2016 Secret Squirrel Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

In a recent tasting of Washington wines, this was the groups Wine Of The Night.  Pretty impressive for a wine that was purchased for $20.  It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cedar, plums, cassis and dark chocolate.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Some depth and complexity.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, lots of cassis, some black cherries and a bit of char and ash.  Tasty.  This is drinking well now and is the kind of wine that would be popular at a party.  It drinks well on its own and would be a nice choice with burgers, ribs

2018 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor, Chile,

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

This is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has baking spice, cassis and char.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has black cherries and cassis.  Some complexity but very tightly wound.  A bitter note on the finish.  This is still very young and tight and will undoubtedly improve over the next five to ten years.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen after that.  If drinking now, give it a very long decant (8 hours?).  This will work with big fatty foods such as prime rib and does d

2018 J. Bookwalter Conflict, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

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

A blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with cassis and baking spice.  With air some coffee notes emerge.  On the palate, this is ripe and sweet cassis fruit.  Seems like a touch of residual sugar.  Also some spices. Nice finish.  It drinks well on its own but might be harder to match food.  A nice wine to sip on its own by the fire this winter.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2010 Domaine de Chevalier, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$118.00USD

Pop and pour, this would have benefitted from decanting. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color with a ruby rim.  The nose is tight and never seemed to full open.  Lots of spice, some cedar, cherries and black cherries.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Black cherry fruit with underlying spice.  Long finish.  This seems in need of more time (or air) and should improve.  It would also benefit from food.  A nice steak or roasted chicken would go well.  

2018 Hedges Family Estate Sauvignon Blanc CMS, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 19% Chardonnay and 1% Marsanne from Washington state.  Yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is smoky with some peach offerings.  Medium bodied.  Slight tannins.  Low acidity.  Very round and easy to drink texture.  On the palate, some peach and some apple.  A bit of bitter almond on the finish.  Overall, an easy drinking wine that provides nice value.  It drinks very well on its own and will work with lighter foods.  Drink over the next year.  

2009 Le Clos de la Meslerie, France, Vouvray, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

One of the cool things about Vouvray is that it is made from Chenin Blanc grapes which more often than not can age well.  When I walked into a local  wine store and saw this for $20, it was well worth the flier.  The only real problem is that there are no more.  Made by American Peter Hahn and imported with Rosenthal, this is a lovely wine.  Medium golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has nice minerality with hints of orange peel and a bit of apricot.  Medium bodied and slightly viscous.  At age 12, there is just a bit of sweetness here (some has probably faded since bottling).  A n

2015 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese, Germany, Nahe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Another winner from the great 2015 vintage.  Light silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has great minerality with a slight peach note.  Slightly viscous.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet though not cloying.  Great acidity to balance it off.  Loads of minerality with some peach notes.  This is more about minerals and "less is more".  Complex.  Long finish.  This will continue to improve for another decade.  It should drink well for thirty years.  Great with a wide variety of foods (factor in the sweetness) but Thai food is a great choice.  

2006 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Charvin always makes a more elegant styled Chateauneuf with a larger amount of Grenache.  At age 15, this is drinking quite well.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, spices, slight dried floral notes and a bit of clean earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Bright acidity.  On the palate, cherries and black cherries with underlying spice, slight char and minerality.  Depth and layers of complexity.  Delicious.  Great on its own, this will excel with the right food such as beef or bean stew.  Fully mature, drink over the next ten years.  

2016 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese, Germany, Nahe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This is young and took some time to open, but then was excellent.  Light golden with slight green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is deep with flint, slight peach, wet rocks, and quince.  It takes a while to really open.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet.  Not dessert like, but certainly sweet.  Good acidity.  Peach, slight apple with great minerality.  Depth.  Long finish.  This will reward future cellaring, maybe another five to eight years.  If drinking now, open and let breathe for four to six hours.  Great on its own, this will work well with cheeses including Mac n Chees

2015 Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico Stielle Gran Selezione, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$56.00USD

A nice, Chianti, this is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, forest floor and some anise.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, cherries and black cherries.  Moderate finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for the next five to eight years.  It works better with food, pasta with meatballs or mushrooms would be a nice choice.  

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