2009 Pride Mountain Vineyards Reserve Claret, USA, California, Sonoma, Napa - Wine Review

Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Excellent wine and in a young, but good place right now.  It does have a decade or two left.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has dust, cassis, cherries, slight sandalwood and cigar box.  On the palate, this drinks like a riper Bordeaux wine.  Dark cherries, cassis, slight earthy funk.  Great texture, almost seamless.  Long finish.  This is a very pretty feminine wine but certainly hasw all the structure it needs.  Great wine.  

2015 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio, Spain, Jumilla - Wine Review

Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a big wine for sure.  I suspect it will be a love it or hate it kind of wine.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has dusty dark cherries, plums and chocolate and spice.  On the palate this is jammy with a lot of fruit.  Dark cherries and black raspberries.  Some spice showing.  It is really all about sweet fruit right now.  Delicious and enjoyable.  Not the best food pairing but great on its own.  Having had past vintages, I think it will settle down but if you don't like it young, you won't like it older.  If you do, its got a decade left.  

2012 Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva Old Vines, Portugal, Douro - Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is nice with dark cherries, black raspberries and cigar.  On the palate, soft dark cherries with good acidity.  Tight layering that unwinds in the glass.  Lovely texture.  Nice finish.  Worked well with food.  While not quite as good as the Maria Teresa, it is also one third the price.  This will probably improve a bit in the cellar and certainly has a nice decade or two left.  

2014 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon Terroir Series, USA, California, Napa - Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

My first time trying this winery and I was impressed.  Excellent wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nsoe has cherries, spice and a morel mushroom quality that was great.  On the palate, it is a bit candied but delicious.  Sweet dark cherries.  Slight tannins.  Enough acidity.  Very nice finish.  Wored well with food.  Outstanding.  

1996 Château Cos d'Estournel, France, Bordeaux, St. Estèphe - Wine Review

Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

This is fantastic.  This is quite open and soft and semmingly at or near peak.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is very good with cassis, pencil lead, soy sauce, dust and a bit of cigar box.  On the palate, it is even better.  Not a full bodied as I was expecting but lean and strong nevertheless.  Layers of cassis, tobacco and dried leaves.  Waves of complexity. Juicy fruit and acidity.  Great with food.  Nice finish.  I don't think this gets better but no hurry.  

2014 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard, USA, California, Napa - Wine Review

Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, dust and nutmeg.  On the palate, this is tight.  Great cassis fruit.  An underlying spice quality.  There is a nice ripeness here.  It needs some time to integrate and has some upside potential.  It does seem riper than earlier vintages but well within bounds.  Great wine.  

2011 Quinta do Crasto Douro Vinha Maria Teresa, Portugal, Douro - Wine Review

Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, dust and spice and char.  This was decanted for a bit before trying.  On the palate, there is a great precision here.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with dried leaves and charred earth.  A bit of tobacco.  It is tightly layered but unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  A beautiful wine with a bright future.  

2005 La Mondotte, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion - Wine Review

Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This had been decanted for a bit.  Purple in color.  Great nose.  Just gorgeous.  Tobacco, dark cherries and spice.  A hint of funk.  On the palate, nice acidity.  Tart cherries and dark cherries.  Very soft in texture.  While not as good as the nose, the palate is excellent.  Layers of fruit and earth.  Still seems to need some time though.  Good finish.  Excellent with food.  Upside potential still.  

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