2015 Caves Saint-Pierre Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Fiacre du Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

There is good news and bad news about this wine.  The good news is that it is one of the least expensive Chateauneuf du Papes in the marketplace.  The bad news is that in reality, there are lots of Cotes du Rhones that are better for less money.  That said, it is certainly a fine wine to drink.  It is a blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 15% Cinsault, and 10% Syrah.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has tart cherries, cranberries with a bit of pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the cranberries dominate with a touch of rhubarb.  One dimensional.  Easy drinking. 

2018 Tement Sauvignon Blanc Südsteiermark DAC, Austria,

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Südsteiermark is a region in southeastern Austria that produces excellent, fruity Sauvignon Blancs which is exactly what this wine is.  This is one of this producers entry level bottlings.  Yellow/gold/green in color.  The nose is pretty with pears, slight gooseberries, limes and minerals.  On the palate, the limes and gooseberries stand out although there is some underlying minerality.  Fresh with lots of energy.  Long finish.  This should be consumed in the next year or two.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter fowl or seafood dishes.  

2011 Jagini Zagersdorf, Austria, Burgenland, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is made from the Blaufrankish grape.  Really an excellent wine.  This is deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with sour cherries, plums, dust, baking spices, anise and a slight meaty note.  Complex and big.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lots of upfront plums turning to sour cherries.  Underneath is a meaty/earthy quality with some black pepper.  Like a mythical cross of Cote Rotie and Oregon Pinot Noir.  This is complex and lively.  It seems like it is near peak but then again it drinks youthfully.  Without much experience with this grape

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

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

What a beautiful wine.  At age 15, this has settled into a nice sweet spot.  Sealed with a screw cap.  Golden in color, but too dark.  The nose is big with dried honey, pears, orange peel and salinity.  Full bodied and slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Delicious with great minerality.  Oranges and honey over minerals.  Still showing youthful with lots of verve.  Long finish.  This should easily go another fifteen to twenty years.  It works great on its own and will work with less sweet or fruit based desserts (especially pears or oranges).  

2012 Campesino Syrah Sangiacomo Old Lakeville Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is really drinking well right now.  Purple in color with a thin ruby line at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight bacon fat, char and black pepper.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Black raspberry fruit intertwined with roasted meats and black pepper.  Very smooth.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This is closing in on peak but should have ten to fifteen more years at or near the top.  This worked great with Indian food.  

2011 The Cave Winery, The Cave, Israel, Galilee, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is a Bordeaux blend from Israel of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Petite Verdot.  It is one of the more expensive bottlings coming out of Israel.  It is a very nice wine but whether it is worth the money is another question.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is earthy with black cherries, some cassis, slight bell pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru with a streak of bell pepper over and earthy/charred bed.  It drinks like classic Bordeaux.  Nice balance.  Light tannins.  Solid finish.  This seems to be at peak and should be

2013 Halcon Vineyards Petite Sirah Tierra Theopolis Vineyard, USA, California, Mendocino, Yorkville Highlands, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is one of my favorite Petite Sirahs out there.  At age 7, this is still a youngster, but it is delicious.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is intense.  Lots of precision.  Very deep.  Boysenberries over a char base.  Great balance.  Delicious.  Long finish.  Great value, too!  This should drink well for another ten to fifteen years, but it is so good now.  Works great on its own or with spicy foods or fatty foods.  

2002 Peju Province Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This bottle is drinking quite well at age 18 despite not being stored immaculately.  A friend brought this over and had been keeping since buying at the winery.  She does not have a wine cellar and has moved a couple of times, so our hopes were guarded.  It drank very well.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, graphite, and a bit of chocolate.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Tannins are all resolved.  Layers of black cherry fruit with some dark chocolate and slight earthiness.  Good finish.  These probably should be consumed over the next

2004 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

Pop and pour, this wine is hitting its sweet spot now.  Deep ruby in color with purple swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, tea leaves and slight anise.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, there are moderate tannins.  Lots of cherry and black cherry fruit over a forest floor base.  Great acidity.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own but really is better with food.  Pasta is a great choice but this will work well with any meat/fowl or veggie dish.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

2010 Portfolio Limited Edition, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is a Bordeaux blend from Napa.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, licorice, and spice.  Very nice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is black cherries and spice.  Moderate tannins.  A slight hint of mint on the finish.  This is drinking well now but may get a point or two better.  It drinks nicely on its own and would work well with a steak or roast.  

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