry, tannins enveloping the fruit and coating my teeth.  I can feel them getting a purple stain.  They don’t subside either.  The finish is bone dry but I do get more blackberries and some tea.  Wow, it’s a long finish too.  There’s ample reason why a stand-alone PV doesn’t appeal to the masses- it can be too tannic, one dimensional and lacking in fruit whilst heavy in structure.  This is a good example.  It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I enjoy the mouthfeel and weight every so often.  89 points and 3 stars for this $18 bottle.  Drink till 2027 with Ribeye, leg of lamb or rich stew.  Salut….

Murrieta’s Well Dry Rose 2018, Livermore Valley, USA

20 Thursday Jun 2019

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I’m not a frequent Rose drinker so I had to approach this one with caution…Beautiful shade of pink in the glass.  On the nose there is citrus and orange peel.  On the palate it is refreshing with a tartness from the citrus.  Strawberries hit me alongside stone fruits.  89 points $32 (but I found it online for $18 make it a 3 star effort.  Sip in the shade on a hot day with salmi and hard cheeses.  Salut….

Murrieta’s Well Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Livermore Valley, USA

20 Thursday Jun 2019

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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….

Santa Julia Vida Organica Malbec 2018, Mendoza, Argentina

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….

Chateau Garraud 2015, Lalande-de-Pomerol, France

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….

Tinazzi No 3 Vinum Italicum Opera Rosso NV, Italy

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….

Buttercream Chardonnay 2017, California, USA

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

Poggiobello Pinot Grigio Colli Orientali del Friuli 2017, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

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….

Allegrini Villa Cavarena Valpolicella Ripasso 2016, Veneto, Italy

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….

Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2014, Veneto, Italy

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….