Tag Archives: 89 points

Fox Run Vineyards Kaiser Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay 2021, Seneca Lake, New York

08 Thursday Feb 2024

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Pale lemon colored with medium viscosity (12.4% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon zest, marzipan, brioche, white blossom, grapefruit pith, vanilla thread and white pear.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of acacia, white blossom, lemon zest, marzipan and brioche with a hint of white pear.  The finish is medium in length and centers on the brioche and white blossom.  I liked this bottle at the winery and I like it now in my tasting cocoon.   It gets 89 points from me and for $17- 4 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees Moulin-a-Vent 2020, Beaujolais, France

30 Tuesday Jan 2024

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My tasting group reconvened last night after a 9-month hiatus.  It was good to be back!  This little gem went under the radar.  No one guessed Cru Beaujolais!  I decided to bring the rest home and retry it under less stressful conditions.  The wine is medium ruby colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, cola and pepper.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium (-) body.  It has settled down since last nice, the tannic grip far smoother and less intense.  Flavors of dark red fruit coupled with cola, pepper and a granitic minerality coat my mouth ever so.  The finish is medium in length and has a slightly sour cherry note, keeping things fresh.  A delightful Gamay wine that could drink nicely till 2028.  I’m going with 89 points and for $25- 4 stars.  Salut….

Osborne Medium Sherry NV, Andalucia, Spain

17 Wednesday Jan 2024

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Pale amber colored with high viscosity (17% ABV).  The nose of this sherry has medium intensity aromas of nuts, green almonds, a touch of yeast, seaspray and burnt sugar.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a full body.  Medium intensity flavors of warmed cashews, green almonds, caramel, yeast and caramel/burnt sugar carry throughout to a long finish that has a bit of lingering heat.  It’s a tasty drop for sure that could use chilling (I’m tasting at room temp btw).  In case you missed it- Medium Sherry is an Amontillado (partial Biological age then Oxidatively aged) base wine that is sweetened to between 5-115 g/l of sugar.  I like it and think it deserves 89 points.  For $13 it gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Phebus Torrontes 2022, Mendoza, Argentina

15 Monday Jan 2024

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Pale lemon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose of this aromatic wine is quite intense with aromas of wild flower, lemon zest, grapefruit, papaya, pink guava, rosewater and tangerine.  It’s quite a potpourri!  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a refreshingly light body.  The flavors are not quite as intense as the nose but I still get loads of wild flower, citrus and tropical fruit notes. The papaya is quite prominent and reminds me of growing up in Africa.  One would be mistaken in assuming this veritable fruit salad is going to be off-dry- it’s really dry and crisp.  The finish is short to medium in length with citrus pith dominating.  I am really enjoying this Torrontes as I did with the 2021 vintage .  This one gets 89 points from me and at $13 it’s a buy-by-the-box wine for the upcoming summer.  Pair with crisp salad, grilled chicken salad or tuna fish casserole.  4 stars.  Salut….

Le Pre Vaujour Chinon 2020, Loire, France

09 Tuesday Jan 2024

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose of this Cabernet Franc has medium intensity aromas of green pepper, licorice, blackberry, blackcurrant and tomato leaf.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  On the palate I get medium intensity flavors of black currant, blackberry, licorice, green pepper and charred oak.  The finish is medium in length and a touch tart yet refreshing.  Lovely and lithe, this wine will pair nicely with duck, grilled sweetbreads or bangers and mash.  Drink till 2028.  89 points and for $22- 3 stars.  Salut….

Feteasca Regala NV, Recas Castle, Romania

04 Thursday Jan 2024

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Pale straw colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, nectarine, honeysuckle, white blossom, rose petal and ginger- not at all what I was expecting from this $7 bottle.  The palate is off-dry with medium (+) acidity and a rather full body.  Medium intensity flavors of peach and nectarine with rose water and white blossoms.  The finish is floral with blossom and honeysuckle, it lasts a medium length.  Tasty and far more complex that I was expecting- well worth the money for a refreshing aperitif or to go with grilled mackerel or smoked salmon.  89 points from me and 5 stars, might need to stock a few for the short term.  Drink on purchase up to 2 years.  Made from a relatively new grape, certainly new to me- Royal Maiden.  Salut….

Osborne Fino Sherry NV, Jerez, Spain

03 Wednesday Jan 2024

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Medium lemon colored with high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of green almonds, baked sourdough, lemon pith, yeast, saline and petrichor.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a full body.  Flavors of almonds, bread, yeast and some citrus are evident along with tangy salt and wet stone notes.  The finish is long and a touch hot from the lingering alcohol but I’m enjoying the balance of heat and tangy flavors.  A very enjoyable aperitif to drink now- it cost me $16 and gets 89 points making it a 4 star effort.  Best paired with nuts or a charcuterie board.  Salut….

Anton Bauer Gruner Veltliner Ried Gmirk 2021, Wagram, Austria

11 Monday Dec 2023

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Pale platinum lemon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of wool, white pepper, lemon zest, grapefruit pith, saline and petrichor.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body.  The pepper and wool notes resonate right away followed by the citrus peel, pith and zest.  Wet stone is prevalent on the mid palate with a touch of bitterness.  The back end is tart with citrus and carries on for a medium finish that is quite refreshing.  I’m baking some lemon/ butter Barramundi and rice to pair, should work quite well.  Drink this light and lively number till 2025.  89 points from me for this $17 bottle makes it a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Winzer Krems ‘Kremser Goldberg’ Kellermeister Privat Gruner Veltliner 2020, Kremstal DAC, Austria

21 Tuesday Nov 2023

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Pale lemon with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon pith, white pepper, white blossom, lanolin, peach, nectarine and red pear.  The palate is dry with a slight spritz, high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Flavors of citrus peel, white pepper, fresh white blossom and some stone fruit take on a slight phenolic bitterness on the mid palate.  The finish is medium in length and crisp with tart citrus and some crunchy peach.  I like this $20 Gruner, it’s fresh and lively and would pair nicely with spicy Asian dishes, grilled Mackerel or even Ceviche.  89 points and 4 stars from me, drink till 2026.  Salut….

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2023, Beaujolais, France

16 Thursday Nov 2023

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It’s the third Thursday in November- time to crack the Nouveau Beaujolais which went on sale at 12:01 am.  It’s an interesting story in marketing and winemaking, look it up.  The premise is to get a wine to market quickly that is juicy and fruity without much structure, aging capacity or complexity.  It’s supposed to be a fun wine.  This one will hopefully replicate last year’s success. Pale to medium purple colored with low viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose of this Gamay shows off textbook aromas of grape, bubblegum, cherry, lilac, purple licorice, sweet black plum, açaí berry and banana.  This profile is due to the carbonic maceration technique used to rapidly vint this wine.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and low tannins.  Light-bodied, this beauty gives me grape bubblegum, cherry, banana, açaí berry and black plum along with a trace of wood shavings.  The finish is zesty with the acidity lingering longer than the short-medium term of the fruit.  It’s worth every cent of its $15 price and get 89 points from me, respectable for what it is.  Run out and get a bottle, drinking window is till the end of the month.  5 Stars!  Salut….