juniacke

E. Guigal Côtes Du Rhône 2015

A 2014 red from the Northern Rhone, France. 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre aged for 18 months in oak. Tons of black pepper, black cherry, plum, blackberry, violets, clove. There's a red meat meatiness going on. The aromas don't jump out at you. Solid food wine. The finish is quite long like sucking on an orange peel. Medium alcohol at 13.5%. Really good value

Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Margaret River

Here's a Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River, 250 Km south of Perth known for its Bordeaux-like climate. Aged for 8 months in 13% new French and American Oak. Cassis, blackberry, menthol, vanilla, baking spice, leather, oak. There's a green leafy presence. The finish is long leathery and slightly bitter like chewing on an orange peel. Full-bodied, comforting and warming. The tannins are pretty prominent, drying, could mellow out with time.

Domaine De Verquière Plan De Dieu 2015, Ac Côtes Du Rhône Villages

A 2015 red blend of 80% Grenache d 20% Syrah from the Cotes du Rhone-Villages, Southern France. The Cotes du Rhone is a 200 km region that includes 171 villages along the Rhone river from Vienne to Avignon. Of the 171 villages, only 18 can put Cotes du Rhone-Villages and their village name on the label. This exclusive club has stricter regulations for quality and grape variety composition. This wine comes from one of these villages: Plan de Dieu. Named in the Middle Ages, as it was said that anyone who ventured into this huge forest of scrubland, peopled by bandits, would do well to put their trust in God. The wine has aromas of cherry, plum, lavender, thyme, leather, licorice, intense black pepper. Perfect example of the region. High acidity and tannin would do well with food.

Malivoire Gamay 2016, Niagara Peninsula

After fermentation in steel tanks, 30% of the wine is aged in neutral oak (90% French/10% American) for 6 months. Cherry, raspberry jam, cinnamon, cola, wet leaves, damp forest floor. The finish isn't long but there's some tongue tingling pepper. Well balanced acid and alcohol (12%) makes for a pleasant wine.

Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore 2013, Doc

2013 Valpolicella Ripasso. Acidic. Light tannins, pepper. Sweet plum and blackberry jam emerge if you let it decant for an hour. Smooth but there are better wines at this price point.

Rodney Strong Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2015, Sonoma County

A 2015 Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, California. Some say this region has the best climate outside of Burgundy for Pinot Noir. Typical of Pinot Noir, forest floor aromas such as wet leaves, mushroom, turned earth. Some cherry, cranberry, cinnamon. Lack of concentration, persistent bitterness (that did go away with air), and not so long finish. Still a pleasant Pinot.

Tormaresca Torcicoda Primitivo 2015

This wine smells great. Medium intensity aromas of jammy blackberry and plum, vanilla, brown sugar. On the palate it's drying and bitter like rolling a peach pit around in your mouth. Not very pleasant and the alcohol overpowers. The finish is medium to long but it's peach pit bitter. I can see this pairing with food a lot better. There's not much going on here besides a nice smelling wine that doesn't taste great.

Ventisquero Grey Single Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

A 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maipo Valley of Chile. Aged for 18 months in French oak. Very aromatic. There's a very prominent green component to this. It's extremely minty, asparagus, green bell pepper, vine leaf, dried herbs and potpourri. The finish is long but extremely bitter, like licking the inside of a not yet ripe orange peel. Full bodied and creamy but the vegetal and bitter components are very unpleasant. This is very astringent too.

Donatien Bahuaud Les Grands Mortiers Vouvray 2017, Ap

Louis Moreau La Vigne Blanche Chablis 2017, Ac

Lime spritz, green apple, onion, wet pebbles, metal. Fresh crisp acidity. Very enjoyable.