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Tag Archives: 91 points

Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard 2008

18 Saturday Apr 2015

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$80, 3 stars, 91 points, Napa, napa petite Sirah


This is my second Turley from this vineyard.  It was given to us as a very generous gift.  This Napa Valley offering is a black wine in the glass hinting to some deep extraction.  You know how I love this varietal, especially when it is rich and coating.  It boasts a thick nose of black fruits, bramble and violets.  The initial attack consists of black berries, cherry and some Pomegranate.  Tannic yet balanced with some bracing acidity, this should cellar well. Medium finish and a well hidden 15.4% alcohol. 2015-2020. 91 points for this $80 offering make it a 3 star effort.  Wish I had more.  Salut….

turley hayne petite syrah

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Alouette Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2012

08 Wednesday Apr 2015

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$25, 4 stars, 91 points, pinot noir, Sonoma Pinot noir


Lovely, pure and exotic.  A darker Pinot with a heavier body to it.  Meaty nose with dark fruits- it is neither old nor new world. A thicker, more extracted Pinot with game and dark cherry notes on the palate which opens up to some strawberry and root beer notes.  Very well integrated tannins and precisely balanced acidity make for easy drinking that is smooth beyond belief.  Easily a 91 point wine this one garners 4 stars from me for it’s $25 price.  I will stock up on some of this as it will do well as a summer drinker in addition to being capable of handling a big heavy wintertime stew.  Salut….

alouette pinot noir sonoma county

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Alexander Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir 2013

08 Wednesday Apr 2015

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$26, 4 stars, 91 points, california, pinot noir, Russian river valley


If you recall reading about my trip to California with my son, this is the winery that we took a tour of.  I was so impressed with the warmth the staff showed and the casual way in which they took great care of us on our tour.  The winery is located off the beaten path and has cellars cut into the hillside.  The Pinot was an interesting balance of styles.  Quite a bit heavier than most Pinots, it also had a delicacy about it.  Nose of new world Pinot with strawberries and bing cherries. Initial hints of white cherry and strawberry with some nutmeg and spice on the palate. Very smooth mouth feel which includes very slight tannins and a touch of acidity. Nice and rounded for a balanced profile that drinks well by itself but begs for some smoked salmon and capers. Roasted chicken and a risotto would take a close second. 2015/2020 91 points. 4 stars for this $28 effort.  Thanks for the tour and the memories!  Salut….

alexander valley vineyards pinot noir

Me and Jet, checking out the cellar

Me and Jet, checking out the cellar

The entrance to the cellar

The entrance to the cellar

Alexander Valley Vineyards

Alexander Valley Vineyards

The unofficial tour guide that Jet loved

The unofficial tour guide that Jet loved

The Russian River, from above

The Russian River, from above

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Chateau St. Thomas 2008

17 Tuesday Feb 2015

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$25, 5 stars, 91 points, lebanon


Once a year I get to meet up with my uncle from Lebanon, in Hong Kong of all places. He brings me traditional Lebanese sweets, nuts and a bottle of his cousin’s delicious St. Thomas.  I sat on this bottle for 5 months, waiting for the right moment.

It began with gorgeous plums and blackberries on the nose.  A very dark and brooding wine in the glass, I figured it was going to be powerful.  Indeed.  The first cut was of tart blueberries and some black cassis.  Bracing acidity and fine grained tannins coat the mouth alongside the bramble and dark cherry on the mid palate. Blackberry finished the deal and carries on with a long tannic finish. This wine is a monster waiting to jump out of the bottle.  Still very young at 6 years of age, it should cellar well for another ten.  2015-2025. 91 points from me.  No idea the price but if it is under $25 then it ranks a 5 star rating from me.  Read about the 2005 and 2006 vintages I have had.  This version is less Bordeaux-like, more primal and powerful.  Still delicious though!  Salut….

chateau st. thomas

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Stags Leap Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2010

26 Monday Jan 2015

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$40, 3 stars, 91 points, Napa, napa petite Sirah, petite sirah


Out to dinner with friends last week and this little beauty showed up on the wine list.  I love Petite Sirah, it is a highly flexible grape that always shows off great tannins, plums and ages well.  It is tannicly well endowed and never lacks for power.  This one was really tasty but my notes were rather short, we had been at it for a while.  Dark fruits and plum nose with vanilla.  Full on plum and vanilla creme pie with some ginger on the finish.  Balance in acidity and tucked in tannins.  This wine is drinking nicely now with 4 years of age but will certainly go the distance.  2014-2024  91 points and 3 stars for this $40 offering.  A yummy wine that will go well with grilled meats, pasta and of course some charcuterie.  Salut….

stags leap napa valley petite sirah

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Mollydooker Gigglepot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

08 Thursday Jan 2015

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$50, 4 stars, 91 points, Aussie, Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon, cabernet sauvignon


I opened the Gigglepot from Mollydooker right after we finished the Blue Eyed Boy.  It’s interesting to drink both $50 offerings in the same sitting and  be able to compare the grape varietals.  The Shiraz was to me more finite, focused and pure of fruit.  The Cabernet based Gigglepot was more open, easier to drink and perhaps more appealing to the masses.  Both are excellent wines and I enjoyed each for their merits.  This one was equally dark in the glass, showing off a nose of plums, cherry and mint.  I usually associate the minty note with Chilean Cabs and really enjoy it when I come across them.  The palate had the same basic flavor profile I got but with some added black fruits.  A certain spiciness that I cannot pinpoint was evident as were the fine grained tannins.  The wine seemed to go on for ever on the palate and had a long finish.  Balanced with nice acidity there is a healthy dose of alcohol that is neatly hidden, drinker beware!  Drinking beautifully now, this wine has the structure to go long haul.  I would guess a cellaring potential to 2022 at the least.  I don’t have much experience with older vintages from this winery except for my Carnival Of Love tastings, where I did get to see a little bit of evolution in 4-5 year old vintages.  I would imagine this particular bottle may gain some secondary flavors and complexity as it gets some cellar time.  I am giving it 91 points and 4 stars.  Salut….

mollydooker gigglepot

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Luminary Red Blend 2012

24 Wednesday Dec 2014

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$40, 4 stars, 91 points


My friend brought this one over and we drank it with a delicious Leg Of Lamb.  I was not sure of the blend so we looked it up.  Napa Cabernet, Horse Heaven Hills and Edna Valley Syrah with Zinfandel from Alexander Valley.  Super smooth and absolutely delicious.  I made no notes except in my head- this is a well crafted wine that blends the best of several regions into a well balanced easy to drink wine that won’t break the bank.  $40 and 91 points for 4 stars.  Sorry to be brief, but I think you get the gist.  Salut….

Luminary red blend

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Leviathan California Red Wine 2011

21 Sunday Dec 2014

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4 stars, 91 points, california, syrah, syrah blend


The pretty obscure label and name made me look this one up. 55% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc- what a concoction.  Anyway, it can be had for $40 and was brought over by some friends.  Blackish purple shades in the glass promised structure and weight.  Plums, iodine and blackberry on the nose did not disappoint.  Fresh and slightly tannic entry of plums, blackberries, a touch of mint and eucalyptus made for a very interesting combo.  Well balanced with a decent finish had me grabbing for the bottle.  We drank it over cheese, olives and salami before going out to dinner.  It was perfect for the occasion but it would pair really well with Beef Stroganoff, Lamb shanks or even Osso Bucco.  91 points from me make this a 4 star wine and really well worth cellaring for a while.  2014-2020.  Salut….

leviathon red wine

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Bodegas Balbas Ribera del Duero Ardal Reserva 2006

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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$40, 4 stars, 91 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo


An interesting Tempranillo blend from Spain.  The bottle label included a sticker eschewing it’s 92 point Parker rating.  It’s gotta be good then, right?

Bluish purple color in the glass that was quite dense.  Cranberry meets blackberry on the nose for an interesting mix of red and black.  Plum and hoisin on the initial attack with succinct acidity and deft tannins. I got a black tea component on the mid palate which is atypical for me and this varietal, enjoyable though. Mouth puckering juiciness on the tail end with a long finish of black berry pie made me salivate for more.
Secondary hints of tar and traces of oak appeared throughout as the wine mellowed in the glass. Still young with a drinking window of 2014-2022.  It would pair well with wild game, perhaps Gnocchi and truffle oil.  Would I go 92 points?  Nope.  It is serviceable, tasty and well made, but it lacks some complexity and I found the acidity just a hair out of balance.  91 points is more like it and for the $40 price tag, a solid 4 star wine.  Salut….

IMG_1697

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Stags Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay ‘Karia’ 2012

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

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$24, 4 stars, 91 points, chardonnay, Napa


For the past two weekends I have been tinkering on the Big Green Egg, trying to perfect a Turkey so I am ready for Thanksgiving.  The first effort was not very good, the recipe was too involved and the timing was not right plus I had to leave the grill alone for most of the afternoon to see my son’s football game.  I tried to cook it ‘low and slow’ but it ended up being dry.  This past weekend I tried it again, using the standard 325 degree heat, very little wood chunks, and a simple bouquet of herbs shoved up it’s heiny.  It worked.

I planned on drinking the Mazilly Pommard with the bird and I opened this Cali Chard up for my folks and Moxie, who prefer white wine.  I got in a glass or two myself and was glad I did, this wine is good.  Light yellow in color was to be expected, so I delved right into the nose.  Lemon zest, melon and yellow apples greeted me right off the bat.  Zesty with a hint of steel were on my notes for an initial impression.  I then got green apples and melons.  A smooth transition to a delightful mid palate left me thinking it was not quite buttery but silky in texture.  The wine had a long finish and I gave it 91 points.  I paid around $24 at Costco for it and will give it 4 stars.  It paired beautifully with the bird.  It would also ring with some seafood, perhaps a creamy pasta.  Tasty stuff.  Salut….

stags leap Karia chardonnaybig green egg turkey

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