02 Monday Mar 2020
Posted in Wine reviews
Very rich purple hues in the glass. The nose is a combo of blue fruit and dark berries, with a tobacco and spice box note thrown in . The palate is very enticing with blackberries, crisp tannins, fruitcake and black tea. The midpalate continues the theme and takes us to the really juicy finish of Ribena, tea, creosote and Maduro leaf. Very enjoyable, seamless and drinking well for a relatively young Bordeaux. 91 points and 4 stars at $25. Drink till 2028. Salut….
02 Monday Mar 2020
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Blackish blue in the glass that is somewhat murky. On the nose it’s delightful- blackberry pie, yeast, and iodine(strange, but believable). On the palate it has a unique flavor- blackberry meets charcoal. I can’t think of a better descriptor. There’s a vast cask influence here and I’m loving it, not over-oaked but the fundamentals are there. Vanilla, popcorn, coconut. It’s not over done, just a nice, deft use of it to give this wine a unique flavor. The mid palate continues the blackberry theme and the tannins creep up, barely noticeable until the finish and by then- dry gums! The whole package is mouth-filling, interesting, well structured and balanced. I like it, a lot. 91 points and 5 stars for this $19 wine. Drink till 2025. Salut….
04 Tuesday Feb 2020
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$25, 5 stars, 91 points, cabernet sauvignon, chile, Puente alto
At $14 a bottle, this was my house Cab back in the day. It quickly gained popularity and it’s price climbed like a homesick angel. I went looking for other great QPR wines. When I saw it in the shop today, I reminisced a bit and pulled the trigger on what has now become a $25 offering. Here we go!
It’s very purply in the glass (I am using a straight hotel glass, no stemware in sight). The nose is lush with blackberries, spice box and a touch of oak. On the palate it is rich, balanced and gives me blackberry notes, star anise, black tea and a nice touch of tannin. The mouthfeel is warm and smooth, acidity being very well behaved and allowing the tannins a chance to enter the fold. They build up to a nice dry finish but don’t interfere with the fruit. The blackberry component is strong and remains all the way to the finish. There is a nice minerality to this wine and the dryess of the tannic grip on the finish is just enough to make this a meat – worthy wine. Think big, juicy steaks on the fire and this one fits right in there. I am impressed that this wine has held its quality over the past 20 years, even though the price has nearly doubled. I’m going 91 points and 5 stars. Welcome back you little beauty! Drink till 2028. Salut….
04 Tuesday Feb 2020
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$29, 4 stars, 91 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa, napa cabernet
Quite dark and brooding in the glass, nice legs. On the nose it shows bright fruit notes of blackberry, plum jam and vanilla. The palate starts of with a gob full of tannins, which part ways to reveal Ribera, singed plum and some eucalyptus leaf. The mid palette continues that dark fruit motif but is very channeled by the searing tannins. Young. Very young. The fruit is really masked by the big underlying structure of this wine. I’m going to run some through the Vinturi before I proceed.
Nope- that monster is still lurking. I’ll need to let this bottle breathe overnight to see if it softens. For now- 91 points but don’t touch it till 2023. Drink till 2030.
Day two- much softer but those tannins are still formidable. Blackberry jam, espresso and a touch of oak are the main players today. I’m sticking with 91 points and the drinking window I mentioned. $29, 4 stars and a pretty good deal on Napa Cab IMHO. Salut….
24 Friday Jan 2020
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Really dark purple, brooding. On the nose I get violets, plum extract and black currants. On the palate it is juicy, mouth filling and packed with tight grained tannins. Black currant notes, black tea and some oaky vanilla start the wine off. The mid palate gets a dose of the tannins and some sour black cherries. That black tea component reappears with mouth puckering astringency, which is balanced nicely with the fruit and acidity. The finish is very dry with black fruit extraction and charcoal notes. 91 points and 4 stars for this $50 wine. Drink till 2030. Salut….
24 Friday Jan 2020
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In Magnum, I was hoping for a repeat of last years tasting of the 2008 Cab Franc. Dark purple, medium opacity. Nose is exquisite- plum reduction, oaky warmth, tobacco and leather. On the palate it shows purple framboise, some cassis, more tobacco and that delicious tertiary note of leather. The midpalate has a touch of tart cranberry compote alongside the flavors already noted. The finish is medium length, fresh and a touch tannic. This wine is at peak now. Drink till 2023. 91 points and 4 stars. Available from the winery as part of their library collection for $180, or $60 for a regular 750 mill- wow. Salut….
27 Wednesday Nov 2019
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$13, 5 stars, 91 points, petit verdot, Ribera del Jucar, spain, syrah
A blend of 36% Petit Verdot, 28% Syrah, 20% Cab Sav and 16% Boral (Never heard of her)- got me excited to try this Spanish red that is a medium opacity purple in the glass. On the nose it is reminds me of wild fruit, damson, red licorice and bramble. There is a dustiness that is typical for Rioja’s but I have no experience with this appellation- Ribera del Jucar. The initial palate is really nice with purple fruits galore. Plum reduction, black cherry and really crispy tannins. The structure is very solid with fine acidity balancing the tannic bite. The mid palate has iodine and more black cherry with a touch of charcoal. The finish is long and dry, the tannins starting to get hold of the gums. It’s a nice feeling that I am enjoying for a good 30-45 seconds. I like the combination of the blend, the Petit Verdot giving a nice backbone and some floral hints throughout. Well made and drinkable till 2028 with some pasta, perhaps Strip Steak or even Osso Bucco. 91 points from me and 5 stars for this $13 gem. Salut….
27 Wednesday Nov 2019
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Medium intensity purple in the glass with a nose of black cherries, eucalyptus and iodine. The palate gives me a dry, tart opening of blackberry reduction coupled with balsamic and that iodine note. The mid palate is very dry with the tannins coating my gums. Black fruits and Ribena are prominent. The finish is decent length with the tannins really gripping. There’s black cherry and a hint of oak back there amongst the black tea reduction. Well crafted and built for the long haul. Drink now if you like em dry or cellar for 3 years, until 2029. 91 points. For $30, this wine gets 4 stars. Salut….
15 Friday Nov 2019
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Very dark bluish purple in the glass with very fine legs, indicative of the 12.5% alcohol. On the nose it is purple fruit, blackberry, damson and cinnamon. The palate is surprisingly fresh, I was expecting a more traditional attack. This one pops with plums, black cherry and lithe tannins. The mid palate gives me cola, black cherry and some strawberry jam. Strange, I know. The finale is really a nice, smooth, fruity affair with really well tamed tannins holding the blackberry and cola flavors on for a good 30 seconds. There is a trace of acidic bite, but it is appropriate and balances the nice tannins. This is a tasty, decent wine that gets 91 points from me. I would drink right away until 2024 with lighter meat dishes, perhaps beer-can chicken or even roast duck breast. Strangely enough the Decanter score of 95 was opposite to the mid 80’s score given by others. I think this is a steal at $20 and it gets 5 stars from me. Salut….
05 Tuesday Nov 2019
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Good blackish color. The nose is smoky, meaty and has hints of fig and charcoal. This 50% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo and 20% Carignan blend is right up my alley. The nose leads me to a delightful palate of blackberry, more charcoal, some tar and really tight tannins. The mid palate concentrates on the fruit with tasty blackberries and some currant. The tannins are ever-present but not overpowering, they caress instead of attack. There is a juicy acidity towards the finish that reveals a touch of wood. The oak is nicely integrated and gives a touch of vanilla. The finish is medium length and really tasty. I’m digging this wine- 91 points and 5 stars for this $15 effort. I’m pairing it with Bacon Alfredo and it’s on pointe. Salut….
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