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Tag Archives: 92 points

Clos Pissarra El Riu 2011, Priorat DOCa, Spain

05 Monday Jan 2026

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$35, 4 stars, 92 points, carignan, Priorat, spain


Pale garnet colored, with a medium (-) viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of fig, prune, nuts, stewed strawberry, cherry reduction, leather, and vanilla thread.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium(-) tannins that are fully melded.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of dried orange peel, prune, figs, desiccated cherry, stewed strawberry, leather, and a smoky hint.  The finish is long and caressing but the alcohol is noticeable, with a burn happening on the back end.  I was a little put off by the nose, thinking it was over the hill, but I think we rescued this bottle just in time as it’s really delicious, and different.  I would have thought it to be a 92 point wine back in the day.  It needs to be drunk soon as there is virtually no structure left and the fruit is hanging on by a thread.  It’s 100% Carignan, aka Samso in the region.  I paid $35, but it lists for far more.  4 stars.  Salut….

Clos Pissarra El Riu

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Boedecker Cellars Distinction Pinot Noir 2019, Willamette Valley, Oregon

12 Wednesday Nov 2025

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$50, 4 stars, 92 points, oregon, pinot noir, willamette valley


Pale ruby colored, fading to pale garnet, with medium viscosity (13.8% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, baking spices, ripe pomegranate, orange peel, black raspberry, toasty oak, and Turkish coffee.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  The flavors are medium in intensity and hone in on dark red fruit. The oak influence is not as evident as the nose,  with the focus being on black raspberry and black cherry.  I like it- the zesty tartness of the acidity makes for a lively mouthfeel.  The finish is medium (+) in length and juicy.  92 points from me for this $50 bottle gets it 4 stars.  Drink till 2033.  Salut….

Boedecker Cellars Distinction Pinot Noir

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Vinos de Arganza Lagar de Robla ‘Coleccion Cuatro Hermanos’ Mencia 2022, Bierzo, Spain

08 Saturday Nov 2025

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$25, 5 stars, 92 points, Bierzo, mencia, spain


Deep ruby colored with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of dried cranberry, black plum, baking spice, dried herbs, blackberry coulis, dark pomegranate, and petrichor.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  The flavors are of medium intensity and more secondary driven- chalk, iron, baking spice, dried herbs, and slate followed by dark red fruit and some blackberry.  The tannins are all-encompassing.  They seize the moment and grip from start to finish, slightly overshadowing the fruit on the palate.  The finish is medium (-) as a result.  It’s got lots of promise, and cellaring capacity.  Time will be kind to this wine and will reward the patient.  I would either decant/aerate it for immediate consumption or start drinking it from 2027 till 2035.  It’s a big wine that gets 92 points from me and at $25, 5 stars.  Salut….

Vinos de Arganza Lagar de Robla 'Coleccion Cuatro Hermanos' Mencia

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ZD Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, California

21 Sunday Sep 2025

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$257, 3 stars, 92 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, napa cabernet, napa valley


I’m a little concerned about this bottle, the cork is showing signs of seepage, but here goes.  Deep ruby colored, slight staining, and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry coulis, vanilla, baking spice, black plum reduction, a hint of eucalyptus, toasted oak, cedar lined cigar box, acai berry, a trace of toasted coconut, and a touch of cassis.  There’s obvious ripeness in this Napa Cabernet- the sun was definitely shining!  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins- but there’s also a definitive sourness to the wine.  Is it seepage from the cork?  The fruit is slightly muted, but still showing ripeness and structure.  The tannins smooth out nicely and the finish is long with dark fruit dominating, yet there’s something slightly out of balance.  For such a rich and ripe wine, the tartness is quite obvious.  I wonder if the bottle is flawed?  Tertiary development is forthcoming as the primary fruit is still the driving force, I would imagine a long lived wine if stored correctly and a cork that was intact.  I can only go 92 points on this award winning wine which runs $257 ex-chateau.  3 stars- pairing with grilled tri-tip.  Salut….

ZD Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

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Patz & Hall Little Boot Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017, Russian River Valley, California

18 Friday Jul 2025

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$65, 4 stars, 92 points, california, pinot noir, Russian river valley


Medium ruby colored with charcoal highlights, and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, pomegranate, rhubarb, spice box, vanilla bean, coffee, red plum, and bramble berry.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are nicely integrated.  Red fruits dominate the flavors with a hint of oak influence- vanilla, coffee, spice box.  Red raspberry and rhubarb are the dominant players here.  The acidity kicks it up a notch on the back end where the finish is quite long and slightly tart.  I can feel a touch of heat, which is surprising for me.  I like this wine, it’s not exactly my style of Pinot, but it has the right level of extraction and has a lovely mouthfeel with layered fruit being supported by nice structure.  It should cellar nicely and drink well until 2035.  92 points from me for this $65 bottling gets it 4 stars.  I’m pairing it with Pork Tomahawk chops.  Salut….

Patz & Hall Little Boot Vineyard pinot noir

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Hess Collection Allomi Vineyard Chardonnay 2021, Napa Valley, California

04 Sunday May 2025

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$34, 5 stars, 92 points, california, chardonnay, napa valley


Pale lemon colored with very narrow legs showing off a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of popcorn, lemon brioche, orange blossom, salted caramel, pineapple, vanilla, and melon.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and more intense flavors.  The buttery notes that dominated the nose take second fiddle to the lemon, brioche and vanilla notes.  It’s a heavy weighted wine with plenty of mouthfeel, lots going on.  The finish has a telltale Napa chardonnay note of butter and brioche- no doubt from judicious oak and lees stirring.  It goes on for quite a long while.  It’s perfect for the baked Red Snapper and wild rice I am pairing it with.  This is a lovely bottle that has some aging capacity and will drink nicely till 2034.  It gets 92 points from me, a tad higher if the nose was more forthcoming.  At $34, it’s a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Hess Collection Allomi Vineyard Chardonnay

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Substance Chardonnay 2021, Columbia Valley, Washington

01 Saturday Mar 2025

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$13, 5 stars, 92 points, chardonnay, columbia valley, washington


Pale lemon colored with gold highlights, and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon zest, butter, vanilla, melon, orange blossom, and a trace of peach.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body.  Medium intensity flavors of lemon curd, melon, butter, vanilla, orange blossom, and peach.  The mouthfeel is round and pleasing, not cutting or lithe.  It begs for some grilled shrimp, Mackerel filets or smoked salmon.  The finish is medium (+) in length and gives me a salted caramel note.  It’s always a pleasure to drink wines from the house of Smith, they offer tremendous quality to price ratios and are consistent.  This one gets 92 points from and for $13 it’s a screaming good 5 star deal.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Substance Chardonnay

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Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet Reserva 2019, Vinho Regional Tejo, Portugal

29 Wednesday Jan 2025

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$15, 5 stars, 92 points, Alicante Bouschet, portugal, tejo


The Alicante Bouschet variety is one of the select group of Teinturier grapes, the pulp being red in color.  This produces a dark wine that used to be a blending partner to lighter wines.  Nowadays, single variety bottling are more common and can be truly delicious, usually at a reasonable price point.

Deep ruby colored with very slight staining, and high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, black plum, brambleberry, eucalyptus, black currant, chocolate, spice box and vanilla.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are integrating nicely.  Rich, ripe black fruits coat the gums whilst the spicebox, vanilla, chocolate and some green herbs add nuance.  The finish is quite long and refined.  The fruit and tannins work well together and are very balanced.  I love this wine- especially at the $15 price point.  It gets 92 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet

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Castelli del Grevepesa Lamole 2019, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Italy

21 Saturday Dec 2024

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$25, 5 stars, 92 points, chianti classico, gran selezione, Italy, sangiovese


Pale to medium garnet colored with copper highlights, and a medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red cherry, pomegranate, rhubarb, baking spice, olive tapenade, and a green stalk note (thyme?).  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium (+) tannins.  Flavors of red cherry, pomegranate, thyme, dried leather, rhubarb, and some baking spice.  The finish is zippy with some acidity that lingers.  Fruit length is medium and red in nature with some slight astringency right at the end.  It’s a very delicious and food-worthy wine that gets 92 points from me.  I would drink this $25 effort till 2030 with Bolognese all day long. 5 stars.  Salut….

castelli del grevepesa lamole chianti classico gran selezione

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Bodegas Balbás Ardal Cuvée Especial Crianza 2020, Ribera del Duero, Spain

16 Monday Dec 2024

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$30, 5 stars, 92 points, cabernet sauvignon, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo


Medium-to-deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, dusty earth, oak stave, acai berry, menthol, a medicinal note, tomato stalk, black licorice, and a whiff of tobacco.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and high tannins that are gritty and young.  The fruit is more intense on the palate than it was on the nose.  Dark berries with nuanced oak and some grippy tannins that carry on for an eternity.  The finish, albeit quite dry, lasts for a medium length and is begging for some food.  I’m guessing the 20% addition of Cabernet Sauvignon has beefed up the normally tame Tempranillo- it makes for an interesting and structured wine that has managed to hide its high alcohol nicely.  I would give this one a wide berth and cellar till 2026, with a drinking window into 2030.  92 points from me for this $30 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Bodegas Balbás Ardal Cuvée Especial Crianza

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