NV Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Amontillado Los Arcos Seco - Dry Solera Familiar, Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a relatively inexpensive bottle of sherry (I paid $10 on sale).  Light golden in color.  The nose is very nice; nuts, slight caramel, slight saline and of course "Sherried".  On the palate, this is dry.  Nutty with some caramel notes.  A bit of bitterness.  Some alcohol.  Deep and texture.  Contemplative.  Long finish.  Great value.  It really does perform much better with salty foods.  

2012 Carlisle Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

One of the best Zinfandel producers and one of the best Zinfandel vineyards.  What's not to like?  This is a great Zinfandel.  It's always a question when to open Zins.  They drink so well young.  Some of them age great.  This is one that there is no right answer to the question as it seems its always good.  Purple in color.  The nose has raspberries, boysenberries, bramble, black pepper and an interesting iodine note.  On the palate, this has a lush but lively texture.  Great energy to the wine.  Flavors of raspberries and dark cherries intertwines with char and earth.  Great balance.  Lon

2014 Turtle Rock G2, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Looking for a new winery to follow.  If you like American Rhone wines, this is one to check out.  Purple in color, deep and inky.  On the nose, black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meat and spice/vanilla.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit.  Deep.  Medium tannins.   Good balance.  This is a big wine.  It is delicious now but if your prefer a little more restraint, I think this has the stuffing to age for another decade, perhaps two.  

2012 Giuseppe Campagnola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is an inexpensive Amarone that is at least true to its name.  So many of these are just glorified Valpolicella's it seems.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has dried cherries and black cherries with an herbal note and slight raisin.  On the palate this drinks well.  Dried cherries with an herbal note.  Dry.  Good acidity.  Nice with food.  Nothing amazing here but enjoyable and drinking very well for the price.  

 

1994 Warre Porto Vintage, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

From a 375ml.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries.  On the palate, this has sweet black raspberry fruit.  Still drinking young.  Layers of fruit along with char.  Long finish.  Not overtly sweet but a bit sweet.  Plenty of time based on this bottle.  

1998 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+

What a treat to drink a wine at age 20 that is still young but yet gorgeous.  Ruby in color.  The nose has black raspberries, a bit of fireworks, and a nice tarragon note.  complex on the nose and palate.  On the palate, black raspberries layered with rocks and minerals.  Opens beautifully in the glass.  Long finish.  This has a couple of decades of life left and indeed is still at least 5 years from peak based on this bottle.  Bought on release and cellared in my cellar.  Gorgeous wine.  

2013 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

This is still young and a but tight.  It is a gorgeous wine but give it some air if you are going to drink soon.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is clean with slight earthiness, a bit of bacon fat and boysenberry fruit.  Seems like a bit brighter acidity than these wines usually have which is nice.  Perhaps just a function of the rest of the wine being tight.  On the palate, black cherries, boysenberries, and a  mineral streak that is very nice.  Deep.  Long finish.  I would hold for at least 5 years but it should last for decades.  At least a couple or more points of upside.  

2011 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

Always a privilege to be able to taste one of the worlds great wines and also one of my personal favorites.  This is drinking very well at only 7 years from vintage and was quite open and much more accessible than a taste a few years ago.  Ruby in color, slight purple at the core.  The nose has some barnyard going along with black raspberries and white pepper.  The barnyard is well under control though I would still look for well stored bottles if buying now.  Complex and layered on the palate with boysenberry fruit and earth and minerals.  Slightly drying but in a good way that is quite in

2013 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is classic and quite nice.  Black olives jump from the glass.  Also black raspberries, slight black pepper.  On the palate, tart black raspberries with nice minerals.  Light tannins.  Decent acidity.  Long finish.  Still young and with some upside potential as these gain in complexity.  

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