Tag Archives: 91 points

Dingac Skaramuca Plavac Kvalitetno 2022, Peljesac Peninsula, Croatia

28 Thursday Mar 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium garnet with copper highlights and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of coffee, bramble, blueberry pie, vanilla, baking spice, smoke, acai berry and clove.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins that are fine grained.  Flavors of blueberry, acai berry, bramble berry, vanilla, baking spice and coffee abound.  It finishes with a hint of tartness on the blue fruit but with decent length.  The tannins are intriguing- very present yet unobtrusive.  Very fine indeed.  I really like this bottle that I’m pairing with charcoal grilled Sirloin chunks.  91 points, drink till 2028.  For $29, this Plavac wine gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz 2021, Barossa Valley, Australia

23 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


The third wine at our tasting event was this Shiraz from the Barossa Valley.  I picked it as I have tasted this wineries offerings in the past and feel they exemplify Aussie Shiraz.  I was not disappointed.  Deep ruby colored with medium staining and medium viscosity even though it sports a 15% ABV!  High intensity aromas of game, prune, coffee, licorice, dark chocolate, and chocolate covered blueberries were the comments from the crowd.  It’s technically a dry wine that shows off ripeness on the palate with a sweet sensation- medium (-) acidity, medium (+) body and medium tannins.  Ripe blueberry and blackberry, coffee, creamy chocolate, oak notes and very nicely melded tannins.  The finish was medium (+) in length.  A beautiful wine that scored 17 points on our sheet.  For $23, this wine is a steal that gets 91 technical points from me and therefore a 5 star rating.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Hyland Estates Old Vine Gewurztraminer 2022, Willamette Valley, Oregon

23 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


We held our 35th Virtual Wine tasting last night and it was one of the best yet.  Kicking it off was this Gewurztraminer from Oregon that we tasted chilled and then at room temp.  Normally, I have found more expression and wider appeal with the room temp versions of white wines, but that was not the case.  Pale lemon colored with high viscosity (13.7% ABV).  You could smell the aromas from a mile away- so intense!  Lychee, yellow apple, nectarine, peach, red grapefruit, rosewater, apricot and honey- quite a melange.  On the palate this wine was dry with medium (-) acidity and a medium (+) body.  This varietal is often made in an off-dry style but this one was fully dry and slightly viscous in the mouthfeel.  Notes of apricot, honey, lychee, rosewater, grapefruit and pear went on to a medium to long finish.  It was delicious and got 17.5 points on our scoring sheet.

The room temp version was far less aromatic, which is counterintuitive.  More lychee  but less overall aromas that consisted of grapefruit, cotton candy, apricot, (Laundry detergent- in a fresh sense), crayon (not my words btw).  On the palate it was fuller in body but the acidity was somewhat even less pronounced.  Primarily honey and lychee driven, we also got cotton candy and some apricot.  I gave it 13 points on our sheet.

Overall this wine was a success, but drink it chilled!  I scored it at 91 points and for $20 it’s an excellent intro to this highly aromatic and wonderful grape.  5 stars.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli 2022, Getariako Txakolina, Spain

18 Monday Mar 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium lemon colored with a deceptively high viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of white blossom, lemon zest, lime zest, tangerine, honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, grapefruit pith and cheese curd.  The palate is slightly off-dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  The tartness of the wine sharpens the citrus notes that now dominate.  The florals, which were quite lopsided on the nose now play second fiddle.  This is turning into a food wine for sure, it needs seafood to balance it out.  Delicious, en pointe and very zesty it has medium length finish.  I paid $18 for this bottle that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Made from Hondarrabi Zuri grapes.  Drink this delicious drop till 2025.  Salut….

McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand

09 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Pale straw colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of cut grass, asparagus, gooseberry, Kaffir lime, peach and orange blossom.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Tart yet refreshing I get medium (+) intensity flavors of lemon, Kaffir lime, gooseberry, cut grass and dare I say it- cat pee?  (I actually like this note in my Sav Blanc every so often).  The wine has a crispness to it and is laser focused.  The finish is medium to long in length and the fruit warms up a bit- not as zesty as the opening.  I like this $13 bottle- a lot.  91 points worth and 5 stars from me.  A fascinating story about the winemakers- look it up here https://www.mcbridesisters.com/pages/story.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Clai ‘Baracija’ Refosk 2002, Istria, Croatia

23 Friday Feb 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Deep ruby colored with medium intensity viscosity (13.0% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of garigue and funk, Cinnamon, bramble berry, blackcurrant pie, açaí berry, gamy meat and damp forest wood. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  Flavors of charred oak, açaí, blackcurrants, earth and some baking spice lead to a medium (-) finish.  The game note reverberates at the end.  Well balanced with taut grip, this wine gets 91 points from me. $26, 5 stars.  First time for me with the Refosk grape btw.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Chateau Les Ormes-de-Pez 2017, Saint-Estephe, France

18 Sunday Feb 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Medium garnet colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).   The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, charcoal, blackberry,  acai berry, mint, licorice, a slight green note and warm baking spices.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and medium body.  The tannins are integrating nicely and make for a silky mouthfeel.  Flavors that I love in Left Bank Bordeaux come out of the glass- cassis, leather, pencil shavings, licorice, blackberry and baking spice.  The finish is classic for the region- slightly tart, long and a touch dry from the fantastic tannins.  I first became a convert of this wine when we visited Lynch Bages and got to try this as part of the tasting.  For $40, I am impressed with the quality of this Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend.  91 points from me and 5 stars.  It is open for business now but will cellar nicely till 2030.  I’m pairing with Sunday roast.  Salut….

Finca Nueva Crianza 2018, Rioja DOCa, Spain

15 Thursday Feb 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Deep ruby, inky with slight staining and high viscosity (14% ABV).  Aromas of vanilla, baking spices, ripe blackberry, violets, blackcurrant ganache, mocha and blueberry pie.  Dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and a full body. Flavors of  blackberry, dusty earth, violets, blackcurrant, blueberry and vanilla lead to a medium (+) length finish that has some baking spice warmth.  The tannins are delightful and silky.  91 points for this Tempranillo that runs $17 makes it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2030.  Salut…. 

Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva 2020, Tuscany, Italy

13 Tuesday Feb 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


This Sangiovese was served blind at our tasting group and it stumped us all.  Medium ruby colored with slight staining and medium viscosity.  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of dusty black cherry, purple licorice, vanilla, baking spice, strawberry pie, caramel, açaí berry and roses.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium (+) tannins.  Flavors of black cherry, licorice, baking spices and vanilla are prominent, the dusty note faded.  The strawberry shows up later in the game with the acai berry.  It finishes medium in length and not as tart as expected from a Chianti.  It’s a young wine whose tannins need to settle down with time or vigorous decanting.  This bottle was a brute last night but has since mellowed out very nicely.  It should drink well till 2030 and gets 91 points from me.  At $20 it’s a definite 5 star wine to load up on.  Salut….

Chateau Ksara Red 2018, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

18 Thursday Jan 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Deep ruby, bordering on inky garnet with slight staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose of this Cab Sav/Merlot and Petit Verdot blend has medium intensity aromas of vanilla, mint, black cherry, cassis, açaí, black raspberry, leather and espresso.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins and a medium body.  The palate starts off with açaí berry, followed by the cassis, black raspberry, vanilla and mint.  The tannins are very polished and chalky leading to a nice mouthfeel.  The finish is medium in length and tends towards the raspberry, leather and vanilla.  The structure of this wine is really approachable which is nice.  I find many Lebanese wines that are age worthy need a few extra years before the pieces integrate into a nice drinking wine.  This one is performing nicely and will continue to do so till 2032.  I would pair it with grilled kebabs, some roast Lamb or Filet Mignon with peppercorn sauce.  I paid $22 and would give this beaut 91 points making it a 5 star wine in my books.  Salut….