2005 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

The wines of Pegau can reach great heights, but they often have a lot of barnyard notes which are not for everyone.  I love them.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Most opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cigar, cedar and yes, barnyard.  Medium bodied.  Lower acidity.  On the palate, black cherries with some earthiness.  Complex.  Getting pretty close to peak.  Long finish.  This is great on its own, but probably better with food.  A nice beef stew would be classic but it would work with a bowl of chili, too.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2022 Pieropan Soave Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

One of my favorite white wines of Italy.  This is their basic Soave and while not at the level of the vineyard designated wines, this is still very good and a very good value.  It is a blend of 85% Garganega and 15% Trebbiano di Soave.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has peaches, lots of minerality, salinity, and lemon peel.  Medium bodied.  Crisp, but with some viscosity.  Medium acidity.  On the palate, its more about the minerality although there is some peach.  Easy.  This would work well with Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next few years.   

1974 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Revieew

Vintage: 
1974
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$488.00USD

Not a particularly good vintage, but when someone opens a bottle of Mouton, it gets one's attention.  Purple/brown in color, mostly opaque and slightly flat.  There is some fruit on on the nose, cherries along with dried cherries and caramel/brown sugar notes.  Thin.  Moderate acidity.  Some cherries on the palate.  At age 50, it really was better than expected.  More of a cool factor than a wine I would want to drink but not bad.  Maybe with some cheeses at the end of a meal would be cool.  Drink up.  

2005 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$136.00USD

This is a big, plush wine for Bordeaux standards.  It seemed a bit polarizing between those who enjoy those types of wines and those who want a more "traditional" Bordeaux.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has blueberries, cassis, cedar and tobacco.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, a plush, rich texture.  Plenty of depth.  Still quite youthful.  Long finish.  It is slightly over the top but I think with a bit more cellaring it will come together.  Another five years in the cellar will help.  Drink over the next twenty.  A nice choice with BBQ Ribs.  

2005 Kinkead Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, Ohio River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This winery still exists but they were sold and utilize a completely different model for grapes these days.  But, back in the day, this was the best winery in Ohio.  It is located in the southern part of the state along the Ohio River.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight herbal notes and a bit of spice.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, green bell pepper, and some spice.  Good finish.  Overall, a pleasant, quality Cabernet that at age 19  is drinking just fine.  still, I would drink these sooner than later.  Probably b

2018 Beta Chardonnay Chuy Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Moon Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Green/gold in color with a bit more green than most Chardonnays.  The nose is sweaty with slight smoke and plenty of green apples.  very nice slick texture.  Good acidity, yet the mouthfeel is softer.  Of course, young, but showing a fair amount.  The  palate has apples, vanilla, and some char.  Long finish.  Overall, this is very good and seems to be built for the long haul.  This is not "lean and mean", but it is also not a fruit bomb.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Great on its own, it would be a classic pairing with a seared peppercorn Tuna Steak.  

2021 Halter Ranch El Pecado, USA, California, Paso Robles, Adelaida District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

From a 500ml size bottle.  The name translates to "The Sin".  This is a dessert wine from Paso Robles that is made from 78% Tannat and 22% Grenache grapes.  The grapes are air dried on wooden racks and then go thru a fermentation.  During that process the wine is infused with hand roasted coffee beans and cocoa nibs.  It is a really enjoyable wine, but let's talk about the wine.  First, the drying process is supposed to increase sugar levels by 40%.  It is unclear how ripe the grapes were at harvest.  The wine is listed at 15% abv, which seems very high for a dessert wine that is not fortif

2022 Elk Cove Vineyards Estate Pinot Gris, USA, Oregon, Willamette, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Silvery green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with orange peel, salinity and spice.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, peaches with spice.  Long finish.  Overall, a very nice, clean white wine that drinks well alone and will work with lighter foods.  This would work with Lemon-Garlic pasta.  Drink over the next couple of years.

2015 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, cranberries and slight rhubarb along with some spice and char.  Wonderful semi-plush texture.  Good balance.  Light tannins.  The palate is riper/stronger than the nose (in a good way).  Cherries and Kirsch with some char.  Long finish.  This has some complexity and depth as it nears peak.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Very nice on its own, this would be great with Roasted Duck.

2017 Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Großes Gewächs Alte Reben

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Golden with green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has grapefruits, and some peach.  Also, minerality.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is dry.  Great acidity.  Crisp.  Lemons, slight peach and minerals.  Deep with a nice complexity.  Long finish.  This is still youthful but drinking nicely.  This is great on its own and will work well with a wide variety of foods.  It would be great with Thai food.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  

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