Tag Archives: 90 points

Kotrotsos Erasmios Agiorgitiko 2018, Nemea, Greece

03 Monday Oct 2022

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Medium ruby colored bordering on a touch of garnet for this 4 year old wine.  The nose has aromas of black cherry, blackberry, stewed black plum, anise, cedar shake, nutmeg, hummus (earthy) and garigue.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  Medium to full-bodied I get flavors of black fruit, some stewed notes indicating age, oak influence (cedar) and anise with some earthiness.  The tannins grip for a long while on the medium length finish.  I like this 90 point wine and think it is at peak.  Drink till 2025 with grilled meats or heavy baked dishes like Moussaka.  For  $18 it’s a great intro to this decidedly Greek varietal.  5 stars.  Salut….

Chateau Lamothe Blanc 2021, Bordeaux, France

16 Friday Sep 2022

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Bright lemon colored this is the third vintage of Lamothe that I have tasted.  A blend of 87% Sauvignon Blanc with 13% Semillon it has intense aromas of cut grass, gooseberry, flint, bell pepper, lemon zest, stone fruit and underripe strawberry.  The palate is dry, crisp and tart with medium (+) acidity.  Texturally speaking there is an oily component that gives this wine a medium (+) body.  The citrus takes center stage on the palate with the stone fruit backing it up.  The telltale cut grass and gooseberry are not as pronounced.  The finish is medium in length, perhaps the aromatics of this varietal linger longer.  Delicious and refreshing to say the least.  I’m impressed by this $15 wine that gets 90 points and 5 stars.  Drink with lighter fare including chicken and seafood.  It begs for oysters and clams on the half shell.  Salut….

The Fableist 373 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Paso Robles, California

16 Friday Sep 2022

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This Cabernet Sauvignon did not show well today- the bottle had been left open far too long and it was past it’s prime.  However, I chose to taste it and will include it in my next wine class as I have previously drunk this $18 offering and was impressed with its structure and fruit.  This particular example had medium acidity, a full body and high levels of tannins.  The fruit was stewed and basically undrinkable but I recall the previous bottle had lovely black and blue fruit, nicely integrated oak treatment and a decent finish.  If I had to score this wine- 90 points which would make it a 5 star effort with some cellaring capacity- stay till 2028.  Hearty, fatty steak would do well here.  Salut….

The Ned Waihopai River Sauvignon Blanc 20121, Marlborough, New Zealand

15 Thursday Sep 2022

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I did a tasting at a wine bar recently and this was the opener- a classic Sauvignon Blanc from NZ.  Pale lemon colored with heady aromas of cut grass, gooseberry, cat pee (yes, it’s a thing), tangerine, lemon rind, melon and Passion fruit.  High acidity and a medium body were to be expected and this varietally true wine delivered!  It runs $13 and gets 90 points from me making it a 5 star effort to drink soon.  Salut….

Oak Ridge Petite Sirah Estate Grown 2019, Lodi, California

17 Wednesday Aug 2022

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Just looking at this wine in the glass I have made some assumptions: 1) low acidity, 2) high tannins, 3) ripe fruit flavors/aromas, 4) full body, 5) high alcohol.  Let’s see.

Deep purple colored with a blue tinge on the edges and marked staining of the glass sides.  Slow moving legs on the wall.  The nose has aromas of ripe blackberry, baked blueberry pie, licorice, vanilla, yeasty baking spice notes and really ripe black plum.  The palate is dry and guess what?  Very tannic. Low acidity with a full body and lush flavors of very ripe black and blue fruit, oak influence by way of vanilla, baking spice and charred wood.  The finish has got a black tea component and is quite astringent but the flavors last a decent amount of time.  I love this varietal, and this is a decently made example that runs $16.  It gets 90 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2027 with hearty meat dishes.  BTW the alcohol was 13.5%, my only wrong guess. Salut….

Precision Wine Co. Technique Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Alexander Valley, California

15 Monday Aug 2022

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The color of this Cabernet is a medium purple, but it is hazy, a touch cloudy which concerns me.  The nose smells fresh and young with candied cherry, coconut, red plum, iron, bakers spice, dust and bramble.  The palate is dry with grippy tannins and medium acidity.  The fruit profile is darker on the palate- black plum and blackberry, gone is that candied cherry note (which I dislike immensely).  The coconut, spice, iron and dust are evident in this full bodied wine.  The finish is a tannic affair that is short to medium in length and highlights the iron and dust of the wine.  I like it but would cellar it for a year or two unless I was cooking rack of lamb or another fatty cut of meat.  I’m going with 90 points for this $15 bottle that gets 5 stars.  Drink from 2023-2027.   Salut….

Hermes Assyrtiko 2021, Peloponnese, Greece

10 Wednesday Aug 2022

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Pale lemon colored, this wine has medium aromas of lemon/lime, overripe papaya, chocolate (yup, the milky kind), saline, wet slate and juniper.  The palate is dry yet shows off ripe fruit sweetness.  The acidity is quite high and the body is full.  Flavors of citrus and ripe papaya are predominant with some floral/aromatic notes coming through.  I don’t get the chocolate on the palate but there is crisp minerality.  The finish is full of flavor and mid length- a delicious wine.  I would give this bottle 90 points and drink it till 2024.  My pairing tonight is with pan roasted scallops over a veggie pasta.  A stunner for under $12 that gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Chateau du Jaunay Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2020, Loire, France

05 Friday Aug 2022

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Medium lemon colored, this Sur Lie style wine has pronounced aromas of citrus (mainly lime), geranium, melon and ginger snap.  The palate is dry but full bodied with medium (+) acidity.  Minerality and softness come to mind alongside flavors of lime, grapefruit, melon, geranium and a hint of yeast/bread dough from the aging process.  Sur Lie allows the dead yeast cells to remain in contact with the must for an extended period of time which softens the wine, adds body and imparts the bread/yeast notes I tasted.  Delicious stuff that finishes with a mid length ending of citrus and yeast driven flavors.  90 points from me for this Muscat de Bourgogne varietal that runs $15 and gets 5 stars from me.  I’m going to pair with Chinese food, other options include seafood all day long and perhaps a chicken dish.  Drink now, Salut….

Barons Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington

01 Monday Aug 2022

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A Washington state Cabernet that is nearly opaque with a deep ruby color and thick legs (14.8% ABV).  The nose has rich aromas of vanilla bean, ripe black plum, blackberry, black cherry, green pepper and boysenberry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) tannins and medium acidity.  Medium to full bodied, I get flavors of dark fruit, lots of oak influence and that green pepper note.  I lose the vanilla somewhat but gain charred wood instead.  The finish is a dry affair and medium in length.  This wine drinks nicely now- if you like them a bit dry and tannic.  Cellaring potential till 2028, I would serve this with hearty red meat dishes, rich pasta and stews.  90 points and for $40 it gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Scott Peterson Rumpus Sauvignon Blanc 2020, California

26 Tuesday Jul 2022

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Pale lemon/lime colored in the glass.  Aromas of lemon, asparagus, cut grass, melon and cape gooseberry.  On the palate this is a dry wine with high acidity.  The fruit is very rounded and I get the melange of citrus meets classic Sav Blanc fingerprints and some interesting twists with the gooseberry and melon.  The wine is medium (-) bodied and has a refreshing, if not short finish.  Serve chilled it will pair nicely with raw oysters/clams, steamed shrimp or chicken salad.  I like this $11 wine and give it 90 points and 5 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….