Tag Archives: 93 points

Chateau Montelena ‘The Montelena Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley, California

15 Sunday May 2022

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An iconic Napa Cabernet that we drank with monster Tomahawk steaks.  This inky colored wine is beautiful to look at and even better to drink.  Aromas and flavors of Iodine, black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, bramble), dust, menthol, eucalyptus.  Seriously complex and intriguing.  The palate is smooth- medium acidity, fine grained tannins that are fully integrated, full bodied with great mouthfeel and a long finish.  What a stunning wine that is en pointe and will continue to develop for several more years.  93 points for this $130 effort makes it 5 star worthy.  Salut….

San Felice Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012, Tuscany, Italy

15 Sunday May 2022

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I have been following the progress of this Sangiovese for a few years now and really enjoyed it alongside charcuterie prior to dinner.  I didn’t take notes, only mental observations.  It is now mature, with high acidity and melded tannins.  The red fruit is joined by leather, rose, cigar box and maduro.  Medium bodied, it drinks nicely to a medium finish.  You can read about my last tasting here.  I’m sticking with the 93 points previously given.  It runs $50 now which is still a good deal for well made Brunello.  5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

 

Bodegas Balbas Ardal Seleccion Especial Reserva 2012, Ribera del Duero, Spain

12 Thursday May 2022

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This blend of Tempranillo and Cab Sav is nearly opaque with a bright purple color.  On the nose I get rich black plum, dusty earth, blackberry, vanilla, baking spices, menthol, some farmyard funk and bramble.  The palate is dry, quite tannic and high in acidity.  I love Spanish Tempranillo- it has such an earthy, dusty, brambly component and they throw a good bit of oak at this level (Reserva) which adds dimension, complexity and flavors/aromas of vanilla, baking spices and toast.  The black fruit is ripe and juicy- the Cabernet adding richness and grip.  The body is full and the finish is medium to long in length.  Structurally- this wine is a baby and needs some cellaring unless you like them searingly dry and astringent.  There is plenty of fruit to last a while and the whole package should drink beautifully until 2032 at the least.  I am going with 93 points and for $40 this is a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Clarendon Hills Grenache ‘Clarendon’ 2009, McLaren Vale, Australia

07 Saturday May 2022

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The more Grenache I drink, the more I like it.  This older bottle from near Adelaide has turned the color corner- medium garnet in the glass.  The nose has vivid aromas of ripe raspberry, black cherry, sarsaparilla, cedar, charcoal, red plum, a hint of vanilla and some coffee.  The palate is… wowsa.  Dry yet sweet from ripe fruit.  Rich raspberry, dark cherry, oak nuance, coffee, black cherry, red plum and sweet vanilla.  Medium acidity and very integrated tannins make for a lovely mouthfeel.  The body is quite full and the finish is nearing 30 seconds.  I like this wine, a lot.  It is very easy to drink but makes me give pause to consider what else I am experiencing in its complexity and depth.  It gets 93 points from me and for $45 it’s a 5 star wine.  I love this winery BTW.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, McLaren Vale, Australia

22 Friday Apr 2022

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This wine is opaque with a garnet hue.  The nose is classic Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon- Blackberry, black currants, mint, eucalyptus, coffee, blueberry compote, açaí berry, bilberry and vanilla.  A very inviting and complex nose to say the least.  On the palate it is gorgeous.  Ripe tannins and medium (+) acidity coat the black and blue fruit notes with emphasis on blueberry compote.  The richness of the fruit and the oak influence make for a full bodied wine that has pronounced flavors.  The minty component is delicious.  The finish of this wine is quite long and very balanced as is the whole package.  I am enjoying this immensely.  It gets 93 points from me and for $30 it’s a 5 star effort to be drunk till 2027.  We are pairing it with Bavette steak.  Salut….

Valli Gibbston Vineyards Pinot Noir 2018, Gibbston, New Zealand

14 Thursday Apr 2022

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Pale ruby with perhaps a touch of garnet.  The nose has got just what I looking for- pronounced aromas of earth, forest floor, red cherry, baking spice, black currant leaf, red plum, clove- very complex, almost Burgundian.  On the palate it is stunning- dry with very juicy acidity and medium tannins this wine has an upfront push of sour cherry followed by the earthy, forest floor component alongside other red fruits.  Baking spice hits on the mid palate and I get oak nuance from the get go.  This is quite full bodied and rich with flavor that finishes nicely with a sour note from cherries and cranberry.  The overall length of the finish is medium.  The balance of this wine is en pointe and the composure makes me want to keep sipping.  This $45 Pinot Noir got some pretty monster scores- I have to agree and go with 93 points.  I will be drinking the other three bottles over a 5 year period and watching the evolution.  Pairings could consist of  Duck l’Orange, Filet Mignon with Au Gratin or even Grilled white meats.  5 stars for this beauty.  Salut….

Boschendal Reserve Collection Vin d’Or 2016, Paarl, South Africa

02 Saturday Apr 2022

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I’m on a sweet wine roll, two in one day.  This South African blend of Riesling/Viognier is a stunning deep gold color.  The nose is right up my alley- rich aromas of dried apricot, honey, blood orange marmalade, candied pineapple, peach and a touch of lychee.  Amazing, complex and very enticing.  The palate is very sweet, unctuous and full bodied.  Medium (+) acidity keeps this wine very balanced and I love the pronounced flavors.  The honey component is taking center stage but I also get lively fresh fruit even though the Botrytis driven flavors are very present.  At 163g/l of residual sugar, this is considered a luscious wine- and it is just that!  At $20 for 375ml, it is a great dessert wine to have a few bottles of.  93 points from me for this 5 star wine to serve with a warm tart and ice cream.  Salut….

Domaine Pecheur Vin de Paille 2009, Cotes du Jura, France

02 Saturday Apr 2022

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Vin de Paille is a new one to me- basically a sweet wine made from grapes that have been dried on straw mats and then pressed.  The resultant must being very high in sugar, hence a sweet wine once it has fermented to over 14% ABV by law.  This one is medium amber in the glass.  The nose reminds me of sherry- loads of nuts, caramel, orange marmalade, toffee, stewed apricot and marzipan.  Quite complex and exciting. The palate is medium dry, not as sweet as I was expecting.  It is a touch bitter, like orange rind.  Juicy acidity and a full body with great delivery of the tertiary notes that this developed wine has gained.  My mouth is watering, either from the acid or the sheer desirability to take another taste- not sure which.  It is quite buoyant even though it’s full bodied.  A very slippery wine that is easy to fall for.  I love a good Botrytised wine, but this style of dessert wine is catching on with me.  It retails for $63 and gets 93 points from me.  It will drink well for another decade and gets 5 stars.  Try something different in the sweet whites!  It begs for a creamy Cambozola with some nuts and dry crackers.  Salut….

Bodegas y Vinedos Valderiz ‘Valderiz’ 2018, Ribera del Duero, Spain

30 Wednesday Mar 2022

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This is the second bottle of the vertical, please read my previous note on the 2017 Valderiz.  Tasting will be via the Systematic Approach to Tasting.

  • Deep purple
  • Medium (+) intensity nose with aromas of blackberry, bramble, black cherry, orange peel, vanilla, black plum compote.  Youthful.
  • Dry, medium acidity, medium (+) tannins, high alcohol, medium (+) body, medium (+) intensity flavors of blackberry, bramble, black cherry, orange peel, vanilla, black plum compote, charcoal with a medium finish.
  • Very Good quality
  • Drink now but has potential for aging

I found this wine far more youthful than the prior vintage, showing no tertiary notes.  It is of a higher quality by half a point but I rounded down to VG, versus Outstanding.  For $30 ($5 cheaper than the 2017), you can get a better wine that I would give 93 points to and 5 stars.  Salut….

Maxville Lake Winery ‘Maxville’ Petit Sirah 2014, Napa Valley, California

27 Sunday Mar 2022

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Inky dark purple in the glass, this promises to be a big, bold wine with lots of body and flavor.  Perfect to pair with my Sunday Rib Roast.  Ripe blackberry, luscious blueberry compote, plums, coconut, purple licorice and a spice/baking component on the nose.  The palate is rich, tannic, full bodied with medium acidity and bold flavors of blackberry, oak nuance and spice.  The yeasty baking note is still there, albeit feint.  Think blackberry puree with a lashing of black tea.  Grippy with mouth searing tannins, deliciously fruity with a dry finish that lasts a decent length of time.  The tannins however, lurk on my gums for an eternity.  If you like them dry, this wine is for you.  The 14.5% ABV has not even made itself known, well disguised in this nicely balanced wine.  This $55 blockbuster is still in youth.  The tannins need some taming unless you like that level of astringency.  Personally, it’s fine as I am pairing it with a fatty cut of meat.  It gets 93 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….