2015 Chateau Musar, Lebanon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Sitting in a wine bar in Charlotte, NC, I got up to peruse the shelves and found a single bottle of this for $80.  Despite it's youth, the opportunity could not be passed up.  It is an equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya on gravelly soils over limestone.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose seemed very clean with black cherries, cassis, slight char and vanilla.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with underlying spice and slight cho

2018 Celler de Capçanes Montsant Mas Donís Old Vines, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

An Eric Solomon selection sporting a new label.  This is always an excellent value that is a blend of 50% Garnacha, 30% Merlot, and 20% Syrah.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice, roasted herbs and slight black pepper.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is easy drinking and very tasty.  Lots of black cherry fruit with some black raspberries and cherries.  Clean.  Works great on its own and enough acidity to work well with pasta or burgers.  Drink over the next five years.  

2015 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is the basic Brunello in Altesino's line-up.  Drinking well right now.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose takes some time to open, then shows cherries, tobacco, some forest floor and slight chocolate and spice.  Medium bodied.  A nicer backbone of acidity.  On the palate, there is some depth here with vibrant cherries and underlying dust and fresh tobacco.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well with just a bit of air.  Moderate tannins.  It works better with food and past with Bolognaise sauce would be great.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  $75 purchased at a tren

2016 Claudy Clavien (La Cave des Champs) Païen Larmes du Terroir, Switzerland, Valais,Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

This is a white wine made from 100% Paien grapes in Switzerland. A really interesting take on a middle of the road, mineral driven style white. Light golden in color, clear and bright. On the nose, there isn't much fruit but plenty of minerality with a touch of dried flowers. Medium bodied. The palate is also mineral driven. It is possible this wine is a bit long in the tooth, but on the other hand, it seems vibrant and very enjoyable. Moderate acidity. Long finish. It seems better to drink this soon. It was nice on its own but worked very well with vegetarian flat breads.

2019 The Vice Cabernet Sauvignon Los Carneros "The Ram", USA, California, Napa, Carneros, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$69.00USD

This was bottled and released to celebrate the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl appearance (and victory).  Los Carneros is Spanish for The Ram.  This is a cooler climate than much of Napa and while the area is not know for Cabernet, this one is a very nice example of a cooler climate Cab.  Unfiltered and unfined.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  Ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with black cherries, cassis, slight rhubarb and sandalwood.  Medium to full  bodied.  Lovely sinewy texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, nice black cherries, plums with a chalky/chocolate note.  Long finish. 

2008 Nikolaihof Riesling Smaragd Vom Stein, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Light to medium golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with honey, slight pineapple, wet rocks and with air, just the slightest hint of diesel.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this still will develop more although it is very nice now.  Almost blowsy but just enough acidity to rein that in.  Not sweet but has the texture of a sweet wine and is dry.  Plenty of honey and slight peach over a crushed rock base.  Nice finish.  Very nice on its own, but would be better with Thai food.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2019 Wente Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Southern Hills, USA, California, Livermore Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Wente Vineyards was founded in 1883.  This Cab is from an estate owned vineyard in the southern part of Livermore Valley.  A somewhat unique blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 9% Petite Sirah, and 4% Barbara.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is interesting with cassis, black cherries, pomegranate, and some light chocolate and spice.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice texture.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, cassis and blueberries with some underlying spice.  Long finish with a slight warmth to it.  This is drinking well now and shoul

2020 Wente Vineyards Chardonnay Single Vineyard Riva Ranch, USA, California, Monterey, Arroyo Secco, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is a very nice Chardonnay from Wente, a long time producer in California (founded in 1883).  This particular Chardonnay is grown from a single vineyard, Riva Ranch, in Arroyo Grande.  Yellow gold in color, clear and shimmering bright.  The nose is a bit chalky with grapefruit and slight baking spice.  With air, a bit of pineapple comes out.  It has a really nice voluptuous texture.  On the palate, more lemon chiffon with nice underlying minerality and some spice.  Moderate acidity.  Good finish.  This is tasty and drinks nicely on its own but will work well with all but the heaviest of

2019 Flora Springs Trilogy, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

Trilogy is one of the more famous blends made in Napa and this represents the 35th vintage!  This vintage is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Malbec.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, char, and slight milk chocolate and spices.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium plus tannins.  Tingly acidity.  On the palate, raspberries, cassis and some underlying char.  Long finish with some chocolate notes.  This is still young but should be good drinking over the next fifteen to twenty years.  Nice on its own,

2020 Flora Springs Sauvignon Blanc Soliloquy, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is one of the best Sauvignon Blancs made in Napa.  Luckily, the grapes for this were made before the smoke from the fires tainted the grapes.  In fact, this may be the best Soliloquy yet!  It is a blend based on their proprietary clone of Sauvignon Blanc with some Chardonnay and Malvasia.  Silvery green-gold in color, clear and bright.  A very expressive nose.  Slightly grassy with spice and a ton of tropical fruits (papaya, guava, some pineapple), and some orange zest.  Light to medium bodied.  Smooth and silky texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, plenty of grapefruit, a slight cha

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