France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie
Saline, minerals, chalk, lemon zest, clam shells, the essence of the ocean. Really nervy and live-wire, this 2011 is a total steal for $11. Paired wonderfully with linguine and white clam sauce. More expressive than I remember this wine in 2012.
Another great showing from this wine, although this time I picked up more tobacco, chive and jalapeno pepper. Fresh acid, lots of minerals, wild strawberry. Good stuff that's developing some interesting secondary characteristics. I'd like to try this again in a year and see what it's doing.
Good stuff, but I didn't like it as much as the bottle I had in 2011. Smooth texture, crisp acid, some good strawberry and cherry fruit, some earth and red flowers.
Bright red fruit on a frame of firm tannins and fresh acid. I like the earthy, forest floor, graphite and herbal notes. Fruity, but not overly rich, this is a complex but ultimately focused wine. I'm going to cellar mine for another two or three years and see what happens, because I think this has much more to unpack.
A light ruby color. Juicy cherries and cranberries on the nose, some red flowers and rhubarb. Medium bodied, tangy acid, a very floral and focused wine, but enough bright red currants and strawberries. Some earth, wet moss and tobacco notes. So fresh, this is one of the better wines I’ve tasted from this producer, and a solid bargain at $9. I’d love to put this on a by-the-glass list because it’s got some broad appeal and a lot of value.
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Serra Gaúcha, Vale dos Vinhedos
On the nose, a tobacco leaf and rich soil note, with wild raspberries and red plums. Tart acid, a leaner profile, with fine, chalky tannins. Tart cranberries and raspberries lead the way, with undertones of dried leaves, cigar smoke and a flavor that reminds me of crushed hazelnut shells. Very tart and tangy, not rich and silky, but it’s a well-made, food-friendly wine for sure.
Much darker on the nose, with black currants, loam, charcoal and vanilla. Medium-bodied, fresh acid combines with some gritty tannins. The black currant and dark plum fruit crackles on the palate. I get some dried leaves, black pepper and soy glaze flavors. Drinking well now, but perhaps this could improve in the cellar. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Tannat.
Fresh, juicy, lots of red cherries and raspberries. I like the tobacco leaf, black pepper and soy notes. Not overwhelmingly green, this is more like a low-tannin Loire Cab Franc, none of that sweet glop I get from so many VA Cab Francs.
2011 Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie La Levraudière 88 Points
France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie
Saline, minerals, chalk, lemon zest, clam shells, the essence of the ocean. Really nervy and live-wire, this 2011 is a total steal for $11. Paired wonderfully with linguine and white clam sauce. More expressive than I remember this wine in 2012.
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2007 Viansa Chardonnay Senza Sonoma Valley 80 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Pineapple, honey, butter, mango, mediocre acid. Not much except hedonistic buttered rum flavors.
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2011 Salton Chardonnay Virtude 85 Points
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Campanha
I dig the mango, nutty, toasty and honeyed aspects, but the acid makes it easy to drink. Not the most complex Chard, but good, and a crowd-pleaser.
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2012 Domaine Saladin Côtes du Rhône Villages Per Èl 87 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages
I like the crisp acid and the mix of white peach and pineapple and slight minerals.
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2010 La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé 89 Points
France, Provence, Bandol
Another great showing from this wine, although this time I picked up more tobacco, chive and jalapeno pepper. Fresh acid, lots of minerals, wild strawberry. Good stuff that's developing some interesting secondary characteristics. I'd like to try this again in a year and see what it's doing.
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2009 Domaine des Moirots Givry 87 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Givry
Good stuff, but I didn't like it as much as the bottle I had in 2011. Smooth texture, crisp acid, some good strawberry and cherry fruit, some earth and red flowers.
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2010 Ventolaio Rosso di Montalcino 86 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino
Nice ripe black and red cherries, some tobacco and rich earthy notes. Fresh acid, fine tannins for structure. A very fun and food-friendly wine.
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2012 Edmunds St. John Rocks and Gravel 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Bright red fruit on a frame of firm tannins and fresh acid. I like the earthy, forest floor, graphite and herbal notes. Fruity, but not overly rich, this is a complex but ultimately focused wine. I'm going to cellar mine for another two or three years and see what happens, because I think this has much more to unpack.
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2010 Château des Roques Vacqueyras Hameau des Roques 90 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras
Love the dark fruit, smoke and grit to this wine. Cellar-worthy for sure.
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2010 Bodegas Burgo Viejo Rioja 83 Points
Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
Nice berry profile, with some leather, pepper and tobacco notes. Not complex, but it provides some fun Rioja aspects for a good price ($9 or so).
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2011 veni vidi vici Pinot Noir 86 Points
Bulgaria, Thracian Valley
A light ruby color. Juicy cherries and cranberries on the nose, some red flowers and rhubarb. Medium bodied, tangy acid, a very floral and focused wine, but enough bright red currants and strawberries. Some earth, wet moss and tobacco notes. So fresh, this is one of the better wines I’ve tasted from this producer, and a solid bargain at $9. I’d love to put this on a by-the-glass list because it’s got some broad appeal and a lot of value.
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2007 Salton Merlot Desejo 87 Points
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Serra Gaúcha, Vale dos Vinhedos
On the nose, a tobacco leaf and rich soil note, with wild raspberries and red plums. Tart acid, a leaner profile, with fine, chalky tannins. Tart cranberries and raspberries lead the way, with undertones of dried leaves, cigar smoke and a flavor that reminds me of crushed hazelnut shells. Very tart and tangy, not rich and silky, but it’s a well-made, food-friendly wine for sure.
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2009 Salton Talento 87 Points
Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Serra Gaúcha
Much darker on the nose, with black currants, loam, charcoal and vanilla. Medium-bodied, fresh acid combines with some gritty tannins. The black currant and dark plum fruit crackles on the palate. I get some dried leaves, black pepper and soy glaze flavors. Drinking well now, but perhaps this could improve in the cellar. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Tannat.
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2011 Château Morrisette Cabernet Franc 86 Points
USA, Virginia
Fresh, juicy, lots of red cherries and raspberries. I like the tobacco leaf, black pepper and soy notes. Not overwhelmingly green, this is more like a low-tannin Loire Cab Franc, none of that sweet glop I get from so many VA Cab Francs.
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