15 Thursday Jun 2017
Posted in Wine
Pretty dark purple in the glass. Nose of plum and blackberry, but it’s hard to coax the flavors as this particular bottle has been chilled. The initial taste is more blackberry with some spice box. The tannins are very subdued as is the acidity, which is atypical for this varietal. I get tar and creosote on the mid palate, with some blackberry. The finish is more black berries and some fig paste. 87 points for this $15 offering make it a 2 star wine. Salut….
30 Tuesday May 2017
Posted in Wine
A lighter shade of purple than I was expecting from an Argentinian Malbec. On the nose I am getting blueberries and and fruit cake. My initial taste is of blue fruits with very ripe mashed plums. Strange, I know. As the wine transitions to the mid palate I am getting a touch of tannins with a hint of dryness, some blueberry compote and a touch of spice box. The finish has a flavor that I cannot even begin to describe, banana meets wet paper. It is interesting, yet so unfamiliar. I am not sure this wine is what I was expecting. It is a little disjointed, lacks a long term structure and is kinda meh. 86 points is all I can go, which is a shame as I am rocking a Porterhouse tonight that was begging for a hearty, tannic red full of bold flavors. It got a monster 94 points from Ultimate Beverage Challenge, I’m just not seeing it, but for $11 it is a decent weekday quaffer. 3 stars only because the price is so good. Salut….
13 Saturday May 2017
Posted in Wine
Dark, brooding purple in the glass, no way to see through it. On the nose I get black currant, mint and vanilla. On the palate this wine is lush, full and tastes of black berries, vanilla bean and coffee. The mid palate is a seamless continuation with the introduction to some very fine grained tannins that leave the finish just a touch dry. This wine is really smooth, full bodied and delicious. Very well balanced if I might say so. A perfect match to any grilled meats, pasta. 91 points from me which is close to the 92 that the pro’s are going with. I paid $25, but it normally retails for $35. 4 stars. Yummy. Salut….
24 Monday Apr 2017
Posted in Wine
Dark purple in the glass, very dense. The nose sports some really delicious aromas of blueberry, spice box and some oak. I also get a whiff of twizzlers right at the end.
On the palate the blueberry theme continues, laced with a ton of tannins that leave the gums all dry. The wine has some juicy acidity, which is needed considering the dryness I am encountering. The blue fruits continue onto the finish, which is quite long. A certain floral hint hits the mid palate that melds well with the berry component. I am digging this wine and reckon it would really do well with Ribeye and roasted sweet potato rounds. It begs for a fatty cut to offset the tannins, which are very tightly wound and help build the backbone of this wine. I would drink till 2024. 90 points from me, but I just looked up my order and noticed it got 95 from Decanter, that’s a big score. I paid $20, but it was on sale from $40. 3 stars for retail pricing but a 4 star effort for the sale price! Salut….
13 Thursday Apr 2017
Posted in Wine
13 Thursday Apr 2017
Posted in Wine
Dark purple in the glass. A nose of black cherry, black currants and plum. A spice is there too, but I can’t pinpoint it. On the palate, very juicy with plum jam, blackberry tort and cassis. This is a very smooth wine that shows great fruit expression, silky tannins and a mild dose of acidity. The mid palate has dark plums and the tannins start to dry the gums. On the finish, another dose of plum and the final lashing of tannins with a taste of oak. 91 points is what I came up with but others only went 88. For $13, you cannot go wrong with this 5 star wine. Salut….
18 Saturday Mar 2017
Posted in Wine
I started drinking this with dinner before I took notes. I was so impressed that I had to look to see if I had reviewed it already. Not the case, so here goes.
Medium to dark purple in the glass bodes well for this Bonarda. The variety is also known as Charbono in other circles. The nose is beautiful, full and all about the cassis, dark plums and black cherry. The initial taste echoes the nose. This wine is delicious. Tar, cherry and cassis abound on the palate and carry through to the finish. Tannins are gentle and balanced with a nice level of acidity. This wine drinks great now and will continue to do so till 2022. I paired it with stuffed peppers and a Turkey meatball pasta dish. It worked well, but the real match is probably with a grilled lamb chop. 91 points from me but then again I love expanding my palate with off the beaten path varietals. $16 and 5 stars from me. Salut…
09 Thursday Mar 2017
Posted in Wine
When I see a wine on sale for $15 that got a 93 point rating then I am all in, especially a Pinot Noir. I bought this one without hesitation. My own notes are slightly different than the pros, could be bottle variation, age, or just my palate.
Very pale red and see through in the glass. Nose of pomegranate and cranberry. On the palate, much more body than I was expecting. Notes of strawberry coulis, violets and a touch of gaminess. The wine has some good acidity and freshness that I’m enjoying. The alcohol, at a reasonable 13.5% is somehow showing up on the finish. I plan on pairing this decent wine with some shrimp and grits… let’s see how that works. 89 points from me on this $15 offering make it a 3 star wine. Salut….
Very pale and see through
29 Sunday Jan 2017
Posted in Wine
I am a big fan of Trivento, as can be seen in my write-ups. The Amado Sur is a blend of Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah.
Dark purple in the glass. A nose of black currants, oregano, chocolate powder. On the palate- currant, cinnamon stick and crunchy tannins. On the mid palate there are some plum notes as well the currants. The tannins are really apparent in the finish, and give off a dry mouthfeel. This wine is balanced and tasty, but perhaps young. It will reward some cellaring but offers good flavors and structure right now to pair with prime rib, eggplant moussaka or even roast duck with orange sauce- or some cheese and chorizo like I did. I like it and am going 90 points. For $14, this is a really good deal. 4 stars. Salut….
11 Wednesday Jan 2017
Posted in Wine
I can’t even tell you how many bottles of this wine I have drunk in my day. I was introduced to it at an Argie steak house in Anchorage, Alaska of all places. We used to go there in small groups and empty their supply every time. I saw this bottle when I was in Boston with the family on a skating trip. I couldn’t resist.
In the glass, a paler version of purple was on display. On the nose- black berry and nutmeg come to mind. The initial palate consists of really delicious dark fruits, some plum ganache and some very tart tannins. The wine shows off a dryness that takes over the mid palate and finish but still allows flavors of blue and black currants to peek through. There are not many tertiary flavors but that is okay, this is a primal wine that begs for steak. It offers one stop shopping if you are in the market for a reasonably priced wine that bangs it with grilled meat, does well alone and will make charcuterie sing. This is one for you to look for. At $13 this is a good deal and gets 90 points from me making it a 5 star wine. Drink till 2020 and buy in bulk. Salut….
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