Tag Archives: 92 points

Burgess Cellars Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Napa Valley

13 Saturday May 2017

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This wine is 15 years old, yet it pours like an infant- dark purple, no bricking and clear, if not see-through.  The nose is gorgeous, fruity yet nuanced with secondary flavors belying maturity.  Plums, coffee, tobacco and leather come to mind.  On the palate, rich plums, cassis and a touch of eucalyptus.  This wine is not even close to maturity.  Tannins are on pointe and there is a juiciness to the mid palate that I am enjoying thoroughly.  The finish leaves you with a clear dose of acidity, the tannins drying up at this stage.  There is still tons of primal fruit here and the wine already demonstrated its ability to pick up those long sought after nuances of aged Cabernet.  This is a top wine in my opinion, worthy of 92 points even at this stage of its development, which is funny considering it only got 83 points from WE back in 2006.  Drink now till 2021 at the least.  Pair with any beef dish, charcuterie or just by itself.  I found it online for $28.  5 Stars.  Salut….

Burgess Cellars Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Dog Point Pinot Noir 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand

18 Saturday Mar 2017

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Somewhat darker and denser for a Pinot.  The nose is all about the New World- strawberry, cranberry and rhubharb dominate.  On the palate I am getting spice, strawberry coulis and pomegranate.  The mid palate shows off some cherry notes as well.  The acidity of this wine is on pointe, just enough to let you know it is there and all the while balancing out the ever so slight tannins that are lurking.  The finish is nice, refreshing and laced with more strawberry notes.  This is a good wine.  I am thinking 92 points at the least.  It retails for $40, but I got it on sale for $22 making it a superb deal.  5 stars from me and hoping to find more!  Salut….

dog point pinot noir

Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2011, Portugal

06 Monday Mar 2017

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Rich, thick purple in the glass- youth with power.  Nose of plum extract, coupled with blackberry jam.  Powerful and unctuous for a red dessert wine.  On the palate, pure Port expression of dark fruits meeting iodine, old oak cask and blackberry jam.  A stunning display of power, elegance and drinkability all wrapped up in one tight package.  A hint of well hidden tannins leave the midpalate with a slightly dry sensation while the acidity offsets the very slight tannins.  The finish is shorter than hoped for but who cares?  It has a definitive bitterness that I find intriguing.  This is a really good wine worthy of 92 points.  I’m not going to lie, I just ordered a bunch for $21.  If you like Port, give this 5 star effort a go.  Salut….

dow's late bottled vintage port 2011

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2011, Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa

21 Saturday Jan 2017

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Disclaimer- I got this bottle from a distributor.  They retail for around $23.

Bright golden yellow.  A nose of petrol, lemons and flint, very intriguing.  On the palate, very smooth with lemon, some green apple, wet stone and very lithe acidity.  The mid palate just continues the theme right up to the long finish.  I drank this bottle with a friend who was also impressed.  I initially served it at room temperature to show off all the nuances and highlight any defects.  I found none.  I slipped the bottle into an ice bucket for the second round, which was more typical.  It really shone when chilled and I would imagine pairing it with Lobster, fettuccine Alfredo or even smoked duck salad.  This wine is reminiscent of an edgy Burgundy wine, but the use of oak is very defined and not overly lavished on it.  A nice balance and worthy of 92 points from me.  5 stars!  Salut….
Newton Johnson family vineyards chardonnay hemel-en-aarde

Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

14 Saturday Jan 2017

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One of my sons is 14 and ice-skates competitively in Synchro and Ice Dancing.  He has been with his Dance partner for just over 5 months and they qualified to go to the National Skating Championships this weekend in Kansas City.  They all left yesterday and I was supposed to join them today, Friday the 13th.  My flight cancelled and the weather is supposed to be horrendous out there.  Why do I mention all this?  Because his partner’s parents gave me this bottle of wine for Christmas, so it made sense for me to open it tonight in honor of the big weekend.

First off, this wine is a really dark purple- I can almost see extraction.  On the nose, really nice aromas of plum, black currant and olive strike out.  On the initial attack I get more plum, some really prominent tannins that give way to primal black fruits and a hint of the wood.  This wine is young but delicious.  The mid palate is where the tannins really take over and coat my whole mouth, perfect for Ribeye steak!  The finish is rather long and gives out some hints of berry jam, leather and still more lingering tannins.  The winemaker does a masterful job of hiding the 14.9% alcohol.  The acidity is perfectly balanced and this wine is ready for some cellar time.  By all means drink it now, but I think you will be rewarded with 4-5 years in the darkness.  Drink till 2028 and pair it with grilled meats, lamb stew or even a rustic wood oven fired Margherita pizza.  I am going with 92 points on this and for about $43 this is a 4 star wine.  I’m loving it!  Wish us luck this weekend and Salut….

hall cabernet sauvignon napa valley

 

Louis Latour Corton Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France 2007

25 Sunday Dec 2016

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Merry Christmas!  I have family over for the holidays and we opened this bottle for a Christmas Eve potluck dinner.  I know it is extravagant for this type of Cru Burgundy to be opened with a pasta casserole and spiral baked ham, but it works!

Very pale in the glass with some orange hues of bricking appearing- maybe pre-mature for a Burgundy wine, we shall see.  On the nose a revelation, this wine is young, fresh and full of fruit yet tertiary notes are starting to appear.  Cherry, strawberry and wildflowers dominate with barnyard and a touch of oak also appears.  On the initial attack I’m getting super smooth cherry notes with cinnamon and grille backing it up.    The meatiness is slight but present along with super sleek tannins that are perceptible yet unobtrusive- this wine glides.  The mid palate is a seamless transition from the front with the addition of some barnyard funk- my kinda Burgundy.  The finish is decent in length and gives off leather and some pale berry notes.  This is a very complex wine that is shockingly smooth and very pleasing.  I am hoping it will evolve into a behemoth old school Burgundy in the next few years.  92 points from me which coincides with WS.  Drink now, but sparingly until it fully matures.  4 stars for the $50 price point.  2019-2027 is a good window for maximum effect.  Salut….

louis latour corton grand cru

Cosentino Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California 2005

23 Friday Dec 2016

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I bought several bottles of the Cosentino Cabernet and really liked it.  This is a follow-up after three more years in cellar.

Rich dark purple hues in the glass.  A nose of cedar, cigar, plum, violets and black berries.  The initial attack is sublime- smooth as silk plum jam, blackberry confit and some vanilla bean come right out and introduce this gorgeous wine.  On the mid palate I’m getting more of the same notes with a touch of heat and some acidity showing up.  The tannins are so melded it’s scary.  There is depth and width to this wine.  The finish is medium length with some blue fruits entering the fray, the tannins are starting to show up and leave a drying finish to the wine.  92 points from me make this wine a 5 star effort if you could still find it at the release price of $21.  I drank mine with a Standing Rib Roast, perfection.  Salut….
cosentino cabernet sauvignon napa valley

Argot Wines ‘Bastard Tongue’ Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2013

15 Thursday Dec 2016

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I good mate of mine brought this over for Thanksgiving but we never got around to it.  I am glad in a way as it meant I could devote the proper attention to tasting this well crafted beauty.  A quick check of the internet reveals a price of $70- yikes.  But damn is this wine good…

Beautiful reddish purple in the glass.  A nose of cherries jubilee, spicebox, cedar.  On the palate a gorgeous medley of cherries, rhubarb and black berries.  Nicely integrated tannins meld well with the acidity and give the mid palate a smooth mouthfeel with notes of cinnamon, more cherry and some espresso.  The coffee theme runs into the finish that shows just a touch of acidity and some vanilla.  There is a citrus peel component on the finish that leaves it a little tart which is my only concern.  Overall a very well made wine which has enough earthiness and an abundance of fruit to pull off many matches, both Burgundian and New World.  92 points from me and 4 stars.  I paired it with Lasagne because that was what was for dinner- you can do better with a Coq Au Vin dish, perhaps even a roasted Cornish hen with wild rice. Really delicious.  Salut….

bastard tongue pinot noirimg_1383

Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz 2011 revisited

03 Saturday Dec 2016

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I’m a huge fan of this winery and am working my way through their offerings and revisiting some that I have had a chance to cellar.  I keep a stash of wines in my locker at ‘work’.  Those of you that know me will realize that my locker is half way around the world from home, but I have some gems in there that have been sitting patiently in near perfect conditions- 60 F, humid and dark.  I met up with a mate from downunda, whom we shall call Mr. Rangley and I pulled this one out for a tasting.  The last time I drank the 2011 Blue Eyed Boy it was delicious so I was really looking forward to it.

Blueberry nose with plum ganache- delicious.  On the palate is a thick, long blueberry note with dark chocolate and graphite.  The mid palate involves a full blown explosion of more blue fruits, vanilla bean and rolling tannins.  I detect some heat which makes sense as this one packs 16% alcohol.  The finish is long and full of blueberry pie, 92 points all day long.  I did not notice too much evolution over the past three years which is interesting.  I’m not sure where this wine is going over its life span but it is built for the long haul and may yet develop nuances of age and secondary flavors.  If it doesn’t that is fine too – a unique tasting Shiraz that is well made and a treat.  5 stars at $40.  Drink all by itself for the ultimate experience of this wine but if you must pair it- Filet Mignon with Bearnaise sauce and some asparagus will do the trick.  Salut….

blue eyed boy shiraz

 

 

 

Clos Pegase Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

29 Tuesday Nov 2016

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Another Napa Cabernet that I got to taste at the AMEX Centurion Lounge at SFO airport.  This one was a dazzler, but give it time.

Portlike nose with honeyed blueberries and some juniper hints.  The initial attack is all blue fruits and a crescendo of brooding tannins. This is one heck of a monster, built for the long run or a trip through the vinturi.  The mid palate shows darker fruits with plum torte, espresso and a delicious minerality.  The finish carries on with the tannic structure and leaves the gums bone dry.  Give this wine a wide berth until 2019 but buy lots, it will run for many years after that. 92 points from me even though the pros gave it 90 and said drink now.  I found it online for $39 which make it a 4 star, perhaps even 5 star wine in my books.  This wine epitomizes Napa Cabernet for me.  Enjoy with a hearty pasta dish, steak with asparagus or a grilled leg of lamb.  Salut….
clos pegs napa cabernet sauvignon