Tag Archives: 92 points

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

Cosentino Petite Sirah Napa Valley 2014

26 Saturday Nov 2016

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Blackish purple in the glass. Nose of cedar, black plums and tea. On the palate this wine immediately lets you know it is well built with hefty tannins. The flavors of plum, black cherry and pepper are fighting for control with the amazing tannins. I am loving this wine’s mouthfeel today in particular because it will pair beautifully with the ribeyes on the grill. If the dryness is overpowering for you I suggest a trip through a vinturi or decanting. The wine has a nice finish and the tannins go on forever. I really love this varietal and this is one excellent example.  92 points and 4 stars for this $40 offering.  Salut….

cosentino petite sirah

Peters Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Mountain 2006

16 Wednesday Nov 2016

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I tasted the 2006 Peters Family Cabernet exactly three years ago and am impressed that it has evolved more and gotten a higher score from me.

A nose of black currant preserves, pine needles and tar.  On the palate a beautiful intro of plum, black berries and dried mint.  The mid palate shows off some great tannins that are persistent yet subdued.  The acidity is somewhat muted, overshadowed by the fruit and tannins.  The finish is short to medium in length but ends with the tannic dryness.  This wine has a great mouthfeel that I really like and the fruit is still vibrant.  A mostly Cabernet Sauvignon wine that has 23% Merlot mixed in.  Secondary flavors are evident and I’m excited about this wine’s development.  Drink till 2022 with pasta, steaks and roasted game.  92 points and 4 stars for this $55 effort.  Salut….

peters family cabernet sauvignon

Clos St. Thomas ‘Chateau St. Thomas’ Rouge, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon 2008

08 Monday Aug 2016

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I have recently started to modify the titles of my posts to more closely reflect what other sites use.  One site in particular has added my blog to their reviews section and I want to make sure they are cataloged properly.  I may go back and modify some of the reviews I have done to become more searchable and SEO friendly. In the meantime, I plan on doing more tastings and more reviews.  This particular wine is a favorite.  My father and uncle both got me a few bottles of the 2008 St. Thomas, of which their cousin owns.  When I drank it 18 months ago it was really good, yet still primal.  The notes that follow will hopefully show you the evolution and value of cellaring certain wines.  What was a 91 point wine has now come out as worthy of 92, and 5 stars for it’s incredible $22 value.

Mature, bold and balanced. This wine has finally rounded it’s tannins and now the whole package is seamless and smooth. The mouthfeel is gorgeous with rich plum, cassis, leather and vanilla. The tannins are ever present but not dominating. They counter the acidity perfectly. This wine has evolved incredibly. The mid palate is especially present with rich plum and a hint of the oak. It will evolve further and run for another 10 years minimum. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and Syrah blended.  92 points. I’m serving it with grilled rib steaks and home-grown tomato salad.  Salut….

clos st. thomas wine

Alexander Valley Vineyards Wetzel Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

05 Friday Aug 2016

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I was recently in an airport lounge and saw this wine being offered.  I am a fan of the winery since our visit there in 2015.  If you are ever in the area and want to enjoy a nice tasting, fun staff and cool dog I suggest you visit Alexander Valley Vineyards.

Nice rich purple in the glass with a nose of eucalyptus and plum jam -maybe blackberry reduction. The initial taste is super smooth. I mean seriously smooth, with blackberry, nutmeg and tobacco flavors. This wine has a seamless transition from front to back. Amazing and extremely balanced. I’m loving it. 92 points, which is high but this wine is drinking on pointe and deserves credit for its immediate satisfaction. It may cellar for another 3-5 years but why wait?  I found it online for $15, but MSRP is around $22.  They blended a touch of my favorites in for color, aroma and balance.  Merlot at 6%, with a touch of Cab Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. For sure a 5 star wine, stock up and serve alone or with pretty much all the classic red wine pairings.  Salut….

wetzel fmly estate cab sauv alex valley sonoma county north coast california usa

 

Paul Autard Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007

29 Wednesday Jun 2016

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At least once a year my childhood friend comes over for dinner.  We will nickname him Rashad.  He has good taste in wine and a better sense to ask for help at the wineshop.  Last year he brought this beauty along for dinner but I felt it needed time.  I cellared it for a year, cracking it open when he came over the other day.  I had charcoal grilled a boneless leg of lamb, which was a near perfect companion to this wine.  That is correct, I chose the wine and then the meal to accompany it!

Nose of garrigue with some plum torte and a hint of oak.  On the palate- purple fruits, blueberry jam, licorice and fresh tannins. A solid amount of acidity balances the backbone and gives it a freshness. There’s a long mid palate to this wine that carries the fruit all the way to the finish with a hint of pepper, some game and cherry . The ending is long with plum, tannins and some juiciness. 92 points is my vote.  WS gave it 93, RP-91.  I think it is at peak and will drink well for another 5 years minimum.  It can be found for around $50.  A great bottle of mainly Grenache for a big meaty meal!  4 stars from me.  Salut….

paul autard chateauneuf du pape

Francois Parent ‘Les Fremiets’ Volnay Premier Cru Cote de Beaune

09 Thursday Jun 2016

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A Burgundy I bought back in 2008 and sat on for a few years, forgetting I even had it. Pouring the first glass reminded me of a Malbec, rich and purply.  Not what I was expecting from a Pinot Noir, but let’s see what comes of it.

A nose of bramble, dark plums and an earthy component.  I am intrigued…  The first sip is smooth, with hints of cherry, cola, a touch of acidity and a barely noticeable amount of tannin.  The second sip reveals strawberry/rhubarb crumble and some spicebox.  The mid-palate exhibits a smooth transition for the tannins to come out along with the dark fruits and mushroom (Ps. The label has a picture of a truffle, perhaps hinting at something).  The tingling on my gums is evident after a fews sips.  The wine is still very young and slightly closed.  The finish shows off the Burgundian earth, some cherry and lashings of fine grained tannins.  I hardly ever sense tannic components in Pinot Noir, but this wine most definitely has structure with tannins and acidity that will allow it to develop for another 10 years at the least.  I am going with 92 points on this wine and wished I had another bottle to open in 8 years or so, I bet it goes all funky with secondary flavors of earth, barnyard and everything else that aged Burgundy has to offer the patient amongst us.   I found it online for $72, making this a 4 star effort for the cellar.  Drink 2022-2026.  WS gave it 93 points BTW.  It comes in at a very enjoyable 13% alcohol, which is a major shift from today’s highly extracted monsters that weigh it at 15+%.  Enjoy this one all by itself when it is ready to go, or perhaps with a rustic roast Chicken, maybe even braised beef ribs.  Salut….

francois parent les fremiets volnay premier cru cote de beaune burgundy france

Pico Cuadro 2010

14 Saturday May 2016

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Dark purple hues. In the nose- black cherry and earth, typical of Temranillo. After a few swirls in the glass I am getting a blueberry component. The initial taste is of blueberry, iodine and earth that are all fighting for pole position against the massive tannins. Acidity thankfully balances this huge wine out and makes for a gorgeous mouthfeel that may overwhelm the faint of palate. This wine begs for ribeyes, a hearty lasagna or perhaps another 5 years in a dark cellar. This is a really good, tasty wine that hits all cylinders for me. 92 points. 2018-2025 at the least.  RP gave it 91 and it got 92 from AG.  Kudos for this amazing $26 Spanish offering form Ribera del Duero.  It gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

pico cuadro

Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2010

27 Saturday Feb 2016

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After my initial tasting of Muga’s Reserva I was bound to find more of their wines.  I bought six bottles on sale for $29 each and was very happy with my purchase.

Dark purple color with no legs in the glass even though there is 14% alcohol.  Nose of graphite, plum jam and some earth. On the palate a beautiful intro to plums, black cherry and spicebox. Upfront tannins grip the teeth and some sharp acidity checks it back in place. This wine is somewhat awkward yet comes together nicely on the mid to back end. Powerful yet youthful, it will be better after 2018, once the Tannins meld and the acidity recedes. It will drink well if needed now with a run through the Vinturi. Otherwise hold on, let the secondary flavors evolve and enjoy till 2024 at least. 92 points from me even though some pros went as high as 96!  I’m sitting on my other 5 bottles.  A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Graciano. 5 stars for the quality to price ratio here.  Salut…..

muga seleccion especial

Langoa Barton 2003

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

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I have been sitting on this magnum for quite a few years.  I sat it upright a week before Christmas and popped it for the grand occasion.  I was immediately greeted with a full nose of aged Bordeaux joy. Cassis, leather, dark fruits and fig compote. The initial attack is rather tannic, in fact- full on. I decided to run the next glass through the vinturi. The fruit is lively and melding with earthy notes, cassis, tobacco and some leather. The dark fruits really come through on the mid palate. I get even balance on the back end and no hint of alcohol (13%) which is interesting as 2003 was a super hot vintage. Many chateau suffered from stewed flavors and short lived wines. This one, from a large format, is just starting out.  You can find it for around $65.  The pros gave it 91/92.  I agree with that and give this wine 5 stars for its complexity, aging capacity and enjoyment factor.  I think I have another one waiting in the cellar!  Salut….

langoa barton 2003