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Tag Archives: VWTC

Glenelly Estate Reserve Red 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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$22, 5 stars, 91 points, Cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot, South Africa, stellenbosch, syrah, VWTC


The closer at our 43rd virtual wine tasting was this banger from Stellenbosch.  A lovely wine that I have drunk older vintages of and it did not disappoint.  The tasting group noted how opaque it was with a deep garnet color, slight staining, and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of floral perfume, thrift shop, mangrove, ocean spray, leather, licorice, coffee, and vanilla.  That’s quite an interesting set of descriptors, but then again, there was a decent sized crowd at this tasting.  The palate was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a full body, and high tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echoed the nose but we also got some blackberry, black cherry, and green pepper- consistent with the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.  Delicious but young- this wine will cellar nicely till 2037 if it’s at all like it’s older siblings.  91 points from me and 17/20 on our tasting sheet.  We paid $22 last August, making this an amazing deal and worthy of 5 stars.  Salut….

Glenelly Estate Reserve Red

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Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carmenere 2021, Maipo Valley, Chile

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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$22, 5 stars, 91 points, carmenere, chile, maipo valley, VWTC


The third wine of our virtual tasting was this delicious Carmenère with a bit of age on it.  We noted a deep ruby color flexing to garnet, with high viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (-) intensity aromas of blackberry, vanilla, baking spice, and green pepper for days.  On the palate it was dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that were well integrated.  One of the tasters said- “It tastes like salad”.  I guess the green pepper component was obviously driving the bus.  Otherwise- we noted plum, coffee, blackberry, vanilla, and baking spice.  It came alive on the palate and showed off a medium (+) length finish which earned it 91 points.  On our tasting sheet I gave this $22 effort 15/20 points and would drink it over the next 4 years with a juicy steak.  5 stars.  Salut….

 


Vina Tarapaca Gran Reserva Carmenere

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Astrolabe Pinot Noir 2020, Marlborough, New Zealand

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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$22, 5 stars, 92 points, marlborough, new zealand, pinot noir, VWTC


Second up at the virtual wine tasting was this Pinot from New Zealand.  Pale garnet colored, with slight bricking, and low viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of rose, barnyard, cherry, stewed strawberry, cola, chocolate covered cherries, and rhubarb.  The palate had medium acidity, a light body, and low tannins.  Medium intensity flavors focussed on cherry, cola, and a medicinal note.  Red fruit was the dominant undertone.  A long finish was noted which helped bolster the score to 92 points.  On the tasting sheet- 19/20.  For $22, this is a delicious 5 star wine to seek out if you like a mix of Old/New World Pinot.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Astrolabe Pinot Noir

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Weingut Markus Huber Terrassen Gruner Veltliner 2023, Traisental DAC, Austria

05 Sunday Apr 2026

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$22, 4 stars, 91 points, austria, grüner veltliner, Traisental, VWTC


We tasted this wine chilled and then at room temperature at the 43rd virtual wine tasting, held over Zoom.  It was pale lemon colored, with low viscosity, (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of pear, lemon, green apple, nectarine, lanolin, lemon pith, and a hint of the telltale white pepper.  The palate was dry, with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium (-) intensity flavors included pineapple, semi-ripe pear, apricot, green apple and the pepper note.  A medium length finish was noted.  I enjoyed the chilled version, giving it 91 points and on our tasting sheet- 14 points.

The room temperature version was less intense on the nose, with slightly different aromas and flavors.  Honeydew melon, green apple, honeysuckle, white pepper, more pith than when chilled, persimmon, and apricot.  The wine felt less acidic, rounder and more full bodied- waxy.  The finish was slightly longer, yet I did not enjoy it as much.  It garnered 89 points and only 12 /20 on the sheet.  I would drink this $22 wine chilled over the next few years with fresh seafood, perhaps a chicken salad.  4 stars.  Salut….

Huber Terrassen Gruner Veltliner

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Bodega Garzon Reserva Tannat 2022, Maldonado, Uruguay

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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$18, 5 stars, 90 points, Maldonado, Tannat, uruguay, VWTC


The WOTN for almost everyone at the 42nd virtual wine tasting.  This one keeps hitting on all cylinders.  I have opened various vintages and they are all top rated wines that please the crowds.  This one was typical- deep ruby colored, with slight staining.  Medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, black berry, plum, licorice, charcoal, vanilla, and a touch of alcohol peeking through.  On the palate, it was dry, with med (-) acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors and a medium (+) length finish made this black fruit driven wine shine.  It got 90+ point from me and on our tasting score sheet- 15/20.  We paid $18 for it, making this a 5 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Bodega Garzon Reserva Tannat

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Penley Estate ‘Francis’ Cabernet Franc 2023, Coonawarra, Australia

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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$20, 3 stars, 88 points, australia, Cabernet franc, coonawarra, VWTC


A most unique smelling and tasting Cabernet Franc that we opened at the 42nd virtual wine tasting.  Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (12.5% ABV).  A medium (+) intensity nose of sweet red apples, cranberry juice, bubble gum, green pepper, and rhubarb.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  A dry, medium (-) finish left me bewildered at the flavor profile of this wine.  Some hated it, others were indifferent, I was intrigued.  We paid $20 per bottle and I am thinking it is an 88 point wine, making it worthy of 3 stars.  Drink soon.  Salut….



Penley Estate 'Francis' Cabernet Franc

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Duorum Tinto 2020, Douro, Portugal

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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$18, 4 stars, 89 points, Douro, portugal, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, VWTC


The second wine of our virtual tasting was this Portugues blend.  Deep garnet in color with a medium (+) viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry, black plum, ripe blueberry, black cherry, vanilla, and a medicinal note.  Medium (-) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins were noted.  On he plate we also got licorice in addition to the aromas already mentioned.  A pleasant, medium length finish made this an 89 point wine for me.  At $18 this wine delivered nicely and gets 4 stars.  It’s already approaching six years of age, it will last another half dozen.  Salut….

Duorum Tinto

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Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Grigio 2023, Alto Adige Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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$19, 3 stars, 88 points, Italy, pinot grigio, pinot gris, trentino-alto Adige, VWTC


This Pinot Grigio from Trento-Doc was served both chilled and at room temperature at the 42nd virtual wine tasting.  The tasters found it to be pale lemon in color with low viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas and flavors of unripe pear, lemon rind, a mineral twist and green apple.  It was dry, with medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  The finish was medium (-) in duration and unremarkable.  The room temperature version was just flatter, less intense and felt heavier on the body with lower acidity.  I vacillated between 87 and 89 points so the average rules here- 88 points for this $19 bottle makes it a 3 star wine.  I would drink in the short term.  Salut….


Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Grigio

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Domaine Durieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reserve Lucile Avril 2020, Rhone, France

09 Monday Jun 2025

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$45, 3 stars, 90 points, Chateauneuf-du-pape, france, grenache, mourvedre, southern rhone, syrah, VWTC


The closer at the 40th virtual wine tasting was this CDP.  Medium ruby colored with a high viscosity (15.5% ABV).  The group found medium intensity aromas of black cherry, bramble berry, funk, blackberry, leather, green leaf and a benzene note.  On the palate it was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  Flavorwise- it was syrupy with black raspberry, bramble berry, overstepped black tea and black cherry.  Slightly astringent, it finished long.  It was not my favorite by a long shot and only garnered 15 points out of a possible 20 on our tasting sheet but technically speaking- this $45 effort got 90 points making it a 3 star wine.  It has some cellaring capacity even though it’s currently open for business. My buddy gave it a perfect score but then again he was pretty cheery by the close and loves Southern Rhone wines in general.  A blend of 80% grenache, 10% syrah and 10% mourvedre.  Salut….

Domaine Durieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reserve Lucile Avril

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Yohan Lardy Fleurie Le Vivier 2023, Beaujolais, France

09 Monday Jun 2025

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$23, 3 stars, 89 points, beaujolais, france, gamay, VWTC


I wanted our virtual tasting group to try a cru Beaujolais, unfortunately this one wasn’t it…. Medium ruby bordering on garnet with a low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of purple grapes, pepper and plum.  It was quite boring.  The palate had medium (-) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Flavors of green pepper, grape, fresh peppercorns, and some plum gave way to a decently long finish that lifted the low score of this one-dimensional wine.  I scored it a mere 12 points on our tasting scale and awarded it 89 points on technical merit.  I paid $23 for this 3 star effort.  Drink till 2028. Salut….

Yohan Lardy Fleurie Le Vivier

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