Tag Archives: 91 points

Sorby Adams Jellicoe Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Barossa, Australia

02 Wednesday Nov 2022

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This 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon is starting to turn visually- deep garnet colored with thick legs in the glass (14.0% ABV).  The nose has youthful fruit aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, vanilla, mint, blueberry coulis, spice box, cedar and chocolate nibs.   It’s a very rich nose and I’m looking forward to tasting it.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that are well integrated.  I get pronounced flavors of blackcurrant jam along with blackberry, blueberry, mint, green pepper, vanilla and chocolate.  The fruit coats my mouth with the tannins and acidity there to balance it all out, full bodied to say the least.  The long finish leans on the oak with the black fruit fading.  I get persistent charred oak, vanilla and chocolate on the back end.  For a wine that looks like it has some age, this $17 beauty is certainly youthful and ready to rock till 2027.  I’m going with 91 points and 5 stars. Pairing it with Tenderloins on the cast iron.  Salut….

Domaine de la Potardiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie 2021, Loire, France

24 Monday Oct 2022

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Pale lemon colored this Sur-lie aged wine has bright aromas of lemon curd, white blossom, vanilla bean and a hint of brioche.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  It’s quite tart with flavors of lemon, grapefruit, white flower blossom and linalool.  I was hoping for some more vanilla bean and brioche but alas, it’s more of a citrus event.  The finish is medium to long in length and tangy with some fresh acidity.  I am really starting to like the Melon grape and how they make it in the Pais Nantais of the Loire Valley.  91 points for this outstanding white that I’m pairing with baked Cod and spiced rice.  For $12 this is a 5 star effort to drink the near term.  Salut….

Maxville Lake Winery ‘Maxville’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, California

23 Sunday Oct 2022

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Deep ruby colored with a touch of staining on the walls and slow moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has pronounced aromas of cassis, menthol, blackberry, blueberry coulis, chocolate dust, açaí berry and some baking spice- very complex but primal in nature.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity and really grippy medium (+) tannins that are very fine-grained.  Full bodied, this wine coats my mouth with cassis, blackberry, açaí, blueberry jam and some hints of oak.  The finish is long with a slightly bitter vein.  I like this wine- it screams Cali sunshine in it’s ripeness and fullness.  91 points for this $56 effort makes it a 4 star wine.  I’m pairing it with roasted Sirloin Cap and a mushroom gravy.  Drink this relatively cellar-worthy wine till 2028.  Salut….

Luis Vieira Montaria Tempranillo-Alicante Bouschet 2019, Lisboa, Portugal

11 Tuesday Oct 2022

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This wine is a blend of Tempranillo and Alicante Bouschet which is a Teinturier grape (flesh is also red).  It’s a deep shade of purple in the glass and it stains the walls.  On the nose- ripe red plums, black cherry, menthol, vanilla and almond pith.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and high tannins (remember the stained walls of the glass?).  The flavors are rich and ripe- dark red fruit, charcoal, vanilla, menthol and an espresso strength coffee note right at the end.  Full bodied, it finishes with medium length along with some very tannic grip.  It is a rather complex wine for $15 that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  If you like ’em dry, pop-n-pour or else cellar this wine for a few years but drink up by 2030.  I am pairing with grilled meat and roasted cauliflower rubbed with Chorizo seasoning.  Salut….

Franc Dusak Moon Mountain Viognier 2021, Sonoma County, California

04 Tuesday Oct 2022

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Pale straw colored with thick legs (13.5%ABV).  The nose has pronounced aromas of lemon curd, honeysuckle, white flower blossom, dill, fleur de sel and stone fruit.  The palate is barely dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body.  Really nice flavors of citrus and florals with a wax and honey note alongside some briny minerality that makes this a delicious wine.  It ends with a mid length finish that is lush and waxy.  Yum.  This 91 pointer sells for $16 and gets 5 stars from me.  I’m pairing it with steamed mussels and garlic, you could try grilled mackerel or salmon.  Drink till 2023.  Salut….

Domaine Des Versauds 2019, Morgon, France

02 Sunday Oct 2022

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The Gamay grape is traditionally made into wine using the carbonic maceration method in the Beaujolais region of France. This wine is a deep purple color with medium intensity aromas of blueberry, blackberry, dried flowers, orange peel, cherry bubble gum and perhaps a touch of banana.  The palate is dry with crisp tannins and medium (-) acidity.  I was not expecting the tannic grip to be so forthright.  I get flavors of blackberry, blueberry and açaí berry with a faint hint of charred oak and some orange peel.  Oak influence? A full-bodied and full-throttle expression of this usually benign grape has really thrown me as I am pairing it with a slow-cooked Eye of Round Roast, which is a low fat cut of meat.  I would prefer to pair this wine in its youth with a fattier cut of meat like Ribeye, Leg of Lamb or grilled Goat.  The finish is quite decent in length, adding to the complexity and depth of this wine.  For $25 you are getting a cru-level bottle that has decent cellaring capacity and gets 91 points from me.  5 stars- drink till 2027.  Salut….

Lapis Luna Wines Zinfandel 2020, Lodi California,

16 Friday Sep 2022

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Medium ruby colored this Zinfandel was amazing.  Rich, smooth aromas and flavors of ripe plum, blackberry, blueberry pie and baking spice with a hint of vanilla.  Low acidity, medium (-) tannins and a full body lead to a long finish.  Amazing value at $15 for this 91 pointer that gets 5 stars.   I would drink this in the shorter term with stews, game and hearty pasta dishes with rich red sauces.  Salut….

ZINFANDEL 2020 - LAPIS LUNA

Rebellious Red Blend 2019, California

16 Friday Sep 2022

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I was tasting wines for a prospective class and wanted to stick to single varietals, the bartender convinced me to try this red blend of Zinfandel, Cab Sav, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Syrah.  In one word- Delicious!  Medium ruby colored with a slight blue edge it has aromas and flavors of ripe plum, blueberry pie, coconut, charred oak, cracked pepper and allspice.  Medium (-) acidity and medium tannins lead to a full bodied, mouth coating experience.  A long finish adds to this wine’s appeal and solidifies my score of 91 points. Not bad for a sub $20 effort that gets 5 stars.  At 15% ABV, it is obvious the winemaker has used really ripe, sun-drenched grapes to achieve this level of flavor.  Yummy stuff to pair with a thick Tomahawk steak or some braised Beef ribs.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Quinta Das Carvalhas Tinto 2017, Douro, Portugal

18 Thursday Aug 2022

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A blend of 60% Touriga Nacional with the balance between Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) from the Douro, it is medium to deep purple colored.  The nose has a bit of heat initially but then I get aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, saddle leather, vanilla, a touch of raisin and star anise. The palate is dry with medium (+) tannins and medium acidity.  Think black tea meets charcoal with a melange of very sun-ripened black fruits.  It’s a full bodied wine that sports a hefty 14.5% ABV (which I noticed on the nose) and carries through to a medium length finish.  For $16 this is a delicious wine that will cellar well till 2028 and drink nicely now if you like a touch of dryness.  91 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Lucien Albrecht Riesling Tradition 2020, Alsace, France

09 Tuesday Aug 2022

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Medium lemon colored, this rather young Riesling has pronounced aromas of citrus, apple, pineapple, ginger and acacia.  The palate is dry (at 13% ABV that was an obvious assumption) with bracing acidity and a medium body.  Lemon, grapefruit, green apple, pineapple and some spice coat my palate to a medium length finish that is jaw watering.  This is a very refreshing thirst quencher that I am enjoying immensely.  Tonight’s pairing is fish and chips so this will work out quite well.  I would think this wine can age for a few years, say till 2030 and hopefully pick up some tertiary notes.  91 points from me makes this $22 bottle a 5 star quaffer to look for.  Salut….