30 Tuesday May 2017
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Dark, brooding purple in the glass. The nose is- yuck. Not my style at all. Candy, oak and yuck. The initial palate is candied plum, not much else. I’m not going to bother much more with this 80 point wine, I suggest you move along too. Save the $8 for something tastier. Salut….
13 Saturday May 2017
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$28, 5 stars, 92 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa, napa cabernet
This wine is 15 years old, yet it pours like an infant- dark purple, no bricking and clear, if not see-through. The nose is gorgeous, fruity yet nuanced with secondary flavors belying maturity. Plums, coffee, tobacco and leather come to mind. On the palate, rich plums, cassis and a touch of eucalyptus. This wine is not even close to maturity. Tannins are on pointe and there is a juiciness to the mid palate that I am enjoying thoroughly. The finish leaves you with a clear dose of acidity, the tannins drying up at this stage. There is still tons of primal fruit here and the wine already demonstrated its ability to pick up those long sought after nuances of aged Cabernet. This is a top wine in my opinion, worthy of 92 points even at this stage of its development, which is funny considering it only got 83 points from WE back in 2006. Drink now till 2021 at the least. Pair with any beef dish, charcuterie or just by itself. I found it online for $28. 5 Stars. Salut….
13 Saturday May 2017
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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….
17 Monday Apr 2017
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Beautiful purple color- nose of candied plums, oak and mint. On the palate I get pepper, plums and a red component which is intriguing. Tannins peek through in the second half of this intro and the acidity is very mild. 89 points and 4 stars for this $11 offering. Salut….
17 Monday Apr 2017
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Deep purple yet see-through. Nice nose of plums, eucalyptus and blackberry. On the palate I’m getting really nice black berry, super smooth tannins and a hint of black Cherry liquor. The mid palate boasts more berries and a roundness that gives this wine a really nice mouthfeel. The finish is smooth, with a nice drying feeling that coats the gums. 90 points form me although the pro’s were down at the 86 level with this one. I disagree. For $13, this is a 4 star wine that I will be buying again. I would pair it with Roast Chicken, perhaps meatloaf and definitely with some charcuterie out on the patio now that the weather has turned. Salut….
13 Thursday Apr 2017
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Dark purple in the glass. Nose of black cherry and dark fruits. The palate is somewhat muted, but notes of tar, black currants and cedar abound. The wine possesses a certain level of acidity that balances the very mild tannins, which leave a drying sensation on the finish. This wine is decent, but somewhat boring. It does not transcend into anything different. It is good, yet plain. 88 points is where I feel this wine sits and I would pair it with lamb chops, venison and perhaps roast Guinea fowl. It can be found for about $12, which make it a 3 star wine in my books. Salut….
13 Thursday Apr 2017
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Dark purple, but not as ‘heavy’ as I was expecting. A nose of black currant and blackberry with hints of vanilla. On the palate- really soft and supple profile that offers up delicious black fruit sorbet, juicy acidity and very fine grained tannins. This wine makes my mouth water, it’s bizarre. I am really enjoying it! The mid palate is more down to earth with plain Jane blackberry and some oak. The finish gets ramped up with the tannins that linger for a long time while more dark fruits emerge. This is a tasty little number that begs for Osso Bucco, eggplant parm or even a hearty stew. 91 points from me and drink till 2022. All yours for $12 which makes this a 5 star wine. Salut….
18 Saturday Mar 2017
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$20, 4 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, Italy, merlot, nero d'avola
Reddish purple and opaque in the glass. Nose of rhubarb and Swiss chard leaves. I’m not going to lie- it’s a bit off putting. The palate is a whole different story, thank god. Vibrant cherry and red raspberry notes with juicy acidity and balanced tannins. The mid palate is really delicious, yet supremely dry from the tannins. More red fruits emerge with some hints of nutmeg. The finish is medium in length and offers more raspberries. I found out it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Nero D’Avola, which is a grape I hold near and dear. Overall a very juicy and decent wine that gets 90 points from me. I paid $20 and am going with 4 stars. Salut….
10 Friday Mar 2017
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$20, 2 stars, 86 points, cabernet sauvignon, Italy, sangiovese, Tuscan
I just saw the 95 point sticker on the label, it must be good or this particular critic is dead to me…
Dark purple color, from the 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Lets see what the 50% Sangiovese brings. Olives, plum jam and seaweed hit the nose. On the palate I get a very intriguing flavor. I can’t quite put my finger on it…Black plums, dark, dark stone fruits and perhaps black tea leaves. I am getting a very one dimensional hit of tannins as well. The mid palate is all black tea and tannins. The finish is bitter, with faint notes of black plum and oversteeped tea. I don’t get it. This wine was hyped by a pro, written up by the seller as soft and supple, with gentle tannins. Quite the opposite for me, and bottle variation doesn’t count here. This wine is barely 86 points in my book and for $20 I think I will look elsewhere. 2 stars. Salut….
05 Sunday Feb 2017
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$36, 4 stars, 91 points, cabernet sauvignon, Napa, napa cabernet
Really dark purple color, impervious to light. The nose leans heavily on blackcurrants with a touch of spearmint of all things. It’s really unique and very nice. The initial attack is all dark fruits with some gripping tannins. Flavors of plum come out on the midpalate along with blackberries. The tannins are ever present. The finish is medium in length and the dryness of the tannins goes on forever. This wine will go the distance but can tackle some hearty meals right now. Really tasty- 91 points. $36 if you can find it make this a 4 star effort. Salut….
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