2018 Jakopic Pušipel Classic, Croatia, Zagorje-Medjimurje, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is 100% Pušipel which is another name for Moslavac, Šipon, Mosler, or Furmint.  It is light golden in color with the slightest copper hue to it.  The nose is interesting with some pear but also some hay and a slight melon note.  On the palate, this turns more to tart grapefruits with a bit of an herbal streak.  The wine itself is weighty with a perception of sweetness yet it drinks tart.  Looking it up later, there is apparently 7.7 g/l of residual sugar.  The finish does have just a hint of sweetness that gets lost among the tart grapefruit notes.  12% ABV on the label.  Another very

1994 Warre Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Wine review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This seems to be about at peak, at least from the 375ml bottle.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with chocolate, raspberries, and slight raisins.  Full bodied.  Sweet.  Viscous.  Complex.  Liquified chocolate covered raisins.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This needs about 30 minutes of air to blow off bottle stink and good to go.  It should easily drink well for another ten years.  great on its own, this will work well with a chocolate dessert.  

2001 Alois Kracher Cuvée Beerenauslese Cuvee, Austria, Neusiedlersee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

I am not sure what grape varieties go into the cuvee.  At age 20, it is great.  Copper in color, clear and bright.  The nose is gorgeous.  100 points for the nose.  Peaches, canned peaches, slight salted caramel, and minerality.  Full bodied and viscous.  Not as good on the palate, but still outstanding.  The peaches and canned peaches carry thru.  Remnants of sweetness remain but very little sweetness shows.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  Just beautiful.  This drinks well on its own and will work with a not too sweet dessert.  Maybe a Pecan Roll would be good.  It is starting to slide downh

2005 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume, France, Loire, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This sweet Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France so no signs of ageing at all.  Light yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has pears, honey, white peaches, with a bit of crushed shells and salinity.  Full bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is sweet but just a bit, certainly not cloying.  Good acidity.  The honey, peaches and and minerality come thru.  A very long finish.  This wine is deep and stops the drinker in his or her tracks.  It drinks great on its own and might be harder to match with food.  A not too sweet shortbread cookie or a soft goat cheese wo

2018 Château Jalousie Beaulieu, France, Bordeaux, Supérieur, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

This is an inexpensive 100% Merlot.  In good vintages, these are great places to look for values and nice wines that are accessible.  And this one, hits all the marks.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has raspberries, plums and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the raspberries continue along with some black cherries.  Moderate finish.  This is a tasty, fruit forward style of Merlot.  It improves with a bit of air.  Drinks fine on its own but will work better with some food.  Roasted veggies or fowl would be a nice match.  Drink over the next three to five

2018 Bouchard Père et Fils Pinot Noir Bourgogne Reserve, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
82
Grade: 
B-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Tasted over two nights, it was better on the second.  This carries the name Pinot Noir on the label as well.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has raspberries, rhubarb and slight cherries.  Also, a slight dill note.  Odd as this sees no wood at all.  On the palate, the red fruits carry thru if a bit thin.  There is a green note especially on the finish.  This was disjointed on opening but with air settled a bit.  It is an easy going Pinot Noir that is unremarkable in most aspects.  It will work better with some lighter food, perhaps chicken salad.  Dirnk over the next couple of ye

2011 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is from grapes that are grown 63% IN Napa and 37% in Sonoma.  It also contains 7% Cabernet Sauvignon.  This was a difficult vintage, yet this is a nice wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and coffee.  Also a hint of clove.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries and cherries with some underlying spice.  A slight green note on the finish.  Nice acidity.  The fruit is not under ripe but just barely.  This drinks well but will work better with food.  Fried chicken might be nice.  Drink over the next few years. 

2017 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a Zinfandel made from younger vines that have been replanted in 24 different vineyards.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black cherry fruit and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherry fruit and spices come thru.  There is some heat on the mid-palate.  Very tasty.  Drink over the next five years.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with barbecue or foods off the grill.  

2017 Stags' Leap Petite Sirah, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$47.00USD

This bottle was singing with a little air.  Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, a touch of char with an earthy note and a slight menthol note on the back end.  Full bodied with a great texture.  The palate has boysenberry fruit and black pepper with underlying char.  deep yet already accessible.  This is a big hearty wine but compared to prior vintages this seems to be maturing, or at least opening, a bit faster.  Nothing wrong with that especially for Petite.  Delicious.  This should continue to open and mature and drink well for the next ten to fif

2019 Herdade do Esporão Vinho Regional Alentejano Monte Velho, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

This is another very nice value red from Portugal.  Deep garnet in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries and a dried herbal note.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with good balance.  Tart black cherry fruit.  No hard edges.  This drinks easy.  Nice finish.  This should drink well for the next three to five years.  It will work on its own and go nicely with a burger off the grill.  

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