Tag Archives: 91 points

Domaine de Rocheville Saumur-Champigny Les Pierres Blanches Cabernet Franc 2023, Loire, France

13 Monday Apr 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of green pepper, black raspberry, a medicinal note, charcoal, red plum, baking spice, and lingonberry.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors overshadow the somewhat light nose.  I get red fruit, spice nuances but less of the pyrazine driven capsicum. It’s got a very soft mouthfeel and I am enjoying the slight tartness balancing out the fine grained tannins.  It’s not a heavy wine, delicate is the key, so I would pair it with lighter fare- chicken, duck, veal and maybe a filet.  It’s drinking nicely now and will cellar until 2030.  91 points, and for the $25 price point- 5 stars.  Salut….

Domaine de Rocheville Saumur-Champigny Les Pierres Blanches Cabernet Franc

Glenelly Estate Reserve Red 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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The closer at our 43rd virtual wine tasting was this banger from Stellenbosch.  A lovely wine that I have drunk older vintages of and it did not disappoint.  The tasting group noted how opaque it was with a deep garnet color, slight staining, and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of floral perfume, thrift shop, mangrove, ocean spray, leather, licorice, coffee, and vanilla.  That’s quite an interesting set of descriptors, but then again, there was a decent sized crowd at this tasting.  The palate was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a full body, and high tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echoed the nose but we also got some blackberry, black cherry, and green pepper- consistent with the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.  Delicious but young- this wine will cellar nicely till 2037 if it’s at all like it’s older siblings.  91 points from me and 17/20 on our tasting sheet.  We paid $22 last August, making this an amazing deal and worthy of 5 stars.  Salut….

Glenelly Estate Reserve Red

Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carmenere 2021, Maipo Valley, Chile

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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The third wine of our virtual tasting was this delicious Carmenère with a bit of age on it.  We noted a deep ruby color flexing to garnet, with high viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (-) intensity aromas of blackberry, vanilla, baking spice, and green pepper for days.  On the palate it was dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that were well integrated.  One of the tasters said- “It tastes like salad”.  I guess the green pepper component was obviously driving the bus.  Otherwise- we noted plum, coffee, blackberry, vanilla, and baking spice.  It came alive on the palate and showed off a medium (+) length finish which earned it 91 points.  On our tasting sheet I gave this $22 effort 15/20 points and would drink it over the next 4 years with a juicy steak.  5 stars.  Salut….

 


Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carmenere

Weingut Markus Huber Terrassen Gruner Veltliner 2023, Traisental DAC, Austria

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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We tasted this wine chilled and then at room temperature at the 43rd virtual wine tasting, held over Zoom.  It was pale lemon colored, with low viscosity, (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of pear, lemon, green apple, nectarine, lanolin, lemon pith, and a hint of the telltale white pepper.  The palate was dry, with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium (-) intensity flavors included pineapple, semi-ripe pear, apricot, green apple and the pepper note.  A medium length finish was noted.  I enjoyed the chilled version, giving it 91 points and on our tasting sheet- 14 points.

The room temperature version was less intense on the nose, with slightly different aromas and flavors.  Honeydew melon, green apple, honeysuckle, white pepper, more pith than when chilled, persimmon, and apricot.  The wine felt less acidic, rounder and more full bodied- waxy.  The finish was slightly longer, yet I did not enjoy it as much.  It garnered 89 points and only 12 /20 on the sheet.  I would drink this $22 wine chilled over the next few years with fresh seafood, perhaps a chicken salad.  4 stars.  Salut….

Huber Terrassen Gruner Veltliner

Bodegas Riojanas Vina Albina Reserva 1998, Rioja DOCa, Spain

03 Friday Apr 2026

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Medium garnet, fading to copper with bricking on the edges.  Medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of prune, sweet dried cherry, blackberry jam, walnuts,  and leather- becoming intense.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a light body, and medium tannins that are fully melded.  I get the same flavors as the nose, but a touch sour. As it evolves I find it balanced with a hint of stewed rhubarb and dried cranberry giving it some zip.  The finish is medium in length and classically Old World.  91 points- drink till 2028.  No pricing information.  Salut….

Bodegas Riojanas Vina Albina Reserva

Bodega El Esteco Blend de Extremos Torrontes 2025, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina

31 Tuesday Mar 2026

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Pale lemon colored, with a watery sheen (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lychee, rose water, lemon and lime pith, guava, gooseberry, orange blossom, and a stony note.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (+) body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose and finish medium in length.  Delicious, refreshing, yet serious.  I love this variety and really enjoy a good bottle of it.  91 points from me for this $16 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  I’m pairing it with chicken and rice, but you could throw pretty much any fish dish at it for a great match.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Bodega El Esteco Blend de Extremos Torrontes

Rosa dell’Olmo 2021, Barolo DOCG Piedmont, Italy

30 Tuesday Dec 2025

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Pale ruby-red colored, with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, rose petal, pomegranate, smoke, a hint of licorice, and leather.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and high tannins that are still young and gritty.  Medium (+) intensity flavors embody the fruit but really highlight the old oak aging.  The tannins grip for days yet allow for a decently long finish with fruit and secondary notes present.  The cherry and leather dominate.  It’s a young wine for sure, with loads of cellaring capacity yet it could be drunk soon if decanted/aerated.  I think it is worthy of 91 points and available for $30 which makes it a 5 star effort in my books.  Drink from 2028-2035.  Salut….

Rosa dell'Olmo Barolo

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Marlborough, New Zealand

28 Sunday Dec 2025

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Pale lemon colored, with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon verbena, cut grass, jalapeño, white blossom, papaya, grapefruit, and lime zest.  The palate is dry, with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors that mirror the nose are sharpened up by the cutting acidity.  The finish is medium (+) in length.  What a shockingly good value wine that is so consistent and tasty.  I paid $10 for this 91 point effort which makes it a 5 star bottle to buy en mass.  Drink till 2028 (would be interesting to see how it matures and what cellaring capacity it may have).  I’m pairing it with seared scallops and garlic linguine.  Salut….

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Chateau Musar Blanc 2013, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

25 Thursday Dec 2025

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Pale gold in color with a watery sheen (11.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of Quince, Meyer lemon, lanolin, green almond, grapefruit pith, white blossom, and a zesty minerality.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors mimic the nose, but especially the pith- giving a touch of bitterness.  On the mid palate I get the Quince, followed by a medium (+) length finish that’s got a refreshing dose of acidity.  This is a 12 year young wine that probably needs another decade before it starts to flesh out and develop tertiary notes.  I picked it for Christmas dinner of Lobster tails and baked potatoes- a good pairing.  I like this blend of Merwah and Obeideh from my native Lebanon.  It gets 91 points and for $55- it’s a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Chateau Musar Blanc

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Gigondas ‘Vieilles Vignes’ 2020, Rhone, France

28 Friday Nov 2025

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Deep ruby colored that is slightly cloudy, with high viscosity (15% ABV). Medium intensity aromas of black and red raspberry, licorice, green herbs.  The palate has medium acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of charcoal, ripe raspberry, licorice, lavender, stone and iron.  The long finish makes this a delicious wine which is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, hence the deep color. 91 points from me for this $30 effort makes it a 5 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Gigondas 'Vieilles Vignes'