Tag Archives: 92 points

Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou ‘La Croix de Beaucaillou’ 2010, Saint-Julien, France

18 Friday May 2018

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


This is the second wine of Ducru Beaucaillou, and comes from the good 2010 vintage.  I have been given 2 bottles from my buddy, it’s Friday night and there are Porterhouses that need some company.

It looks somewhat murky in the glass, somewhat opaque in depth.  The nose is classic Bordeaux.  Cassis, leather, tobacco, dark fruits.  I am excited.  The palate offers up delicious Claret flavors, black berries, tobacco, cassis, leather and that classic terroir that you only get from the region.  The wine transcends the whole palate with the same flavor profile.  Tannins are well integrated and the acidity is barley noticeable, but balanced.  The wine has a decent length finish that keeps giving that Saint Julien terroir.  I am really enjoying this wine and it is drinking on pointe.  The steaks are going to pair beautifully, alongside the roasted Sprouts, Radishes and Beetroot.  I am going 92 points on this wine, it is rich, full bodied, flavorful and will age for another 10 years.  $60 is not a cheap price, but when the moment arrives- this is a great wine to pop.  5 stars from me.  Salut….

Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012, Tuscany, Italy

03 Tuesday Apr 2018

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


The first thing I noticed was the length of the cork.  It was super long, Magnum size.  Made me wonder…  In the glass this wine is somewhat opaque with a lighter purple hue. On the nose it offers tart cherry, red berries and muted barnyard.  On the palate I get some really refreshing strawberry and cherry notes.  Crisp acidity and gentle tannins are also present.  The wine is young, very young.  Nutmeg and kirsch appear later on, a strange combination but I’m liking it.  The tannins are really kicking in towards the mid to finish leaving me with a very dry sensation on the seemingly long finish.  More classic Sangiovese flavors of tobacco and leather are evident in small amounts but the main thrust is the dominant cherry.  Delicious, but I would love to see evolution, say another 5 years minimum.  92 points from me and for the hefty $80 price tag, 4 stars.  If you are a cellaring type, this one will rock a roasted Cornish Hen some day.  Salut….

B%ELw1hYTbW+i%1VC5aULg

Cosentino Winery Reserve Selection Pinot Noir 2011, Sonoma Coast, USA

10 Saturday Mar 2018

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,


I wrote about this wine back in 2012 (Cosentino Reserve Sonoma), with a note to re-taste in 5 years.  The wine is transparent, light purple, seductive.  The nose is fresh, with strawberry, barnyard and raspberry.  On the palate it is super smooth.  The strawberry coulis is forefront with red berry extract and a caressing tannic structure.  Acidity is perfect and the wine balances itself all the way to the rather long finish.  I would imagine this wine is approaching peak.  It has hints of tertiary flavors while maintaining the freshness of the red fruits.  It has a good backbone and the structure is there to allow for further development.  I would drink till 2026 and pair it with game, poultry and perhaps Filet Mignon.  It is a rather delicate profile, sexy and lithe- not a brooding, big and bold wine.  I am sticking with 92 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Henschke Henry’s Seven 2015, Barossa, Australia

27 Tuesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Somewhat opaque but dark purple.  The nose gives up candies, plum, oak, cherry pie, vanilla bean.  The palate is super spicy, loaded with fruit and very smooth.  Plum ganache, mocha, cafe au lait and blackberry preserve round out the initial palate.  The transition to mid palate shows off some very integrated tannins, a red berry note and some cedar plank.  The finish is mid length and coats the mouth in plum sauce, coffee and chocolate dust.  92 points from me for this $32 effort, which contradicts the pro’s 89, oh well.  I liked it and will buy again for a juicy Sunday roast companion.  5 stars for this Shiraz/Grenache/Viognier blend.  Salut….

Peju Province Winery Merlot 2014, Napa Valley, USA

04 Wednesday Oct 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


A really dark purple in the glass which is getting me excited.  The nose is pure pleasure.  Sweet plums, a hint of oak and a creaminess I can’t even describe.  This wine is going to be the business- I just know it.

On the palate it is super duper smooth.  Blackberry, cocoa and pomegranate come to mind.  The tannins pop on the mid palate and dominate the dry finish.  I also get some red currants right at the end.  This wine is multi layered and I expect it to cellar well into 2022.  I’m really enjoying it all by its lonesome but envision roasted duck with root veg and an elderberry gravy might hit the spot.  92 points for this $35 effort and 5 stars.  Salut….

Dutton-Goldfield Spectrum Red NV, Russian River Valley, USA

13 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


Very dark purple for a Pinot?  On the nose- it screams heavy duty new world Pinot Noir- Except it isn’t.   I was misled by the bartender who stated it was PN, not a blend of Zin, Syrah and Pinot Noir.  No wonder I was confused!

Strawberry, raspberry, a touch of wood, and some espresso bean comes across on the nose.  On the palate it’s a whole lotta strawberry meets cherry jam and reb currant coulis.  Very rich and flavorful.  This is not a subtle wine, more like ‘HELLO, IT’S ME!’

I like this wine, a lot- albeit it’s not my preferred style.  It offers depth, muscle, extraction and is not afraid to show it.  The mid palate continues the same theme as does the long finish.  Some would say this is one -dimensional, I like it every so often.  It is focused on its core elements and sticks with it.  The tannins are barely perceptible as is the acidity.  Drinking beautifully now, I would pair it with Filet Mignon and creamed Swiss Chard, perhaps a roasted duck with earthy veggies.  Deelish and worthy of 92 points from me.  I think it can be found for around $20, which makes it a steal.  (My rating was way higher than others, I guess I must see something in this wine.)  5 stars.  Salut….

Dutton-Goldfield Spectrum Red

Domaine Louis Boillot Clos de la Chapelle 2008, Volnay Premier Cru, France

11 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I wrote about the 2008 Louis Boillot Volnay back in 2012 and promised to re-taste.  It was not a year later, but several.  Anyway, here goes.

Almost an orange purple see-through complexion.  Signs of middle age perhaps?  The nose has an earthiness to it alongside cranberries, strawberries and some wheat kernels.  You probably never saw that one as a descriptor!  The wine tastes much better than I remember, with a nice intro to some strawberry, barnyard and green peppers. It is very smooth with barely perceptible tannins until they reach a crescendo on the finish.  The wine’s acidity is on pointe with a nice cut to it.  The mid palate is all about secondary flavors.  The development is a treat.  This wine has evolved very nicely from what I thought was atypical Burgundy, into the quintessential Pinot Noir that defines Old World charm and character.  I am loving it!  I paid $40 per bottle back in the day and it looks like I ordered 6 bottles, I am hoping to cellar dive and come up with the other 4!  92 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

louis billet volley Close de la Chapelle

Substance Cs Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Columbia Valley, USA

27 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


As I was pouring this wine I couldn’t help but notice the rich purple color, mesmerizing.  On the nose I get gorgeous plum meets an oak shaving.  This wine smells amazing.  There is an intensity to the aroma that is really pure and focused.  This pureness continues on to the initial taste.  This is a great wine folks.  It tastes amazing, has very fine grained tannins, is balanced and has got me grabbing for more.  Plums continue to the mid palate and are joined with coffee beans, Ribena and a crescendo of tannins.  They really hit on the back end with a really nice dryness that hits my gums in the right way.  The wine finishes with cassis, espresso and a swath of tannins, delicious.  An extremely well crafted wine that gets 92 plus points from me.  I am a huge fan of Charles Smith, his winemaking is always on pointe.  In fact, I search out his wines-looking for absolute gems like this one.  I paid $13, and rate this as one of my all-time best buys.  5 Stars for sure and I am buying a case.  Drink it alone or pretty much with everything from now till 2022.  A steal, literally.  Salut….

Bodegas Penafiel Miros de Ribera Reserva 2004, Ribera del Duero, Spain

03 Monday Jul 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


It’s been a while since I have had any 2004 Miros, but I came across this bottle when I was cellar diving. It’s a fun sport, I recommend it all the time! The wine has held up well from the looks of the ever so gently bricking colors. The purple is still evident, with just a touch of orange on the edges. On the nose, I am delighted to report some very earthy Tempranillo overtones, mixed with blueberry pie. My initial taste is fantastic, this wine has aged well. The blueberry fruit is still forthright but there is a strong sense of earth, some funky dirt and a lashing of nice acidity to go with the very fine grained tannins still swirling about. This wine is at peak. The mid palate exhibits more blue fruits and a slight dryness to go along with the layers of flavor. The finish is mostly a tannic affair with some black cherries and a tar component. Really a well made wine that I have enjoyed over the years. Drink it on its own or with some charcuterie. It will drink well for a few more years, no rush. 92 points all things considered. I paid $20 back in 2011, wishing I had bought more than just the case plus two Magnums. 5 stars for sure. Salut….

Burgess Cellars Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Napa Valley

13 Saturday May 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,


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