Tag Archives: 91 points

The Terraces Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, USA

16 Sunday Sep 2018

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The third wine in my Cali tasting adventure, and one that I returned to the store to re-try.  It was that good.

Rich, brooding purple in the glass.  Thick plum jam and spicy oak open up the nose.  On the palate it is unctuous and full of blackberry reduction, vanilla, espresso and violet.  Svelte tannins steer this wine to the delightful finish that is surprisingly short.  90 points. After a second try- 91 points.  The nose is simply amazing.  This is quintiscential Napa Cabernet, basking in the sun, ripening to perfection and then crafted into such a delectable drop.  $65 makes it a pricy bottle, until you factor in the Napa appellation and quality.  4 stars and I would drink it alone.  No pairing needed.  Drink now till 2025.  Salut….

Arista Pinot Noir 2015, Russian River Valley, USA

16 Sunday Sep 2018

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The second bottle at the wine shop tasting….  unfortunately not a good sample.

A dark red in the glass, more serious for a Pinot Noir.  The nose is off as the wine has been open too long- however…. the palate offers a much richer expression of dark red fruits and cinnamon.  No rating as it would not reflect well.  However, a search on the web shows it available for $60 and gets decent 90+ scores.  Salut….

Famille Perrin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards 2015, Rhone, France

15 Saturday Sep 2018

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Medium opacity with a lighter purple hue.  On the nose it screams black currants with some bacon fat and oregano.  There is a hint of forest floor at the back end of the nose.  On the palate – berries, medium intensity tannins, tea and olives.  The wine transitions nicely to the mid palate with the tannins providing a nice dryness to the mouthfeel.  The flavors are consistent through to the finish where I also get some licorice.  The balance is nice for a wine that is made for medium term drinking.  Perfect for a game dish, even a seasoned Cornish Hen.  Drink now till 2033.  91 points and 4 stars for this $34 blend of mainly Grenache mixed with Syrah and Mouvedre.  Salut….

Hall Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, USA

26 Sunday Aug 2018

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Just looking at it I see a brooding monster.  It is nearly black, fully opaque and taunting me. The nose is – wow.  

Black cherry, plum jam, black currant and sassafras.  The initial palate is thick with dark fruit compote, plum ganache, luscious oak and tannins that are en pointe.  Plums really come out on the mid palate alongside a cedar shake note.  The tannins start to grip and by the time I get to the finish they have me licking my gums.  The dryness lingers forever and my teeth feel gritty- I’m loving it.  This is a delightful sensation in the wine appreciation sense.

The finish, dry as hell, also features a mint meets eucalyptus oil note which I find intriguing.  This is a delicious, structured wine that will cellar for the mid term but is drinkable now if you like some bite.  91 points and 4 stars for this $60 effort.  If you like sunny Napa fruit and bold Cabs, this one is for you.  Serve with a juicy steak or a roasted leg of Lamb.  Salut….

Vergelegen Reserve Merlot 2013, Stellenbosch, South Africa

26 Sunday Aug 2018

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I have had two other wines from Vergelegen. Both were excellent so when I saw this Reserve offering I had to buy it!  Medium intensity in the glass.  Black currants, olive tapenade, charcoal and pencil on the nose.  The palate has a ton of dark, ripe plums coupled with anise and violets.  Rich and tannic, this wine has weight.  The midpalate is all black currant.  The grippy tannins don’t let go- all the way through the medium length finish.  Dark fruits aplenty here.  91 points, drink till 2025.  5 stars again for this $22 bottle.  Salut….

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 14 Doctor’s Creek Pinot Noir 2016, Marlborough, New Zealand

17 Friday Aug 2018

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A couple of us met up and had a tasting of several nice wines.  We started with this Pinot Noir, building our way up to the Bordeaux by way of some Portuguese, South African and Spanish bottles.  Read on for the highlights!

Gorgeous purple- see through but clear.  The nose is heavy on the strawberry.  Nutmeg is present, spice box and vanilla bean round it out.  On the palate it is lush, light and layered.  Strawberry coulis mixed with cedar plank and cherry abound.  The mid palate exhibits a darker fruit component and more spices that I found on the nose.  The wine has a very nice acidity and the very lithe tannins only show up at the finale.  An excellent bottle that drinks beautifully now and will go on for another 5/7 years.  91 points for this Pinot and 5 stars.  It is a perennial favorite of mine and is consistent, year in and year out.  $20.  Salut….

Joel Gott Wines 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, California, USA

22 Friday Jun 2018

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Another in the low priced series that I have been working through.  This one rings in at $14.  It has a nice medium intensity of purple in the glass.  The nose is very rich with plums, black berry and leather.  On the palate it is more fruit forward than I had imagined.  Very upfront with plums, cedar shavings and a touch of eucalyptus.  There is a really delicious mid palate core of sweet black cherry that I am thoroughly enjoying.  Tannins are very smooth, balanced and lithe.  The finish exhibits a nice acidity and more plums.  The dry leather component I found earlier appear ever so slightly and rounds out the finish.  This is a very tasty wine, which gets 91 points from me- contrary to the 89-90 ratings the pro’s gave it.  I think it will pair well with tonights flat iron steaks, Buffalo Cauliflower and sautéed asparagus.  Certainly a 5 star wine that I think will get stocked up on.  Summer party season is here and this one is front and center.  Drink now till 2020.  Salut….

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2012, Stellenbosch, South Africa

21 Monday May 2018

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Given to me by a good mate from South Africa, I have been holding on to this one for the right time.  It shows very rich purple in the glass.  A 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it is a classical Bordeaux blend.  The nose is a little muted, probably because I just pulled it out of the 55 degree cellar.  I have managed to coax black cherry, ribena and toasty oak after several swirls.  The palate is very smooth, rich plum ganache and black cherry reduction greet me with some somewhat pointy tannins.  The wine has a definite wood profile, but is not over-oaked by any stretch.  Rather, it is a unique flavor in the mix.  Blackberry rounds out the finish which is quite tannic and dry.  My gums are feeling it well into the second minute – quite long.  There is a mintyness that comes across at the end that is interesting alongside a faint licorice note.  Clocking in at 14% this wine is well built, balanced and totally ready for another 10 years in the cellar if you have the patience.  91 points from me for this $49 effort and 4 stars.  Salut….

EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir 2015, Russian River Valley, USA

07 Monday May 2018

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A darker purple then expected from Pinot Noir.  Nose gives off gobs of strawberry, cherry pie and cedar plank.  The palate gives me some spicy notes of red fruits, violets and fig paste.  The finish is lengthy with very caressing, smooth tannins that are in perfect balance with the acidity.

This is a delicious wine that will reward instant gratification yet will cellar well for another 10 years.  I paired it with some of the best Lamb Chops I have had in a long time.  91 points and 5 stars for this $40 effort.   I’m buying some for the cellar.  Salut….

Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block 2015, Franschhoek Valley, South Africa

30 Monday Apr 2018

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See-through purple.  Nose is enticing with ripe blueberry, cocoa powder, mint and a touch of oak.  The palate is very interesting with plum ganache, blueberry pie, cacao and super fine grained tannins.  The mouthfeel is delightful, with some pinpoint acidity.  The mid palate is ripe and rich, layered with espresso bean, vanilla and more oak.  The finish is long, dry with tannins and mouthwatering with blueberry.  91 points and 5 stars for this $25 blend of Syrah (71%), Grenache Noir (15%), Cabernet Sauvignon (8%), Cinsault (5%) and Viognier (1%).  It was a gift, but I will be buying more.  Delicious stuff for immediate drinking or cellaring till 2023.  Salut….