2015 Cline Cellars Cashmere Black Magic

Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

I really liked this wine and find it to be an exceptional value.  While the exact cepage is unknown to me, there is some Syrah and other Rhone varietals (and perhaps some Petite Sirah), which I love.  YMMV.  For under $20, however, it is hard to argue the QPR.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, a bit of black pepper, some dark cherries with a bit spice.  On the palate, this falls just short of being jammy.  It is deep with good acidity.  A delicious wine that is great for a BBQ or holiday party.  I wouldn't age it for more than a few years, but I would be curious about it. 

2014 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, USA, California - Wine Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

There was a time that I drank a lot of this wine (back in the early parts of this century).  It had been a while but this seemed to still have that level of quality.  At under $20, this is a very nice value for people who like ripe California Cabs with a bit of oak and lots of fruit.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, fresh cut lumber, spice and cherries.  On the palate, the juicy red fruit takes a more predominant roll with just a touch of oak in the background.  Mild tannins.  Nice finish.  All in all, easy drinking wine made to share with lots of friends.  

2013 Conte di Bregonzo Amarone della Valpolicella, Italy, Veneto - Wine Review

Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

This is a staple at Trader Joe's (at least my local store).  For under $20, it is hard to find a less expensive Amarone.  The only problem is that it really doesn't taste like an Amarone.  At least not like the better ones that have eanred this area's reputation.  That said, it is a good solid wine that if it had been labelled Valpolicella I might have said it a fine value.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries and slight dark cherries.  The fruit carries over to the palate.  Nothing dried or rasin about this.  Good acdity.  A solid wine.  

Red 2014 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+

This is not the greatest Napa Cab on the market.  It also costs around $20, so it doesn't have to be.  It certainly presents a nice value and is just fine for parties.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, cedar, baking spices and dust.  On the palate, this is a bit generic; dark cherries with slight earth.  Very tasty and goes well with party appetizers and main dishes.  A nice value.  

2013 Paolo Scavino Barolo, Italy, Piedmont, Barolo - Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Very nice showing for such a young Barolo.  I was surprised by how well it showed just 4 years from vintage.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cherries, dark cherries, black raspberries with slight tar and dust.  On the palate, there are tannins but not monsters.  Great cherry and dark cherry fruit.  Delicious and easy to drink.  Nice finish.  Of course, all the acidity is there to work well with food.  A nice way to taste high end Italian wines and not break the bank while waiting on the single vineyard wines.  

2016 Sineann Red Table Wine, USA, Oregon - Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is one of the great value in wine.  It is a hodgepodge of all the remnants from all the wines Peter Rosback makes combined into one cuvee.  It costs $15 and is always in the 88 to 92 point range.  Sealed with a screw cap, the exact proportions differ from vintage to vintage.  This one has Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.  It is purple in color.  The nose has a nice complexity of cherries, red berries, some cassis, dust and spice.  On the palate, there is a bit of depth and plenty of varietal complexity.  Nice balance.  It goes down easy.  What's not

2000 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard, USA, Oregon - Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Great showing for this Oregon Pinot Noir at 17 years from vintage.  Light ruby in color.  The nose is really pretty with cherries, a slight herbal note and a bit of earthiness.  On the palate, there is a nice vibrancy.  Layers of fruit and earth form a nice complexity.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is a delicious wine that is probably at peak right now but, at least this bottle, certainly has a decade left, probably more.  

2006 Château Clinet, France, Bordeaux, Pomerol - Wine Review

Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

Well, this was disappointing.  Sometimes Bordeaux's can go thru a dumb phase and sometimes that is just an excuse.  Watched over a couple of days with no improvement.  It wasn't bad, it just was... there.  And for this kind of money, that isn't really good enough.  Purple in color.  The nose has cherrie, dust and cedar.  On the palate, cherries.  Not much depth or complexity.  Its fine.  Nothing more.  Solid B.  I hope it improves or perhaps just an off bottle.  Or not.  

1996 Martin Müllen Kröver Letterlay Riesling Spätlese halbtrocken, Germany, Mosel, - Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

I opened this to show a friend how well that Rieslings can age.  A mostly dry Riesling from 1996 and it was beautiful.  Golden in color, slightly deep.  The nose is clean with just a bare whiff of petrol.  There was grapefruit peel, slight lemon notes and "wet rocks".  On the palate, it was rich and tasted dry but perhaps a bit of residual sugar left.  Nice round texture but enough acidity to easily cut through it.  Long finish.  It begs for food and rewards the food nicely.  

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