1994 Graham Porto Vintage, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

Graham's is one of the top Port houses and 1994 was an excellent vintage for them.  Inky purple in color with some ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose has chocolate covered raisins with black raspberries and slight dusty notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, milk chocolate, raisins and alcohol notes.  Long finish with some alcohol showing.  This is in a great place but not showing a lot of age.  Complex.  This should easily go another ten to  twenty years.  Great on its own, this will work well with chocolate desserts.

2016 Square Nail Napa Valley Red Wine, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

My first time trying this.  It seems to be associated with Ghost Block wines.  This is a blend of 56% Malbec and 44% Petite Verdot.  Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, cedar, clay and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, plums with a bit of black raspberries.  More one dimensional with out a lot going on.  It drinks very easy.  Nice on its own, this would be a nice mid week burger wine.  drink over the next five years.  

2001 Bodegas AAlto PS, Spain, Ribera del Duero, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$275.00USD

Bought on release and well stored.  On release, this was a very modern take on Tempranillo.  At age 22, it still drinks that way although it has calmed down and matured quite a bit since then.  Still drinking youthfully.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries with an earthy notes.  With air, more barnyard emerges (Brettanomyces) although not strong.  Full bodied.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, raspberries with black cherries and some kirsch.  A bit of char as well.  Long, slightly drying finish.  Complex and deep, this won't get better but shou

2006 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$265.00USD

Always a great night when drinking this wine.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is classic with cassis, sandalwood, slight cedar, baking spices, and slight char.  Full bodied.  Tannins are mostly integrated but a few remain.  The texture is beautiful.  Almost seamless.  great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Mature but plenty of life left.  Notes of cassis, plums with underlying char.  Long finish.  Complex, it unwinds in the glass.  This is wonderful on its own, and will work well with bigger foods.  It would work well with roasted chicken or duck.  At age 1

2015 Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary Red, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$220.00USD

This is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely with cassis, cedar, black cherries, slight dried tobacco, spice and an interesting menthol note.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, black cherries, spices and graphite.  Lovely texture.  Long finish.  This is young but drinking well.  It is great on its own and would work well with roasted meats and/or root vegetables.  It will still improve.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

2016 Torbreck RunRig, Australia, Barossa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$177.00USD

This is a blend of 97% Shiraz (Syrah) and 3% Viognier.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  Thee nose is great with boysenberries, blueberries, slight dark chocolate, dust and char.  Full bodied.  Very firm tannins.  Lively acidity.  On the palate, this is both huge and tight.  Black berries, black currants, some blueberries, a bit of alcohol with underlying char.  This is deep and almost impenetrable.  Long finish.  This is outstanding today, but a huge and unwieldly wine.  Give it another five to ten more years in the cellar and it will flirt with a top score.  If opening now, give

2016 PharaohMoans WestSide, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

Tasted on the Celebrity Millennium  Cruise ship off the coast of Alaska.  It is 100% Syrah.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with black raspberries, char and black pepper.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying char.  A bitter note on the finish.  This is drinking well on its own and would work with big meat dishes.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2015 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde, France, Rhone, Wine review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Consumed on the Celebrity Millennium off the coast of Alaska.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is earthy with black raspberries and slight bacon fat.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with black raspberries and underlying char.  Long finish.  This is starting to show a bit of maturity but will continue to develop more.  It drinks great on its own, but better with food.  Cassoulet would be classic, but this will go well with Indian food, too.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2019 Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$76.00USD

This is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.  It is a beautiful wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is lovely with cassis, slight black cherries, cedar and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, young, firm and deep.  This needs time to open but still provides a lot now.  Cassis, and cedar with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and would work with a steak right now.  Still, cellar for five years then drink for fifteen after that.  

2021 Famiglia Pasqua Ripasso della Valpolicella Superiore, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This wine comes from north east Italy.  It is a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone and Negrara grapes.  To make a Ripasso styles wine, the wine, after fermentation, is poured over the leftover pomace from the Amarone.  This gives the wine a bit more stuffing than a regular Valpolicella.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, Heering liqueur, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with cherries and black cherries with underlying char and spice.  Long finish.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This would g

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