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2009 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese **, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

The wines are Richter are some of the best values in wine.  These are world class Riesling for an affordable price.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has minerals, peaches, and slight lemon.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is sweet.  Not cloying but not semi-sweet either.  Load of minerality, peach and slight salinity.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with lighter or spicy foods.  A nice choice with Thai food.  Drink over  the next twelve to fifteen years.  

2008 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

James Berry Vineyard is the home vineyard of Saxum and one of the great Rhone varietal vineyards in the world.  Mike Officer of Carlisle does a great job with his allotment.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, black pepper, slight black olives and spice.  Full bodied.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black raspberries, blueberries and spice with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well and about at peak.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with (Vegetarian) Chil

2019 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$53.00USD

Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, char, slight bramble and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Nice acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Lovely texture.  Black cherries, cherries and some char and spice.  Good finish.  This is very drinkable.  Young, but open.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Great on its own, this will work well with ribs or a burger off the grill.  

1820 Vanderpool Madeira Wine, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1820
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+

Crazy bottle.  The grapes were the 1820 vintage.  That means James Monroe, one of the USA's Founding Father's was president when these grapes were harvested.  Apparently in 1858 John Vanderpool, and affluent New Yorker has health issues and was advised by his doctor to try a different climate.  On his travels, he stopped on the island of Madeira where he purchased a quantity of this wine and stored it in glass demijohns.  He passed away, survived by his son, Jacob Vanderpoel, who in 1870, had this wine bottles for its 50th anniversary.  Somehow, a bottle made it to northeast Ohio where it w

2013 Quintessa Red Wine, USA, California, Napa, Rutherford, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

This is a proprietary Red wine from Napa.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, dark chocolate, black cherries and cedar.  Clean.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, cedar and chocolate.  Long finish.  Deep and complex.  This is still drinking young, so if opening soon, give it some air.  It should drink well for twenty to thirty more years.  Great on its own, this is the quintessential steak house wine.  

2013 Ao Yun Cabernet Sauvignon, China, Yunan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

This is the LVMH owned winery in China and this is its first vintage.  Expectations were low for this, but we need not have worried, this wine was quite good.  A bit different, but quite good.  It is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is lean but good.  Cassis, chocolate, slight tobacco, and a bit of green bell pepper.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is leaner but with some power.  Black cherries, cassis and smoke with underlying earthiness.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  Good o

2017 Boich Family Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon NVS, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

First time trying this winery.  The winemaker is Jeff Ames who makes some great wines at TOR and other wineries.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, slight lumber and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis with some cedar and spice.  Tightly layered complexity, it unwinds nicely in the glass.  Long finish.  This will improve with a few years in the cellar but is drinking well now.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Great on its own, this needs big food right now.  Pot Roast would go well.  

NV J. Lassalle Chigny Les Roses Coteaux Champenois Rouge 1er Cru, France, Champagne, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a still red wine (Pinot Noir) made in the Champagne region of France.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cinnamon, cherries, slight black cherry, and a bit of poblano pepper.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is a slightly watery, slightly bitter note that is unusual in a Pinot but also plenty of cherries and a bit of green pepper.  It is a very good wine, but it is also one of the more interesting Pinots I have had.  There is a nice complexity.  It was served with a bunch of wines, and this would be fascinating to drink on i

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