Finca la Anita Luna Single Vineyard Mendoza, Argentina 2019 Malbec

 

Finca la Anita Luna Single Vineyard Mendoza, Argentina 2019 Malbec, $11.89-$15.99, 87 points, poured a deep pretty ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and thin copious stained-legs.
Aromas were earthy, plumy, a hint of eucalyptus, black cherry, and black pepper were okay and interesting.
Luna was a full-bodied fruity (plumy) red wine with fair acidity, soft tannins, and flavors reflective of the aromas with a growing taste of plum, pepper, and eucalyptus, and finished long with the late palate, iron notes, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Drank as an aperitif. 

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RAIA Willamette Valley 2020 Pinot Noir

 

RAIA Willamette Valley 2020 Pinot Noir, $13.69-$15.99, 85 points, poured a light cranberry red with a very broad clear wine ring and copious stained legs.
Aromas of blueberry, black plum, hints of shoe polish, and a weird floral vibe were just okay for me.
RAIA was a medium-bodied red wine with fair acidity, a slightly glycerin mouthfeel, and flavors reflective of the aromas with a slightly woody/bark-like note.
Finished quite long, a bit sour, hints of cayenne pepper, that mouthfeel texture, and a 14.3% alcohol content.
Paired okay with our batter-fried chicken liver.

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Lange Estate Winery and Vineyards Willamette Valley 2019 Chardonnay (Oregon)

 

Lange Estate Winery and Vineyards Willamette Valley 2019 Chardonnay (Oregon), $21.24-$24.99, 89 points, was a light burnished brass color and graying midway towards the glass rim.
Aromas of dusty Clementine peel, hints of pine needles, and Chardonnay specific grape were okay.
Lange began very much a Dr. Jeckel/Mr. Hyde Chardonnay: (cold) aromas began strongly Chardonnay specific grape, and the flavor was just off for me, but as this wine warmed, in tandem so did the flavors which were as stated in the aroma descriptors, but late palate blossomed with lemon notes and a lovely ginger in the finish along with a well-balanced 13.2% alcohol.
Acidity was good and the texture was typical for a Northwest medium-bodied Chardonnay.
Paired fine with my baked pork loin.

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Ridge Geyserville (50th Vintage) 2015 Red Wine Revisited

 

Ridge Geyserville (50th Vintage) 2015 Red Wine Revisited, $33.14-$38.99, 94 points, poured quite different than it did five years ago, as it now shows an unfiltered ruby red with a clear moderately wide meniscus and fat-stained legs.
Aromas were still fruit driven with briar fruit, bright red cherry, cinnamon, a hint of milk chocolate, and a lovely floral vibe.
Full-bodied red wine with good acidity, soft supportive tannins (silky smooth), and delicious flavors that reflects the aromas plus cherry cola and cayenne pepper.
Finished very long on the fading palate, a touch of iron, accenting dried herbs, and the 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our Pepperoni pizza.
Comments: I don't usually like "old" Zinfandel wines (70% doesn't quite make it legit), but Ridge has proven over and over again that they are quality different, and in fact I've scored this revisited wine higher than five years ago.

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

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Juggernaut, Sonoma Coast, 2021 Chardonnay

 

Juggernaut, Sonoma Coast, 2021 Chardonnay, $20.69-$22.99, 88 points, was a medium straw-yellow color and graying towards the rim.
Aromas of honeysuckle, oak, and dusty orange peel were okay.
Juggernaut was a near full-bodied white wine with fair acidity, a rather sleek mouthfeel, and an oak driven flavor profile, but nicely nuanced with lemon oil and ginger ale.
Finished long on the fading palate, melon rind, a tangy orange zest, and a big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired okay with our Asian cuisine.

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A to Z Oregon 2018 Pinot Noir

 

A to Z Oregon 2018 Pinot Noir, $17.95-$24.99, 89 points, poured sienna purple/red color with a broad clear meniscus and copious stained legs.
Aromas of black cherries, sweet marjoram, and a floral vibe with the barest hint of milk chocolate were rather straight forward and lovely.
A to Z delivered a red wine of medium weight with good acidity, supportive light tannins, and good flavors of cherry cola, Pinot Noir specific grape, and citrus notes.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a keener sense of citrus, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with our Buffalo-wings and tostadas.
I haven't had this PN in some time, but it has a high QPR.

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Darioush Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Revisited

 

Darioush Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Revisited, $74.69-$82.99, spoiled (points): though I bought this wine many years ago, it's been kept at 55 degrees on its side, and the cork was sound.

A slightly brown color and a funky prune-like aroma was a bad omen, but on first taste the aromas overwhelmed the flavor profile, and though maybe not technically spoiled, I wouldn't drink this, and this wine in 2013 was a 95+ point wine.
So, recent "old" wines from Italy (Brunello), France (Bordeaux), and the USA (Cali-Cab) finds Bordeaux superior. Not scientific, but interesting.
The latest vintage is $119,99.

2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon wines tasted

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Château Bellevue St. Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2010 Bordeaux Revisit #II

 

Château Bellevue St. Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2010 Bordeaux Revisit #II, $27.89-$97.99, 97 points, showed a slightly unfiltered deep ruby red grading to a rosewood red towards the thin bleeding meniscus and heavy stained legs.
The bouquet has morphed to tertiary notes of coffee bean, shoe polish, mushrooms/underbrush, dried cooking herbs, clove, plum, and a hint of red cherry. 
On first taste my response was: OMG, that is so good! My first encounter with this wine was in 2013 when I scored this wine 93 points, then in 2018 I scored this wine 96 points, and now. . .
Full-bodied, rich, supported/structured, and delicious.
Finished forever on black licorice, cola, plum, iron notes, and that still big and spice intensifying 15% alcohol.
Pair with stews, beef, lamb, yes, but this is a wine to savor by itself!
Sadly, this is my last bottle of Château Bellevue St. Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2010 Bordeaux.

Bordeaux Red Wine vintage 2010

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Casanova di Neri 2007 Brunello Di Montalcino Revisited $40.99-$48.99, 94 points,

 

Casanova di Neri 2007 Brunello Di Montalcino Revisited, $40.99-$48.99, 89 points, poured a caramel-red color with a thin clear meniscus and copious stained legs.
Aromas of plums, dried herbs, and a hint of mint were okay, but certainly not the bouquet I remember from 2012.
The Casanova di Neri 2007 Brunello Di Montalcino, though still a medium-bodied red wine, has lost its edginess and replaced it with a mellow old-wine-ness marked by a sense of having gone a bit flat though a tasty flat red wine at that.
A touch of spiciness and black cherry did show up on the long finish with still a well-balance 14.5% alcohol.
Paired okay with our pepperoni pizza, and better with our almond chocolate dessert.

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Arca Nova 2017 Vinho Verde Revisited Five Years Later

 

Arca Nova 2017 Vinho Verde Revisited Five Years Later, $9.99-$11.99, 87+ points, went from a light brass color with green highlights showing a slight fizz in 2018 to a dark straw yellow with a thin graying penumbra at the glass rim and still a light fizz.
Interesting aromas of pencil shavings. dried cardboard paper, and lime zest were good.
Showed light to medium-bodied with good acidity and surprisingly tasty lime notes and a slight flavor of unripe cantaloupe and vanilla.
Finished long on the trailing palate and the well-balanced 10.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my battered and baked cod.
I actually liked this wine slightly better than I did when it was a young white wine, and that's unusual for me.

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Nobilo Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Nobilo Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, $11.69-$12.99, 88 points, was a very light brass color and clearing a third of the way towards the rim.
Citrus aromas of lemon and grapefruit were nuanced with subtle passion fruit and gooseberry.
Nobilo was typically light and crisp with bright acidity, and flavored deliciously redolent of lemongrass, many citrus flavor notes, as well hints of passion fruit and melon rind.
Finished grassy with a hint of ginger and a typical 12.5% alcohol.
Paired quite nicely with my salt and vinegar wings, cheese enchiladas, and cheddar nachos.

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Jorge Ordoñez And Co. "Botani" 2020 Garnacha, Red Wine (Sierras de Malaga, Spain)

 

Jorge Ordoñez And Co. "Botani" 2020 Garnacha, Red Wine (Sierras de Malaga, Spain), $16.99-$21.99, 89 points, poured a vibrant ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and light legs.
Aromas of strawberry, tar, flowers, and spearmint were lovely.
This Garnacha red wine was a medium to full-bodied wine with good acidity, a supportive layer of tannin, and delicious flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished fair on notes of hibiscus, red raspberry, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our Texas burgers.

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Finca El Origen Mendoza, Argentina, 2021 Malbec Reserva

 

Finca El Origen Mendoza, Argentina, 2021 Malbec Reserva, $9.44-$12.99, 89 points, poured a deep purple red with a clear wine ring and copious stained-legs.
Aromas were fruit driven with blueberry and blackberry nuanced with loam, cinnamon, and a soft peat note.
As with most Malbec red wines, this one was full-bodied, soft with an underlayment of tannin, and quite fruity, but NOT a fruit bomb, as it was tempered with spices, earthy flavors, and good acidity.
Finished long, tangy, and with a well-balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my rare spice-rubbed rib eye and Amy's Mac and cheddar cheese.
Very good red table wine with a high QPR.

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Mayfly Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Mayfly Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, $13.49-$17.99, 86 points, was a light brass color with a yellow/gold sheen and a broad clear penumbra.
Aromas of lemon zest, wet fresh-cut hay, black pepper, and slightly sour honeydew melon were pleasant, but simple.
As is typical for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, this white wine was light-bodied with good acidity, but good early palate flavors of lemon/lime, grass notes, and ginger trended thin towards the unremarkable finish marked by a soft 12.5% alcohol.
Paired okay with our hotdogs with celery salt, and quite well with our vanilla-snap dessert.
Comment: though I was a bit tough on this wine, it's still a fair white table wine, as are most New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs (I am a fan).

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Lambert Estate Thoroughbred, Barossa Valley, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Revisited

 

Lambert Estate Thoroughbred, Barossa, Valley 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Revisited), $23.39-$27.99, 91 points, poured mostly black with a broad Burgundy-red penumbra and a bleeding meniscus.
Aromas were dominated by blueberry and blackberry nuanced with coffee, tobacco, and hints of dried herbs.
Lambert Estates produced a big satiny Cabernet sauvignon with fair acidity, a supportive underlayment of tannin, and a complex flavor profile: flavors of anise, blue and black fruit, eucalyptus, tobacco, underbrush, cola, and Kirsch.
Finished forever on the Kirsch and eucalyptus with a big 15% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my beef stew.

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DR Loosen Mosel 2020 Dry Riesling

 

DR Loosen Mosel 2020 Dry Riesling, $12.99-$14.99, 88 points, was a very light brass color and graying midway towards the glass rim.
The "bouquet" was a bunch of nuanced aromas of apple, petrol, lemon, winter run-off stream, and a subliminal floral vibe.
This dry Riesling was light-bodied with good acidity, showed a bit tart, delivered the aromas to the palate, and finished well on the 12% alcohol, controlled petrol and earthy flavors notes.
Paired nicely with my Portuguese sardines and Greek spanakopita.

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Clearwater Cove Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Clearwater Cove Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, $9.89-$10.99, 89 points, was a light straw-yellow color and beginning to clear midway towards the glass rim.
The grassy aroma was nicely nuanced with passion fruit and gooseberries.
Clearwater Cove was a typical Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc, showed bright acidity, crisp and angular, delivered tangy flavors of eucalyptus, passion fruit, lemongrass, and ginger.
Finished long and impressively on the fading palate and a balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my Yellowfin tuna salad.
So many of these New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines are a steal. Think high quality/price/ratio (QPR)

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Girard Carneros 2021 Chardonnay

 

Girard Carneros 2021 Chardonnay, $25.49-$29.99, 89 points, was a medium yellow/gold color with a clear penumbra.
Aromas of dusty Mandarin zest, a clean minerality, lemon meringue pie, and a hint of white chocolate were pleasant.
Girard Carneros delivered a medium to full-bodied white wine with appropriate acidity and flavors that mirrored the aromas nuanced with hints of ginger and oak.
Finished long, juicy, and with a well-balanced 14.1% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Mac and Cheese broccoli bowl.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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