Tag Archives: VWTC

Cambria Estate Winery Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022, Santa Maria Valley, California

09 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


We drank this stunning Pinot bargain at our 40th virtual wine tasting.  I noted a pale ruby color with medium (-) viscosity (13.2% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of strawberry, blackberry, black cherry, cherry cola, sweet licorice, red currants, tomato stalk and an evergreen hint. (these are combined descriptors from the group btw).  The palate was dry with a light body, medium (-) acidity, and low tannins- a very enjoyable mouthfeel.  Strawberry, mature black cherry, cola, smoky charcoal and sweet licorice flavors were noted.  The wine had a medium (+) finish and was enjoyed by all.  I scored it 18 points out of 20 on our tasting sheet and assigned it 91 points on a technical merit.  At $20 I am most definitely ordering a case of this to throw back at every opportunity.  A stunning 5 star effort to drink until 2030. Salut….

Cambria Estate Winery Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir

Sebastien Dampt Cote de Lechet 2022, Chablis Premier Cru, France

09 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


We tasted this Burgundian Chardonnay at the 40th virtual wine tasting.  Per normal,  it was served chilled first followed by a room temperature glass for comparison.  The chilled version scored far better for me which is unusual.  Pale gold in color with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose gave us citrus, nectarines, honey, melon, peach and pink grapefruit.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (-) body.  The flavors are very terroir driven with loads of minerality and a long finish.  I scored this one a 16 on our tasting scale with a 91 point technical score.  The room temperature version was far less aromatic on the nose which surprised me.  It was more broad with lemon and grapefruit pith notes coupled with some honey and peach.  The palate was fuller in body but less powerful, not as complex and lacking focus.  The peach note remained alongside some ripe Honeycrisp apple notes and a slight bitterness.  The finish was only medium at this temperature.  I scored it a mere 10 points on our sheet.  Overall, I really enjoyed this wine well-chilled on night two.  At $30, it’s a treat bottle that gets 4 stars from me.  I believe it has some decent cellaring capacity with potential to evolve.  Salut….

Sebastien Dampt Cote de Lechet

Cantine del Notaio Il Sigillo 2011, Basilicata, Italy

24 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


The star of the 39th virtual wine tasting was this mature Aglianico.  Deep garnet colored with definitive bricking, slight staining, and medium viscosity (14%V ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of prune, dried nuts, desiccated cherry, swisher sweet cigars, raisins, musty barnyard, leather, and Absinthe.  The plate was dry with medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that were fully integrated.  Sipping this wine was ethereal- the flavors echoed the nose and the silky presentation had a long finish.  I would not cellar this wine any further as it’s at peak/slightly past peak and needs to be enjoyed to its fullest now.  A perfect 20 points were awarded by more than one taster and I gave this $80 bottle 94 points.  A super treat to drink this 5 star effort.  Salut….

Cantine del Notaio Il Sigillo Aglianico

Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino 2019, Tuscany, Italy

24 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


The third wine of our virtual wine-tasting was this Sangiovese Grosso that was a little one-dimensional.  It started off with the color- pale garnet, with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose gave us medium intensity aromas of anise, sage, musty leather, red cherry and orange peel.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins.  Green leaf, slightly unripe red cherry, leather, barnyard, and pencil lead all took us to a medium length finish.  I was a bit underwhelemed by this $40 offering, giving it 15 points on our scoring sheet and 90 technical points, thus making it a 3 star effort.  It may be in a dumb phase as it did open up on night 2.  We paired it with leftover pepper steak and mashed potatoes.  I would cellar a bottle or two for a few years and drink by 2030.  Salut….


Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2022, Sicily, Italy

24 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


Tasted at our virtual wine tasting- this Nerello Mascalese was pale ruby colored with high viscosity (14.8% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of green pepper, blackberry, vanilla, leather, black raspberry, cigar, coffee and a herbal, medicinal note.  The palate was dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (+) tannins.  The aromas carried through to the palate and it ended on a medium length finish.  I scored it 14 points on our sheet but gave it 91 points on technical merit.  It ran $28, making it a 4 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso

Dona Maria White 2022, Alentejo, Portugal

24 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


My tasting group kicked off this session with this Arinto from Portugal.  We tasted it chilled and then at room temp.  We noticed it was medium lemon colored with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of grapefruit, honeysuckle, apricot, nectarine, pineapple, sea spray, and wet rock lending it a touch of  minerality.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, and a light body.  It was more tart than I was expecting with flavors of grapefruit, slightly unripe pineapple, honeysuckle, nectarine and apricot as well as some salinity.  The finish was rather short yet inviting.  I gave it 13 points on our scale.

The room temperature tasting was surprising.  Less intense aromas that kicked off with a wet wool smell.  Someone mentioned acetone- Gosh I hope not.  A more intense pineapple alongside lanolin, less intense honeysuckle, saline, wet rock and stone fruit.  The palate seemed less acidic but heavier in body.  Apricot featured the most with honeysuckle, yellow apple, and lanolin supporting.  The finish was more pronounced and longer yet I scored this one lower at 11 points on our scale.  Overall- this is a 90 point wine that I thoroughly enjoyed the following night, well chilled.  It runs $18 therefore I consider it a 4 star effort to drink by 2028.  Shrimp scampi comes to mind.  Salut….

Dona Maria White arinto

Ruca Malen Capitulo Dos Petit Verdot 2020, Los Chacayes, Argentina

05 Sunday Jan 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Tasted at the 38th virtual wine tasting, this single varietal Petit Verdot performed as I had hoped, introducing the group to this grape that is normally blended.  This bottling was deep ruby colored with moderate staining, and a high viscosity (14.9% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of Maduro, with smoke, black licorice, red Twizzler, blackberry, and tobacco.  On the palate we got medium (-) acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins.  Blackberry led the charge with pencil lead, red beet, tobacco, pomegranate and sour cherry supporting.  A tart finish that lasted medium length led me to award 13 points on our scoring sheet.  Technically speaking, this $20 effort gets 89 points and 3 stars.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Ruca Malen Capitulo Dos Petit Verdot

Artazu Pasos de San Martin Garnacha 2016, Navarra, Spain

05 Sunday Jan 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Tasted at our 38th virtual wine tasting- this Garnacha performed decently for many in the group.  It had a a medium garnet complexion with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  On the nose we smelled lavender, smoke, peat, barnyard funk, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, black olives, and some funky blue cheese.  The palate had medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are nicely integrated.  Green peppercorn flavors with black olives, red raspberry, black cherry, black pepper, and that funky blue cheese led to a medium length finish.  This wine was just okay for me and got 11 points on our tasting sheet but scored 89 points for technical merit.  At $20, I would like to revisit this 3 star effort and give it a chance to open up and release the funk.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Artazu Pasos de San Martin Garnacha

Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling 2021, Salta, Argentina

05 Sunday Jan 2025

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


We kicked off the 38th virtual wine tasting with this Torrontes/Riesling blend (85/15%), served initially chilled then at room temperature.  Pale yellow colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV), it gave the tasters medium (+) intensity aromas of honeysuckle, lemon, nectarine, peach, pear, lychee, and rose water.  On the palate it is dry with medium (+) acidity thanks to the Riesling, with a light body.  The flavors were similar to the nose with the addition of vanilla- the finish was long.  We then tasted the room temperature version which gave us more pear, some petrol, a hint of ginger, and perhaps vanilla thread.  The acidity was a bit subdued but the body felt heavier with tangerine, pear, honeysuckle, and a citrus driven finish that went on for ages.  I scored it 15 and 14 on our tasting sheet but this $12 bottle gets 91 points on technical merit making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling

Yacoubian-Hobbs Dry Areni 2018, Vayots Dzor, Armenia

27 Saturday Jul 2024

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


A new-to-me variety, the Areni from Armenia was simply stunning.  I had no idea what to expect and this wine/varietal is now on my list of favorites.  Pale ruby bordering on garnet with slight staining and high viscosity (14% ABV).  At first whiff I got a blast of pepper, followed by floral notes, raisins and walnuts.  I was a bit perturbed by the lack of obvious fruit and concerned that I had picked an over-the-hill bottle to sample.  Alas the palate showed us what this wine is all about.  Low acidity, medium body and low tannins made for a gorgeous mouthfeel.  Very delicate yet enticing.  Raisins, stewed raspberry, walnuts, baked plum, leather and spice showed me this wine is maturing nicely and developing tertiary notes whilst shedding its youthful fruit. The finish was medium (+) in length and beckoned for me to taste more.  It’s not gonna last so drink this 92 point beauty now, alone.  If you must pair it then do so delicately.  Pork, chicken or other low fat, neutral flavored food would do the trick.  For $35 it gets 5 stars.  Loved it.  Salut….