Tag Archives: bright cellars

Jumble Sale Merlot 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington

29 Friday Apr 2022

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Deep ruby colored, this Merlot shows off its 15% ABV with thick legs in the glass.  The nose has rich aromas of ripe raspberry, black cherry, vanilla, caramel and red licorice.  The palate is dry with slightly green tannins, medium acidity and medium intensity flavors.  The body is medium (+) on this juicy wine.  The mid palate is a touch astringent that also shows some charcoal notes.  The finish is dry and somewhat tart, reminiscent of sour cherries and black tea.  It’s a decent drop that gets 89 points from me.  I would imagine this will drink till 2025 and pair well with grilled meats and charcuterie.  $22 makes this a 3 star wine in my books.  Salut….

Folk and Fable Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, California

08 Friday Apr 2022

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This medium purple colored wine has got a fruity, medium intensity nose.  I get aromas of black plum, blackberry, vanilla, blueberry jam and charcoal.  The palate has a sweetness from the Bourbon barrel- that delicious caramel, smoke, vanilla combo that melds nicely with the jammy black and blue fruit.  Medium tannins and medium acidity create a nice mouthfeel in this medium (+) bodied wine.  The finish has got loads of rich fruit and oak nuance and is short to medium in length.  This is not an overly complex wine, yet it adds a new dimension with the oak usage that makes it easy to enjoy and pair with many meat dishes, pasta, pizza and even burgers on the grill.  For $30 it is an elegant offering that gets 90 point from me and 4 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Nihilist Wine Co. Malbec 2020, Lodi, California

04 Monday Apr 2022

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I had to look up the meaning of the name- Nihilist.  It’s off-putting tbh but I will disregard for this tasting.

Medium ruby in the glass with a pronounced nose of black raspberry, red plum, strawberry compote, currant, a whiff of chocolate dust and dark cherry akin to Luxardos.  A second swirl and I get a touch of smoke and florals.  The palate is dry and tart.  Medium tannins set the tone for a medium (+) body and medium intensity flavors of sour cherry, red plums, currants (black and red) and that floral note.  The smoke is gone and the wine really shows off some acidity.  In addition to the tartness, this bottle has a high level of structural acid.  It’s a bit out of balance for me.  The finish is a touch thin but lasts a decent length of time.  Drink this wine till 2026 with some charcuterie and olives, something to cut the acid (Brie or Blue cheese).  87 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 3 star wine.  Salut….

Obscura Petite Sirah 2018, California

28 Monday Mar 2022

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The first in a series of wines from an online subscription service that sends a little info note for each bottle- kinda cool.  This Petite Sirah is deep ruby and shows off its 14.8% ABV with some globby legs in the glass.  The nose has aromas of blackberries, black plum, black raspberry, vanilla, blueberry pie and espresso.  The palate is dry with medium (+) tannins, medium (-) acidity, medium (+) body and a decent length finish.  The flavors are medium (+) intensity and closely echo the nose.  I do get slightly more blue fruit, and less baking spice on the mid palate and there is a black tea component on the back end.  It’s a nice wine, but I was hoping for a bit more jamminess to be honest- the card promised it.  I think this $22 effort gets 89 points and should be drunk with hearty meats by 2026.  4 stars.  Salut….