Monday, December 30, 2019

Louis Jadot Bourgogne 2015 Pinot Noir



Louis Jadot Bourgogne 2015 Pinot Noir, $16.99-20.99, 89 points, poured a bright ruby trending cranberry red with a very broad clear meniscus and slightly heavier than light legs.
Aromatic cherry fruit, plum, and a floral vibe were quite lovely though a bit low-key.
Medium-bodied dry red wine with good acidity and soft mellow tannins provided a supportive backdrop for way more flavor in a Pinot than one might expect. The last time I had this wine was more than seven years ago, and I don't remember this wine being such a good value.
With Pinot Noir specific grape were ripe flavors of red cherry and raspberry nicely nuanced with oak.
Finished long on the trailing palate, easy pepper spice, and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired fine with our Mexican cuisine.


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Saturday, December 28, 2019

Duckhorn Napa Valley 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon




Duckhorn Napa Valley 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, $59.39-$75.99, 93 points, poured core black grading to a deep purple/red with a broad clear meniscus and moderately fat stained legs.
Aromatic toasty black fruit, especially black currant, and allspice were excellent.
Lovely round full-bodied (big) red wine with good acidity and fine grainy tannin sported a vigorous flavor medley consisting of cedar, black currants, violets, cinnamon, clove, anise, and cola.
Finished long on black cherry, red pepper, and a warm 14.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my teriyaki beef.

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Thursday, December 26, 2019

Domaine Séguinot-Bordet, Fourchaume 2018 Chablis Premier Cru





Domaine Séguinot-Bordet, Fourchaume 2018 Chablis Premier Cru, $32.99-$36.99, 93 points, poured a light yellow gold color.
Aromatic tangerine, peach, and apricot with a floral vibe were outstanding.
Light-bodied white wine with good acidity, minerality, and vibrancy provoked the aromas onto the palate.
Finished with delicate pome fruit, a touch of white pepper, and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired smartly with my spinach and feta pita (Spanikopita).
A bit pricy for the average table wine, but if you're not satisfied with your usual white table wine, or if you want to wow your guests, then take a leap of faith. A great wine with white fish, oysters, and rotisserie chicken.

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Ken Wright Cellars Willamette Valley 2014 Pinot Noir





Ken Wright Cellars Willamette Valley 2014 Pinot Noir, $25.99-$28.99, 90 points, poured a bright ruby red with orange highlights, a clear wine ring, and copious stained legs.
Earthy and toasty black cherry aromas were okay.
Medium-bodied red wine presented an upfront silky texture, fair to good acidity, a mellow underlayment of tannin, and rich cherry fruit flavors nuanced with cola and oak.
Finished well on the fading palate, a nondescript coarsening spice, and a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.
I don't often have Pinot Noir with Asian food, but the Ken Wright was a perfect pairing.

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Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Belmondo N/V Extra Dry Prosecco (DOC)







Belmondo N/V Extra Dry Prosecco (DOC), $7.99-$11.99, 87 points, was a medium gold color with a fair-sized head of foam with continuous eruptions of medium sized bubbles.
Aromas were Glera white grape specific with nuanced hints of tangerine and a nondescript floral note.
Light crisp body with bright acidity and adequate effervescence delivered (typically) the aromas onto the palate.
Finished fair with hints of melon rind and an appropriate 11% alcohol.
Paired fine with my spinach/feta pie.


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Sunday, December 22, 2019

Château Bailly Pessac-léognan Grand Cru Classé 2015 Bordeaux Red





Château Bailly Pessac-léognan Grand Cru Classé 2015 Bordeaux Red, $108.79-$127.99, 97 points, poured core black grading to a blood red toward the bright/clear meniscus and fat hanging stained legs.
Lovely cornucopia of fruit and flowers nuanced with savory aromas were amazing.
Full-bodied dry red wine which was up-front quite satiny on the mouth and showed good acidity with fine and favorable tannins.
Flavors mirrored the aromas with nutmeg, mint, and black currants.
Finished very long with ascending pepper spices, cinnamon, plum, and a warm 14% alcohol.
Varietals were 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot.
I satisfactorily paired this wine with several different cuisines, but found the wine so good, I just wanted to drink it solo.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2015

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Saturday, December 21, 2019

Viñas Chilenas Rosario Estate Winemaker's Selection Reserva 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (Chile)






Viñas Chilenas Rosario Estate Winemaker's Selection Reserva 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (Chile), $6.99, 88 points, was a medium gold color, and clear at the rim.
Smells of grass and citrus were nice.
A bit heavier than light-bodied with good acidity, minerality, and flavors of cilantro, lemon zest, and ginger.
Finished fair on the fading palate, melon rind, pome blossoms, and a balanced 12% alcohol.
Paired okay with my deep fried North Atlantic sea scallops.


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Friday, December 20, 2019

Underwood Oregon 2018 Pinot Gris Rosé





Underwood Oregon 2018 Pinot Gris Rosé $10.19-$14.99, 89 points, was a very light salmon pink color turning quite clear halfway toward the rim.
Soft lovely peach, pear, and floral notes made my nose happy.
Light-bodied dry Rosé with fair to good acidity delivered tangy red fruit, a bit of ginger, orange zest, and other citrus flavors.
Finished very long on the trailing palate and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired so-so with my Italian grinder (sub), but a bit better with my deep fried North Atlantic scallops.

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Thursday, December 19, 2019

Castello di Verrazzano 2016 Chianti Classico DOCG (Revisited)






Castello di Verrazzano 2016 Chianti Classico DOCG (Revisited), $14.44-$19.99, 90 points, poured a deep ruby red with a clear meniscus and light clear legs.
Aromas were floral red fruit with cooking herbs and eucalyptus.
Medium-bodied red wine with bright acidity firm grainy tannins, and generous flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long on mint, bay-leaf, red cherry, easy white pepper, and a spot-on 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my peperoni pizza.



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Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Château La Dominique Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2009 Bordeaux (Revisited)




Château La Dominique Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2009 Bordeaux (Revisited), $56.94-$66,99, 95 points, (100% Merlot), poured core black becoming almost a blood red toward the bleeding meniscus and stained copious legs.
Aromas were pleasantly earthy and herbal with a soft floral vibe.
Near full-bodied red wine which I last tasted almost seven years ago has only improved, and still showing fine grainy tannins promises to live on much longer.
The supportive acidity managed to enhance the tertiary flavors of iron, mint, and tobacco nuanced with plum.
Finished long on pepper spices bolstered by the well-balanced 14.5% alcohol.

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Monday, December 16, 2019

Raorao Marlborough 2018 Sauvignon Blanc





Raorao Marlborough 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, $6.99, 88 points, was a medium brass color with yellow highlights.
Aromas of tropical fruit were dominated by gooseberry.
Light-bodied white wine with bright acidity and flavors reflective of the aromas was a good table wine.
Finished long on the trailing palate, hints of grapefruit, and an appropriate 12.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my salt and vinegar fried chicken.

2018 NZ SB
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Sunday, December 15, 2019

Faustino V Reserva Rioja 2013 Red Wine





Faustino V Reserva Rioja 2013 Red Wine, $16.49-$44.99, 90 points, poured a deep ruby red with orange highlights toward the clear meniscus with hanging sheets on the glass bowl.
Aromas of geranium, toast, and sweet red fruits were pleasant.
Medium-bodied red wine with good acidity, fine grainy tannins, and tart tasty flavors of strawberry, red raspberry, tobacco, and cola notes, though quite dry and a bit astringent, showed great Tempranillo character.
Finished with notes of iron, pepper spices, and a well-integrated 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with burgers.

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Saturday, December 14, 2019

Penfold's Bin 407 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Revisited)




Penfold's Bin 407 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Revisited), $25.49, 91 points, poured broadly black grading to an unfiltered purple/red appearance toward the bleeding wine ring and copious stained legs.
Aromas of toasty black currants nuanced with a floral vibe, slightly sour plums, and cedar were good.
Full-bodied red wine with medium acidity and a soft underlayment of tannin managed to support flavors reflective of the aromas with cola.
Finished long on the fading palate, intense white pepper, Kirsch, anise, and a warm 14.5% alcohol.
Paired well with several beef-base cuisines.
Having been laid down in my cooler for almost ten years, this wine more than twelve years old, has held up well.

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Friday, December 13, 2019

Buil And Gine 'Gine Gine', 2016 Priorat Red Wine (DOCa, Spain)


Buil And Gine 'Gine Gine', 2016 Priorat Red Wine (DOCa, Spain), $19.79-$28.99, 89 points, poured core black grading to a deep garnet red with purple highlights, a broad clear meniscus, and dense copious stained legs.
Aromatic iodine, oak, lavender and loam were impressive.
Near full-bodied red wine with bright acidity and firm grainy tannins delivered a cornucopia of red fruit flavors nuanced with flat root-beer, earthy blackberry, and bay leaf.
Finished quite long on an alcohol (15%) inspirited pepper spiciness with a hint of tobacco.
Varietals were a blend of Cariñena and Garnacha.

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Thursday, December 12, 2019

Piazzo Piemonte 2017 Chardonnay (DOC)





Piazzo Piemonte 2017 Chardonnay (DOC), $11.99-$18.99, 89 points, was a light to medium yellow/gold color, and clear at the rim.
Soft apple and honeysuckle aromas were pleasant.
Medium-bodied white wine, round up front and more edgy as it developed slightly tart toward and throughout the finish with an accent of ginger and a solid 13.5% alcohol.
Excellent clean minerally wine with good acidity, as were the flavors of lemon zest, lime, apple, and green melon.
Paired well with my deep fried North Atlantic haddock with broccoli in a cheddar-cheese sauce.

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Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Sinergia 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (Valencia, Spain)





Sinergia 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (Valencia, Spain), $16.99-$33.99, 91 points, poured broadly black grading to a deep shiraz purple/red toward the thin clear wine ring and copious stained fat legs.
Aromatic black currants, toast, and a floral vibe were excellent.
Full-bodied red wine with good acidity and firm, but comfortably supportive tannins managed both red and black fruit flavors nuanced with anise, citrus, and herbal flavors.
Finished long on the trailing palate, easy pepper spices, and a warm 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spice-rubbed Angus strip steak with Portobello mushrooms.
Excellent Cabernet Sauvignon with an excellent QPR.

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Monday, December 9, 2019

Rombauer Vineyards Napa Valley 2018 Sauvignon Blanc







Rombauer Vineyards Napa Valley 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, $19.99-$26.99, 92 points, was a light brass color, but was quite clear towards the rim.
Aromatic passion fruit, lemon zest, Lychee, and fresh-cut grass were lovely.
Light-bodied white wine with bright acidity and flavors which were a generous rendition of the aromas.
Finished long on the fading palate, a cornucopia of citrus notes, accelerating ginger, and a warm 14.2% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my fish plater.


2018 Cali Sauvignon Blanc

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Sunday, December 8, 2019

Ridge Paso Robles 2007 Zinfandel (Revisited)




Ridge Paso Robles 2007 Zinfandel (Revisited), $27.99, 88 points, poured an unfiltered garnet red with a clear wine ring and fat stained legs.
Aromas were a slightly sour red raspberry jam and a floral vibe, not the fragrant rich aromas of a younger Ridge Zinfandel.
Medium-bodied red wine still showed good acidity and a sufficiently adequate and supportive underlayment of tannin.
Flavors of cola, fennel, and a weak medley of raspberries were surprisingly good.
Finished long, spicy, and nuanced with melon rind, citrus, and a warm 14.4% alcohol.
Paired okay with my Mexican cuisine.
Considering that this wine is approximately seven years older than the winery recommended for consumption, it has held up remarkably well (an experiment I've intended since 2010).

Ridge, why it's a "go to" winery.
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