Achaval Ferrer Mendoza 2012 Malbec, $16.14-$22.99, 90 points, poured core black grading purple/red toward the thin crystalline wine ring and moderately draped glass bowl.
Aromatic sweet black raspberries, mulberries, oak, and floral notes were excellent.
Near full-bodied with good acidity, smooth underlayment of tannin, and flavors reflective of the aromas trailing into a long finish of spearmint and a 14.5% alcohol empowered white pepper combined to impress.
Paired perfectly with hamburgers and chips, not to mention our hazelnut chocolate dessert.
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Vercoope Pavão NV Vinho Verde (Portugal), $7.99-$8.99, 87 points, poured less effervescent than a frizzante wine, and with a light gold color and a faint green tint.
Aromas were shy, but showed pleasant enough floral and citrus notes.
Light-bodied with fair-plus acidity managed straight-forward flavors of lime and ripe grapefruit.
Finished fair on the trailing palate, a hint of ginger, cumquat, and an easy 11% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my baked filet of sole.
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DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve 2009 Merlot, $8.99-$11.99, 86 points, appeared degrees of copper/red colors a bleeding broad clear wine ring and leggy glass wall.
Aromas needed considerable teasing, but a bit of pomegranate and sour plum were just okay.
Medium-bodied with fair acidity and soft tannins carried flavors reflective of the aromas plus hints of red cherry.
Finished long on intense hot spices, revived tannic influence, trailing palate, and a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my spicy beef goulash.
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Dry Creek Vineyard 2013 Merlot, $15.99-$18.99, 89 points, poured a deep ruby red grading purple/red at the clear wine ring and glass bowl of sticky sheeting.
Aromatic ripe black fruit, hints of chocolate, and shy floral vibes were excellent.
Near full-bodied with good acidity and firm drying tannins managed plum, ripe mulberry, licorice, and herbal sage flavors.
Finished long on plum, building tannins which were good for me, but others might want to cellar for another two or three years at least, and warm spices inspirited by a bold 14.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc.
This is not a sissified Merlot, and will be too much for those looking for a soft homogenized version of the grape.
Paired great with my baked fig dessert.
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Château de Bonhoste 2014 Bordeaux Blanc, $12.74-$14.99, 88 points, was a light brass color.
The aroma was a shy lemon grass.
Light-bodied with fair-plus acidity and delicate flavors of lychee, lemon, and soft gooseberry were excellent.
Finished well on the trailing palate and rich ginger notes.
Varietals were 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon, and 10% Muscadelle with an innocuous 12.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my dry sea scallops and Japanese Rangoon.
The warmer weather has me breaking-out last fall's white wines.
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Marqués de Cáceres 2015 Rioja Rosé (Spain), $8.99-$10.99, 88 points, was a dark peach color graying at the glass edge.
Aromas of strawberry and red raspberry were quite nice.
Light, crisp, appropriately acidic, and straight forward flavors reflective of the aromas with a hint of watermelon rind and hibiscus were good.
Finished well on the trailing palate, a touch of cayenne pepper, and a balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my nacho supreme on chipotle chips.
Varietals were 80% Tempranillo and 20% Grenache.
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Groth Oakville-Napa Valley 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $62.99-$67.99, 93 points, poured opaque grading a deep maroon with a clear wine ring at the glass wall of thick legs.
Upon opening, and I've been smelling a lot of Cabernets lately, this one began beautifully with violets, cedar, ripe mulberry, and soft rose perfume.
Full-bodied with food friendly acidity and a supportive underlayment of tannins which carried flavors of leather, plums, violets, and cola along with a complexity of herbs.
Finished long on a bit of Zin-like briar fruit, warm spices, a touch of eucalyptus, and a spot-on 14.5% alcohol (I say that about the alcohol knowing some hate alcohol levels above 13.5%).
Paired fine with our smorgasbord.
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