Tag Archives: 91 points

McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand

09 Saturday Mar 2024

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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….

Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Shiraz 2019, Barossa Valley, Australia

07 Sunday Jan 2024

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Inky colored and opaque with some wall staining and high viscosity (14.7% ABV).  The nose of this Shiraz has aromas of ripe blackberry, vanilla, black cherry, baking spice, eucalyptus, violets and bramble berry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins plus a full body.  Ripe dark fruit dominates with some eucalyptus and baking spices supporting.  Vanilla makes its entrance on the mid palate as well as some rooibos tea.  The finish is long with bramble featuring plus some spice.  The tannins- they are well integrated and I just realized they are so well balanced.  This is a lovely drop that will drink nicely till 2030 and pair with grilled meat, Sunday roast or hearty stews.  91 points and for $20 it’s a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Remhoogte Vantage Pinotage 2019, Stellenbosch, South Africa

01 Monday Jan 2024

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Deep purple colored with medium staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black currants, black plum, vanilla, mint, baking spices, blackberry coulis and cocoa powder.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins that are slightly green.  Full bodied- this wine has flavors of ripe black fruit with oak integration by way of vanilla, baking spices, cocoa powder alongside a charred note.  Some anise pops up on the mid palate but the mint never showed.  There’s a mineral streak that I am enjoying, almost granitic.  The finish is a touch tart and medium in length.  I’m going to enjoy pairing this bottle with a roast Pork shoulder and lemon potatoes.  It gets 91 points from me with a drinking window till 2029.  At $22 it gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Tinazzi No 3 Vinum Italicum Opera Rosso 2021, Italy

16 Saturday Dec 2023

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Deep ruby colored with high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose of this blend has medium intensity aromas of blackberry, mulberry, plum, coffee, baking spices, violets and cedar.  The palate is slightly off-dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are quite fine and powdery.  Full bodied with flavors of ripe blackberry, plum and juicy mulberry along with cedar, coffee and baking spices.  It’s quite a rich and ripe wine with lots of weight and heft (think the 15% alcohol).  The finish is medium (+) in length and smooth.  This $20 bottle overdelivers in my opinion and gets 91 points from me making it a 5 star effort.  Drink till 2027 with hearty meat dishes or thick stews.  Salut….

Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Cabernet Franc 2021, Maipo Valley, Chile

06 Wednesday Dec 2023

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Deep purple colored with slight staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has  medium intensity aromas of candied black cherry, blackberry, coffee, violets, vanilla and eucalyptus- it’s quite perfumed.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky.  A full body on this wine brings flavors of toasty oak interlaced with blackberry, black cherry, violets, vanilla and coffee.  The finish is satiny and medium in length.  I picked this bottle to pair with Steak au Poivre- it’s the perfect choice.  I think this is a 91 point wine even thought the label clearly boasts a 93 point award.  For $17, it’s a 5 star bottle to drink till 2028.  Salut….