2014 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$500.00USD

My third time trying this bottle and it is incredible.  I have scored it 99 and 100 and this again gets the top score.  This bottle was opened 12 hours in advance, checked for quality, and then allowed to breathe.  Served with stuffed roasted peppers with feta, it was an excellent match.  Deep purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, cedar, dark chocolate and spice.  On the palate, this is not overblown.  There is some obvious oak showing but it integrates nicely.  More than enough fruit to age this out beautifully.  Deep and complex but tight.  Drinking great now but will continue

2014 Comando G Las Umbrias Las Rozas de Puerto Real, Spain, Madrid, Gredos, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Some wines are special for more than what's in the bottle.  Such is this bottle.  My wife and I visited the Gredos are just west of Madrid, Spain and few years ago and were blow away by the beauty, the quality of wine and the people making it in an area that I had never heard of prior to planning the trip.  These are very old, high altitude vineyards on sandy soils growing Grenache which is being made by a whole new group of young winemakers.  And the wines are just a unique.  This is Garnacha but unlike any from other locations.  Very light garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is i

2013 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Magis, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

I love Rhone whites but they are a crap shoot.  Luckily, this was drinking quite well.  It was brought over by a friend who was invited to our home for dinner.  He will be invited back.  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with minerals, wax but plenty of fruit; peach and guava and finally some honeysuckle and vanilla.  On the palate, this has a slightly oily texture.  The peach and vanilla predominate but it gets waxy on the finish.  Also a lovely underlying minerality.  Good acidity.  Someone mentioned white Burgundy, but I didn't get that.  Pretty classic ehite Rhone and wide open a

2006 Château Pape Clément Blanc, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Léognan

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$175.00USD

This bottle was bought on release back when it was affordable.  My last bottle, and it was served at dinner with friends along with an eggplant and tomato soup.  A very good pairing.  The wine itself is very interesting.  Plenty of depth and complexity but showing quite youthfully.  Medium golden in color.  The nose has apricots, slight vanilla, slight marzipan and a hint of tropical fruit.  On the palate, full bodied.  Ever so slightly oily texture.  Delicious vanilla, peach, and waxy notes.  Complex and layered, it unwinds nicely in a glass.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Everything I cou

2003 Dönnhoff Schloßböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Spätlese, Germany, Nahe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

2003 wasa a very hot summer in Europe and many wines reflected that heat.  At age 16, this wine is ripe and sweet but does not seem to be hurt by the heat.  In fact, it was delicious and has matured beautifully.  Still has years to go.  Light golden in color.  The nose has minerals, slight peach, slight simple syrup and is very clean (no petrol).  On the palate, this is viscous and slightly sweet.  Nice peach and minerals notes.  Decent not great acidity.  It was paried with a roasted beet salad with deep fried goat cheese croutons and that was an excellent match.  

2010 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Terre de Vertus Premier Cru, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Excellent showing for this wine.  Light silvery gold in color.  A nice mousse with lots of smaller bubbles.  On the nose, nice red apples notes with just the slightest bit of nuttiness (almonds?).  Full bodied but not flamboyant.  Lots of minerals and apples on the palate.  Good acidity.  Worked well with roasted chickpeas and almonds.  Long finish.  This has a very nice complexity to it and though it tastes mature, it seems like there is still some room to go further.  Very dry finish.  It is listed as Brut Nature so that makes sense.  

NV Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Brut Platine, France, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

This is a nice value in 1er Cru Champagne.  It drinks very well right now.  Light golden in color with a nice head of small bubbles.  The nose is nice with a green apple note along with some faint toast qualities.  In general, this is more on the austere side of Champagne which is not a bad thing.  Plenty of acidity.  Long finish.  This was served to friends at the start of the evening along side some roasted chick peas and that proved a fine pairing a great start to the evening.  I don't think this will improve and these bottles, purchased in the last year, should be drunk in the next year

2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Since these wines first came out, it has always been an open question how well they would age.  At age 11, this one is doing great.  Drinking quite young but quite well.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with cherries, slight spice, black cherries, and very slight cola note.  On the palate, this is young but delicious.  Shows depth but tight.  Plenty of cherries and black cherry fruit.  Great balance.  Drink now or should hold for another ten or fifteen years, depending what you like in a Pinot.  Will work with a wide variety of food.  

NV Old Westminster Pip & Berry, USA, Maryland, Wine Review

Score: 
78
Grade: 
C+

OK, this was served to me at a wine store, so what the heck.  It is a sparkling rosé wine & cider blend that is 30% Merlot, 30% Chambourcin, and 40% Stayman Winesap apples. I can't imagine it costs much.  It was fun to try a can (yes, a can).  Other's seemed to find it fun.  For this grizzled old wine geek, it was more a curiosity.  But, that's ok too.  

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