01 Wednesday Nov 2023
Posted in Wine reviews
A brief note- en point and at peak,. This is a delicious and full throttle Grenache that is layered with ripe fruit, great structure and a long finish. It will pair beautifully with my minted Lamb Shanks and should drink well till 2028. A stunner. Salut….
12 Thursday Oct 2023
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Medium ruby with high viscosity (14.5% ABV). The nose of this Grenache/Syrah blend has intense aromas of raspberry, both black and red, violets, hints of vanilla, walnuts, red plum and a touch of game. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that caress. A full body with flavors of raspberries, vanilla and spice from oak, violets and that telltale game note from the varietal. It’s more Syrah driven imho but the blend is 75/25 the other way. The finish is lengthy and delicious. It’s a lovely drop that gets 91 points from me and at $18- 5 stars. I am grilling Hangar steak to pair alongside Miso glazed King Oyster mushrooms. Drink till 2030. Salut….
16 Saturday Sep 2023
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$15, 5 stars, 92 points, cabernet suavignon, california, carignan, grenache, merlot, mourvedre, Naked Wines, paso robles, petite sirah, primitivo, syrah
Medium ruby colored with high viscosity (14.5% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of red plum, pomegranate, violet, meat, blackberry jam and a creme de menthe hint. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are plush. This blend of Cabernet, Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Mourvedre, Carignan and Primitivo is very smooth with ripe fruit and subtle nuances from each grape. It shows the warmth of the region in the way the fruit is sweet but there is no residual sugar. The full body is lush and coats my palate with beautiful layers- delicious stuff. The finish is long and somewhat dry but not astringent, the tannins are en pointe. This $15 offering gets 92 points from me and will be paired with grilled burgers tonight. 5 stars, drink till 2027. Salut….
25 Tuesday Jul 2023
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Medium garnet with high viscosity and staining on the walls (14.5% ABV). I can smell the alcohol on the first whiff but it blows away to reveal- red currants, pomegranate, exotic spices, game, red peppercorn and baking spices. Dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins that are well rounded and a medium-full body. The palate echoes the nose with delicious red fruit and silky tannins. A medium to long finish makes this Grenache/Mourvedre blend an enjoyable 91 point wine to drink till 2034. For $40, it gets 4 stars from me. We drank it at a traditional Lebanese feast! Salut….
17 Saturday Jun 2023
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$10, 5 stars, 89 points, grenache, Naked Wines, shiraz, South Africa, western cape
Medium ruby colored with slight wall stains and high viscosity (14.5% ABV). The nose of this 82/18 Syrah blended with Grenache has medium intensity aromas of ripe black raspberry, black cherry, coffee bean, bacon fat, lavender, baking spices and a hint of greeness- perhaps some mint? The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium intensity tannins that are smooth. The body of this tasty wine is medium to full and I get the dark raspberry/cherry and oak nuances with a meaty streak that syrah brings to the table. The floral component is more prominent on the palate than it was on the nose but a re-sniff reveals that is is opening up in that direction. The finish has a touch of heat that quickly blows off, otherwise it is short to medium in length and mainly fruit driven with raspberry and some black plum notes. You could pair this delight with pretty much any meat dish, it’s flexible and has a nice, easygoing mouthfeel. 89 points from me with a drink by 2027 window. For $10 it’s worth stocking up on- 5 stars. Salut….
12 Monday Jun 2023
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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, bekaa valley, cabernet sauvignon, grenache, lebanon, syrah
Deep ruby with garnet highlights and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of baking spice, ripe plum, vanilla bean, desiccated red raspberry, cedar plank, a touch of mint, lavender and yet more spice at the end. The palate is dry with medium acidity and fine grained tannins that are well integrated. The body of this wine is medium and somewhat more tart than the ripe fruit I got on the nose. The baking spice, cedar and lavender are present as is the red plum, raspberry and mint. There’s a unique flavor and aroma I cannot pinpoint but it reminds me of the old country- garrigue du Liban perhaps? The flavors carry on for a while and the finish is medium-long in length with spice and earth notes resonating. I love this winery and have enjoyed numerous vintages of their Chateau cuvee, this is an earlier drinking delight that is at peak now and will cellar until 2028. I am pairing this blend of Cab Sav, Syrah and Grenache with grilled pork chops and roasted veggies. 90 points for this $15 bottle makes it a 5 star wine to stock up on. Salut….
12 Sunday Mar 2023
Posted in Wine reviews
Deep ruby colored, this 60/40 blend of Mourvèdre and Grenache has slow, gobby legs showing off its 14% ABV. The nose is meaty and gamey right off the bat. Black fruit galore with blackcurrants, blackberry, mulberry, wild herbs, licorice and menthol. The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins. A full bodied wine with dark fruits, herbs (aka garrigue) and some smoky game meat all meld together nicely to form a very pleasing flavor profile with nice balance and decent structure. It’s not overly complex but has a primal sense to it. 89 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 3 star effort to drink till 2028. I’m doing a Sunday roast to pair with- should work out just right! Salut….
21 Tuesday Feb 2023
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When I think of Rioja I imagine dusty, leathery Tempranillo. This bottle was different- Grenache based it was lighter colored in the glass and had aromas of blackcurrant, cherry and pepper with earthy notes. Medium acid, body and tannins led into a slightly jammy palate of blackcurrant, dark raspberry, black cherry. A medium finish to this semi-complex wine makes it a 91 pointer that gets 5 stars ’cause it only runs $15. I would pair it with Filet Mignon or perhaps Veal on the charcoal. Drink till 2026. Salut….
24 Tuesday Jan 2023
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Inky purple in the glass this blend of 62% Carinyena & 38% Garnacha has got slow moving legs (14.5% ABV). The nose is stunning. Intense aromas of toffee, coffee, and chocolate interlaced with ripe blueberry, blackberry, plums, black cherry, mint and cassis- there is a decadent richness about this wine that I get right off the bat. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are fine-grained. Flavors of dark, bold fruits with loads of French oak nuance make for a delicious flavor profile. Whilst the nose is driven by the toffee/coffee etc, the palate is opposite. Layers of ripe fruit are now in charge, followed by the toffee, caramel, mint and medicinal notes from the barrels. The finish is long and soft. Stunning stuff that got up to 96 points from the pros. I would have to agree. The aging capacity of this well structured, full bodied wine is good, say till 2035. You can find it for under $40 making it a monster 5 star effort. I’m simmering a pot of rich, hearty goat stew with some creamy truffle infused acorn squash pureé. Can’t wait. Salut….
25 Tuesday Oct 2022
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$15, 4 stars, 89 points, Cotes du rhone, france, grenache, Naked Wines, rhone valley, syrah
This Grenache/Syrah blend is deep ruby colored with thick, slow moving legs (14.5% ABV). The nose has nice aromas of red plum, black raspberry, red licorice, herbs, candied cherry and rose. It’s quite complex once you swirl it around. The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium tannins- the grip I got initially quickly faded. Flavors of plum, black raspberry, charred oak, some red licorice and earthy florals/herbs. It is medium (+) bodied with a medium finish of dark red fruit plus a healthy dose of heat. Made from very ripe fruit, it is flavorful but at a price- the alcohol is quite noticeable on the back end. We are pairing this bold wine with spiced burgers and potato wedges. It would also go well with hearty BBQ, maybe smoked brisket with a rich sauce. 89 points from me for this $15 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2026. Salut….
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