Tag Archives: 90 points

Adega Cooperativa de Cantanhede Marques de Marialva Reserva 2013, Bairrada, Portugal

27 Wednesday Sep 2017

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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….

Warre’s Warrior Finest Reserve Port, Portugal

27 Wednesday Sep 2017

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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….

Marques de Riscal Reserva 2011, Rioja DOCa, Spain

26 Tuesday Sep 2017

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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….

Dao Sul Quinta de Cabriz ‘Cabriz’ 2014, Dao, Portugal

14 Thursday Sep 2017

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$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….

Olarra Clasico Reserva 2009, Rioja DOCa, Spain

08 Friday Sep 2017

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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….

Xanadu Next Of Kin Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Margaret River, Australia

31 Thursday Aug 2017

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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….

Vinhos Portada Winemaker’s Selection Tinto 2011, Vinho Regional Lisboa, Portugal

30 Wednesday Aug 2017

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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….

Stone Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Marlborough, New Zealand

28 Monday Aug 2017

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Very pale greenish yellow in the glass.  The nose is delicious- passion fruit and mango.  The initial palate reveals a cleat slate on which I get citrus, mainly grapefruit, with some pear.  The passion fruit comes around again on the mid palate which is absolutely intriguing me.  It brings along some nice acidity and freshness.  The tartness begins halfway through and builds into the finish, where it leaves me with a nice fresh mouthfeel and some lingering tartness on the gums.  This wine is really interesting, from a flavor profile to the way it morphs on the palate.  I pulled it from the fridge as Moxie is making Stir Fried Shrimp and something else, I figured a Sauvignon Blanc would pair well.  I was right.  This wine gets 90 points from me and for the $13 I paid, a sure thing 5 star effort.  Drink now and for the next two years.  Salut….

 

Pagos del Rey Condado de Oriza Reserva 2011, Ribera del Duero, Spain

17 Thursday Aug 2017

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Dark purple in the glass.  An intriguing nose of Cloves, black pepper and blackberry.  On the palate- dark berries, ink, dust.  Delicious.  The mid palate is a smooth transition to some blue fruits including a plum reduction.  The finish has some very fine grained tannins and blueberry compote.  A very intricate wine that needs a cellar imho. Drink from 2018 to 2025.  90 points and 4 stars for this $20 effort.  Salut….

Pagos del Rey Condado de Oriza Reserva

CVNE ‘Cune’ Crianza 2013, Rioja DOCa, Spain

01 Tuesday Aug 2017

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See through purple, not what I was expecting from a Tempranillo out of Rioja.  The nose is however right up that alley.  Red currants, earth and a tar component greet me. The telltale creosote is alive and kicking in this wine, as is a touch of vanilla.  On the palate, I get a brutish, young and cocky wine full of red fruit, with raspberries, strawberries and currants popping.  The acidity is vibrant and the tannins are lithe.  The mid palate carries the red fruit theme and amps up the acidity factor.  On the tail end the finish is fresh with tannins and strawberry extract.  More red currants sneak in right at the close.  Very smooth and nicely balanced, but I don’t get a hint of the yearlong oak maturation after the initial whiff.  Might be well integrated, who knows.  This wine is a great summer addition to a party, serve it with dry rubbed ribs, perhaps a bourbon glazed pork chop on the grill or even just a basic Mezze.  I’m going with 90 points on this $11 stunner that makes it a 5 star wine.  Drink now till 2022.  Salut….

CVNE 'Cune' Crianza