France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Picpoul de Pinet
N: Pears with notes of grass, poss minerals
P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt deftly balanced by a tangy acidity which pretty much defines the action into & through the LONG, slightly tangy, very, VERY slightly spicy finish with hints of a honied/bitterish dialectic. For now & probably through '19. My VG+/EXC-, likely the higher if QPR the focus. [I did not see another source with which to compare this vendor's $9.95.]
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Awatere Valley
100% S.B. from the Blind River area, s/s only; 13.5% ABV, 2.7 g/L R.S., 7.9 g/L T.A., & 3.23 pH; 11,500 cs imported
N: Fairly pungent lemon grass with minerals underneath?
P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt nicely off-set by an acidity which controls the main action into & through the LONG, very, VERY slightly bitter finish with a tangy/swtness (80:20). Nicely done food wine with a finish that encourages either another sip or food. For now & through '20, plus could well improve into early '19. My VG+, quite poss EXC-. 90 pts ea WS & WA. [This vendor's $12.95 is at LEAST as good as anyone else on wine-searcher.]
100% Pinot Noir from 10-40 yr-old vines grown in chalky-clay & siliceous soils; "Fruit is gravity-fed & meticulously handled throughout the entire winemaking process. After a 3-day skin maceration in vats, the grapes are pressed & undergo a long, cool fermentation."
N: Minerals atop flowers
P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a bitterish "astringency," the bitterness of which hangs into the LONG, at least somewhat bitter finish with ult hints of raisins. MIGHT this improve a bit? I'm guessing not. My G... grudgingly. 86 pts WE @ $13. [This vendor's $9.95 is a bit more than $3 < the next lowest of wine-searcher's limited listings.]
Note: I also tasted this on 5/12 & 6/9/2018 with what are likely the 3 most disparate notes in my 2.200+ here [as of this writing]. While I don't know exactly WHAT that means, consider it a caution flag... :(
N: RIPE, SMOKY, toasty oak atop of pyrazines? Notes of orange rind?
P: LM, poss Med, body; INTENSE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some firming astringency which morphs into a LONG, finish with a BITTER/swtness (65:35) to the relatively few, very, VERY fine tannins. My VG-, more IF the bitterness resolves. (WERE I to buy this, I'd give it 12-18 mos of cellaring, poss more.) 90 pts ea WA & WE @ $25. [This vendor's $14.95 is $4 < the next lowest on wine-searcher's fairly large posting!]
N: Slightly closed; Ripe cherries slightly atop smoke with undertones of barnyd
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt counterbalanced by a bit of tannic pucker which pretty much maintains into & through the LONG, decently balanced, very, VERY slightly puckery finish with a spicy swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now with food, & should drink nicely through '21. Moreover, I can see improvement for the next 6-9 mos. LOTS of flavor for the price! 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, but EASILY more *if* QPR is the focus! 90 pts Suckling & 86 WE @ $13. [This vendor's $9.95 is currently $1 > the lowest of wine-searcher's currently VERY limited listings.]
2016 La Domitienne Picpoul de Pinet Pique Poul
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Picpoul de Pinet
N: Pears with notes of grass, poss minerals
P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt deftly balanced by a tangy acidity which pretty much defines the action into & through the LONG, slightly tangy, very, VERY slightly spicy finish with hints of a honied/bitterish dialectic. For now & probably through '19. My VG+/EXC-, likely the higher if QPR the focus. [I did not see another source with which to compare this vendor's $9.95.]
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2017 Barker's Marque Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Three Brooms Single Vineyard
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Awatere Valley
100% S.B. from the Blind River area, s/s only; 13.5% ABV, 2.7 g/L R.S., 7.9 g/L T.A., & 3.23 pH; 11,500 cs imported
N: Fairly pungent lemon grass with minerals underneath?
P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt nicely off-set by an acidity which controls the main action into & through the LONG, very, VERY slightly bitter finish with a tangy/swtness (80:20). Nicely done food wine with a finish that encourages either another sip or food. For now & through '20, plus could well improve into early '19. My VG+, quite poss EXC-. 90 pts ea WS & WA. [This vendor's $12.95 is at LEAST as good as anyone else on wine-searcher.]
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2016 Henri Bourgeois Val de Loire Petit Bourgeois Rosé de Pinot Noir
France, Loire Valley, Val de Loire
100% Pinot Noir from 10-40 yr-old vines grown in chalky-clay & siliceous soils; "Fruit is gravity-fed & meticulously handled throughout the entire winemaking process. After a 3-day skin maceration in vats, the grapes are pressed & undergo a long, cool fermentation."
N: Minerals atop flowers
P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a bitterish "astringency," the bitterness of which hangs into the LONG, at least somewhat bitter finish with ult hints of raisins. MIGHT this improve a bit? I'm guessing not. My G... grudgingly. 86 pts WE @ $13. [This vendor's $9.95 is a bit more than $3 < the next lowest of wine-searcher's limited listings.]
Note: I also tasted this on 5/12 & 6/9/2018 with what are likely the 3 most disparate notes in my 2.200+ here [as of this writing]. While I don't know exactly WHAT that means, consider it a caution flag... :(
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2015 Daniel Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon Bellacosa
USA, California, North Coast
N: RIPE, SMOKY, toasty oak atop of pyrazines? Notes of orange rind?
P: LM, poss Med, body; INTENSE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some firming astringency which morphs into a LONG, finish with a BITTER/swtness (65:35) to the relatively few, very, VERY fine tannins. My VG-, more IF the bitterness resolves. (WERE I to buy this, I'd give it 12-18 mos of cellaring, poss more.) 90 pts ea WA & WE @ $25. [This vendor's $14.95 is $4 < the next lowest on wine-searcher's fairly large posting!]
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2017 Ruta 22 Malbec
Argentina, Mendoza
N: Slightly closed; Ripe cherries slightly atop smoke with undertones of barnyd
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt counterbalanced by a bit of tannic pucker which pretty much maintains into & through the LONG, decently balanced, very, VERY slightly puckery finish with a spicy swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now with food, & should drink nicely through '21. Moreover, I can see improvement for the next 6-9 mos. LOTS of flavor for the price! 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, but EASILY more *if* QPR is the focus! 90 pts Suckling & 86 WE @ $13. [This vendor's $9.95 is currently $1 > the lowest of wine-searcher's currently VERY limited listings.]
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