Tag Archives: 89 points

Kysela Pere et Fils Picpoul de Pinet H.B. 2023, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

07 Sunday Jul 2024

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Pale lemon/lime colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, white pear, sea salt, green apple, lemon zest, grapefruit and waxy lanolin.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Tart flavors of lemon zest, green apple, peach, sea spray and white pear.  The finish is tangy, zesty and medium in length.  This $9 stunner is a dead ringer for Albarino imo- cutting acidity, sea spray, peach and lemon zest remind me of that grape.  I am pairing it with steamed King Crab, seems like the natural thing to do.  89 points from me makes this a 5 star effort that I will pound this summer- after all it runs under a tenner.  Salut….

Muirwood Unoaked Chardonnay 2022, Arroyo Seco, California

02 Tuesday Jul 2024

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Pale lemon with some green highlights and a watery sheen (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, peach, pineapple, white grapefruit and orange blossom. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body. Flavors of white pear, pineapple, white grapefruit, orange blossom with a hint of lemon/lime. The finish has a touch of bitterness- perhaps a little bit of phenolics. It’s medium (+) in length and sits nicely on the palate. There are times when I feel like enjoying an un-oaked Chardonnay that hasn’t gone through any MLF or Sur Lie treatment, like today. We are pairing it with Chicken Divan after a hot day in the sun. 89 points.  This bottle ran me $15 and therefore it gets 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Boutari Agiorgitiko 2021, Nemea HQ, Greece

21 Friday Jun 2024

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity  aromas of black cherry, earth, licorice, bramble berry, caramel, blackcurrant, baking spice, cracked black pepper and singed alder.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and medium (+) tannins that are quite astringent.  Flavors of black cherry, bramble berry, black currant, caramel and licorice dominate with some charred wood and black pepper notes alongside baking spices.  The finish is medium in length and the astringency disappears, leaving some generous fruit notes.  It all balances out in the end after the dry opening that was a bit disjointed.  I like this super dry wine and will be pairing it with grilled Sirloins.  89 points from me for this $18 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2029.  Salut….

Mary Taylor ‘Annamaria Sala’ Sicilia 2022, Sicily, Italy

06 Thursday Jun 2024

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Deep purple colored with some staining and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose of this Nero d’Avola has medium intensity aromas of game, black plum, cracked pepper, purple licorice, violets, charred oak and blueberry compote.  It’s very uplifting and quite floral once past the initial waft of gaminess.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium tannins that tickle the front of my tongue.  Flavors of black cherry, black plum and ripe blueberry with somewhat muted florals and oak.  The bitterness I get on the mid palate is noticeable yet enjoyable.  The finish is medium (-) in length and trends toward earth and bitterness.  The game note I got on the nose never showed.  I like this $19 effort and think it gets 89 points which makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2028.  My pairing tonight is cast iron steaks with baked yams and roasted asparagus.  Salut….

Bodegas Agro de Bazan Granbazan Etiqueta Verde 2022, Rias Baixas, Spain

20 Monday May 2024

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We kicked off the 36th virtual wine tasting with this delightful Albarino, tasted chilled first and then at room temperature for comparison.   I picked this bottle as we had tasted the 2018 Gran Bazan Ambar and loved it.  Pale lemon in color with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of cantaloupe, melon, yellow apple skin, peach and saline were noted by the members.  On the palate we got medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  Minerality was a key component of the taste with saline, cantaloupe, melon, honeydew, lemon pith and peach all present.  The finish was medium in length leading to a 17 point award on our tasting scale.

The room temperature version was very muted on the nose and palate but it had more minerality, less fruit and was waxy on the mouthfeel.  There was a pithy bitterness on the back end that we did not get with the chilled version.  It showed a shorter finish as well making it a 12 point effort.

Overall I love this wine and gave it 89 points which makes it a 4 star bottle considering its $19 price point.  I would pair it with grilled Swordfish or a Paella.  Drink now.  Salut….

Vinarija Skegro Krs Crni Suho Blatina 2020, Ljubuski, Bosnia-Herzegovina

19 Sunday May 2024

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Deep garnet colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, charcoal, licorice, coffee, bramble berry, dill and cocoa.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium (+) tannins.  Flavors of blackberry, black plum, cocoa, dill, licorice and coffee wrap around the firm structure.  The finish is medium in length and nicely balanced between fruit, acidity and tannin.  I like this $ 22 bottle of Blatina- something new for me.  I will go with 89 points and 4 stars.  Drink till 2027 with steaks and grilled asparagus.  Salut….

J. Hofstatter Steinraffler Lagrein 2020, Alto Adige Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

16 Thursday May 2024

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Deep garnet colored with low viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of açaí berry, blueberry, fennel stalk, violets, charred wood and perfumed bramble.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, light to medium body and medium (-) tannins- a very easygoing mouthfeel.  Flavors of blueberry, açaí berry, bramble with some green but not vegetal notes alongside bright florals.  It’s a nice, light wine with good aromatics and flavors that finishes with a medium (+) length.  If you are a red fan but don’t like tannic monsters, this one’s for you.  89 points and 4 starts for this $20 bottle to drink till 2028.  Salut….

Stokes’ Ghost Petite Sirah 2020, Monterey, California

16 Thursday May 2024

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Deep purple color with medium staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of blackberry jam, eucalyptus, smoke, vanilla, espresso and iodine.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity, medium to full body and high tannins that are a touch green.  Medium intensity flavors of blackberry, blackcurrant, smoke, coffee and eucalyptus.  Medium (+) length finish with some lingering astringency.  89 points and for $30m 3 stars.  Drink till 2028 with grilled steaks and a blue cheese sauce.  Salut….

Louis Boillot Clos De La Chapelle 2008, Volnay, France

26 Friday Apr 2024

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Pale garnet with copper highlights, some bricking and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  On the nose this aged Pinot has medium (+) intensity aromas of cherries jubilee, strawberry compote, earth, rose, baking spice, vanilla thread, Goji berry, Rooibos tea and baked lingonberry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium body and medium (-) tannins that are fully integrated.  The flavors are somewhat tart but I get cherry, strawberry, baking spice, rose and Rooibos.  It’s a rather stark difference from the power and intensity of the nose- I was hoping for a grand slam but the unripe nature of the fruit is a little underwhelming.  The finish is long which makes up a point or two and the structure is still there for more aging yet I doubt the fruit will shine, perhaps more tertiary development is possible.  This is the third bottle I have tasted of this wine in 12 years, it still does’t quite live up to my desires- 89 points and for $55 it’s a 3 star effort.  Cellar at your own discretion.  Salut….

Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Riserva 2019, Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

20 Wednesday Mar 2024

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Medium ruby colored with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of cherry, pomegranate, red licorice, rose, dusty earth and dried green herbs.  It’s kinda muted and one-dimensional.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a medium body with medium (+) tannins.  Flavors of red cherry, rhubarb, pomegranate and dusty earth dominate with some chalky tannins bringing grip to the tart, medium length finish.  To me this is an 89 point Sangiovese that runs $20 making it a 4 star effort.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….