Tag Archives: 90 points

Quevedo Family Alegria Vineyard Touriga Nacional 2018, Douro, Portugal

17 Tuesday Jan 2023

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Deep purple colored it stains the walls and has a slight bluish tinge on the edges.  On the nose it is very heady with aromas of dark, ripe blueberry, black currants, blue plum, violets, mint and a touch of oak by way of baking spices and chocolate powder.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and high tannins that are fine grained.  This full bodied wine has plenty going on flavorwise.  Blueberry, cacao, blackcurrant, plum, florals and some spices.  The question of balance comes into mind as the alcohol (15% ABV) is noticeable on the nose and the mid palate.  I will get over it but buyer beware.  The finish is medium in length and blue fruited.  The tannins having vanished, leaving a touch of refreshing acidity.  The Douro Valley and this varietal, Touriga Nacional are well known to Port lovers worldwide.  They make delicious and full throttle fortified wines, so having ripe, sun-drenched grapes to make a still wine is not an issue.  The results are in this bottle- a yummy delight to pair with hearty dishes.  Mine is Steak and Ale pie tonight but it will do well with grilled leg of Lamb or even Osso Bucco.  I would drink this wine till 2030, it has the structure needed to cellar.  90 points (the slight imbalance alcohol cost a point) and for $19- 5 stars.  Look for this wine or even this varietal and region when you are searching for something new.  Salut….

Nova Cadamatre Reserve Riesling 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

11 Wednesday Jan 2023

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Medium lemon colored with a medium (+) intensity nose.  Right off the bat I get aromas of creamy tropical flowers- bizarre, I know.  Then…. Nougat mixed with tangerine, more bizarreness.  Followed by saline and some pithy citrus as well as a touch of petrol.  I am really perplexed by this wine.  The palate is dry and slightly bitter with medium body and high acidity, which I was expecting.  Flavors of subdued citrus and florals alongside the bitterness from pith carry through to the medium length finish.  I must say this is not what I was expecting, the flavors and aromas are off my normal path for this varietal.  I like the precision, minerality and cut of this wine- it’s like a laser, I just need to recalibrate to these new flavors and aromas.  I would give this $18 wine 90 points and drink with charcuterie or oysters on the half shell.  Be ready for some mouth puckering vibrancy- 5 stars.  Salut….

Phebus Torrontes 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

09 Monday Jan 2023

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Pale straw colored this aromatic grape has an intense nose.  Aromas of grape, orange zest, lemon, lime, florals and wet slate.  The palate is dry with cutting medium level acidity and a medium body.  Citrus driven with a hint of pith layered in floral notes make for a very delicious flavor profile.  The finish is quite long, concentrating on orange pith and lemon zest, the acidity doesn’t stop.  I like this wine- 90 points worth and for $14 it’s a 5 star porch-pounder that rings in at 12.5% ABV.  Get some in preparation for summer.  I would pair this with spice laden dishes, seafood or a crisp salad with grilled chicken.  Salut….

Ixsir Altitudes Blanc 2021, Batroun, Lebanon

20 Tuesday Dec 2022

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Having just visited this winery where I tasted the 2022 from the still unbottled vats I had to bring home a bottle to share with Moxie.  It shows a beautiful medium straw-lemon color in the glass.  The nose has pronounced aromas of lemon, grapefruit, lychee, pineapple, white flower, a hint of vanilla bean and perhaps some bread.  The palate is dry and a touch bitter with grapefruit pith, lemon, rose, lychee, pineapple and a floral note making it quite a complex array of delicious flavors.  Medium acidity and a medium to full body take me to a finish that lasts a good 20 seconds and delves into the citrus and pith world.  It’s very floral and fruity with just the right amount of cut to make it a pleasing aperitif wine that I would pair with chicken and dare I say- spicy foods.  So glad this bottle survived my extensive travels from Beirut to the UK and finally home, well worth the effort.  A blend of Obeideh, Muscat and Viognier it can be found for $18 and gets 90 points from me making it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Drinking from the vat

 

Rainstorm Pinot Noir 2021, Willamette Valley, Oregon

13 Tuesday Dec 2022

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Pale ruby with a touch of effervescence on the rim. The nose offers up medium intensity aromas of strawberry, cherry, cranberry, singed alder, cinnamon, pomegranate syrup and a tart red apple. The palate has juicy acidity that is medium along with very lithe tannins. Medium bodied- I get the same red fruit driven flavors with a kiss of oak. The wine finishes medium length with a touch of tartness. I like this $15 wine, it’s moderately complex with primal fruit and for the price it gets 5 stars. 90 points, drink till 2025. Salut…..

Chateau Cos d’Estournel ‘Les Pagodes de Cos’ 2010, Saint-Estephe, France

27 Sunday Nov 2022

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Our 29th Virtual Wine tasting concentrated on Cabernet Sauvignon and blends thereof so it made sense to include a Bordeaux wine.  I selected this well aged bottle which is the ‘second wine’ of the famed Second Growth- Chateau Cos d’Estournel.  It runs $80 and gets high scores from the pros (92-94).

Deep garnet colored, this wine is showing off its 12 years of age.  Aromas of soy sauce, leather, cedar, cassis, stewed blackberry, forest floor and umami were noted.  On the palate it was dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are well integrated.  Medium bodied, this wine had flavors of black pepper, strong black tea, loam, funk and leather with some dried blackberry notes.  Someone mentioned a Bourbon-like taste and there was some concern over the bitterness.  It is a touch disjointed which lowers the rating imo.  The medium to long finish shows off the pedigree of this chateau.  I enjoyed drinking this 90 point wine but for $80 I can find far more enjoyable wines to drink.  3 stars for the QPR.  I would pair this with a simple Filet steak and gratin potatoes with a side of green beans.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

George’s Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2022, Beaujolais, France

17 Thursday Nov 2022

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The third Thursday in November is an auspicious day for Beaujolais- the official release of the year’s Nouveau happens around the world at the same time.  It started as a marketing ploy to get people to buy the relatively cheap, easygoing wine. Fresh out of  stainless steel tanks where it was Carbonically Macerated, this alternative method of producing wine from the Gamay grape makes for unique flavors and textures. Georges DuBœf invented the craze so it seemed fitting that I try his $12 effort first.

Deep purple in the glass with watery legs (13% ABV).  The nose is classic Nouveau/Carbonic.  Bright grapey aromas, purple bubble gum, zingy cherries, red currants and red licorice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and very low tannins, if any.  The red fruit and candy are very present whilst the grapey component is not as prominent.  The wine is mouthwatering on the back end and has a medium (-) body.  The length of the finish is shortish but I am really enjoying the freshness and vibrancy that is has to offer.  Keep in mind this wine is meant for immediate consumption, it should keep for a year or so.  I like it for what it is and would pair it with roasted chicken, grilled swordfish or even a pasta dish with red sauce.  90 points makes it a 5 star effort.  Go and get a bottle if you have never tried this style of wine- unique!  Salut….

Karen Birmingham Reserve Zinfandel 2020, Lodi, California

08 Tuesday Nov 2022

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A deep shade of purple bordering on ruby, this potent Zin (14.9% ABV) has super slow forming legs on the walls of the glass.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of blackberry, purple licorice, coffee, star anise, super ripe raspberry (almost candy-like) and baking spice.  The palate is dry yet there is evidence off very ripe fruit- blackberry, black raspberry alongside fennel, dill and coffee.  Medium acidity and smooth, medium tannins make for a lovely mouthfeel, albeit with some heat evident.  The finish is short  in length but everything ends at the same point, no lingering acidity/tannins.  After a re-taste I get some extra licorice that I was not initially tasting- lovely stuff.  I like this $14 bottle that gets 90 points from me and 5 stars.  I would pair it with stews and hearty meat dishes, including game.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

VIK A Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

30 Sunday Oct 2022

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Deep ruby with a touch of turbidity and thick legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has black currants, some black plum, blackberry and menthol.  I get some baking spices and ripe strawberries with some extra swirling.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and gentle (medium) tannins that are well integrated.  This Cabernet blend has 12% Carmenere and 3% Syrah that give it some angularity.  The black fruit and strawberry are present as is the spice box.  I sense a hint of oak alongside the minty note that adds complexity.  Full bodied, this wine carries through to a long finish that turns a touch astringent.  Something tells me the Carmenere was a touch green.  Over-all this is a decent wine from a good producer that will drink nicely with our 24 hour Sous-vide  beef chuck roast.  I would enjoy this wine till 2025.  At $42 it gets 90 points and 4 stars from me.  Salut….

Eguren Ugarte Cincuenta 2016, Rioja DOCa, Spain

29 Saturday Oct 2022

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Marked as unfiltered with no indication of aging (ie. Reserva, Crianza etc), this Joven level wine is 6 years old and showing dep ruby in the glass with pretty slow moving legs (14% ABV).  The nose is a bit tart smelling with nice red fruit aromas of raspberry, red plum, hints of vanilla, purple licorice and perhaps some menthol.  Surprisingly, no tertiary aromas yet.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins. The acid is making my jaw ache.  It is medium bodied with flavors of sour cherry, black raspberry, plum, feint vanilla and a bit of menthol.  The finish is medium in length and tart.  The tannins fade pretty fast on this one, leaving it a bit unbalanced by the acidity and thinning fruit.  It runs $15 nowadays and gets 90 points from me with a drink by 2024 window.  4 stars for this Tempranillo that I am pairing with grilled Chicken and plantains.  Salut….’