30 Sunday Apr 2023
Posted in Wine reviews
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….
28 Friday Apr 2023
Posted in Wine reviews
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….
13 Thursday Apr 2023
Posted in Wine reviews
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….
11 Tuesday Apr 2023
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$25, 5 stars, 91 points, chenin blanc, South Africa, stellenbosch
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….
06 Thursday Apr 2023
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$25, 5 stars, 91 points, Cabernet franc, france, merlot, st. Emilion
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….
15 Wednesday Mar 2023
Posted in Wine reviews
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….
10 Friday Mar 2023
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$18, 5 stars, 91 points, Italy, sangiovese, super tuscan, tuscany
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….
06 Monday Mar 2023
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$40, 4 stars, 91 points, burgundy, cote de Beaune, france, pinot noir
We recently dined at an amazing Parisian restaurant where the entire menu, wine included was extremely reasonable yet of such a high caliber that I will include some pictures. We drank two bottles of Burgundian Pinot Noir, the first being this Chorey Les Beaune. I did not want to detract from dinner so very basic notes were taken.
Medium ruby, more extracted than I expected. Aromas of strawberry, cherries jubilee, a touch of baking spices and some smoke. Medium (-) tannins and a medium acidity lead to a medium body. Delicious with flavors of dark cherry, strawberry coulis, baking spice and charred oak on a medium finish. 91 points and for $40 this is a 4 star effort. Salut….
Scallops to die for
Parmesan Filet
Oh, la la
Can you say Souflé?
Perfection on a dessert plate
01 Wednesday Mar 2023
Posted in Wine reviews
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$43, 4 stars, 91 points, bordeaux, bordeaux blend, cabernet sauvignon, cru bourgeois, france, merlot, saint estephe
Purchased at the gift shop in Bages, this Cru Bourgeois is part of the Lynch Bages portfolio. Pardon the abrupt notes, but it is being drunk at our Parisian Air-bnb in glasses that are not optimal. Medium garnet colored , nose of blackberry, cassis, tobacco, cedar box, classic aged Bordeaux. Delicious with medium acidity and medium tannins that are well integrated with a medium body. Slightly tart on the back end with black fruit puree and cassis. Secondary and tertiary flavors of tobacco, cedar lined drawers, smoke and espresso. Long finish with tart dark fruit- 91 points. For around $43, you too can taste this delicious and mature wine. 4 stars. Salut….
21 Tuesday Feb 2023
Posted in Wine reviews
When I think of Rioja I imagine dusty, leathery Tempranillo. This bottle was different- Grenache based it was lighter colored in the glass and had aromas of blackcurrant, cherry and pepper with earthy notes. Medium acid, body and tannins led into a slightly jammy palate of blackcurrant, dark raspberry, black cherry. A medium finish to this semi-complex wine makes it a 91 pointer that gets 5 stars ’cause it only runs $15. I would pair it with Filet Mignon or perhaps Veal on the charcoal. Drink till 2026. Salut….
