Tag Archives: 90 points

Xavier Vignon Lirac 2016, Rhone, France

26 Sunday Dec 2021

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This blend of Grenache and Syrah is semi opaque and shows off a bright ruby color in the glass.  The legs are-a-watering- with 15% ABV that is to be expected.  The nose is quite exuberant- plums, raspberry, red licorice, blueberry pie, bacon fat, violets and charcoal.  The palate is dry with caressing tannins and medium acidity that keeps the fruit fresh.  Medium bodied- the red and blue fruits are quite pronounced and the meaty component alongside oak nuance is present as well.  The finish is medium in length and has a tannic grip for a while.  There is a slight imbalance that I cannot point a finger at that will detract a point or two.  Drinking nicely now this wine will pair with rich meaty stews, venison roasts or pasta till 2026.  90 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Joel Gott Wines Merlot 2016, California

23 Thursday Dec 2021

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Deep ruby color which is surprising considering the age of this Merlot (5 years old).  I was expecting a bit of garnet.  The nose is wafting…. and is a bit dusty right off the bat.  A good swirl and aromas of black currant, bramble, cassis, charred oak, stewed black plum, coconut and sweet raspberry pie.  The palate is very smooth, spicy and chock full of fruit.  Flavors of black currants, plum, cassis, dusty bramble with oak hints of coconut and charred wood mingle with some red fruit.  I like it.  The tannins are fully integrated and there is a balancing acidity making for a very smooth mouthfeel that has medium body and a medium finish.  This wine is at peak and I am pairing it with grilled Tri-tip and mashed potatoes alongside some charred eggplant and onion salad.  90 points, drink this $20 wine that gets 5 stars from me till 2024.  Salut….

Casalforno Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015, Tuscany, Italy

22 Wednesday Dec 2021

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It’s getting close to Christmas so Moxie ordered Mama Carlino’s Lasagna for our first family dinner with my folks.  I needed something with some acidity, grippy tannins and  a sour cherry note to go with the pasta.  This one is a scant 6 years young and is a light shade of ruby in the glass with watery legs even though it sports a 14% ABV.  The nose is typical for Sangiovese- red cherry, leather, cranberry, tobacco, oak, tar, red licorice and something red I cannot quite put a finger on.  The palate is truly what I wanted- tart red cherry, great acidity, medium (+) tannins that caress and loads of intermingled red fruit.  The oak nuances are present and the wine is starting to develop tertiary notes.  Light to medium bodied it is complex and has a refreshing mouthfeel that finishes long.  I like this wine, it offers good fruit flavors, structure to age gracefully and is reasonably priced for a Brunello at $40.  Getting 90 points from me it is a 4 star effort to drink till 2030 with pasta dishes.  Salut….

Tamarack Cellars ‘Balancing Act’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Walla Walla, Washington

07 Tuesday Dec 2021

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This Cab is an opaque purple in the glass with no legs showing- strange considering it sports 14.2% ABV.  The nose is reminiscent of a purple fruit medley.  Blackcurrants, plums, blackberry and blueberry all mixed up.  A spicy note like bakers spices hits me as well as some minty earthiness.  The palate is delicious- the fruit compote with spice, oak nuances and very nicely integrated tannins make for a delicious flavor profile that has a great mouthfeel.  The acidity is present, balanced and not overly tart.  The wine has medium to full body and it lasts a decent amount on the finish.  I’m liking it, a lot.  90 points for this $20 gem makes it a 5 star wine.  I’m giving some Strip steaks a cast iron treatment alongside sweet potato fries and sautéed spinach.  Should work a treat, drink till 2027.  Salut….

The Underground Wine Project Devil’s Playground Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington

29 Monday Nov 2021

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I think the label is cool, very cool.  I don’t normally buy based on graphics but this one had to be done.  It is a bit murky in the glass but shows youth still with a deep ruby color.  On the nose I get black plum, black currants, blackberry, blueberry compote, cedar plank, vanilla and coconut.  The palate is very tasty- black and blue fruits, toasty oak nuances and well integrated tannins.  Low to medium acidity makes for a nice mouthfeel that is medium bodied.  Th finish is shortish but chock full of fruit.  Shame it doesn’t last very long.  I like this $20 wine that will drink nicely till 2025 and pair well with Osso Bucco, lamb stew or Steak au Poivre.  I am going with 90 points which aligns with the pros, making it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Talenti Pian di Conte Riserva 2013, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italy

22 Monday Nov 2021

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Our final wine at the 22nd Virtual Wine Tasting event was the capstone of our Italian themed night.  We had tried three new-to-the-group varietals so I wanted to circle back to familiar roots with a Sangiovese from Brunello.  The tasters got the usual cherry and tar that we expected plus black and white pepper, iron, brine and (unfortunately) stewed prune and stewed apricot which told me the wine was already fading fast.  On the palate this fear was confirmed by the light-bodied nature of the wine that had low to medium tannins, medium acidity and a short finish.  The flavors we got were cherry, briny salt and iron.  I was hoping for some leather, tobacco, dried herbs- alas it was not to be.  A massive disappointment for me personally as I always hope for 1 home run wine per tasting.  At $70 this 90 pointer only gets 2 stars from me.  Drink now if you have any.  Salut….

Cordero di Montezemolo ‘Funtani’ Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2017, Piedmont, Italy

22 Monday Nov 2021

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I wanted to introduce our virtual tasting group to this varietal- Barbera.  Unfortunately it was quite tart and that threw people off.  It is an opaque wine which conjured up ideas of a brooding, tannic wine when quite the opposite was discovered.  The group noted aromas of tar, cherry, cherry coke, luxardo cherries, coffee, tobacco and cola.  The flavors we encountered were sour cherry, Dr. Pepper, tobacco, red currant and raspberry.  Medium bodied, it had a short finish and was tart the whole time.  90 points for this $40 wine made it a 3 star effort.  I subsequently drank it two nights later and it was far better, perhaps worthy of a bump in score.  Drink till 2028 with something like breaded veal cutlets or an Alfredo dish, staying away from high acid foods with red pasta sauce.  Salut….

Iron Horse Vineyards Two Clones Chardonnay 2017, Russian River Valley, California

01 Monday Nov 2021

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This Chardonnay has got a bit of bottle age which shows in the glass- a deep gold color.  On the nose I get wafts of MLF, perhaps a bit of lees stirring and some relatively fresh citrus and floral notes.  Brioche, butter, lemon curd, grapefruit, chamomile and sprite (the drink).  The palate is dry with medium body and juicy acidity.  The flavors are more citrus driven but I do get some minerality and a hint of Malolactic Fermentation. Tropical fruit notes hit the mid plate and the finish is long and silky with decent acidity.  I like this wine, but it’s not everyone’s style.  The silky mouthfeel comes with butter-like flavors that may not be up everyone’s alley.  The minimalist oak usage is appreciated btw.  For $20, it’s a good weekday wine that gets 90 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2026 with some hearty fish dishes or stuffed peppers.  Salut….

Bodega Colome Estate Torrontes 2020, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina

30 Saturday Oct 2021

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We kicked off the 21st Virtual Wine Tasting with this aromatic varietal from Argentina. We tasted it at room temperature as well as chilled.  Basically it offers up aromas and flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, lychee, rose, peach, citrus, spice and white pepper.  The group felt the wine had good acidity, medium body and a long finish.  The chilled version was a little lighter bodied and a touch muted.  90 points from me make this $10 wine a 5 star effort that should be drunk soon.  Salut….

Cakebread Cellars Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, California

27 Wednesday Oct 2021

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Wow- opaque AF.  The nose is loaded with black fruits, charred wood, cassis- very complex but I’m at a loss for descriptors.  The palate is dry with a herbaceous entry that leads to the blackberry, blackcurrants and black cherry notes.  The tannins are mid grade and a touch astringent, they may need more integration.  The finish is medium length and gives me more of that charred wood note.  This wine is mid weight and a touch out of balance right now but I think it will flesh out.  Drink from 2024-2029.  90 points from me at this stage but the pros averaged 92, give it time.  It’s a pricy bottle at $140 so pick the right moment to enjoy this 4 star gem.  Salut….