2016 Clarendelle Rosé, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

From the venerable Chateau Haut Brion, this is an inexpensive rose.  A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  Light salmon in color.  Strawberries on the nose.  The palate is clean with "red berries", mostly strawberries.  This is easy and drinks well.  Perhaps not the energy or brightness it had last year, so these should probably be drunk sooner than later.  Works well with food.  

2014 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Consumed from a Magnum.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose is clean with black cherries and spice.  On the palate, this has a soft texture.  Black cherry fruit.  Slight, slight bitterness to it.  It seems advanced considering the format and the age, but that's fine.  Drinking well now.  While it has some complexity it is broader rather than deep.  This is very good for the vintage and should be good for the next ten years.  Not sure if there is any upside though.  

NV Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Kirkland is the in house brand for Costco.  They contract out a wide variety of wines and many of them including this one are very good and great values.  This sells for $7.Silvery green and gold in color.  A modicum of medium sized bubbles.  The nose is reticent but with minerals and limes/green apples.  It opens with a bit of air but is never strong.  It is better and stronger on the palate.  Clean.  Just a hint of sweetness, just barely.  Good acidity.  Good finish.  This is food friendly and easy to drink.  Made for immediate consumption, for $7, this is a no brainer for parties and coo

2011 Château Camperos, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

This is an inexpensive Sauternes that retails for around $20.  That is a great value for a nice dessert wine.  Light gold/green in color.  The nose has apricots and slight honey.  It has just a hint of sweetness.  Some apricots on the palate.  Nice acidity.  A nice choice for large groups or just a nice finish to a meal.  

2014 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+

Nice to revisit this classic wine.  It has been a long time.  This varies widely in pricing from $25 to $40 at retail.  Purple in color.  The nose has the classic Rutherford dust along with some cassis.  Also a bit of an herbal note.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet cassis fruit.  it drinks easy and is ready right now.  No tannins.  Shorter finish.  It is a fund for immediate drinking and over the next five years.  

2002 Vieux Château Certan, France, Bordeaux, Pomerol, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is one of my favorite wines from Pomerol.  They have gotten crazy expensive over the years and this was probably the last reasonably priced vintage.  2002 was not a great vintage.  What is good about it though is that the wines drank well in the short term and were evenly good if not great.  This bottle is at peak right now or maybe just shy.  It will probably stay there for another few years, so if you own any, be thankful and drink up.  It won't get better and depending on the bottle, may start to fade.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, chocolate, slight spice and a bit

2004 Luneau-Papin / Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Le "L" d'Or, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

A great example of one of the top Muscadets.  This cost $15 on release and a recent vintage is not much more.  Its been aged for 14 years and it was wonderful.  Still fresh, crisp and enjoyable.  Golden in color.  The nose is great.  Complex with sea air, sea shells and slight honey notes.  On the palate, this is laser precision minerals.  Slightly oily texture.  Some salinity.  For those who prefer oysters, this is the perfect match but works with other food as well.  Long finish.  Just a gorgeous $15 bottle of wine.  

2016 Château Lacapelle Cabanac, France, Cahors, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot from southwest France.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose is dusty with plums.  Some cherries come out later.  On the palate, this is a bit reticent.  Some cherries.  Firm tannins.  This could use a few years of cellaring.  Good acidity. Would work well with food especially heavier dishes.  

2015 Domaine Petroni Corse, France, Corsica, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

Made from a blend of Niellucci, Syrah and Grenache.  Nielluci is genetically identical to Sangiovese but to the Corsicans, it is a native grape.   Very interesting as Corsican wines often are.  The nose has raisins, and spice along with a bit of sweet red currants.  On the palate, this is quite tannic so perhaps it is just young and will develop.It has a sweet tart quality which is fun.  Raisined cherries with a slight chocolate note.  Long finish.  This retails for $16 and is probably more interesting than great, but it is solid.  Seemingly grown in hot conditions, it would work with or wi

2016 Henri Poiron Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Domaine des Quatre Routes, France, Loire Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+

I love Muscadet.  They are some of the best values in the wine world.  Rarely do the cost more than $15 and even the very best are under $30.  And they age much better than many people think.  Light green gold in color.  The nose has slate, green apples, sea air and slight crushed shells.  A bit of salinity as well.  On the palate, this is slightly oily.  Nice mineral streak, crushed shells and slight grapefruit. Slightly warm on the finish, but serving a bit cooler might help that.  It retails for $15 which is a very fair price and well worth it.  

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