Tag Archives: 93 points

Beringer Vineyards Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Sonoma County, California

15 Monday May 2023

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Medium ruby with high viscosity and staining (14.6% ABV). Intense aromas of black plum, blackberry, cassis, vanilla, cedar, cigar box and black raspberry. The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are plush and fine-grained.  Confirming the black fruit and oak on the palate- full bodied with a seductively smooth medium finish, 93 points. We are pairing this Magnum with char-grilled Ribeyes on this glorious Mother’s Day.  Drink till 2028, at $25 per 750 ml bottle this has to be one of the best QPR’s in Cali Cabs. 5 stars!  Salut….

Broadbent 10 Years Old Malmsey, Madeira, Portugal

02 Sunday Apr 2023

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Pale Amber in the glass with a very viscous sheen on the walls. The nose has pronounced aromas of walnuts, caramel, dark chocolate paste, raisins, prunes, almond skin and a touch of heat. The palate is sweet and luscious with medium acidity. Confirming the flavors on this full bodied wine that finishes long, the almond bitterness I got on the nose translates to the back end and it’s delicious. 93 points for this silky treat that runs $50 makes it a 4 star effort.  Enjoy with dessert or cheese tray.  Salut….

Maxville Lake Winery ‘Maxville’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, California

11 Saturday Mar 2023

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Inky purple in the glass, this opaque wine has thick, slow moving legs and leaves a stain on the glass (14.5% ABV).  The nose has ripe and concentrated aromas of cassis, blackberry pie, perfumed violet, vanilla and blueberry alongside baking spices.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and very fine grained tannins that grip nicely.  The rich, ripe black fruit and cassis syrup are evident as is the oak influence which is in check.  Full bodied, this wine leads me to a long finish that has some charred oak hints as well.  At 5 years old, it is drinking beautifully and will do so till 2030.  I’m pairing it with braised lamb and roasted sweet potato.  It would go nicely with a filet au poivre with gratin potatoes as well.  93 points from me for this $65 bottle makes it a 5 star wine to savor.  Salut….

 

Bodegas Atalaya ‘La Atalaya del Camino’ 2017, Almansa, Spain

21 Tuesday Feb 2023

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Intense and brooding, this Alicante Bouschet (a teinturier grape) was spectacular.  Licorice hit me on the nose from a mile away, closer in I got aromas of smoke, vanilla, ripe blackberry, blueberry, leather, earth and baking spices.  The palate had gentle acidity, robust tannins and a full body.  The fruit flavors were very ripe and almost jammy- blackberry and blackcurrant with dark chocolate, licorice and baking spice.  A long finish made me give this wine 93 points- not far off from the pros.  For $15 you better believe I am stocking up on this 5 star stunner.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Notre Vin Clos Madeleine Pinot Noir 2013, Sonoma Coast, California

16 Thursday Feb 2023

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Pale garnet colored, this 9 year-old Pinot is showing signs of age and has medium viscosity legs (14.2% ABV) and a bit of haze (Unfined and unfiltered).  Pretty lofty aromas of baked cherry, strawberry pie and an earthy, mineral note dominate the nose but I get beautiful cola meets vanilla and cocoa powder.  Stunning.  The palate is dry with silky tannins and medium (+) acidity. Delicious flavors of baked and stewed red fruit with earthy funk and seasoned oak caress my mouth.  Vanilla cola really lights it up on the mid palate.  The finish is very svelte with remnants of cooked fruit and some floral notes.  A spectacular wine that get 93 points from me and for an estimated $90, 5 stars.  Drink till 2026.  I’m searing some Strip Steaks and some risotto to pair.  Salut….

Hamel Family Wines Isthmus 2016, Sonoma Valley, California

05 Sunday Feb 2023

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Inky and opaque with super-slow moving legs and some staining on the walls (16% ABV!).  The nose has intense aromas of blackberry jam, cassis, sweet vanilla, baking spices, menthol, briar and a dusty earth component.  The palate is dry and tannic, full bodied and delicious.  Ripe black berries meet spice and oaky vanilla with mint and earth.  This is a very extracted wine that really hits on all cylinders and offers richness and structure with a touch of heat on the back end that reminds you to be careful with this high alcohol wine.  The finish is long and tasty with fruit fading to earth and briar.  Yummy stuff that will go great with our Sunday Roast Beef.  I would also pair with Lamb and grilled Ribeyes.  Cellar-wise, this is still a young wine that is drinking nicely now as the fine-grained tannins are starting to integrate nicely.  If you have a few bottles of this Cabernet blend then cellar till 2030.  The $80 price point makes it a treat wine that gets 93 points from me and 4 stars.  Salut….

Robert Oatley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia

30 Monday Jan 2023

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Deep ruby with a touch of turbidity and some flecks of garnet in this 5 year old Cabernet from the western coast of Australia.  The nose has very precise, sharp aromas of black plum, blackberry, cassis, eucalyptus, coffee, mint, mocha and vanilla.  Very oak-driven aromas but it is hedonistic and I am looking forward to taste.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins, a full body and delicious flavors of ripe fruit and oak influence.  Blackberry, dark plums and coffee dominate.  Espresso to be more precise.  Eucalyptus is pretty evident as is the mint component.  The finish on this wine is medium in length and very fruity, making me realize that the tannins have really integrated already, ergo a very pleasant mouthfeel.  I like this wine a bunch and will be pairing it with Strip steaks off the charcoal.  One review went as high as 95….. I am more in the 93 camp, but 5 stars for sure as you can pick this up for $17, making it a terrific deal.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Maxville Lake Winery ‘Maxville’ Cabernet Franc 2015, Napa Valley, California

12 Thursday Jan 2023

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Deep ruby with rim variation to garnet plus some slow moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has varietally true aromas of green pepper, blackberry, black raspberry and some menthol perfume.  Very faint notes of oak alongside some coffee, crushed rock and vanilla.  It smells gorgeous.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and delightfully fine grained tannins that caress.  Full bodied, I get flavors of black raspberry, blackberry, menthol, oak nuance, coffee, chocolate.  The green pepper aromas don’t show up on the palate btw.  The finish is a touch smoky and medium (+) in length with the tannins completely melded and the acidity softening.  A very balanced and somewhat complex wine that really coats my mouth with delicious, ripe fruit.  I like it a lot and give it 93 points.  I’m searing some Sous Vide Strip steaks, this is going to pair beautifully.  For $50 its a treat-night wine that gets 5 stars from me.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, California

31 Saturday Dec 2022

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For an eight year old wine, there is still plenty of opaque purple color, albeit with some garnet showing on the rim of this Napa Cabernet which ws served from a Double Magnum, aka a Jeroboam of wine.  Slow moving legs and a bit of staining on the walls give me clues of what to expect.  The nose has ample primary fruit aromas of black plum, blackberry, cassis, menthol, eucalyptus, black raspberry and cherry cola.  Baked black fruit hints are starting to emerge as this wine starts its evolution.  It’s still youthful with lots of cellaring ahead.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins that are super smooth and fine grained.  Very rich black fruit flavors with some oak treatment caress my mouth, the spices and vanilla very faint.  It’s very balanced and smooth with a medium body and medium length finish.  I really like the fact that it is still rather primal yet the structure has really mellowed out and is a seamless play of acidity, balance and alcohol on a medium weight wine.  Delicious and worthy of 93 points from me.  A regular bottle will run you $45 making this a 5 star effort that has rewarded medium-term cellaring and will drink beautifully till 2028.  Salut….

KWV ‘The Mentors’ Cabernet Franc 2019, Western Cape, South Africa

05 Wednesday Oct 2022

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Deep, opaque purple colored with thick slow-moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose excites me- rich black cherry, pencil shavings, bell pepper, garigue and açaí berry compote.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and very smooth medium tannins.  It’s a medium to full-bodied wine that has flavors corresponding to the nose plus a bit of spice box and tobacco.  A medium length finish rounds this delicious single varietal wine up nicely.  I like it- 93 points and for $20 this is a steal of a 5-star effort to drink till 2025.  I’m pairing mine with a combo Cottage/Shepards Pie (one side with beef the other side with lamb).  Salut….