Isaac Fernandez Seleccion
Finca La Mata Ribera del Duero Tinta del Pais 2016
A satisfying, medium bodied wine. A consistent underlying layer of fruit, with a dusty, woody quality. Understated. — 2 months ago
W. & J. Graham's
Six Grapes Reserve Port
Intensely grapey, but not much beyond that. Chilling it is key, else the alcohol is too prominent. But even so, fairly one dimensional. Bottle #2 in Maine. — 3 months ago
Juggernaut
Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
A stand out in the crowded Overripe CA Cab category. Nose heavily spiced, with an unctous, chocolatey, powdery quality. Hints of lemon, leather. Generous on the palate - thick in a pleasant way. It's reminiscent of a merlot. Not overly sophisticated, but it never said it was. Enjoyable and well made. If it had any tannin, the structure would have made this a blockbuster. — 19 days ago
Bodegas LAN
Rioja Reserva Red 2011
Dark fruit, sweet on nose. Underlying metallic note - graphite. Medium weight on palate, but not adding much. — 3 months ago
Cockburn's
Vintage Port Blend 1994
1994, well stored. Probably slightly past peak. Prunes, sour brandy note, a nutty quality too. Sweet on palate though. Classy port, now with slightly less punch than it likely once had. Pleasure to drink it, especially decanted and given 30 minutes. In Maine; Ed's last significant bottle. — 3 months ago
St. Francis Winery
Sonoma County Merlot 2015
A sentimental favorite - the 1987 is the first wine I ordered in a restaurant (the Vestal Steakhouse, in 1991). In any event, a well balanced, not overly ripe merlot. Peppery, strawberry-ish, and alcoholic. Well made, esp at the $18 price tag. — a month ago
Azienda Agricola Petrera Pasquale
Fatalone Gioia del Colle Primitivo 2016
Stands out for the beefy note underlying the fruit. Needs an hour to breathe. Worth the $21. — 2 months ago
E. Guigal
Côtes du Rhône Red Rhône Blend 2013
This Rhone is never bad, but rarely great. A dried flower note on nose, some sweetness. Sweeter on palate, with some cherry, but thin. Always well made, but not always memorable. Bottle #3 in Maine. — 3 months ago
Whitehall Lane
Tre Leoni Napa Valley Red Blend 2015
The CA red blends tend to, well, blend together. This one manages to stand out, I think on the strength of the syrah. Heavy, with a strong bark, earthy note, carrying through to pepper on the palate. High alcohol. Not subtle, but well done at $24. — 4 months ago
AEL
A classic and a sentimental favorite. This year seems slightly lighter in nose and texture. Cinnamon, lemon, coffee, a spice I can't name on the nose. Thick but lively on the palate. Benefited from breathing. Not that structured, but that's merlot. In FL, to my dad's memory. — 6 days ago