2004 Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero, Spain, Ribera del Duero, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is drinking well and seems to be at or possibly just pack peak.  It is a pretty modern take on Tempranillo but with some bottle age it shows traditionally.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cherries with spice and slight smoke.  Nice finish.  This is ageing gracefully and doesn't seem almost twenty years old.  That said, these should be drunk up at this point.  Nice on its own but better with food.  It would work well

2017 Ca' Marcanda (Gaja) Promis Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, wine review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is from the Tuscan branch of Gaja, more widely known for their wines from Piedmont in northern Italy.  It is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Syrah,  and 10% Sangiovese.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, sandalwood, slight chocolate and spice.  Firm tannins.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cassis, black cherries, slight forest floor and chocolate.  Long finish.  This is tasty now but obviously young.  It could use a few more years of cellaring and then drink for ten to fifteen after that.  Nice on its own, this would w

2021 Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

This is middle of the road inn terms of RRV Pinot Noir.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cola, slight forest floor and baking spices.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cherries, black cherries with spice and a slight forest floor note.  Nice finish.  This is young but drinking well.  It should mature a bit as it ages.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  It drinks well on its own and should work well with fowl.  It would also work well with Hunan/Chinese.  

2021 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay The Cutrer, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

My first time trying "The Cutrer".  It is a bit rounder than the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.  It just depends on style preferences as to which one you might prefer.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apples, some butter, baking spices and a touch of nuttiness.  Full bodied.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, apples and baked apples with some baking spices.  Good finish.  This is very nice on its own but struggled a bit with a vegetarian lasagna.  That said, on its own it is very accessible and also has some depth.  Drink over the next five years.  

2022 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Screw capped.  Light golden in color with a slight greenish hue, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with apples, a slight nutty note, and baking spices.  Perfect for autumn.  Medium to full bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, apples with some oak notes.  Persistent finish.  This is a really enjoyable Chardonnay that works well on its own but is crisp enough to work nicely with food.  It went well with a variety of cheeses.  For the "oak adverse", give it a couple of years or a nice decant, but otherwise, this should drink well for five to seven years.  

2018 Domaine Durand Cornas Empreintes, France, Northern Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a vintage that does drink well at such a young age.  Inky purple, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, black cherries, roasted herbs, and black pepper.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, clay, black raspberries, slight floral quality and spices.  This has some depth but it unwinds in the glass.  Delicious.  It will mature and may improve but it is drinking well now.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  This would work great, of course, with Cassoulet, but it will also work well Indian food.  

2015 Cheval des Andes, Argentina, Mendoza, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$94.00USD

Cheval des Andes is a joint project between Château Cheval Blanc, of Saint Emilion, Bordeaux and Terrazas de los Andes, of Argentina.  It is a blend of 60% Malbec and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee and sandalwood.  Lovely texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, plums, milk chocolate with some char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is young and could use so more time in the cellar although it is drinking well today.  Hold for a few more and then drink for ten to fifteen after that.  Great on its own, it needs so

2004 Château La Plagnotte, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

My first time trying this winery.  Purple in color, darker at the core, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cherries and black cherries along with oak and spices.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with spice.  Some depth.  Nice finish.  This is drinking quite well at age 19.  One wonder though if the tannins will ever resolve fully before the fruit fades.  Drink over the next five years.  Probably better with some big and/or fatty foods.  A nice wine with Chili.  

2016 Château Citran, France, Bordeaux, Haut Medoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

For those who say that Bordeaux has  gotten crazy over priced, look no further than this wine which is a great value.  It is a blend of 49% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and shimmering bright in the glass.  The nose has black cherries, some chocolate and slight cigar box.  Medium bodied.  Wispy tannins.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Black cherries, some black raspberries with some underlying char and a bit of chocolate.  Good finish but there is some heat.  This is drinking well but still could use a bit of air.  Drink over the next

2021 Cristom Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola-Amity Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$72.00USD

Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has  cherries, spice and a slight cola note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit bigger and more intense (in a good way) than I might have expected for this wine.  Black cherries, sour cherries, with some tobacco/forest floor.  There is some depth but it will take some cellaring to unwind the complexity.  Long finish.  Hold for another five to eight years and drink for ten to fifteen after that.  The classic pairing would be Salmon. Plenty of upside on the score as it matures.   

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