2019 Pheasant's Tears Rkatsiteli Dry White, Georgia, Kakheti, Wine review

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

Fascinating and controversial wine.  Tasting with a group, I liked this wine much more than most.  On opening there seemed to be a significant amount of Brettanomyces on the nose.  Yet, it blew off over the next few hours until it was hardly noticeable.  That is not a trait of Brett so perhaps it was just bottle stink coming from the Kvevri (Amphorae).  It was undrinkable to some, but again, I found it delicious with its highest mark coming at about three hours after opening.  Made from the Rkatsiteli Deep amber in color, cloudy and opaque.

2018 Dakishvili Family Vineyards Family Selection, Kisi, Amber Dry Wine, Georgia, Kakheti, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This is a very nice white wine that was fermented and cured in Kvevri (Amphorae).  A blend of Kisi, Mtsvane and Rkatsiteli grapes.  Deep golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has oranges, honey and Indian spices.  Medium bodied.  Drying tannins.  On the palate, this is clean.  Orange peel, slight honey, with a bit of almonds.  Nice finish.  A very nice complexity here.  It took a couple of hours to really open up.  It does not drink like a what one thinks of as a usual white wine.  It probably should be consumed in the next few years.  In terms of food matching, it would go well with

1998 Château Raymond-Lafon, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with honey, apricots and simple syrup.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, oranges and slight alcohol note.  Good acidity.  Still showing very fresh but mature, too.  This is at peak or maybe slightly past but should drink well for another decade.  Great on its own, this will work with a savory dessert such as a polenta cake.  

2012 Ceritas Pinot Noir Hacienda Secoya Vineyard, USA, California, Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has sour cherries and cherry candy.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, the sour cherries and cherry candy come thru in layers.  There is a deep complexity to this wine.  Just about at peak.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another five to eight years.  It will work well with Salmon or Tuna.  

2017 Quinta de S. José Touriga Nacional Douro, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is sweaty with black raspberries and char.  Light tannins.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with underlying char.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and seems to be mature.  Drink over the next five years.  Better with food, this would work well with roasted chicken.  

2012 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard Syrah, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$170.00USD

Inky purple, opaque and bright.  The nose is warm with black raspberries, roasted meats and black pepper.  Great texture.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying char.  Still showing very young at age 10.  This is delicious on its own.  It will need bigger foods with some spice.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

2009 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, St. Helena, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Yowza!  This is drinking wonderfully right now.  Still a tad on the young side but oh, so good.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, anise, baking spices, cherries and leather.  Full bodied.  Lush texture but lots of precision.  Depth and complexity.  On the palate, plenty of cassis, some black cherries with underlying leather and slight char/earthiness.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and will work with bigger dishes of roasted meats or fowl.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

2008 Canto Petirrojo Toro El Curato Old Vines, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

This is made from 100% Tinto de Toro (Tempranillo) grapes in the Toro D.O. in Spain.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, some anise and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, strong acidity.  Cassis and black cherry fruit.  Nice finish.  This is drinking a bit past prime it seems but still nice.  It works better with food,  A nice wine for Taco Tuesday.  Drink up.  

2008 Lagier Meredith Syrah, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Excellent showing.  At age 14, this is just about at peak and showing nice maturity with some youth as well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Opaque and mostly bright.  The nose has boysenberries, slight black cherry, black pepper and char.  Full bodied.  The firm tannins of it's youth are mostly resolved at this point but present.

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