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Tag Archives: 90 points

Cameron Hughes Lot 683 Zinfandel 2017, Sierra Foothills, California

05 Thursday Mar 2020

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$12, 5 stars, 90 points, california, sierra foothills, zinfandel


Semi opaque and medium intensity purple.  The nose has spicy blueberry jam, candy and licorice.  On the palate it is very fruity, dry and mouthwatering.  Blackberry paste, cedar shake and iodine caress the tongue while really nice tannins completely coat my gums.  It is a luscious mouthfeel if you’re in the mood for some tannic grip.  The midpalate and finish carry on the theme and it ends on a nice dry note of black jam, cinnamon, some wood influence and that licorice note.  90 points.  Well made and for $12 this is a steal worthy of 5 stars.  Drink till 2027 with some sirloins, perhaps venison and definitely roasted veggies.  Salut….

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Beaulieu Vineyard BV Reserve Tapestry 2007, Napa Valley, USA

02 Monday Mar 2020

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$55, 4 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa, napa cab


This is the third tasting of the Tapestry over an eight year period.  The cork broke in half which gave cause for concern, the bottom part showing off a deep stain, nearly black.  That normally bodes well for me, except the failed cork part.

The wine still has a lovely purple hue with a touch of orange bricking.  The nose gives off tons of leather, tobacco, some red currants and black cherry.  The palate is focused and concentrated.  Tertiary flavors are forefront- earthiness, that parched tobacco and leather …  black fruits appear after a while but it’s not a seamless transition.  The wine has very integrated tannins and a nice streak of acidity.  It’s holding up well for 13 years old, but I would drink by 2027.  It has evolved well and will continue to soften, shedding the fruit along the way.  It’s a nice Napa Cab that gets 90 points from me and can be found for $55.  4 stars.  Salut….

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Cameron Hughes Lot 673 Pinot Noir 2018, Russian River Valley, California

02 Monday Mar 2020

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$18, 4 stars, 90 points, california, pinot noir, Russian river valley


Very pale shade of red and completely see through- expected for Pinot.  The nose is really bright with strawberry, rhubarb and red currants.  The palate is full of red fruits- currants, strawberry, watermelon.   There’s a lovely mouthfeel that envelops the gums with rich red berry compote, not much tannins and a hint of acidity.  There are times for finesse and this winery is hitting all cylinders.  The midpalate shows off more red, think cherry cola and currants.  The finish is a short lived affair of much the same.  A nice closing in my opinion.  Drink till 2026 with lighter fare, I’m doing sous vide chicken with wild rice and broccoli.  90 points and 4 stars for this $18 bottle.  Salut….

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Le Chateau 2013, Columbia Valley, Washington

04 Tuesday Feb 2020

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$25, 4 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, columbia valley, washington


Medium strength purple in the glass with a touch of cloudiness.  The nose is unique.  Raspberries, sweet rhubarb jam, rooibos tea.  The palate is yummy, crunchy, a touch acidic.  I get dark fruits instead of red, an interesting transformation.  Delightfully tannins greet me as we transition to the midpalate of crushed black cherry, graphite, black tea and mouth drying tannins.  The finish has a short burst of black berrries, tea and an earthy minerality.  This wine is drinking young at 7 years old, it still needs cellar time.  Drink from 2023-2030 with Ribeyes or a Penne Arrabiata.  90 points and 4 stars for this $25 Cab.  Salut

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L’Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Columbia Valley, USA

04 Tuesday Feb 2020

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$25, 4 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, columbia valley, washington


Very dark purple in the glass.  The legs are almost nonexistent, belying the 14.5% alcohol.  The nose has sweet cassis, fresh figs and a blueberry reduction.  The palate is delightful, rich and smooth.  Layers of blackberry, dark cherry, charcoal and anise flow from the initial to the finish.  It’s a seamless transition with a nice touch of tannic bite at the end.  I’m pairing with Picanha, mashed potatoes and grilled Brussel sprouts.  Drink till 2028. 90 points and 4 stars for this $25 Cab.  Salut….

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Cameron Hughes Lot 686 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Alexander Valley, California

24 Friday Jan 2020

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$18, 5 stars, 90 points, alexander valley, cabernet sauvignon, california


Dark purple and opaque in the glass.  Iodine, plums and blackcurrants on the nose give way to a refreshingly tannic initial taste of more black fruits alongside a charcoal note.  This wine rides tough on the gums with delightful, young tannins that beg for steak.  I’m happy to oblige tonight.  The mid palate is all about the balance of fruit versus tannins.  The finish is short to medium in length and gives off note of that iodine meets Ribena.  Very tasty wine that has some nice structure and good cellaring potential.  90 points and drink till 2030.  5 stars for this $18 effort.  Salut….

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Fonseca Premium Reserve Bin 27 Port, Portugal

24 Friday Jan 2020

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$14, 5 stars, 90 points, port, portugal


Black.  Opaque.  Thick.  On the nose it’s very lush- burnt damson, plum extract and raisin compote.  The palate is thick, rich and exactly what I wanted/expected. It’s delicious. Midpalate -wise it gets tannic, more dark fruits and some great mouthfeel.   This is truly a delicious dessert wine.  Rich, full-on and multi-dimensional, it ticks many boxes.  The finish is a grainy, tannic event that features some nice purple fruits with walnut notes and some raisin jam.  Delicious.  90 points and for $14, its a 5 star drinker.  Salut….

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Cameron Hughes Lot 638 Petit Verdot 2016, Yakima Valley, Oregon

24 Friday Jan 2020

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, oregon, petit verdot, yakima valley


So- this is the second Cameron Hughes wine in a row.  Truth be told, I bought 4 cases of their wine, 24 different bottles X2 back in November.  I am doing a prolonged tasting of their excellently priced wine.  As a negociant they don’t grow their own grapes, relying on others for the raw product.  You should check them out on the web, great value for money.

Really dark, opaque – almost black in the glass. The legs are few and far between but they show off the 14.4% alcohol nicely.  On the nose there is sweet blackberries, mint, charcoal.  The palate is as I hoped- dark, tannic and multilayered.  Those blackberries reappear with iodine, violets and licorice.  The tannins grip, a lot.  They claw at my gums from the beginning to the end.  This varietal is normally part of a blend due to its tannic frame, brooding fruit and structure- but I do enjoy it by itself.  I get hankerings for a mouthfull of that dark, sweet fruit interlaced with hearty tannins.  The mid palate and finish echo the theme nicely with a decent length ending of blackberry, tannins and a touch of oak.  Delicious and powerful.  90 points and 5 stars for this $15 effort.  Drink till 2026 with hearty meat dishes.  Salut….

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Coelho Winery Paciencia Estate Pinot Noir 2014, Willamette Valley, USA

24 Friday Jan 2020

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$40, 3 stars, 90 points, oregon, pinot noir, willamette valley


See through pale purple with nice legs in the glass.  The nose is all about strawberries.  After a good swirl there’s violets and some yellow cherries.  On the palate it’s a very smooth rendition of strawberry meets cherry cobbler.  A touch of oak is a nice nuance.  The mid palate continues the theme and some acidity kicks in.  There’s a nice mouthfeel to this wine that carries it on to a decent length finish .  I’m digging it and the beercan chicken is gonna pair beautifully.  90 points.  Drink till 2026.  This wine gets 3 stars for its $40 average price.  Salut….

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Luc Pirlet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, IGP Pays d’Oc, France

11 Wednesday Dec 2019

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$12, 5 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, france


Pretty purple color with long legs showing.  On the nose it is enticing with blackberry, cola, toasty oak and black cherry.  The palate echoes those dark notes alongside juicy acidity and tight grained tannins.  There’s an inky component on the mid palate and those tannins just keep on going.  The finish has some licorice alongside black cherry and that oak note.  It’s a very pleasurable wine with nice, young mouthfeel that will entertain a hearty meal, steaks, pasta or some rich cheese.  I really like it and for $12, would stock some for a dark stormy night to sip on by the fire.  Drink till 2026.  90 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

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