1982 Château Plagnac, France, Bordeaux, Medoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1982
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a producer that I am not familiar with although I believe they still produce wine today. That said, this was a very good showing for a 41 year old Medoc wine.  Purple/ruby/brown in color, mostly opaque and flat.  The nose is nice; earthy with black cherry fruit.  Medium bodied. Good balance.  On the palate, the fruit seems ripe/sweet.  Cherries, slight tobacco notes.  Deep-ish complexity.  Moderate finish.  This worked well with a Truffle Risotto.  

1981 Château d'Angludet, France, Bordeaux, Margaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1981
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

One never knows about older bottles until they are opened.  I would have thought this DOA but it had some life left and was a nice older wine.  Ruby/brown in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some Volatile Acidity when first poured but the blew off after about ten minutes leaving Cherries, and earthiness and slightly perfumed.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cherry cough syrup notes with a bit of mint on the finish.  This kept improving in the glass for the 15 or so minutes that I had it.  Nice on it own, this worked great with a mushroom popover dish.  Certainly past prime, but that's

1985 G. H. Mumm & Cie Grand Cordon Champagne Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1985
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$200.00USD

This was more "bubbly" than the 85 Dom Perignon served with it although in the end, the Dom was the better still wine.  That said, this was a great showing for this wine at age 38.  Deeper golden in color with a fair amount of smaller bubbles.  The nose is nice with ginger, caramel, and slight apple cider notes.  Fuller in body.  On the palate, this is still robust with ginger, slight red apples and just a bit of toast.  Long finish.  Certainly past prime but with a lot to offer.  Nice on its own, better with a bit of food.  Very enjoyable.  

1982 Cuvée de la Commanderie du Bontemps, France, Bordeaux, Medoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1982
Grade: 

This is made from grapes donated by wineries who are members of the Commanderie in Bordeaux.  Really fun to start the Edwin's 1980's Bordeaux tasting with this wine.  Many in the crowd seemed to enjoy the wine (not me), the atmosphere (absolutely) or the opportunity to taste something cool while supporting a great charity (Edwin's)!  This was brown in color (think a bit darker than a wet tootsie roll).  The nose offered up some balsamic vinegar and warm attic dust.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this was thin and dilute.  Not acidic or tart or off.  Really just not much of anything.  With

1985 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1985
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$590.00USD

Part of 1980's Bordeaux Dinner at Edwin's.  Medium golden in color, clear and bright.  Not many bubbles in the glass.  The nose is nice.  Smoky with lemons and lanolin.  Some trace of oxidation.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, not completely flat but getting there.  That said, this was an excellent, crisp white wine.  Lemons with some oxidation.  Complex.  Long finish.  While perhaps a bit over the hill, still really providing an excellent drinking experience.  It was nice on its own, and would work well with all but the heaviest foods.  It went well with a beet dish and Marcona Alm

2018 Azienda Agricola San Martino Aglianico del Vulture Arberesko, Italy, Basilicata, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

Aglianico can be a diverse grape, but the ones made in Vulture (the arch of the boot), tend to be excellent values.  Purple in color with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with plums, black cherries, cocoa powder, and spice.  Full bodied.   Firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is young but drinking well.  Plenty of black cherries and plums with some underlying char.  Good finish.  Very nice on its own, this will go well with the right foods.  Think bigger meat or fowl dishes and it can handle some spice.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  Plenty

2017 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Germany, Mosel, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

It has been a bit since I tried this producer.  The wines used to be everywhere, but they don't seem as prevalent these days at least in the stores I shop in.  That is a shame as these are very good and reasonably priced wines.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has slight peach, bits of lemon rind and wet rocks.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is quite tasty.  Lemons, minerals and slight peach.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks easily on its own (9% abv) but also will work well with lots of food.  Thai food would be a great choice.  

2001 Château Rieussec, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

Wow, this is stunning.  What a great vintage.  Medium gold in color with slight darker hues, clear and bright.  The nose is big with apricots, honey, orange peel and  crème brulée.  Full bodied.  Viscous texture.  Excellent acidity.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Layers of fruits, dried fruits and other tastes.  Apricots, honey, oranges and caramel.  Long finish.  This is fantastic on its own and will work great with a plain cookie or cake.  Drink over the next thirty years.  

2017 Tablas Creek Syrah, USA, California, Paso Robles, Adelaida, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a winery only release from this winery who makes quite a few different wines only sold as such.  It is cooler climate in style.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, smoked herbs, slight bacon fat and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, boysenberries with some char.  Nice finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It went well with Indian food.  Drink over the next five to ten years.

1995 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Port, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1995
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

This was a fun wine to try.  19.1% abv.  Bottled in 1998.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries and some alcohol note.  Viscous texture.  Tannins all resolved.  On the palate, this is sweet but not cloying.  Lots of black cherry fruit.  Warm on the finish but otherwise very  smooth.  Tasty and a nice way to end an evening.  It does have many Cab qualities but also some Port notes, too.  It appears they used to produce this every vintage, but only once since 2004. 

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