2016 Bodegas El Coto Rioja Coto de Imaz Reserva, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

My first time trying this wine and it was quite enjoyable.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, spice and slight chocolate notes.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks easy but there is also some depth.  Cherries, with a slight char and the chocolate note comes thru as well.  Nice finish.  This drinks nicely on its own but should be very food friendly at the table.  A nice match would be grilled sausages.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  A very nice value.

2011 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is about as classic as old style Rioja gets.  As the Gran Reserva's get more expensive, this is truly a great value in traditional Rioja.  The wineis fermented in 144 year old oak vats before being stored for five years in used American oak barrels.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls and maybe just a hint of orange.  The nose is great with cherries, spice, cedar, dust and slight herbal note.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries with slight black cherries and spice.  Complex and deep.  Tight layers that unwind in the glass.  This is drinking well now but should hav

2012 Bodegas Vinsacro Rioja, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

We tasted this about 5 years ago and it has really filled out since then.  This is a blend of 55% Tempranillo, 20% Granacha, 10% Mazuelo, 10% Graciano and 5% Monastrell from Rioja, Spain.  It is a more modern take than a traditional Rioja but still made using American Oak.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight chocolate, toast and spice.  Full bodied.  Plenty of depth.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with spice.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now on its own and would work well with meats or fowl or roasted

2016 Atalayas de Golban Ribera del Duero Torre de Golbán Crianza, Spain, Ribera del Duero, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo).  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, dusty attic notes and some cherries.  Medium bodied with good acidity.  On the palate, tart black cherries and some cherries with underlying char.  Seems to be about at peak right now but should drink well for another three to five years.  This is nice on its own and will work well with meats and fowl.  A nice wine for a sausage pizza.  

2020 Raventós i Blanc de Nit Blanc de Blancs, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This is a certified organic sparkling wine from Spain that is a blend of 45% Xarel.lo, 40% Macabeo, 12% Parellada and 3% Malvasía de Sitges.  It was reviewed in November, 2022, and this was a nice chance to see how it has developed since then.  Golden in color with a fair amount of smaller bubbles.  The nose is rounder but still showing lemons.  Also a bit of seltzer and some crushed shell notes.  Refreshing acidity.  The lemons carry thru to the palate with mineral undertones.  A bit more complexity than I remember.  Much better, longer finish.

2020 Toby Bekkers Syrah, Australia, McLaren Vale, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

A friend brought this back from his vacation to Australia.  My first time trying this producer.  It is very distinct but comes off more Cote Rotie than what I think of when I think Aussie Shiraz.  And, for that matter, why isn't it labelled Shiraz?  The label calls it Syrah.  In any event, an excellent wine if still young.  Purple in color with a thin ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, boysenberries, char, roasted meats and herbs, and slight black olive.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is dense but its easy to see to quality.  Tasted over a couple

2014 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$155.00USD

From Magnum and consumed over 3 days.  It was great on all three but probably at its best on day 2.  This is a blend of 68% Syrah and 32% Mourvedre  at 15.1% abv.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight plums, spice and a hint of old leather.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with a lush texture.  Some char and spice.  Long finish.  This drinks easy and despite the alcohol and fruit forwardness, it is not a monster wine.  Nice depth and complexity.  Nice on its own, this would work well with roasted meats but worked very we

2019 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Platt Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$83.00USD

Wow.  This wine rocks.  Maybe the best Chardonnay I have had from this winery and I was already a big fan!  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with vanilla, spice and lemon cream.  With air, maybe a bit of peach.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  Almost viscous in texture.  On the palate, this is so smooth and seamless.  Peaches, lemon cream, vanilla and spice.  Delicious.  Long finish.  Drinking great right now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years.  Wonderful on its own, this would work well with a Mushroom pasta in a cream sauce.  

2017 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté's Vineyard, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

Another wonderful Chardonnay from this producer in New Zealand.  These are world class Chardonnays.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  Enticing nose of char/smoke with grapefruit and great minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Sleek but muscular texture.  On the palate, this is very concentrated, but unwinds in the glass.  Citrus; yellow grapefruits with some lemon/lime notes but also great underlying minerality.  Perfect balance.  Long finish.  While this could certainly use a few more years of cellaring, it is delicious now.  Drink over the next twenty years.  Great on its own, this will

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