Tag Archives: 90 points

Anton Bauer Zweigelt Feuersbrunn 2019, Wagram, Austria

29 Monday Apr 2024

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Medium to deep purple colored with a watery sheen (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of acai berry, blueberry, vanilla, black cherry, a medicinal note, black raspberry and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins giving this wine a very light and carefree mouthfeel.  The flavors mimic the nose with blue and dark red fruit coupled with a bit of oak nuance- it’s a very delightful package imho and more than I was expecting after the somewhat one-dimensional nose that I was greeted with.  I like it and would pair with pork chops, grilled chicken, veal dishes and even Moussaka.  90 points for this $18 effort makes it a 5 star wine to drink till 2027.  Salut….

Bodega Garzon Reserva Cabernet Franc 2021, Maldonado, Uruguay

19 Tuesday Mar 2024

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Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of capsicum, bilberry, black raspberry, red plum, coffee, caramel, vanilla and smoke.  The palate is dry with a medium body and medium tannins.  Flavors of blueberry, plum, black raspberry, coffee and a remnant of the green pepper go on for a medium length finish.  This $16 bottle is delicious and well balanced, albeit not overly complex.  I would say it is worthy of 90 points and therefore- 5 stars.  I have always enjoyed the wines from Bodega Garzon and find them to be exceptional value for money- their Tannat is awesome.  My pairing tonight is a grilled Tri-tip with steamed Japanese yams.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Errazuriz Max Reserva Carmenere 2020, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

17 Sunday Mar 2024

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Deep ruby with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of bell pepper, black cherry, black plum, licorice, espresso, vanilla, baking spice and blueberry ganache.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium (-) tannins.  Flavors of plum, black cherry and blueberry with green pepper and oak derived accents.  There is a charred note on the mid palate where the green, herbaceous note fades.  The finish is medium (-) in length but very pleasing.  I like the structure of this wine- not too heavy, not too serious, not too tannic or tart- a perfect accompaniment to my Corned Beef dinner where the meat is soft in texture and slightly fatty served with a mustard gravy.  Drink this 90 point wine till 2027.  For $14 it’s a 5 star bottle to stock up on.  Salut….

Botani Old Vines Moscatel 2022, Sierras de Malaga, Spain

02 Saturday Mar 2024

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Pale lemon colored with copper highlights and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, jasmine, lemon curd, white blossom, honeysuckle, tangerine peel and a waxy lanolin. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and some bitterness (skin contact perhaps?). Flavors of Jasmine tea, honeysuckle, lemon and tangerine skin, hints of peach and a salty minerality.  The finish is medium in length and the bitterness has worn off at this juncture leaving the mouthfeel a touch waxy with some saline and honey.  I am really enjoying the tropical notes of this rather aromatic wine, albeit not overly complex.  It gets 90 points from me and 5 stars, I paid just under $15 for it.  I’m gonna pair it with roast duck leg and mashed sweet potato.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Bodega Aleanna ‘El Enemigo’ Cabernet Franc 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

25 Sunday Feb 2024

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Deep purple with moderate staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of capsicum, black cherry, black plum, licorice, coffee, burnt sugar, clove, violets and acai berry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  Flavors of acai berry, black plum, black cherry, coffee, violets and smoky clove lead to a medium (+) length finish that has a nice tannic dryness and some caressing black and blue fruit.  Retasting- the body is medium (-) in weight and the density of the fruit is a little diluted. I can’t say I agree with the trio of 93 points from others, more like 90 to me. I am pairing it with Pot Roast and Yorkshire puddings, I think the tannic grip will do nicely with the fatty nature of the dish. At $22 it’s a 4 star wine to drink till 2027. Salut….

Adegas Valminor Albarino 2022, Rias Baixas, Spain

13 Tuesday Feb 2024

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Pale lemon with gold highlights and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, white blossom, saline, grapefruit, lemon pith and a hint of papaya.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of white blossom, sea spray, peach, papaya, lemon pith and grapefruit zest with a medium to long finish.  It runs about $20 and gets 90 points from me.  I like the crispness and tangy acidity coupled with the saline notes.  Drink this 5 star wine with seafood till 2027.  Salut….

Buttonwood Grove winery Cabernet Franc 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

06 Tuesday Feb 2024

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Pale ruby colored with medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of capsicum, cedar, red cherry, red plum, baking spices, currants and faint licorice.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins and a light body.  The fruit flavors mimic the nose to an extent- currants, pomegranate, red plum with cedar, vanilla, chalky tannins, faint licorice and a hint of green pepper.  The finish has medium (+) length and is slightly tart.  For a $25 wine from a difficult vintage this is a very nice drop- I’m starting to appreciate and understand this varietal when made in the Finger Lakes.  It’s different from Loire or Bordeaux Cab Franc… see-through and much lighter in style.  90 points from me makes this a 3 star effort.  Drink till 2028 with Veal, roast Chicken or baked Ham.  Salut….

Fox Run Vineyards Lemberger 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

05 Monday Feb 2024

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Pale ruby with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose of this Lembereger (aka Blaufrankisch) has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, smoky spice, vanilla bean and red cherry.  It’s not overly complex but rather pleasing.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins and a lightweight body.  The cherry hits first followed by that smoky note.  Blueberry, vanilla, red raspberry and tart strawberry play supporting roles.  The finish is juicy and delicious, medium in length.  This wine is light in body but full of deliciousness that made me buy three bottles at the winery when we visited .  I drank one the same night and polished off the second when we got home.  I felt obliged to restrain myself on the third bottle until I was ready to review it.  90 points from me ( I originally went 88, but I’m digging it more now).  My pairing tonight is charcoal grilled Sirloin, a low fat cut that will do well from this low tannin yet silky charmer.  It can be found for $18 and gets 4 stars from me.  Drink till 2027.  (I might have to order some more!).  Salut….

Quinta do Crasto Superior 2016, Douro, Portugal

06 Saturday Jan 2024

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This is the third time I have tasted the Crasto Superior 2016.  It started out horribly the first time I drank it in 2022, the second bottle being far better so I ordered this one for our tasting group in hopes it would redeem itself.  Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose had aromas of blueberry, violets, vanilla, black cherry and was a touch jammy.  On the palate it had medium acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  Flavors of blueberry jam, tart cherry and powdery cocoa greeted us.  The finish was medium (-) in length.  I wrote to drink this bottle now as I feel the structure has nearly reached its end game.  At 11 points from on our grading sheet it was unimpressive, until later.  This wine opened up nicely over the next few hours and I have upgrade my initial score of 88 points to 90.  We paid $24 for it and I would say it’s a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Chateau Ksara Cuvee Speciale Cabernet Sauvignon Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

03 Wednesday Jan 2024

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Deep ruby colored with minimal staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has dusty aromas of black plum, blackberry, baking spices, black raspberry and Cassis. There’s a touch of charcoal on the very end as well. The pallet is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are very silky and powdery. Medium to full bodied- the wine has flavors of Cassis, plums, black raspberry, baking spices, vanilla and a touch of eucalyptus. It finishes a touch tart, but I’m liking that refreshing aspect.  It’s a medium length affair that is enjoyable with some licorice, dark fruit and ripe raspberry to end. 90 points from me for this $22 bottle makes it a five star wine to drink till 2028.  Salut….