Recent articles

2017 La Route Pomerol, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is a wine from the right bank of Bordeaux appellation Pomerol that was new to me.  It is 100% Merlot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, plums, black raspberries, cedar and spice.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, lots of red and some purple fruits with layers of cedar and slight earthiness.  This should continue to mature and improve over the next decade and drink well for ten to twelve more after that.  This would go well with roasted eggplant dishes.  

2016 Château Tour Baladoz La Dame de Baladoz, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

 This is the second wine of Château Tour Baladoz.  It is produced made from the youngest vines and consists of 90% Merlot.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight milk chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there are light tannins.  The cherries and chocolate come thru with slight earthiness.  Nice finish.  Not profound but tasty and easy drinking.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  This drinks well on its own and would be a nice match with stuffed peppers.  

2007 Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon St. Ralph The Liar White Cottage Ranch, USA, California, Napa, Howell Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is a brooding wine that is just starting to open up.  It improved with air.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is concentrated with cassis, iodine, graphite and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  The palate is also concentrated with cassis and spice.  Deep but stubborn.  Give it a decant.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years. This will work well with grilled lamb chops or grilled portabellas.  

NV Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut, France, Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes.  Deep salmon pink with orange hues.  There are a lots of tiny bubbles making a nice mousse.  On the nose, there is orange peel, slight strawberries, and apples.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cherries and apples with a bit of minerality.  Long finish.  This is very tasty.  Drink over the next few years.  This will work well with a wide variety of foods.  Pulled pork sandwiches to grilled tuna would work.  

2016 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$360.00USD

Always a privilege to be able to drink Yquem.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Great nose with honey, slight caramel, apricots, slight pineapple and slight ginger.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Sweet not cloying with good acidity.  On the palate, honey, slight mandarin orange, apricots and a bit of burnt sugar.  Long, long, finish.  Stunning if young.  Drink this over the next fifty years.  This will work with some desserts but really deserves to be served on its own.  It will improve a bit as it matures.  

NV Penfolds Grandfather Rare Tawny, Australia, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

 The wine is an iced tea color with a touch of ruby. The nose has Pay-day Candy bar, toffee and crème brulee. Not as complex on the palate with a nice nuttiness and a bit of sweetness. Just a hint of heat. Long finish. Slightly sweet but not overtly.  This is a nice take on a 20 year Tawny.  It drinks well on its own and would work with more savory desserts (especially with nuts).  This should age quite well for the next twenty years.  

2009 Maison Ilan Charmes-Chambertin Aux Charmes Hautes, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$114.00USD

Crazy history on this winery but I am not going into that here.  This particular bottle was very nice.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, spice, and slight smoke.  Maybe a hint of funk.  Medium bodied with slight tannins.  On the palate, this is mature and drinking well.  Cherries, slight rhubarb and earthy undertones.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This should continue to drink well for another eight to ten years.  Lamb chops would work well.  

2011 Peter Michael Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse, USA, California, Sonoma, Fort Ross-Seaview Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

Not the best vintage for this wine but it still showed nicely.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is some complexity.  This seems to be at or maybe just past peak.  Sour cherries with an underlying spice.  Moderate finish.  Drink over the next five years.  For those who like sweetbreads, this would be a nice match.  

2015 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

Impressive showing for this wine.  Garnett in color, slightly flat.  The nose is nice with black cherry fruit with some underlying earthiness.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity with black cherry fruit.  The finish is a bit short but otherwise a delicious wine.  Still on the young side, this should continue to improve for the next five to eight years and drink for another ten to twelve after that.  A nice wine to serve on Thanksgiving.  

2015 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Louise, USA, Oregon, Dundee Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

From the Burgundy producers now long established winery in Oregon.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries with some cherries and slight earthiness underneath.  Nice finish.  This is a solid drinking Pinot that is still young and will improve.  Hold for another five years and drink for ten after that.  Brown sugar, Mustard glazed ham would be a nice match.  

Pages