2019 Château Minuty Côtes de Provence Prestige, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is a Rose from southern France.  It is a blend of 60% Grenach, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, and 10% Tibouren.  Perhaps more than most springs, I am looking forward to staying home and sipping on some Rose as the weather gets nice/warmer.  This is light salmon pink/orange in color.  Very pale but bright and clear.  It has a much bigger nose with nice strawberries, some hay and slight watermelon.  On the palate, it has an interesting texture.  A bit oily but also creamy.  The strawberries really come thru on the palate.  Refreshing and tasty.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This drinks great o

2018 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

My first time trying this New Zealand winery.  Very impressed.  This wine is barrel fermented and raised in barrel for eleven months but shows no overt signs of any oak.  Probably just a bit of new oak barrels.  Golden in color with a tinge of copper.  The nose is very nice with orange, stony minerality, and lime zest.  This has a very nice texture.  It is creamy yet steely if that makes sense.  On the palate, it starts with a crisp stony minerality followed by a citrus mid-palate and then all notes crescendo for a full and long finish.  It is also delicious.  The finish is long.  Of course

2017 Cave de Saumur Rouge Les Pouches, France, Loire Valley, Saumur, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

`This is a 100% Cabernet Franc froma Co-Op in Saumur.  An inexpensive red, it is an excellent value.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is light but has cherries, plums, green bell pepper and a bit of a steely note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is more present.  Plums and cherries with a bit of a green streak.  Light tannins.  With air the red fruits come out more.  Moderate finish.  This probably won't get better but should drink well for five to seven years.  It is better with a bit of food.  Stews or Chili would work well.  For $13, its hard to expect more from a red.  

2005 Charles Joguet Chinon Franc de Pied Les Varennes du Grand Clos, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

From one of the top red producers in the Loire Valley.  2005 was a strong vintage and allowed the Cabernet Franc to get ripe.  This was a great showing for this wine.  It was identifiable as the Loire with everything good about it.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great.  Earthy, slight barnyard, cherries, slight black cherries and an interesting clove note.  With air, a fresh tobacco note comes out.  On the palate, this is soft.  A nicely layered and complex texture.  Layers of cherries, slight black cherries, fresh hay and slight earthiness.  There are still lig

2012 Domaine Michel Chevre Saumur Blanc Clos de l'Ecotard, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a Chenin Blanc from the central part of the Loire Valley.  Medium "olde" gold in color  with just a touch of copper.  The nose is very nice with lots of minerals, a bit of salinity and some orange peel.  On the palate, this is dry.  Nice citrus with some orange pith and underlying minerality.  Slightly tart on the finish.  A lovely, slightly oily texture.  Chenin ages very well and this is still drinking well.

2010 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, St. Helena, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

Nice to revisit this one.  It's been a few years.  This is drinking great although it still is probably not at peak.  Deep ruby in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep and very nice with cassis, smoke, slight cedar.  Very concentrated, it opens in the glass.  Likewise, the palate is very concentrated.  Cassis with slight earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This still has some lighter tannins.  This will drink well for at least another decade and probably two.  It drinks well on its own but will work well with roasted meats or vegetables.  

2015 Rhys Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard, USA, California, Anderson Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

This is from a northern California.  While I really enjoy the Rhys Chardonnay's, this is not as exuberant the ones from Santa Cruz.  Still, it is excellent.  Golden green in color.  The nose has vanilla, slight grapefruit and slight pineapple.  On the palate, this has a very nice texture.  Slightly viscous.  Nice underlying minerality.  The vanilla comes thru without being too overt.  Nice fruit.  This is drinking well now.  I don't think it will get better but should remain at this level for another five to seven years.  It drinks well on its own.  This will go well with lighter foods such

2011 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese, Germany, Nahe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Great showing for this wine.  Still youthful but drinking nicely.  Medium golden in color.  The nose is clean (no diesel) with minerality/wet rocks and some pineapple.  On the palate, this is more about minerals but there is a bitters quality as well.  And the pineapple comes through too.  This is sweet but not overtly.  Well balanced by the acidity.  Long finish.  This will go with a lot of foods and also drink well on its own.  It went great with a spinach salad.  It should continue to mature for the next five to ten years and be good for ten to fifteen more.  

2017 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is my favorite wine from all of the Carlisle offerings.  And, it seems that Mike Officer really seems to excel in "off" vintages such as 2011 or 2017.  While still very young, this is a beautiful wine.  Deep purple in color, a thin ruby rim.  The nose has black cherries, plums, slight cedar/bramble and just a hint of roasted herbs.  On the palate, the texture is the thing.  Almost seamless.  Of course, it is also delicious, if still young.  Firmer tannins for a Zin.  It takes about an hour or two to open.  This went great with some homemade pizza.  It should continue to improve for the

2010 Le Gode Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Opened this with some pasta at home during the Covid 19 Quarantine to enjoy with the family.  Pop and pour and consumed over 4 hours.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is nice with cherries, sour cherries, wet tea leaves and baking spices.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit modern in style and full bodied.  Lots of red fruits, mostly cherries with some underlying charred forest floor.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This worked well with the food and on its own after dinner.  It is still on the youthful side with some tannins.  Drink now and for the next ten years.  

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