Tag Archives: 90 points

Clos St. Thomas Les Emirs Rouge 2016, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

12 Monday Jun 2023

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Deep ruby with garnet highlights and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of baking spice, ripe plum, vanilla bean, desiccated red raspberry, cedar plank, a touch of mint, lavender and yet more spice at the end.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and fine grained tannins that are well integrated.  The body of this wine is medium and somewhat more tart than the ripe fruit I got on the nose.  The baking spice, cedar and lavender are present as is the red plum, raspberry and mint.  There’s a unique flavor and aroma I cannot pinpoint but it reminds me of the old country- garrigue du Liban perhaps?  The flavors carry on for a while and the finish is medium-long in length with spice and earth notes resonating.  I love this winery and have enjoyed numerous vintages of their Chateau cuvee, this is an earlier drinking delight that is at peak now and will cellar until 2028.  I am pairing this blend of Cab Sav, Syrah and Grenache with grilled pork chops and roasted veggies.  90 points for this $15 bottle makes it a 5 star wine to stock up on.  Salut….

Sam Plunkett The Butterfly Effect Shiraz 2020, Victoria, Australia

11 Sunday Jun 2023

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Medium to deep ruby colored with high viscosity (14.6% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, mint, eucalyptus, a hint of vanilla, red plum, blackcurrants and baking spice. The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins. Confirming dark red fruits with definite oak influence plus the eucalyptus and mint notes. The wine is full bodied with very caressing tannins towards the mid palate. Finishing medium in length with a touch of red fruit-driven tartness. 90 points and for $13- 5 stars.  I am pairing this smooth Aussie Shiraz with grilled Strip steak. This one will cellar till 2028.  Salut….

Grifalco della Lucania Daginestra Superiore Aglianico del Vulture 2018, Basilicata, Italy

27 Saturday May 2023

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Deep ruby/garnet colored, this Aglianico was an interesting turn for our virtual wine tasting group as not many had ever had this varietal.  Intense aromas of tobacco with blueberry, smoke, blackberry, tomato paste, lilac and pine were noted.  The palate was dry with high tannins, medium acidity, a full body (14% ABV) and had flavors resembling the nose.  A hint of ripe strawberry was also noted in addition to the florals, oak and black fruit.  A medium finish for this wine makes it a 90 point effort that gets 3 stars due to its $40 price point.  On our tasting scale- 14 points.  Drink till 2030 with food, it really needs some pasta to balance it all out.  Salut….

Ernesto Catena Vineyards Tikal Patriota 2018, Mendoza, Argentina

27 Saturday May 2023

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A 60/40 Bonarda/Malbec blend, this was the second wine in our lineup at the 31st virtual wine tasting.  It showed deep purple with lots of staining and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  On the nose- blackberry, black cherry, black currant, pomegranate and caramel.  Others noted candied cherry, twizzlers, fig, slate and violet.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and high tannins.  The dark, ripe fruit flavors were echoed on the palate along with some oak influence- coffee, charred wood and an oaky hint.  The finish on this medium bodied wine was decent in length and really honed in on the ripe, black berries.  I gave it 13 points on our scoring sheet and would assign it 90 points.  For $20 this wine gets 4 stars with a drinking window of 2025-2030 unless you like them tannic AF.  Salut….

Prelude a Grand-Puy Ducasse 2015, Pauillac, France

22 Monday May 2023

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Last night Moxie and I celebrated our 30th anniversary.  We dined at our favorite restaurant, L’Auberge Chez François in Great Falls, Virginia.  They have a decent wine list with emphasis on their French, more specifically, Alsatian heritage.  I was to dine on Wagyu Beef cheeks for appetizer and Rack of Lamb for mains, with a few extras in between.  Choosing a hearty Bordeaux was a no-brainer.  This wine is the Second label of the Classed Growth Grand-Puy Ducasse of Pauillac and comes from a fine vintage.  At 7 years of age it is showing primary, secondary and some tertiary flavors.  Dark brambly fruit, plums, integrated oak, medium acidity and chalky tannins greeted us.  The wine has a medium body and good length.  I was hoping for more cassis but alas, it turned out just fine.  The wine runs $40 at retail and gets 90 points from me.  Drink till 2028.  4 stars for this 60/40 blend of Cab Sav and Merlot..  Salut….

Man O’ War Island Blend 2019, Waiheke Island, New Zealand

16 Tuesday May 2023

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Medium ruby with wall staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black and red plum, black berry, cinnamon, vanilla, lavender and tomato leaf.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that hit the mid palate.  Flavor-wise I get blackberry, plums and açaí berry with vanilla, baking spices and coffee. The wine is medium (+) bodied but it thins out on the back end a touch.  The finish has some charred wood notes along with roasted coffee and black fruit but I also get a green herbaceous hint.  It’s a nice blend of Cabernet Franc 48%, Malbec 25%, Merlot 19% and Petit Verdot 8% that has a medium length ending.  I like this style of wine and think it is drinking nicely now and will cellar for the short term.  90 points from me for this $25 effort makes it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

Fontanafreda ‘Ebbio’ Langhe Nebbiolo 2020, Piedmont, Italy

13 Saturday May 2023

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Pale ruby colored with some slow moving legs (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of cherry, roses, tar, cranberry, dried thyme, red licorice.  The palate is dry with high acidity and high tannins.  Medium to full bodied, this Nebbiolo has classic red fruit notes with dried herbs, red flowers and earthy tar nuance.  The finish is tart and medium in length.  This is a scaled down version of Barolo that is easier to drink when young- it begs for pasta dishes which is what I’m pairing it with.  It is very smooth and balanced with the high levels of structure that will reward some cellaring.  It gets 90 points from me and for $26 it gets 4 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Ondine Chattan Pinot Noir 2021, Russian River Valley, California

10 Wednesday May 2023

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Pale to medium ruby colored showing some extraction and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).   The nose has aromas of candied black cherry, ripe pomegranate, red plum paste, baking spices, red licorice and spring flower blossom.  The palate is dry with medium (-) tannins and medium (+) acidity.  The wine is medium to full bodied and carries through with the ripe, red fruit and oak nuance.  I get a touch of charred oak on the back end as the wine finishes with medium length.  I’ll be honest, it’s not my style of Pinot Noir- too heavy, too worked, too ripe- but it will appeal to many.  From a technical standpoint it gets 90 points from me.  At $19 a pop it gets 5 stars.  I’m pairing my bottle with Roast Duck and grilled Brussel Sprouts.  Drink till 2026. Salut….

Bodegas Terras Gauda O Rosal 2021, Rias Baixas, Spain

25 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Pale to medium lemon in the glass with a watery sheen (12% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, cantaloupe, Mandarin orange, white flower and saline.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a touch of spritz.  The body is medium and the flavors echo the nose with some grapefruit pith thrown in for a touch of bitterness.  The finish is quite persistent and refreshing with citrus taking over the lead role.  The acidity is en pointe with this wine and keeps it focussed.  We tasted this wine blind last night and it was slightly chilled.   I’m re-tasting it at room temp and feel it needs a few minutes in the chiller followed by a pairing of seafood with lemon wedges.  Drink this 90 point Albarino dominated blend till 2026.  For $20, it gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Hugel ‘Gentil’ 2019, Alsace, France

04 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Pale lemon colored with medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  The nose has peach, lemon, lime curd, papaya, pineapple, ginger, white flowers, orange blossom and grapefruit.  Quite a layered set of aromas!  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  The exotic and citrus aromas are confirmed on the palate with a touch of bitterness but no ginger.  The florals are feint but present.  I start to get lychee on the mid palate from the Gewürztraminer.  This wine also blends in Sylvaner, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Muscat- the Noble grapes of Alsace.  It is a refreshing yet multi-layered wine that has a crisp, medium length finish.  It will go beautifully with our garlic Scampi but I would also pair it with salads, grilled salmon or some charcoal chicken.  It’s well worth the $15 price point and gets 90 points and 5 stars from me.  Stock up for summer y’all.  Salut….