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Tag Archives: 91 points

Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho 2023, Vinho Verde, Portugal

25 Monday Aug 2025

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$23, 5 stars, 91 points, albarino, alvarinho, portugal, vino verde


Pale gold with copper highlights, and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, orange blossom, Brazil nut skin, lanolin, sea spray, iodine, and white grapefruit pith.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a full body.  There’s a waxiness to the texture- it’s an interesting dichotomy of high acidity that normally pierces, against the full bodied, waxy mouth coating sensation I am getting.  It’s a touch bitter from the skin contact but I get the grapefruit pith and fruit, saline, peach, orange blossom, and a hint of nutty skin.  The finish is quite tart and refreshing, easing up on the heaviness I initially got.  It lasts a medium length.  Overall this is a delightful wine that I paid $23 for.  It gets 91 points and 5 stars.  We are baking Salmon with a lemon caper butter and rice to pair.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho

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Cambria Estate Winery Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022, Santa Maria Valley, California

09 Monday Jun 2025

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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, california, pinot noir, Santa Maria Valley, VWTC


We drank this stunning Pinot bargain at our 40th virtual wine tasting.  I noted a pale ruby color with medium (-) viscosity (13.2% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of strawberry, blackberry, black cherry, cherry cola, sweet licorice, red currants, tomato stalk and an evergreen hint. (these are combined descriptors from the group btw).  The palate was dry with a light body, medium (-) acidity, and low tannins- a very enjoyable mouthfeel.  Strawberry, mature black cherry, cola, smoky charcoal and sweet licorice flavors were noted.  The wine had a medium (+) finish and was enjoyed by all.  I scored it 18 points out of 20 on our tasting sheet and assigned it 91 points on a technical merit.  At $20 I am most definitely ordering a case of this to throw back at every opportunity.  A stunning 5 star effort to drink until 2030. Salut….

Cambria Estate Winery Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir

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Sebastien Dampt Cote de Lechet 2022, Chablis Premier Cru, France

09 Monday Jun 2025

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$30, 4 stars, 91 points, burgundy, chablis, chardonnay, france, VWTC


We tasted this Burgundian Chardonnay at the 40th virtual wine tasting.  Per normal,  it was served chilled first followed by a room temperature glass for comparison.  The chilled version scored far better for me which is unusual.  Pale gold in color with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose gave us citrus, nectarines, honey, melon, peach and pink grapefruit.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (-) body.  The flavors are very terroir driven with loads of minerality and a long finish.  I scored this one a 16 on our tasting scale with a 91 point technical score.  The room temperature version was far less aromatic on the nose which surprised me.  It was more broad with lemon and grapefruit pith notes coupled with some honey and peach.  The palate was fuller in body but less powerful, not as complex and lacking focus.  The peach note remained alongside some ripe Honeycrisp apple notes and a slight bitterness.  The finish was only medium at this temperature.  I scored it a mere 10 points on our sheet.  Overall, I really enjoyed this wine well-chilled on night two.  At $30, it’s a treat bottle that gets 4 stars from me.  I believe it has some decent cellaring capacity with potential to evolve.  Salut….

Sebastien Dampt Cote de Lechet

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Val do Sosego Albarino 2023, Rias Baixas, Spain

03 Tuesday Jun 2025

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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, albarino, rias baixas, spain


Pale lemon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon and grapefruit pith, peach, pear, some salty minerality, white blossom, and a hint of green apple.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (-) body.  The flavor intensity is slightly more than the nose and echoes the aromas in taste.  The finish is long and slightly tart from the zippy acidity.  It’s refreshing, light and delicious.  Worthy of 91 points and for the $20 price point it gets 5 stars. Load up on this beauty for summer, serve with grilled fish all day long.  Salut….

Val do Sosego Albarino

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Tralci Hirpini Irpinia Campi Taurasini 2019, Taurasi, Italy

09 Friday May 2025

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$25, 4 stars, 91 points, aglianico, Italy, taurasi


Medium garnet colored, with a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium  intensity aromas of desiccated cherry, strawberry and rhubarb crumble, chocolate powder, fig, dates, and Maduro leaf.  It’s developing nicely, if not a touch fast.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are fully integrated.  Medium intensity flavors of mulled cherry, baked rhubarb, fig, chocolate, dates and tobacco.  The finish is super smooth, with a touch of tartness keeping things fresh while the primary fruit flavors meld with the tertiary development nicely.  It’s a tasty drop, but I feel it is at peak and needs to be drunk sooner rather than later.  91 points from me for this Aglianico.  It runs $25 and gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Tralci Hirpini
Irpinia Campi Taurasini

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Domaine Passot Les Rampaux Fleurie 2022, Beaujolais, France

28 Monday Apr 2025

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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, beaujolais, fleurie, france, gamay


Medium purple colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, white blossom, orange peel, acai berry, blueberry, and black grape.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of acai berry, slightly underripe blueberry, red and black cherry, white blossom and crunchy red grapes.  Cru Beaujolais is not at all what Nouveau is.  The fruit is vinified differently and the resultant structure, especially tannins, are much more apparent.  This Gamay based wine is built to last a few years, and might just be starting its approachable stage.  The finish is medium (+) in length and drives home the slightly green nature of some of the fruit, tart is the key word here.  It’s a very interesting and slightly different wine that I am enjoying tremendously.  91 points worth for this $20 effort makes it a 5 star wine, to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine Passot Fleurie

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Gramercy Cellars Lower East ‘The Bowery’ 2018, Walla Walla, Washington

25 Friday Apr 2025

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$25, 5 stars, 91 points, carignan, grenache, Mourvèdre, syrah, walla walla valley, washington


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of game, lavender, violet, black plum, black raspberry, a whiff of vanilla, some coffee, a licorice.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are silky.  Medium (+) flavor intensity of black plum, black raspberry, violets, a touch of game, and some licorice.  The vanilla and coffee disappeared.  The finish is medium in length and shows off the meaty side of the blend (46% Carignan, 29% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache and 10% Syrah).  A very Southern Rhone style wine, with the heat to go along with it.  Even though it registers 14%, I am aware of it on the mid palate and back end.  A lovely drop that runs $25 and gets 91 points from me making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Gramercy Cellars Lower East the bowery

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Karen Birmingham Reserve Zinfandel 2021, Lodi, California

15 Tuesday Apr 2025

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$15, 5 stars, 91 points, california, Lodi, Naked Wines, zinfandel


Deep ruby colored, with medium viscosity (15.2% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of licorice, black plum, black raspberry, coffee, and violets.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (-) tannins.  Flavors of blackberry, black plum, black raspberry, toasty oak, coffee and licorice.  The finish is medium in length and silky, the mild tannins caressing.  I plan to pair with Pork Tomahawks and this lower tannin level is perfect for the white meat.  The high alcohol is noted both on the nose and the back end, but that’s to be expected of modern day Zins.   It’s a tasty drop for sure and bests the 2020 vintage of the same wine I previously tasted.  91 points from me and at $15, it’s a 5 star wine to drink till 2029.  Salut….

Karen Birmingham Reserve Lodi Zinfandel

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Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2022, Sicily, Italy

24 Monday Mar 2025

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$28, 4 stars, 91 points, Italy, Nerello Mascalese, sicily, VWTC


Tasted at our virtual wine tasting- this Nerello Mascalese was pale ruby colored with high viscosity (14.8% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of green pepper, blackberry, vanilla, leather, black raspberry, cigar, coffee and a herbal, medicinal note.  The palate was dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (+) tannins.  The aromas carried through to the palate and it ended on a medium length finish.  I scored it 14 points on our sheet but gave it 91 points on technical merit.  It ran $28, making it a 4 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso

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Villa Mora Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014, Umbria, Italy

15 Saturday Mar 2025

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$35, 4 stars, 91 points, Italy, montefalco, sagrantino, umbria


Deep garnet colored with a copper highlight, slight staining, and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of brambleberry, black cherry, roasted licorice, eucalyptus, singed alder, smoky dried herbs, vanilla, coffee, and old railroad ties.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and high tannins that grip.  The flavors are somewhat muted by the aggressive tannins which are stripping the enamel off my teeth.  I do finally coax black berries, black cherry and a myriad of oak nuances- coffee, vanilla, smoke, etc.  The high alcohol is well masked and the balance (apart from the tannins) is very nice.  I will aerate the rest of the bottle for a smoother sip.  I reckon this wine has quite a bit of life left and should cellar nicely till 2035.  I’m going with 91 points for this $35 bottle, making it a 4 star wine to pair with juicy steaks, pasta or grilled game.  Salut….

Villa Mora Montefalco Sagrantino

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