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Beringer Vineyards ‘Beringer Bros.’ Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California, USA

07 Monday May 2018

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Quite dark and very opaque.  The nose is lush, with plums, sweet oak and vanilla bean.  Makes sense, seeing as the label says Bourbon Barrel aged.  On the palate it is slightly sweet- more dark blue fruits, a molasses component and plums galore.  The mid palate shows off some very integrated tannins as well as some blueberry pie and a nutty component.  The wine builds nicely into a long finish that has a certain dryness from the tannins that mingle with more plum, some cherry and coconut notes.  The mouthfeel of this wine is amazing, not overly dry, not too acidic.  The finish is really smooth and as mentioned, quite lengthy.  This is a sipping wine but I would also pair it with chorizo and sautéed kale.  90 points from me for this $16 effort.  4 stars.  Salut….

EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir 2015, Russian River Valley, USA

07 Monday May 2018

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A darker purple then expected from Pinot Noir.  Nose gives off gobs of strawberry, cherry pie and cedar plank.  The palate gives me some spicy notes of red fruits, violets and fig paste.  The finish is lengthy with very caressing, smooth tannins that are in perfect balance with the acidity.

This is a delicious wine that will reward instant gratification yet will cellar well for another 10 years.  I paired it with some of the best Lamb Chops I have had in a long time.  91 points and 5 stars for this $40 effort.   I’m buying some for the cellar.  Salut….

Oberon Merlot 2016, Napa Valley, USA

30 Monday Apr 2018

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Solid, dark and brooding.  On the nose it is somewhat muted in this particular glass but I managed to coax black cherry, olives, cinnamon stick.  On the palate it is much more defined, albeit a bit tannic at first.  Plum and black berries come out with some nuttiness to go along with the mouth drying tannins, which are rather forceful by the mid palate.  Figs, a touch of oak and some more blue fruits tie it up with a mid length finish.  The wine is young, the tannins are quite untamed.  I would give this wine another 2 years in cellar and drink from 2020-2028.  88 points and 3 stars for this $19 effort.  Salut….

Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Napa Valley, USA

06 Friday Apr 2018

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If you know me you will remember that we are moving.  I transferred most of my wine into a climate controlled storage unit, but kept about 50 bottles in the wine fridge.  Some are really nice, pricey and supposed to be for special occasions.  Oh well, they are getting polished off now.  I include this particularly good wine in that group.  Bought for $65 and cellared since 2014 I am looking forward to comparing it to my earlier review.

It shows bright purple in the glass with a nose of plum ganache, black tea, figs and a touch of oak.  On the palate it is super smooth with a tannic bite right upfront.  Flavors of blueberry compote, plum, anise and black olives.  The tannins are pretty forceful as the wine transitions to the mid palate.  A dryness hits the gums and makes me pucker up.  I do like that some times!  The plum theme continues on to the long finish where I  also get cherry cola and another touch of oak.  The tannins peak at the very end, and the acidity balances it all out.  Overall, a very nice package that has matured nicely and is drinking perfectly now.  Not an everyday drinker, I would certainly pull this out for a special occasion.  93 points holds and 4 stars awarded.  Tonight we pair it with Tomahawk Pork Chops, Flat Iron steaks, a Bratwurst, some Cauliflower Cheese and grilled Broccoli.  Salut….

Cosentino Winery Reserve Selection Pinot Noir 2011, Sonoma Coast, USA

10 Saturday Mar 2018

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I wrote about this wine back in 2012 (Cosentino Reserve Sonoma), with a note to re-taste in 5 years.  The wine is transparent, light purple, seductive.  The nose is fresh, with strawberry, barnyard and raspberry.  On the palate it is super smooth.  The strawberry coulis is forefront with red berry extract and a caressing tannic structure.  Acidity is perfect and the wine balances itself all the way to the rather long finish.  I would imagine this wine is approaching peak.  It has hints of tertiary flavors while maintaining the freshness of the red fruits.  It has a good backbone and the structure is there to allow for further development.  I would drink till 2026 and pair it with game, poultry and perhaps Filet Mignon.  It is a rather delicate profile, sexy and lithe- not a brooding, big and bold wine.  I am sticking with 92 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Paso Robles, California

06 Tuesday Mar 2018

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It was a birthday celebration at Texas De Brazil that put this wine on the table, it was the special offer.  They were ‘giving’ it away for $56, regularly $70.  It retails for $20.

Plums, cinnamon stick and blackberry on the nose.  The palate is juicy with plum torte, cedar plank, rich tannins, juicy acidity. The finish is dry where the tannins are in full force but not obtrusive. Black cherry notes round it all out.  89 points and 3 stars from me.  It did well with the abundance of meat served in various styles and cuts from a classic (expensive) Churascarria.  Serve all day long with grilled meats.  Salut…..

Spellbound Petite Sirah 2014, California, USA

06 Saturday Jan 2018

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I’ve tasted the 2010 Spellbound and liked it.  For dinner tonight I ordered it as I wasn’t in the mood for a big pricy bottle.  It was $33 on the menu, the cheapest offering at this Bay Area steak house.  Dark, inky purple in the glass as is to be expected for the varietal.  The nose offers black fruits, bramble and dusty tannins.  The palate gives me a nice, easy drinking black fruited wine with easy going acidity, smooth, lithe tannins and a nice dose of sunshine.  This basic wine offers much gratification, lots of primal flavor and a great mouthfeel.  88 points and 5 stars for this $12 effort that I enjoyed quite a bit.  Salut….

Prophecy Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, California

06 Saturday Jan 2018

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Very rich purple in the glass.  The nose has a candy note to it along with a strong smell of grape juice.  The palate is welcoming and round, with very soft tannins, hints of cola, nutmeg and black berry.  It’s a very drinkable wine, without adding complexity or depth.  It has a rather short finish and I feel it was made for the short term, easily served at a barbecue or large party.  It gets 86 points from me, and for $12- 3 stars.  Salut….

Peter Michael ‘Belle Cote’ Chardonnay 2011, Sonoma County, USA

26 Tuesday Dec 2017

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My dad opened this one up for Christmas dinner.  What a stunner!  Bright yellow in the glass with a touch of gold.  On the nose it is amazing.  Pineapple, citrus, nutmeg, lemon curd.  On the palate it exhibits a very smooth intro to lemon meringue, green apple, lanolin, butterscotch and touch of brioche.  It has a very balanced level of acidity that gives it great structure and finesse.  This wine is really good, pricey at $95 it’s worthy of 4 stars because it gets 93 points from me.  I can’t even imagine pairings with this wine, it’s so good all by itself.  Drink now till 2020.  Salut….

Peju Province Winery Merlot 2014, Napa Valley, USA

04 Wednesday Oct 2017

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A really dark purple in the glass which is getting me excited.  The nose is pure pleasure.  Sweet plums, a hint of oak and a creaminess I can’t even describe.  This wine is going to be the business- I just know it.

On the palate it is super duper smooth.  Blackberry, cocoa and pomegranate come to mind.  The tannins pop on the mid palate and dominate the dry finish.  I also get some red currants right at the end.  This wine is multi layered and I expect it to cellar well into 2022.  I’m really enjoying it all by its lonesome but envision roasted duck with root veg and an elderberry gravy might hit the spot.  92 points for this $35 effort and 5 stars.  Salut….