Tag Archives: 91 points

Chateau Latour-Martillac 2014, Pessac-Leognan, France

09 Friday Jun 2023

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Deep, inky-ruby colored with a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). Classic Left Bank aromas with an intense nose of ripe cassis, pencil shavings, tobacco, cedar box, ripe blackberry and black plum.  A hint of green pepper keeps it somewhat on the rails- it’s a beautiful nose. The palate is dry with medium acidity that is a touch tart along with medium intensity tannins that are well integrated.  Medium bodied- it’s a seductive wine with good length and more cellaring capacity.  It finishes old world with slightly tart dark red fruits and tertiary notes of cedar, tobacco and pencil shavings. 91 points.  We drank this Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Magnum but you can find a standard bottle for around $50. Drink till 2028 with grilled Filet steak and au gratin potatoes.  4 Stars.  Salut….

Remhoogte ‘Aspect’ Merlot 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

03 Wednesday May 2023

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Deep ruby colored with medium viscosity legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, bramble, black licorice, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, cedar slate and blackberry pie.  The palate is dry with crunchy medium tannins, medium acidity and a full body.  The black fruits coat my mouth and the oak nuances balance them out.  The finish is a touch tart, reminiscent of underripe blackberries.  It’s a silky affair with nice structure and good length that runs $24 and gets 91 points from me.  I would pair this wine with Filet, the tannins befitting the cut.  Drink till 2027.  5 stars.  Salut….

Virtus ‘Vega del Yuso’ 2015, Ribera del Duero, Spain

30 Sunday Apr 2023

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Deep ruby with purple accents and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has aromas of  charred oak, vanilla, toast, blackberry reduction, cassis, bramble and a dusty earth component with some baking spices thrown in for good measure.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are plush and fine-grained.  I can confirm the oak and dark fruit flavors echo the nose but there is also a licorice tinge.  The wine is full bodied and the high alcohol is very well hidden, buyer beware.  The finish is a dry affair with charred oak notes and some ripe blackberry coulis that is medium in length.  I love this style of Tempranillo, list price is rather steep though- $100.  I gave it 91 points and 3 stars for the QPR.  Drink till 2030 with grilled Filet and a bleu cheese sauce.  Salut….

Chateau Lascombes 2004, Margaux, France

30 Sunday Apr 2023

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Dinner at a friend’s house revealed this impeccably stored Margaux.  It was so fresh and youthful I would never have guessed 18 years old in a blind tasting.  I took very basic notes:

Fresh, youthful. Deep ruby. Medium acid with smooth, silky tannins. Graphite, pencil lead, cassis, cedar, blackberry, vanilla bean and charcoal on a medium weight body ending in a long, tart finish.  91 points for this $90 bottle makes it a 4 star effort, drink till 2028.  Salut….

Lustau Dry Oloroso Don Nuno Sherry NV, Jerez, Spain

28 Friday Apr 2023

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Medium amber, a beautiful hue with high viscosity legs showing off the 20% ABV.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dried mixed nuts, desiccated plum, raisins, prunes and a salty herbal combo.  The palate is dry with high alcohol and medium (+) acidity.  Full bodied, this wine has loads of rich nutty flavors with dried fruit and a slightly bitter almond note with caramel and umami.  The finish is a touch hot from the alcohol but I get lovely warmth from the heat- picture a mound of warmed nuts and some dried black fruit.  The back end is medium in length and makes me reach for more from the glass.  This wine needs to be chilled and served as an aperitif with some charcuterie along with olives and nuts.  I like this oxidative style of sherry and am giving this $30 offering 91 points.  4 stars.  Salut….

Compania Bodeguera Valenciso 2019, Rioja DOCa, Spain

13 Thursday Apr 2023

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Medium lemon colored with high viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon rind, Meyer lemon, honeysuckle, white flower, honeydew and a nut component.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a rather large dose of bitterness right off the bat.  The body is medium and I get flavors of Meyer lemon, brioche, some baking spice, melon and hazelnut.  This wine has obviously seen some oak and perhaps a little lees stirring.  The finish is quite lengthy- with bitter hazelnut skins and lemon notes alongside the brioche and vanilla. It runs $25 and gets 91 points from me.  I would drink till 2028 with heavier dishes of chicken, perhaps an Alfredo.  This blend of 70 % Viura and 30% White Grenache gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Remhoogte Reserve ‘Honeybunch’ Chenin Blanc 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa

11 Tuesday Apr 2023

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Pale gold colored with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of Meyer lemon, ginger, white flower, pink grapefruit, citrus pith, a touch of brioche and honeysuckle.  The palate has hint of sweetness, or else it is from really ripe fruit but it reminds me of honey.  Medium (+) acidity leads to a pretty full body. The flavors of Meyer lemon and grapefruit coat my mouth along with the florals and some bitterness from citrus pith.  The use of oak maturation and a bit of skin contact leave this with with a rounded mouthfeel that has a bitterness that I am enjoying.  It’s not a buttery, oaked Chard yet it has similar traits to one that has seen a deft hand.  I like it.  The finish is medium (+) in length and the citrus bows out early, leaving some brioche/vanilla and baking spice notes to carry through to the end.  For $25, this is a great wine to pair with grilled salmon or roast chicken.  My particular pairing is a vegetarian Tagine with lots of spices, preserved lemon and toasted almonds.  I would drink it over the next few years.  It gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Salut….

Chateau Treytins 2016, Montagne-Saint-Emilion, France

06 Thursday Apr 2023

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A hazy deep ruby color with some staining on the walls and medium to high viscosity legs (14% ABV).  On the nose I get classic Bordeaux aromas of cassis, leather, pencil lead, ripe black plum, boysenberry and elderberry.  Coffee and dark chocolate with some menthol also come to mind.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins and a medium (+) body.  The brooding dark berry with coffee, licorice and dark chocolate notes are all present alongside some black tea which gives a touch of mid palate astringency.  The finish is powerful and long with grippy tannins taking center stage.  I have drunk gallons of this delicious Merlot dominant Right Bank wine over the years and am glad to revisit an old friend that runs $25 and gets 91 points from me.  Drink this 5 star wine till 2028 with a sizzling steak and some au gratin.  Salut….

Bodegas As Laxas ‘Val do Sosego’ Albarino 2021, Rias Baixas, Spain

15 Wednesday Mar 2023

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Pale lemon with medium thin legs (12.5% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of peach ring, tangerine, apricot, white blossom, marzipan and a touch, no, a smidge of lychee.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a medium body.  It is rounded with a silky mouthfeel and I get flavors that are not as intense as the nose but correspond.  It’s a delicious wine that I’m tasting at room temperature but would pair beautifully as a chilled accompaniment to shellfish.  The finish is medium in length and turns a touch bitter.  Yummy stuff that gets 91 points from me and for $19 it’s a 5 star wine to stock up on for the summer.  Salut….

Renieri Invetro Toscana IGT 2018, Tuscany, Italy

10 Friday Mar 2023

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Deep dark purple color with medium legs (14% ABV).  The nose of this Sangiovese, Merlot and Cab Sav blend has some exotic dark fruit aromas- mulberry, boysenberry, elderberry with vanilla, coffee bean, baking spices, eucalyptus and camphor (yup).  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and finely grained medium (+) tannins.  The body is full and the flavors echo the dark berry notes I got on the nose.  I’m missing the pungent camphor but I get oak influence by way of vanilla and baking spice.  The wine retails for $18 and got a big score.  I’m thinking 91 points and 5 stars.  Tonight- it’s pasta with meatballs, sausages and meat sauce- this will pair beautifully.  Drinking window till 2026.  Enclosed by a glass stopper btw.  Salut….