EL PUNTIDO 2005 Rioja (Revisited)

EL PUNTIDO 2005 Rioja (Revisited), $35.74-$47.00, 91 points, poured a deep ruby red with a garnet red penumbra, a bleeding meniscus, and a moderate display of stained legs.
Flowers, plums, and a hint of juniper on the nose were okay.
Full-bodied smooth red wine, fair acidity, and mellow mostly resolved tannin managed to deliver delicious flavors of boysenberry wrapped in tobacco and mint.
Finished very long on the trailing palate, easy pepper spices, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with by smoked brisket barbeque.

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La Granja 360 Cariñena (Aragón) 2017 Red Wine

La Granja 360 Cariñena (Aragón) 2017 Red Wine, $6.99, 87 points, poured a bright/clear ruby red with a clear meniscus and looping glass sheeting.
Smells of Kirsch, cherry syrup, and hints of salty seas were okay.
More weighty than medium-bodied with good acidity and moderate tannins, a bit tart with flavors of cherry, plum, blueberry, and licorice.
Finished well on pepper spices, a hint of pomegranate, and a balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with our meat-lovers pizza.

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Louis Jadot 2015 Marsannay, Burgundy White Wine (Chardonnay)

Louis Jadot 2015 Marsannay, Burgundy White Wine (Chardonnay), $27.19-$31.99, 89 points, was a light brass color with yellow highlights and clear at the rim.
Subtle aromas of caramel, nutmeg, wood, and wet stone were interesting.
Medium-bodied white wine with fair acidity righteously delivered the edgy nose onto the palate with a hint of tomato.
Finished woody and peppery; alcohol was 13%.
Paired fine with my fried Halibut.

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Jospeh Drouhin-Vaudon 2018 Chablis

Jospeh Drouhin-Vaudon 2018 Chablis, $21.24-$29.99, 91 points, was a light brass color grading quickly to water clear.
Lovely smells of stone fruit, flowers, apples, and minerals were outstanding.
Light-bodied white wine with good acidity and flavors reflective of the aromas were crisp, distinctive, and delicious.
Finished long, but less distinctive and on a fading palate, citrus, and a balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my chicken-based buffet.

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Hanna Red Ranch Alexander Valley 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon

Hanna Red Ranch Alexander Valley 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.69-$42.99, 89 points, poured an opaque purple/red with a thin clear wine ring and heavy stained legs.
The bouquet was a lovely cornucopia of fruit nuanced with cedar, violets, and spices.
Full-bodied red wine with fair to good acidity, a supportive underlayment of tannin, and rich flavors of fennel, red fruit, and a hint of eucalyptus.
Finished long on plums, pepper spices, a warm 14.5% alcohol, and the fading late palate.
Paired well with my spiced rack of New Zealand lamb.

2014 California Cabernet Sauvignon wines tasted
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Roberto Sarotto Riserva 2012 Barbaresco (DOCG) Revisited

Roberto Sarotto Riserva 2012 Barbaresco (DOCG) Revisited, $23.79-$39.99, 93 points, poured core ruby red grading to a garnet red toward the clear wine ring and stained fat legs.
Aromas of flowers, teas, earth, and cherry fruit were excellent.
Medium-bodied red wine with good acidity and fine grainy tannins managed a complex array of flavors consistent with the bouquet nuanced with mint and bay leaf.
Finished long on red fruit, red pepper, and a spot-on 14% alcohol.

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Carpineto 2006 Brunello Di Montalcino (D.O.C.G.)

Carpineto 2006 Brunello Di Montalcino (D.O.C.G.), $43.59-$51.99, (currently $48.44-$59.99) 91 points, poured garnet red grading coppery red toward the thin meniscus and moderate glass sheeting.
Aromas were black tea, bay leaf, and weak red fruit which migrated to the palate.
Medium-bodied bone-dry red wine with good acidity and a thin firm plank of tannin managed a rather straight-forward hard tipple best had as a table wine.
Finished warm on pepper spices, wood, and the 14% alcohol.
Paired fine with our pizzas.

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Moulin De Gassac Guilhem Languedoc 2014 Red Wine (France)

Moulin De Gassac Guilhem Languedoc 2014 Red Wine (France), $3.99-$5.49, 88 points, was a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 30% Carignan.
Poured ruby to garnet red with a bright meniscus and moderate hanging legs.
Aromas were an interesting array of subtle flowers, Bordeaux lily, shoe polish, plum, red fruit, and a hint of dill.
Full-bodied red wine with good acidity, mellow tannins, and complex flavors of red fruit, tobacco, spearmint, cola, and plums.
Finished well on earth notes, easy white pepper, red raspberry/mint, and a balanced 13% alcohol.
Another in a trend of great value wines (QPR), and I thank Brian from the NHLS-outlet for the recommendation.


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Silenus Winery Napa Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon

Silenus Winery Napa Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, $25.49-$64.99, 95 points, poured core black grading to a deep blood red with a thin clear wine ring and copious stained legs.
The nose was loads of black fruit, cinnamon, clove, and hints of flowers and vanilla.
Big full-bodied red wine, soft, round, and rich nuanced with fair acidity, and a mellow underlayment of tannin.
Flavors were complex and rich with black currants, mint mulling spice, and loam.
Finished long and intense on converging pepper spices, a warm 14.5% alcohol, cola, and emerging tannins.
This could be one of the best value Napa Cabernet Sauvignon wines I've ever had.

2013 California Cabernet Sauvignon wines tasted

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Cortonesi "La Mannella" 2012 Brunello DI Montalcino (DOCG)

Cortonesi "La Mannella" 2012 Brunello DI Montalcino (DOCG), $29.74-$71.99, 92 points, poured broadly ruby red grading to an orange/red at the bright clear meniscus and heavily ladened bowl with fat legs.
Aromatic aromas of nutmeg, black tea, a hint of near rancid fat, and floral notes were interesting if not perfumed.
Medium-bodied dry red wine with good acidity, fine tannins, and lively flavors of cherry cola, earth, eucalyptus, and wood more than escaped the besmirching of the 'near rancid' descriptor.
Finished very long on the fading palate, more noticeable tannin, black tea, pepper spices, and a warm 14.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my meatball-sub.

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Left Field, Gisborne, New Zealand, 2018 Albariño

Left Field, Gisborne, New Zealand, 2018 Albariño, $15.29-$17.99, 89 points, was a medium gold color with a lime-green cast and clearing at the rim.
Aromas were floral and tropical with a touch of Lychee.
Light-bodied white wine with good acidity and tangy flavors of orange peel, barley, and melon rind.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a hint of ginger, and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired fine with my Yellow-fin tuna salad.



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Hall Napa Valley 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, $32.99,

Hall Napa Valley 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (ten years later), $32.99, (spoiled) poured deep to opaque ruby red grading toward orange at the bleeding meniscus and copious legs.
Smells of prunes dominated this Cabernet Sauvignon which was kept in a controlled 55 degrees for nearly ten years.
Full-bodied red wine with low acidity and unsupportive tannins carried some plum verses just prune flavors with still a bit of pepper spice livened by a warm 14.5% alcohol.
I had this wine twice in 2010, and loved it both times.


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Havens Luxury Collectio North Coast 2012 Meritage

Havens Luxury Collectio North Coast 2012 Meritage, $5.99-$19.99, 84 points, poured a bright ruby color with a clear meniscus and hanging sheets rather than legs.
Smells of ripe underbrush, fig, and ripe plums were just okay for me.
Full-bodied red wine with barely fair acidity and mostly resolved tannins managed to deliver a potable tipple with flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long, herbaceously, and with a balanced 14.3% alcohol.



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Château Malescot-St.-Exupéry Margaux 2015 Bordeaux Red Wine

Château Malescot-St.-Exupéry Margaux 2015 Bordeaux Red Wine, $56.09-$65.99, 90 points, poured a mottled black/deep purple-red with a clear wine ring and singularly fat stained legs.

Smells of red raspberry, mulberry, and a whisper of blueberry with hints of dill, cocoa, and a floral vibe were just okay for me.

Full-bodied red wine with good acidity, fine grainy and firm tannins managed a somewhat rustic flavor profile embracing a cornucopia of fruit, herbs, and spices.

The finish brought out flavors reflective of the aromas nuanced with pepper spices, oak, and a potent 14.5% alcohol.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2015

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Château Kirwan Margaux 2015 Bordeaux Red Wine

Château Kirwan Margaux 2015 Bordeaux Red Wine, $47.14-$55.49, 91 points, poured an opaque ruby red with a maroon penumbra, clear meniscus, and moderate stained fat legs.

Aromas of lavender and black currants, though a bit herbaceous and bit earthy with a hint of cocoa, were excellent.

Near full-bodied dry red wine showed good acidity and wooly grainy tannins.

Flavors of red fruit, eucalyptus, and dry cooking herbs were complex and delicious.

Finished long on pepper spices, the fading palate, and a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2015

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Kidia 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (Chile)

Kidia 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (Chile), $5.99, 86 points, was a medium brass color and a clear grey at the rim.
Aromas of passion fruit, sweet hay, and lemon drop candy were bright.
Light-bodied white wine with a New Zealand-styled tenor: showed good acidity and an almost pungent (stark) flavor rendition of the aromas accented with grapefruit.
Finished fair on the dominant grapefruit, ginger, and a slightly soft 12.5% alcohol.

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Ridge Lytton Springs 2007 Red Wine Revisited

Ridge Lytton Springs 2007 Red Wine, (71% Zinfandel Revisited, 22% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane) $29.74-$34.99, 90 points, poured a mottled black and purple/reds with a thin clear meniscus and hanging legs.

Aromatic brine, flowers, coffee, and bright black grape skin were excellent.

Near full-bodied (silky) red wine with good acidity and a mellow underlayment of tannin managed to resurrect briar fruit flavors tinged with an earthiness.

Finished a bit weak, but long on the fading palate and still a well-balanced 14.4% alcohol.

Three years past the life expectancy of this wine found it still a superior 'Zinfandel'.

Paired fine with our meat lovers pizza.

Ridge, why it's a "go to" winery.
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Château Lafon-Rochet Saint-Estèphe Cru Classé 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine Revisited

Château Lafon-Rochet Saint-Estèphe Cru Classé 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine Revisited, $70.54-$82.99, 93 points, poured an opaque purple/red with black 'holidays', a thin clear meniscus, and fat stained legs.

Aromas of Bordeaux lily, perfumed roses, nuance mulling spices, and plum were complex and fluctuating

Full-bodied red with fair to good acidity and soft round supportive tannins delivered a generous portion of the bouquet onto the palate with subtle coffee and chocolate flavors.

Finished quite long on residual black fruit, fine red pepper, a touch of Kirsch, and a spot-on 14% alcohol. 

Varietals were 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and the rest were Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

Bordeaux Red Wine vintage 2010

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Ridge Hooker Creek 2016 Zinfandel

Ridge Hooker Creek 2016 Zinfandel, $34.99-$39.99, 91 points, poured a deep sienna color with a broad clear wine ring and clinging sheets to the glass wall.
Aromatic bold bramble black fruit with licorice, and just a hint of cocoa were excellent.
Near full-bodied red wine with good acidity and dense/round supportive tannins without any astringency managed to deliver the aromas onto the palate richly, along with nuanced subtle notes of mocha and cherry cola.
Finished long on pepper spices, mulberry, and a well-balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our traditional burgers and chips.

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

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