2005 Marqués de Vitoria Rioja Reserva, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has a lot of barnyard on it.  It does partially blow off with air.  There is also some pine which is both interesting and distracting.  And finally, some nice cherry fruit.  On the palate, there is some cherry fruit, both fresh and dried.  Some pine carries thru as does some barnyard.  Slight but drying tannins.  The group I was tasting with liked this more than I did.  It did get better with air as the night went on.  Certainly a nice wine and worth drinking.  Food friendly.  

2016 Txomin Etxaniz Getariako Txakolina Getaria, Spain, Basque, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

These are very interesting wines made from unique grapes in northern Spain.  They typically have a bit of fizz to them.  This one is made from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape.  Light golden green in color.  The nose is nice with a steely lemon/lime quality.  On the palate, there is a very slight fizz to this on the attack (likely faded a bit with age).  Slightly oily texture.  Nice lime fruit.  The wine is tart and slightly sweet at the same time which is very refreshing.  Great acidity.  Nice finish.  These don't age all that well and this one is starting to show some but is still quite nice.  D

1991 Graham's Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1991
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

From a 375ml bottle.  A bit of Port at the end of a nice dinner with a bit of chocolate is a lovely treat.  Since I didn't plan ahead, this was pop and pour and really deserved better, but so it goes.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Even from this format, this bottle was not showing much age at 28 years from vintage.  The nose has cherries, milk chocolate covered raisins and slight dried cranberry notes.  On the palate, this is sweet, but not as much as expected given the producer.  Lively acidity.  Nice cherry fruit.  Some heat on the finish (air will help this).  Probably at its peak

2011 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$400.00USD

Yquem might be the single greatest wine in the world.  Yes, those are bold words, but it is arguably true.  This bottle was wonderful indeed.  Paired with Mango roses in a Rose water and honey sauce, it was sublime.  Light golden in color, this wine is still quite young.  The nose is amazing with slight apricot, lots of honey and orange peel.  Viscous and sweet, not cloying.  The orange peel and honey carry thru.  The thing about Yquem is the finish.  It goes on forever and ever.  Very nice acidity in 2011.  This bottle will continue to age and mature for fifty years and no doubt at some po

2009 Saxum James Berry Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$195.00USD

I love Saxum wines.  They might not be or everyone, but more times than not, they are crowd pleasers.  This one was served with friends along side a cheese course at the end of a meal and it was wonderful.  It is blend of 57% Grenache (60% aged in concrete), 31% Mourvedre, and 12% Syrah.  It has very high alcohol levels and a ton of fruit.  It drinks well on its own or needs some hearty food (or cheeses) to stand up to it.  inky purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, some white pepper, black cherries, spice and slight roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has a lovely energetic qua

2009 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, USA, California, Napa, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$170.00USD

Pride has a long history of making great wines in different styles from different winemakers.  The reserve wines are at the top of their pecking order and for my tastes the Cabernet Reserve is usually the best wine that they make.  It is a middle ground in style between a full blown fruit bomb and a left bank styled wine from either California or Bordeaux.  This one was gorgeous.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, slight coffee, a bit of graphite and a bit of earth and char.  Full bodied with a lovely texture.  Deep.  It unwinds in the glass.  Lots of cassis fruit on the palate, with s

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

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