29 Sunday Oct 2017
Posted in Wine reviews
Dark yet opaque purple in the glass. The nose is lush with blueberry, coffee, cedar. The palate is delicious- meaty, with blue fruits, crunchy tannins and a cutting acidity. The midpalate incorporates some black currant and smoke with the blueberries. The tannins, omnipresent are really gripping at this point. They don’t surrender, dominating the finish which has remnants of blue fruits and a charred oak note. I like it. 90 points and 5 stars for this $20 effort. Salut….
18 Wednesday Oct 2017
Posted in Wine reviews
Dark purple. Nice nose of dark currant, mint and oak slivers. On the palate it is a pleasing wine with freshness, good dry tannins and flavors of Ribena, plum, bitter chocolate as well as a meaty note. The tannins really kick in on the mid palate and the finish. The wine is full bodied, full flavored and not shy about its structure. It is somewhat tilted toward the tannic end with hardly discernible acidity at this time. I think this wine needs some cellaring for a year or two to mellow out just a touch. I’m going to be pessimistic and go with 90 points but I think it may improve. If you must drink it now pair with Lamb Shanks and Couscous or maybe a seasoned T-bone on the charcoal. I paid $12.80 each for two bottles on sale. Regularly $21. 4 stars. Salut….
05 Thursday Oct 2017
Posted in Wine reviews
It’s been a while since I had this brand, always dependable in the white arena. The wine starts off very pale yellow in the glass. The nose offers up peach, pineapple and some pecan nut. It is really a different profile, but enjoyable nonetheless. The palate shows off lemon curd, stone fruit, cardamom and a crisp green apple note. The wine is juicy, like mouth watering. The acidity is ever so present and persistent yet not obtrusive. The mid palate is more of the star fruit meets pineapple variety. It is unique and tasty. The finish is rather short and tart with some more of the lemon hints. I pulled this wine out for the Blackened Salmon with Garlic infused Kale that I am preparing. I’m onto something with this pairing. If you haven’t read my Evolution of a wine drinker, now is a good time to go back to 2014 when I wrote it. The same rings true today. Drink this wine now and for the next 5 years. 90 points and 5 stars for this $14 perennial go-to Riesling. Salut….
27 Wednesday Sep 2017
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$11, 5 stars, 90 points, portugal, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional
I have said it recently and i will affirm it again- Portugal is a go-to wine source. In tonight’s case, I needed something full of flavor to go with Braised Lamb Shanks in Rosemary Mint sauce. Sounds fancy huh? Costco…
This particular wine rings in at $11 and was worth a punt when I saw it with free shipping. Here goes- It comes in at 13% and is a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz and 20% Baga. It is of medium shade in the glass and has no ‘legs’. The nose is of dark fruits and wood smoke. I also get some spice, like cinnamon. On the palate, this wine is very soft, gentle and supple. The flavors of black cherry, plum and espresso are very tasty. The mid palate shows off some very fine tannins and an earthiness along with cherry. The finish is somewhat tart, with acidity coming through as cherry and rhubarb. This wine is rocking the full flavored Lamb and has just the right amount of acidity to cut the fat while the flavors complement the herbs of the dish. I am going 90 points and 5 stars for this bargain. Drink now till 2022. Salut….
27 Wednesday Sep 2017
Posted in Wine reviews
I do love me some Port. It goes well with cheese, dessert or alone after dinner. It is one one of life’s real pleasures.
This particular one was bought with a slew of others as I am trying out as many as I can. It looks almost black in the glass. A brooding, dark monster. It is after all named a Warrior, and is of the Finest Reserve. The nose offers up burnt matches and dark plums. Kind of a weird combo. The thickness of the wine is evident on the presentation. On the palate- it is rich, with dark cherry reduction and blackberry syrup. The wine has an unctuous feel to it, somewhat akin to dessert whites. It shows off a nice level of acidity to go along with the tannic backbone. This one will cellar well. The finish is long, broad and has hints of blueberry pie, some vanilla as well as dark chocolate. I like this one and am going with 90 points. I paid $19 and give it 4 stars. Not a bad drop if you like Port. Salut….
26 Tuesday Sep 2017
Posted in Wine reviews
I have a history with this wine. It was introduced to me by friends, one of whose father was Chairman of the Board way back in the day. I have drunk many vintages over the past 20 years and look forward to each bottle. Quality can be a little inconsistent over the years but generally speaking this is a very good staple for the cellar. This particular vintage is dark and brooding in the glass It offers up notes of lush blackberry with lashings of black cherry pie and vanilla. On the palate I get some raisin, blackberry, tar and almond. Very Tempranillo-like. The tannins are quite polished and unobtrusive. They join the party midpalate and carry through to the medium length finish. The flavors are mostly primal right now but I sense that development is forthcoming and this wine will evolve nicely. The predominance of that earthy tar component really excites me as this is my favorite Tempranillo trait. This wine will drink well till 2025 at the least and begs for roasted meats, a hearty game stew or some heavy duty cheese. I’m going 90 points, and for $16 this is a 4 star effort. Salut….
14 Thursday Sep 2017
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$8, 5 stars, 90 points, alfrocheiro, portugal, tempranillo, Touriga Nacional
$4…. Yup, even though it’s only 375ML (half a bottle). I could not help myself to try this Portuguese blend of Touring Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and Alfrocheiro. As much as I love the wines from Portugal, they seldom appear in smaller stores, restaurants or places I would be traveling to.
This wine is inky, which bodes well for me! The nose is somewhat muted right now, but there are signs of black fruit, tar, charcoal. The initial palate has very precise flavors of black berry, kirsch and creosote. The wine is precise, with more black fruits on the mid palate that parallel the fine grained tannins and barely perceptible acidity. The alcohol is low at 13% which merits mention. The minerality of this wine pops up towards the finish and shows off graphite, charcoal and licorice. The finish has a nice ending of blackberry alongside the drying tannins. I’m going to agree with the 90 point rating it got and give it 5 stars for the value here. I can think of several pairings, but am enjoying it so much all by itself that I won’t bore you. Drink till 2022. Salut….
08 Friday Sep 2017
Posted in Wine reviews
When I see a wine that advertises a 97 point Decanter (or any other reputable critic for that matter) rating that I can get for under $14 it’s a must try. So I bought a bunch of this back in 2015 and forgot about them, until now. The wine is a medium purple with a touch of orange. On the nose, very fresh aromas of black cherry, blueberry and some oak. On the palate I get just what I was hoping for. Vibrant blue fruits, rich plum, some creosote and olive. The wine has a tannic streak that starts at the beginning and crescendos at the finish. The mid palate shows off some Tempranillo earthiness and some rhubarb, the sour kind. That is where I sense acidity and it balances the package nicely. The finish is medium in length and has hints of spice box and more earthiness. A blend of Tempranillo and Garanacha. I can’t see 97 points, more like 90. Having said that- for the price, it’s a major 5 star wine. Drink till 2025. I’m having Chorizo, a Spanish style salad and grilled asparagus with mine. Salut….
31 Thursday Aug 2017
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$13, 5 stars, 90 points, Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon, australia, cabernet sauvignon, margaret river
Very bright purple in the glass. The nose has blackcurrants, oak and cherry reduction. Intriguing. On the palate I get a very delicious attack of black fruits- berry, plum, cherry. The tannic structure is good, bracing yet not too dry. The mouthfeel is really refreshing with some sharp acidity. The mid palate has yet more of the dark fruits plus a mocha component. The winemaker has skillfully managed to hide the 14.5% alcohol and slides some deft tannins in that really grip on the back end. The finish is very dry, with black cherry and cassis. The oak that I got on the nose has seemed to disappear up till the very end. This is a very easy drinking wine that is ready to go right now and will last for another 3-4years. I would pair it with lamb chops, roasted veg and perhaps Beef Ribs slow cooked in a wine reduction. I’m going 90 points and 5 stars for this $13 wine. Buy it by the case. (One critic went 94 points, but then again he always rates high.) Salut….
30 Wednesday Aug 2017
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$8, 5 stars, 90 points, portugal, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional
I normally find good value in Portuguese wine. This one was only $8 and sports a 90 point WE score. Very impressive.
In the glass, it is thinner than I was expecting, more opaque. On the nose I get black berries and bramble. A hint of earthiness peeks through as well. On the palate is where it’s at. A much more concentrated wine than I was expecting. Dark plums, sweet black berries and some very gentle acidity to go along with the very well integrated tannins. The mid palate is super smooth and delicious, more of the berries plus a hint of capsicum. The finish is really nice with some very fine tannins that are barely perceptible. The fruit lingers for a while and the acidity tapers off. Overall this is an outstanding wine, worthy of the 90 points and for sure a 5 star effort. I will be buying more. It is a blend of Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional. Serve now with grilled Chorizo, eggplant baba ganoush or even a moussaka. Loving it. Salut….
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