Friday, August 30, 2024

Conde Valdemar Rioja 2019

 

Dark garnet with lovely bouquet of cherry, cola, savory spice!

Palate--Tart first impression; constructed very nicely with juicy tannins, flavors of  big, balanced and integrated cherry fruit through and through with a nice lingering finish. Drinking at its prime...

This needs to open up and will be even better than it is which is pretty darn good! For some loose change under your car seat, you can enjoy what good wine tastes like so raise a  glass at $14!

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Shannon Ridge Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

 

Medium garnet hyue with aromas of rich plum and dark berries with savory spice 

Palate--Unremarkable first impression with spicy berries maybe a touch of blueberry, and a berry pie finish.

I paid $12 for this and it is, well as I said, unremarkable. It is what you get for $12 in a Cab so I guess you can't complain but it is tiring. 

I just read a review of this wine from the Wine Enthusiast and I swear, there has to be dumbing down of "wine reviews."  This wine was rated 93 points which is absurd, and the reviewer defies science with 367 nuanced aromas and tastes. Yes I am exaggerating but you catch my drift.  Don't believe it! This is a big reason why I stopped getting the Wine Enthusiast. Caveat Emptor...

Monday, August 26, 2024

Wente Vineyards Mount Diablo Highlands "Red Blend" 2021

 

Magenta hue with aromas of red hot cinnamon candies, sweet cherry-berry and a touch of baking spice.

Palate-Elegant first impression with supple tannins, balanced acidity, integrated wild berries and a rear palate of savory spices. Finish lingers a good bit and then flees.

This $10 Went creation is nice treat for the price. Pairing it with pizza tonight so raise  a glass!


Thursday, August 22, 2024

Rodney Strong "Red Blend" 2019 Sonoma

 


A lovely dark garnet hue with aromas of blackberry jam, sweet black cherry with a touch of spice at the edge.

Palate--First impression is a tantalizing "sweet" dark berry with a mid palate of vibrant spices, and solid acidity. Tannins are mature and easy to drink. Finishes with a bitter (the pleasant kind) presence that lingers a good while.

The price posted on this is $23 but I paid $10 for this Rodney Strong Sonoma creation. I like it a lot. If I have the opportunity I will snag some more so raise a glass!

Friday, August 16, 2024

Rosa Dell Olmo Langhe Nebbiolo 2021


Lighter garnet hue with aromas of Light nuances of cherry cinnamon, and spice    

Palate-- Juicy structure, with mouth watering tannins, spice up front, red bright fruit and and a spicy finish.

This previously reviewed Nebbiolo grape is not "classic" but a good example of the varietal. Another Trader Joe's value selection at $9 it is a definite "Raise a glass!" (see previous review) 

Monday, August 12, 2024

Chateau De Ribebon 2020 Reserve

Purple hue with garnet rim and aromas of ripe plum, blackberry, a touch of cedar, woith ash and spce at the end.

Palate--Pronounced front palate with sateely front, relaxed tannins adequate fruit mid palate but short finish and nothing remarkable over all.

I had this wine about a a half a million years ago when I was cutting my teeth on all things wine. It was just "OK" then and it is just "OK" now.  I don't get the 90 point rating the Wine Enthusiast gave it but oh well.  I paid $15 for this marked down from $25.  $15 is a good price point and it well pair well with my charcoal grilled "short cut" steak.  So raise a glass at the lower price.


Saturday, August 10, 2024

Passione Reale Appassimento 2021

Intensely dark purple almost black hue with aromas of blackberry pie, light sweet savory spices, dusty fruit in the bowl.

Palate--Silky texture with balanced acidity and tannins, even keeled fruit from beginning to end with a finish of bold black cherry pie filling.

I paid $15 for this somewhat unremarkable wine even though it is well made and rather elegant.  Never-the-less it is subdued from beginning to end never really showing its stuff. It was on sale from $25 and I am glad I did not pay that for it but it is a very nice quaff for the $15 price point.  

I am pairing it with a homemade pasta dish of my own creation with herbs from my wife's gardens. It will be superb so raise a glass at $15!

Children of the Revolution Pinot Noir 2022

Pale strawberry hue with aromas of cinnamon and cherry above the rim, a touch of spice but the win is cold so it needs to warm up a touch.

Palate--Nice first impression with a very nice "nuanced bitter" first impression which is quite endearing. What follows is not exactly "classic" pinot profile but decent enough. Spicy strawberry comes to the fore with a fleeting finish.

This Aussie wine presents itself as somehow a step above non-vegan humans as if using "dairy products or fish" according to the wine's label, is somehow immoral. The label states: "Our wine is clear and so is our conscience. Join the revolution."  

Forgetting the non-sense the wine is "ok" for the $8 I paid for it but comes with a $16 price tag which it is not worth. If you see it for $8 grab it; it's different, but that's about it.

Pet-Nat Amuse Bouche 2023

Pale pink hue with tight aromas of peach...

Palate-- Hint of burnt toast(?) with very dry profile and mild presence of stone fruit.

This is an austere quaff which I opened to pair with our take out Asian cuisine. Never having had it I presumed it would have a touch of sweetness. It is bone dry but actually did it good job with our take out.  

I paid $10 for this at Trader Joe's and while it's OK I don't think I would buy it again. But it is a "naturally" made wine meaning there is nothing added to it not even yeast etc. It is in fact the way wine was made for centuries. If for no other reason give it a try for the uniqueness of it and raise a glass.

Thursday, August 08, 2024

Bogle Zinfandel Old Vine 2021


Deep black cherry hue with big Zinny aromas of dark Berry fruit, a hint of licorice, fresh black cherry, plum. 

Palate--Everything in the bouquet is there in the palate. It is juicy in structure, much tastier than its price point would indicate, which it is a regular offering on my dinner table.

This many-times-reviewed Zin is a go-to staple in my house whenever I find it for around $9. Tonight it will be served with left-over shells, garlic bread, and tossed salad. Raise a glass!


Saturday, August 03, 2024

Warre's Heritage Ruby Port

 

Deep rich, eggplant purple hue with aromas of prune, perfumey red flowers, [needs to warm up]

Palate-- Wonderfully sweet port, with deep voluptuous intense, uber-ripe plum and prune whip, with lovely structure to carry the intense sweetness without being cloying. Flavor is intense, long lasting with a lasting finish, and leaving you wanting for more of the same.

This is a $20 price point port and is a fine example of want can be done with Port wine short of full blown, expensive "Vintage Port." I LOVE port and I enjoy the $8 Trader Joes's value port and I have had a 99 point Wine Spectator vintage port and while it is extraordinary, I cannot afford such wine very often. If you have the means, do try it out; it is other worldly.  But LBV ports (Late Bottle Vintage Ports) while not being "Vintage ports" are a fraction of the price and marvelous in their own right.

Drink it solo, or indulge with fresh strawberries, semi- sweet dark chocolate, rich brownies or whatever chocolate delights you. It is a match made in heaven.  So raise a glass!



MBALI 2023 Chenin Blanc/Viognier blend

Light golden hue with a touch of green and big bouquet of juicy, ripe pears, vanilla.

Palate--Lack luster first impression with a lazy profile, but loads of off dry pears and green melon and a pleasant slightly bitter mid palate which is endearing. It finishes fresh with a pleasant linger.

This delightful S. African creation is Chenin Blanc and Viognier (pronounced Vee oh Nyay!)

Lovely Chenins come out of S. Africa and have for years. This one is delicious and chilled down is a terrific aperitif on a hot summer day but I will be pairing it with my wife's homemade Swiss chard soup.

Raise a glass!