2010 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

Just a beautiful vintage for this wine.  Charvin tends to be more "feminine" or "elegant" but the vintage is not and the resulting wine made for a particularly nice combination.  Deep ruby in color, with some darker hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with cherries, some black cherries, floral notes and spice.  Great, almost plush texture.  Plenty of depth.  Light tannins.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is complex and also delicious.  Cherries, black cherries, spice, slight leathery note and char.  Long finish.  This is close to peak and just gorgeous.  Drink

2021 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Such a great value!  This is a blend of 43% Syrah, 28% Grenache, 23% Mourvedre, and 6% Counoise.  This is garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black cherries, roasted meats and earthiness.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is drinking quite well.  Varietal complexity with an excellent texture.  Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries and some plums.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well and would be an excellent choice for a weekday meal be it pizza, meatloaf or veggie wraps.  Drink over the next

2014 Seven of Hearts GSM, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

From the Oregon producer comes an interesting GSM blend out of Washington.  The wine is aged ten and though still in the marketplace, the winery has closed it doors for retirement.  It is a blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre.  The color was quite light (about the same as their light colored Pinot), ruby, clear and bright.  The nose has some cherries with a touch of spice.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, there is some depth and complexity.  Cherry and earth.  Moderate finish.  I would have liked to taste this in its youth as I suspect its a bit past prime.  It was ha

2017 Booker Vineyard Vertigo, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 65% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, and 5% Grenache.  I am a big fan of these wines and this one was no exception.  This is a big wine but it is starting to shed some of its youth.  Inky purple, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, plums, roasted meats, spice and slight chocolate note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Deep.  Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, slight chocolate and spice.  Great lush texture.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work with some foods.  Cassoulet

2018 Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas, USA, California, Paso Robles, Adelaida District, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is a blend of 40% Mourvedre, 27% Syrah, 23% Grenache, and 10% Counoise.  It is Tablas Creek's version of a Chateauneuf du Pape.  Garnet in color with some purple swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, plums, spice and slight floral notes.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is still young but drinking well with air.  Flavors of black raspberries, plums with spice and char.  Lovely texture.  Long finish.  This should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  It would be a great with with roasted fowl but also

2011 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$96.00USD

A blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, and 4% Mourvedre plus another 10% in various permitted varietals.  Not the best vintage, but this wine rocked.  At age 13, it was close to peak.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, herbs (Garrique), slight black pepper and spices.  Great texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is vibrant and complex.  Also delicious.  Cherries, black cherries and spices.  Deep.  Long finish.  Great on its own, this will work well with meat dishes.  Cassoulet is classic.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2022 Alain Jaume Côtes du Rhône Bellissime, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This rosé is a blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 25% Cinsault, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre.  Light salmon pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose has light cherries and light strawberries.  Slightly viscous texture.  13.5% abv.  On the palate, this is clean with strawberries and a bit of spice.  Some minerality.  Moderate finish.  A pleasant wine that is nice on its own and certainly food friendly.  It would match well with a Niçoise salad.  Drink now.

2005 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

The wines of Pegau can reach great heights, but they often have a lot of barnyard notes which are not for everyone.  I love them.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Most opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cigar, cedar and yes, barnyard.  Medium bodied.  Lower acidity.  On the palate, black cherries with some earthiness.  Complex.  Getting pretty close to peak.  Long finish.  This is great on its own, but probably better with food.  A nice beef stew would be classic but it would work with a bowl of chili, too.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2003 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Found this lost in my cellar.  From an historically hot vintage, I had little hope for this wine, but opened it anyway.  I was wrong again.  What a lovely CdP.  This is not their luxury cuvée, so perhaps that helped get the less ripe grapes, but at age 21, this bottle was excellent.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some black raspberries, "purple" flowers, slight barnyard and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Wispy tannins.  lovely, juicy texture.  On the palate, black cherries with depth and complexity.  Good finish.  The bottle

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