2018 Chateau de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

I don't recall ever tasting a wine from this producer before.  This is a blend of 80% Grenache noir 20% Syrah.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose seems older with dust, dried cherries but also some black raspberries and garrigue.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries and dried fruits.  Moderate finish.  This seems like a wine to drink in the near term, maybe over the next three to five years.  It will work well with pasta or stews.  

2018 Saint Cosme Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is one of, if not the best, producer of Gigondas, but they also make great Chateauneuf.  It is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, and 5% Cinsault.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has prunes, cherries, garrigue and slight floral notes.  Medium bodied.  Young but nice complexity.  Tight layers or  plums, spice and earth.  Lively.  Nice finish.  This needs a couple more years until peak but should drink well for the next twelve to fifteen years.  

2018 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$48.00USD

This is the second wine of Vieux Telegraphe.  Dark garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with spices, garrigue, and black cherries.  It has a soft but inviting texture.  Black cherry fruit with baking spices.  A bit of cough syrup on the finish.  With air, just a touch of prunes.  The is drinking a bit better than the first wine at the moment and one to drink while waiting on the bigger 2018's.  It should drink well for another ten years.  This will work well with meats and fowl.  A burger would work well.  

2019 Clos du Mont-Olivet Côtes du Rhône Blanc, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

What an excellent value in white wine.  For $20, this was better than many white Chateauneuf's.  It is a blend of 90% Grenache Blanc and 10% Ugni Blanc.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has minerals, wax, toast and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, almonds, lemons, and wax notes with good acidity.  A bit of a bitter almond note on the finish.  The drinks well on its own and would work well with  food.  Fried chicken would be a good match.  Drink over the next few years.  

2018 Poggio Anima Sicilia Asmodeus, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

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

This is 100% Nero D'Avola from Sicily.  This is another value priced wine that drinks well and is also quite interesting.  For those unfamiliar with this grape it is similar to Pinot Noir with a bit less body and a bit more acidity.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries and anise.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice cherry fruit with good acidity.  A bit of anise (black licorice) on the finish.  This drinks better with food.  Pasta or pizza would be a nice match.  Drink over the next few years.  

2019 Poggio Anima Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Samael, Italy, Wine Review

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

This is an interesting 100% Montepulciano D'abruzzo.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is filled with cherries and some balsamic vinegar.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the cherries come thru along with some tart acidity.  Like most Italian wines, this begs for some food.  Spaghetti alla Chitarra with a nice meat sauce would work well.  Drink over the next few years.  At $15, this is a very nice value and makes for a nice bottle with a weekday dinner.  

2002 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Hard to beat Gouges for a combination of price, quality and ageability in Burgundy.  At age 19, this one is still youthful although drinking well.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, some black cherries, slight sandalwood and just a hint of funk.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has depth and complexity.  Cherry fruit with some earthiness underneath.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  This should continue to drink well for another decade.  It drinks well on its own but will work better with food.  Roast chicken would be a nice match.  

2016 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Nice to re-visit this wine.  This is a nice value in Napa Cabs although still not a cheap bottle by any means.  Made by the people who make Fait-Main wines.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, chocolate, and some spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of cassis and black cherries and also some chocolate.  Good finish.  Served blind, I thought Merlot but it seems this is 100% Cab from various Napa vineyards.  It drinks great on its own and will continue to do so for another decade.  It will work well with roasted meat or fowl.  

2016 Pietranera Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Tasted blind with a group of experienced tasters.  In all, three bottles of Italian wine were opened and we all agreed that there was a surprising lack of acidity, across three vintages 2011, 2015, and 2016.  It used to be one of the real clues for identifying an Italian wine, blind.  Not sure if this is a trend, global warming or random chance, or perhaps just.  Maybe being the last day of Libra it was just a root day.  :-)  In any event, I thought it was a Loire Cabernet Franc.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with dusty, cherries, and some tobacco.  Full

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