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2014 Torrin Syrah Shadow Canyon Vineyard, USA, California, York Mountain, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

My first time trying this particular vineyard although Torrin is a favorite.  100% Syrah.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with boysenberries and some black pepper.  On the palate, medium tannins.  Nice black raspberry fruit.  Some depth.  Good finish.  An outstanding wine, but not up to the rarefied air of other vineyards in the Torrin lineup.  It should still improve a bit as it continues to mature over the next five years and drink well for ten more after that.  This probably would be helped by some fatty fried foods or meats.

2018 Jako Stina Cuvée White, Croatia, Brač, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

From the island of Brac in the Adriatic Sea, this white wine is a blend of Pošip 70%, Chardonnay 20%, Vugava 10%. It is done in Stainless steel.  12.5% ABV. Light green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is light with some tropical fruits and citrus and a bit of salinity.  Very clean.  On the palate, this has a nice minerality.  Also, a slight husk cherry (those little yellow berries with the husks on them) quality.  This wine does seem to have a hint of noticeable residual sugar.  Overall, it is very easy to drink on its own and will work well with sea food.  

2018 Jakopic Pušipel Classic, Croatia, Zagorje-Medjimurje, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is 100% Pušipel which is another name for Moslavac, Šipon, Mosler, or Furmint.  It is light golden in color with the slightest copper hue to it.  The nose is interesting with some pear but also some hay and a slight melon note.  On the palate, this turns more to tart grapefruits with a bit of an herbal streak.  The wine itself is weighty with a perception of sweetness yet it drinks tart.  Looking it up later, there is apparently 7.7 g/l of residual sugar.  The finish does have just a hint of sweetness that gets lost among the tart grapefruit notes.  12% ABV on the label.  Another very

1994 Warre Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Wine review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This seems to be about at peak, at least from the 375ml bottle.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with chocolate, raspberries, and slight raisins.  Full bodied.  Sweet.  Viscous.  Complex.  Liquified chocolate covered raisins.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This needs about 30 minutes of air to blow off bottle stink and good to go.  It should easily drink well for another ten years.  great on its own, this will work well with a chocolate dessert.  

2001 Alois Kracher Cuvée Beerenauslese Cuvee, Austria, Neusiedlersee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

I am not sure what grape varieties go into the cuvee.  At age 20, it is great.  Copper in color, clear and bright.  The nose is gorgeous.  100 points for the nose.  Peaches, canned peaches, slight salted caramel, and minerality.  Full bodied and viscous.  Not as good on the palate, but still outstanding.  The peaches and canned peaches carry thru.  Remnants of sweetness remain but very little sweetness shows.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  Just beautiful.  This drinks well on its own and will work with a not too sweet dessert.  Maybe a Pecan Roll would be good.  It is starting to slide downh

2005 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This sweet Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France so no signs of ageing at all.  Light yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has pears, honey, white peaches, with a bit of crushed shells and salinity.  Full bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is sweet but just a bit, certainly not cloying.  Good acidity.  The honey, peaches and and minerality come thru.  A very long finish.  This wine is deep and stops the drinker in his or her tracks.  It drinks great on its own and might be harder to match with food.  A not too sweet shortbread cookie or a soft goat cheese wo

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