Tag Archives: 90 points

Cameron Hughes Lot 682 Pinot Grigio 2018, Russian River Valley, California

03 Sunday May 2020

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Very pale yellow in the glass.  The nose is very citrusy- lemon peel, tangerine and …green almond?.  The palate is somewhat sweeter than expected, with that citrus component meeting up with green apples and melon.  The mid palate is really interesting to me, tamarind comes to mind as I taste sweet and sour at the same time.  There is a juicy acidity that keeps this wine from becoming cloying.  The green apple takes over on the finish and it is a tart affair.  Refreshing to say the least.  This wine has played tricks on me, starting out as an overly sweet, flabby beast to this razor sharp finish that leaves me wanting more.  I couldn’t have picked a better pairing to the Pork belly burnt ends that I have been cooking all day.  90 points and 5 stars for this amazing deal- $13.  Drink now.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 633 Riesling 2017, Napa Valley, California

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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It’s a very pale shade of gold.  On the nose I get quince, green apple and cardamom seed.  The palate is quite a lot sweeter than I was expecting, but it has some nice acidity to bring me back down.  The flavors are more apples, a citrus note and that spice.  The mid palate softens up a little and the sweetness subsides.  It’s more of a yellow apple meets baking spices.  The finish is where this wine shines- long, slightly tart and filled with more fruit.  The mouthfeel on the finish is very round and lush.  This is a very tasty wine that will pair well with seafood and tapas.  Drink till 2023.  90 points and 5 stars for this $13 steal.  Buy it by the case!  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 706 Chardonnay 2018, Napa Valley, California

28 Tuesday Apr 2020

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A medium shade of yellow in the glass.  Pears, citrus and wildflower nectar greet me on the nose.  A very fresh and yet layered first impression.  On the palate it is a touch buttery, which I like as it’s not overdone.  Crisp acidity from lemon, some Bartlett pear and a green melon all hit me on the palate.  It’s got a really nice balance between the acidity and bold fruity flavors.  The mid-palate is a very linear channel to the finish.  It simply carries the same flavors and allows the juiciness to permeate the whole palate.  The finish is long, tasty and refreshing.  There is an abundance of fruit on the back end that carries that lemony component and introduces some oak influence- vanilla and popcorn.  I like the way this wine teases the palate with some hints of big time oak but waits until the very end to actually show some of it off, interesting indeed.  I really like this wine, it’s relatively lightweight to drink by itself but I would pair it with Cobb salad, Blackened Salmon or grilled veggies.  90 points from me and 5 stars for this $16 rocker.  Drink till 2024.  Salut….

 

Loveblock Pinot Noir 2018, Central Otago, New Zealand

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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This was the opener at my first virtual Wine tasting.  It was pretty full bodied and New World in it’s fruit forward approach.  Delicious but somewhat atypical for the varietal.  Very meaty and gamey with some interesting minerality.  I went with 90 points.  3 stars for this $29 Pinot Noir.  Salut….

Morgon Cote du Py Domaine de Robert 2018, France

01 Wednesday Apr 2020

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Bright purple and see through, typical for the Gamay grape.  On the nose it shows blueberry, spice box, violets and bramble.  The palate is very fresh and echoes the blue theme.  Nice, rounded acidity braces the mouth and the fruit transitions nicely to the mid palate.  There’s a definitive spice i’m getting- perhaps cloves?  It’s very interesting.  The wine feels like it may have a touch of tannic grip, which is good for this style- it allows brief to mid term cellaring.  The finish is decent in length with more blueberries and a dusty component.  It reminds me a little of Rioja on the back end.  Quite unique.  For $19 and 90 points, this Beaujolais Cru gets 4 stars.  A nice gift from my cousins.  Drink till 2024.  Salut….

Refugio Ranch Petite Sirah 2016, Santa Ynez Valley, USA

25 Wednesday Mar 2020

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Dark and dense, totally opaque.  The nose gives me blackberry jam, florals, cinnamon, but just a touch.  On the palate it’s as rich as it smells.  Full throttle with the black fruits, a touch of sour black cherry and a definitive tea component.  There is an upfront astringency that goes head to head with a brisk acidity.  Somewhat overpowering but balanced. The midpalate is all about the to-and-fro with these two components.  The finish is really juicy, black fruited and tannic.  Petite Sirah is typical of these notes.  90 points and 4 stars for this $40 wine.  Pair with Moussaka or Bangers and Mash and drink till 2025.  Salut….

Joel Gott Wines 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, California, USA

16 Monday Mar 2020

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Semi opaque in the glass.  The nose is straight up Napa sunshine.  Black currants galore, like Ribena.  Licorice and cola are present to a degree.  On the palate it’s as expected- rich, warm blackcurrants, lithe tannins, juicy acidity and some star anise.  The iodine comes back alongside Maduro with blackberry jam on the midpalate.  The structure of this wine is decent, the tannins are of medium intensity and the acidity is in check.  The finish ends on a dry note of black tea, blackberry and more iodine.  Quite tasty and worthy of 90 points.  Drink till 2027 with charcuterie or a marbled steak.  $14 and 5 stars.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 683 Zinfandel 2017, Sierra Foothills, California

05 Thursday Mar 2020

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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….

Beaulieu Vineyard BV Reserve Tapestry 2007, Napa Valley, USA

02 Monday Mar 2020

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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….

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

02 Monday Mar 2020

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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….