1991 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1992
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$200.00USD

White Rhone wines are certainly unique and this one, at age 30, is no exception.  I quite enjoyed it for what it offered.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with pears, Crème Brûlée, honey countered by a bit of oxidation and minerality.  Full bodied and quite rich.  On the palate, it has a deep complexity.  Some fruit; baked pears with layers of minerals and some oxidized apples (not in a bad way).  Long finish.  This was served with a Gazpacho and it worked well enough for a difficult pairing.  It seems like it will be at this level for a while longer, but it shou

1996 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1996
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$550.00USD

Not much more to say about one of the greatest wines on the planet from a great vintage.  This bottle was bought on release and cellared well.  Light golden in color with a lot of small bubbles.  The nose is concentrated with baked apples, some spice, slight lemon and a brioche/oxidized note that is classic Krug.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is still youthful.  Great acidity.  A bit of baked apple, spice and slight cider note.  Long finish.  This is still youthful and should easily go another ten to fifteen years at this level if well stored.  It will pair with virtually any

1982 Dalva Porto Colheita, Portugal, Porto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1982
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This had been opened for a few day but it is basically a single vintage tawny port, so it drank fine.  This was a new winery for me.  Deep iced tea color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nutty with a slight fig but also a quince/orange citrus.  Good acidity.  On the palate, nutty, quince, slight coffee.  Blind, I might have guessed Madeira.  Drinks well if not a lot of complexity.  This was good on its own but would work well with dried fruits or nuts.  

2016 Andremily Syrah No. 5, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$142.00USD

Pop and pour. This is a blend of 91% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is intense with with black raspberries, black olives, roasted herbs, dark chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Great lush texture.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying charred earth. Some chocolate on the finish.  Delicious.  This is still young and will improve over the next five to seven years.  It should drink well for ten to twelve after that.  It drinks great on its own, with time this will work just as well with food.  It worked well with Indian food.  

2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

Great showing for this top Châteauneuf-du Pape! Served side by side with Hommage a Perrin, it held its own.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is clean with plums, black cherries, slight balsamic, some spice and slight meatiness.  Medium to full bodied.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is fresh and vibrant but pretty much at peak although with years left.  This release as some variability, but well stored bottles should easily go another decade or more.  It drinks great on its own, this worked very well with Indian food.  

2017 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$99.00USD

This continues to be one of the best Chardonnay's made anywhere.  Light golden in color with slight green swirls, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon curd, minerality, and vanilla.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, lemon curd and vanilla with great minerality.  Still quite young, this should drink well for the next ten to fifteen years.  It went great with soft cheeses and also some vegetarian Indian food.  

2013 Paul Lato Chardonnay Kokoro, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is a blend of fruit from Sierra Madre, Hilliard Bruce and Pisoni vineyards in Santa Barbara County.  Light golden in color.  The nose has grapefruits, minerals, baking spices and slight citrus.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is a big wine.  The grapefruit and slight lemons come thru with underlying minerality and oak.  Some acidity bit not a lot.  It works better with food, soft cheeses were perfect.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2020 Paşaeli 6N Karasakız, Turkey, Ege Bölgesi, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is a blend of 92% Karasakız and 8% Merlot with 13.5% abv.  "6N" is a protest to deforestation for gold mining on Mount Ida, and where this wine is sourced from.  Very light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, pine, and tea leaves.  Light bodied.  On the palate, light black raspberries and cherries.  It is unique with a nice complexity.  This  seems like it should be drunk in the next three to five years.  It will work better with food.  It should work well with Ezogelin corba (soup).  

2017 Kavaklıdere Vin Art Kalecik Karası-Syrah , Turkkey, Ege Bölgesi, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is a blend of Laecik Karasi and Syrah from western Turkey.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, some black raspberries, a bit of funk and earth.  Great texture; rich but juicy.  On the palate, there is a nice complexity.  Black raspberries, plums and black cherries with some earthiness underneath.  Long finish.  This is tasty.  It may get better but should mature for a bit and drink well for another ten to twelve years.  It would work well with Yaprak Dolma (stuffed grape leaves).  

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