2009 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Impériale, France, Rhone, Wine review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This was tasted from a magnum that had been opened for a couple of hours.  Delicious and drinking great.  2009 has been an open and for the most part, accessible vintage since release, yet also an excellent vintage.  Made from 90% Grenache.  Deep ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has raspberries, spice, dust and a bit of an interesting pine note.  What a great texture it has.  On the palate, there are raspberries over a charred wood with just a hint of the pine.  It has some complexity as it unwinds in the glass.  A long finish.  This is not a brute wine and indeed, more elegant

2012 Peter Zemmer Lagrein Raut, Italy, Alto Adige - Südtirol, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This is a relatively inexpensive red from northeast Italy.  That said, it is not  simple wine and needs to be cellared.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries with some smoke.  On the palate, this has a soft texture.  Black cherry fruit that turn slightly sour.  Firm tannins.  Nice finish.  This will need to be laid down for five to seven years if it is to reach its peak.  It can be drunk now but have some nice fatty foods to cut through the tannins.  If serving today, an eight hour decant is not too much.  Certainly, the score should improve with cellaring.  

NV G. H. Mumm Grand Cordon Brut Champagne , France, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Dosage is 8 grams per liter.  Silvery light gold in color.  A nice amount of smaller bubbles.  The nose has seltzer and gun powder.  On the palate, this is lively. Plenty of a (red) apples with a tart sourness that is very nice.  A reasonably long finish.  This is an affordable Champagne that is very user friendly.  It will work well on its own and with just about any foods but especially salty foods.  This should be consumed within the first few years of release.  There was no disgorgement date on this bottle so purchase from stores with good turnover.  

2017 Treana Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a reasonably priced Cabernet.  I had not tried a vintage of this in a while.  It is still a solid wine and a great value.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, some cherries, a bit of dust and sandalwood.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  It has ripe, slightly sweet fruit but enough structure to handle it.  Cassis and cherries.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Right now, this is probably better on its own but with a little age, it will work well with roasts and other meat dishes.  It should be consumed in thee next five to seven years.  

NV Penfolds Grandfather Rare Tawny, Australia, South Australia, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is one in a series of Tawny "Ports" made by Penfold's.  It has very attractive packaging although no longer in the wood box.  Made in a Solera style, the minimum blended age is 20 years old.  The Solera currently contains vintages from 1960 to 2004.  Mostly Shiraz, Cabernet, Grenache and Mourvedre but others as well.  Iced tea in color.  The nose is a bit oxidized (in a good way) with brown sugar, toffee and crème brulee.  On the palate, this is viscous.  Lots of caramel notes.  Some heat.  There is a nice depth to it.  Long finish.  This will work well on its own or with toffee/carame

1998 Weingut Josef Leitz Rüdesheimer Klosterberg Riesling Eiswein, Germany, Rheingau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

From a 375ml bottle/  Brown in color.  The nose is interesting with green tea, chalk and wet rocks.  On the palate, this has tart green grapes along with underlying chalk and some rocks.  It is slightly viscous.  Slightly sweet but not as much as expected.  It has an interesting complexity.  It works well on its own or with cheese.  This seems to be showing some age, but should have a long life ahead.  

2017 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

This is a big young wine.  It is delicious, but will need some time.  it is a blend of 70% Monastrell (Mourvedre) and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color.  The nose is big.  The nose has black raspberries, smoke, black cherries, and dark chocolate.  With air, some baking spices come out.  On the palate, this is ripe, slightly sweet with black raspberries and plums.  A bit of spice.  Firm tannins.  Long finish.  This is accessible now but will improve as the tannins and fruit integrate.  In the meanwhile, it is delicious on its own.  With age it will work well with roasts and casseroles

2014 Robert Foley Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

Bob Foley is one of Napa's great winemakers.  This is from his eponymous winery.  It is a typical Bob Foley Cab which is to say, big and fruit while at the same time, ageable and having a sense of class.  It is still quite young right now.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, sandalwood and baking spice along with a touch of pencil lead.  On the palate, this has sweet cassis fruit.  Firm tannins.  It is drinking well on its own today and will take bigger food to not be overwhelmed.  However, with another ten years this should mature nicely into something that will be more flexible.  It s

2006 Paolo Bea Sagrantino di Montefalco Secco Pagliaro, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$145.00USD

This is one of the great wines of Italy even if relatively obscure to the general wine drinking public.  it is made from the Sagrantino grape which is tannic and needs time to develop.  This is 13 years old and still needs more time until peak.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, plums, slight coffee and anise.  On the palate, a wall of black cherry fruit with firm tannins.  It is thick and delicious.  With air, some additional notes of anise and spice come out on the palate.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  

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