2015 Domaine Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône Les Champauvins, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is always one of the best Cotes du Rhone and in good vintages it is worth stocking up on.  It cellars well for five  to ten years.  Drinking great right now.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is very nice with black cherries, violets, spice and slight cedar.  On the palate, juicy black cherries, spice and gravel notes.  Not quite layered but more of a mosaic.  Good acidity.  Food friendly.  This retails for close to $20 which makes it a great value.  Better than a lot of Chateauneuf du Papes!

2015 Domaine Anne Gros Echezeaux Les Loachausses, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Light ruby in color.  The nose is great but a bit tighter than the Clos Vougeot.  Cherries, and some rhubarb and cranberries.  Also some cedar.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with nice cherry and cranberry fruit.  There are slight tannins.  Lots of depth.  This continued to improve in the glass but really needs more cellar time.  It has good acidity.  Long finish.  A lovely wine proving why the better wines from Echezeaux justify its Grand Cru status.  

1978 Château Cheval Blanc, France, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1978
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

On opening the cork fell into the bottle.  It was fished halfway out and removed with a Durand corkscrew.  Anytime one gets the opportunity to try a Cheval Blanc it is truly a treat!  Of course, this is not a great year and it might be getting a bit old but it still has plenty to offer.  It took about 15 minutes to really open up.  Purple in color, slight browning at the edges.  There is some initial bottle stink but that blows off leaving cherries, slight dried cherries, spice, dust and blood.  Interesting.  On the palate, this has nice tart cherries layered with dry forest floor and some

2014 La Zerba Gavi, Italy, Piedmonte, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Gavi's a nice refreshing white wines from the north of Italy.  They are meant to be drunk young and this one is pushing it but still drinking well for immediate consumption.  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with a steely minerality and some melon.  On the palate, it turns more citrus (grapefruits?) and still minerals.  Good acidity.  This is very food friendly and works with a wide variety of foods.  Long finish.  

2014 Domaine Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This was way above my expectations for a not so great vintage and their regular cuvee (although they didn't make a Felix in 2014).  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is a bit musty but clears to show raspberries, slight strawberries, a bit of pine and spice.  On the palate, this has a lovely slick-ish texture that makes it imminently drinkable.  Bright acidity.  Nice finish.  Drinking quite well right now, this is not going to make old bones.  

2005 Château Fonbadet, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Grade: 
B+

Pop and pour.  This is very solid but given the release price ($50) and ten years from a great vintage, it seemed to under perform a bit.  Purple in color.  The nose is tight at first but eventually opens up to cassis and spice.  On the palate, this has a nice enough texture.  Nice cassis fruit but a bit one dimensional.  Perhaps there is still time to develop but it seems that if that was the case, there would be glimpses.  Still, it is enjoyable and if straightforward, at least that is a good direction.  

2015 Domaine Anne Gros Clos Vougeot Le Grand Maupertui, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Ruby in color.  Gorgeous nose.  Surprisingly accessible.  Cherries, black cherries, floral notes and slight baking spices.  Complex.  On the palate, this is very pretty.  Elegant.  A soft texture but yet firm.  Cherries and black cherries.  Just a touch of earth and spice.  Long finish.  Great balance.  While this is sure to improve for twenty years, it is superb right now.  This is an expensive wine in anybody's book, but given the state of Burgundy, this is a great wine that will justify its price (relatively speaking).  Lots of upside here.  

2003 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termes, Spain, Toro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has a damp forest floor quality with black raspberries, and black cherries.  On the palate, this is drinking quite well and much younger than its 15 years would suggest.  It has shed most of its oak from its youth with plenty of fruit still left.  It is ripe and jammy.  Slight tannins mostly integrated at this point. Nice glycerin driven texture.  Seems at or close to peak but no hurry.  Slight warmth on the finish.  

2013 Mulderbosch Faithful Hound, South Africa, Stellenbosch, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 14% Malbec and 9% Petit Verdot.  This is a Bordeaux styled wine from South Africa.  It sells for under $20 making it a very nice buy.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is very nice; dusty and complex with cassis, tobacco, some bell pepper.  On the palate, this has a chewy texture.  Nice complexity.  Cassis, dark cherries with enough acid.  Good finish.  Drinking well now and won't get better but should hold for another five years at least.  

2013 Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot La 50/50, France, Languedoc

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a joint project from two successful winemakers from other parts of France.  It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignane according to the web site.  This was really good and for $9 a screaming value.  It is a fruity wine and drinking quite well right now.  Perfect for this summers BBQ's and parties.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is slightly earthy with black raspberries and a slight pine note which was enjoyable.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Black raspberries and black licorice underneath.  Bright fruit.  There is even some upside with this wine over the

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