Category Archives: Red Wine

Mucho Mas Red Blend

27 August 2024 By in Red Wine Tags: , , Leave a comment

Tempranillo, Grenache, Syrah/Shiraz from Spain.

Purchase Price: $14.99

Vivino 92, ElsBob 84

ABV 13.5 %

Cherry red in color, dark fruit aromas, medium body, and with rather difficult tannins. Serve with very spicy food.

The wine is a blend of different grape varieties possible from different regions and maybe different years. Vinification is only for a week or so then put into oak barrels for 3-4 months. After this very short malolactic fermentation the wine is blended and bottled. A wine before its time.

A good table wine but overpriced for the quality. You probably shouldn’t purchase this wine unless you can find it for under $8.

Thorn-Clarke James Goddard Shiraz 2018

20 August 2024 By in Red Wine, Uncategorized Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Shiraz/Syrah from Barossa Valley, Australia

Purchase Price: $13.95

Vivino 90, WE 86, ElsBob 89

ABV 14.5%

Deep purple, oaky, dark berry fruits, with a hint of spice aromas, medium-full body, dry, and smooth. A good pick to serve with beef or lamb.

A very good fine wine priced 2-3 times less than similarly rated red wines but one probably shouldn’t pay more than $10.

Grace Town Old Vines Zinfandel 2018

13 August 2024 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Zinfandel from Lodi, California, USA

90% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah

Purchase Price: $7.95

Vivino 90, Wine Enthusiast 85, ElsBob 86

ABV 14.5%

Ruby red in, oak with muted fruit aromas, medium body, dry, and acidic. Typically, medium-bodied zinfandels peak around 3-5 years in the bottle and this one does not appear to be an exception. I believe it’s past its prime.

This probably was a good wine several years ago. If you have it in your inventory drink it now but only after the alcohol has been flowing freely for an hour or two.

Ben Marco Malbec 2019

6 August 2024 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Malbec from Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

Purchase Price: $17.99

James Suckling 93, Robert Parker 92, Natalie Maclean 92, ElsBob 93

ABV 14.5%

Deep purple in color, aromas of blackberries, blueberries, and chocolate, oh my, medium-full bodied, more smooth than tannic, medium dry, and not very acidic. We had this with some mild cheese and slices of pepperoni. Terrific.

An excellent fine wine at a very reasonable price. A 93 rating usually goes for 2 to 3 times the price I paid. I initially tried this wine in 2021 and rated it a 91. It has improved significantly with age.

Longshadow Sequel Syrah 2018

30 July 2024 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Syrah/Shiraz from Columbia Valley, USA

Purchase Price: $120 (restaurant)

International Wine Report 98, Jeb Dunnuck 97, Jame Suckling 94, Vinous 95, Elsbob 96

ABV 14.9%

Deep purple in color, aromas of black fruits, chocolate, and oak, medium to full bodied, medium tannic, dry, with medium acidity. I enjoyed this remarkable wine with a 6-ounce medium well-done filet and a side of grilled asparagus. Delicious.

A superb wine at a reasonable price. It currently retails at about $75, if you can find it, which is less than half what most wines in this rated category cost.

Torrebruna Sangiovese 2019

23 July 2024 By in Red Wine Tags: , , Leave a comment

Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy

Purchase Price: $11.99

Wilford Wong 90, Elsbob 91-92

ABV 13.5%

A ruby red to garnet color, aromas of darker fruits and cherries, medium to full bodied, more smooth than tannic, mostly dry with a tiny touch of sweetness, with a medium acidity. A versatile wine that will pair well with almost anything, but you will not go wrong with Italian pasta dishes.

Definitely let this wine breath for at least ½ hour to tone down its wild side.

Sangiovese, Italy’s most planted grape, translates to English as ‘the blood of Jove’ (aka Jupiter).

An excellent table wine at a very affordable price. Wines in this rating range have a medium price range of $25-35.

Taylor Fladgate 2017

16 July 2024 By in Red Wine, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Port from Douro, Portugal

Purchase Price: $109.99

Robert Parker 98-100, James Suckling 99, Wine Spectator 97, Wine Enthusiast 97, Wine & Spirits 96, ElsBob 98

ABV 20%

A very complex purple late-bottled vintage port with aromas of black fruits, earth, and chocolate. A full body wine with a medium sweetness perfect for dessert cakes, chocolates, or mild cheeses.

A classic port that will keep for decades. It probably would have been best if I had waited until 2027-2035 before opening…oh well.

Alamos Malbec 2021

11 July 2024 By in Red Wine, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.

Purchase Price: $10.99

James Suckling 91, Robert Parker 90, ElsBob 92.

ABV 13.5%

A medium purple, aromas of black fruit and cherries, medium to full bodied, more smooth than tannic, dry, with a medium acidity. A versatile wine that will pair well with beef, chicken, pasta, and cheese.

An excellent wine at a very affordable price.

Vina Zorzal 2020

2 July 2024 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Grenache from Navarra, Spain.

Purchase Price: $11.99

Robert Parker 92, ElsBob 88.

ABV 12.5% (table wine).

A clear ruby color, aromas of red fruits, medium bodied, with a short smooth finish. A nice wine but closer to a new world Pinot Noir than an old-world Grenache. Serve this with a traditional chicken and seafood Paella to bring out the wine’s subtle notes.

This is a very good wine but don’t pay more than ten dollars for it.

Atalaya Laya 2020

25 June 2024 By in Red Wine, Uncategorized Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Other Red Blends from Spain.

Garnacha Tintorera 70%, Monastrell 30%.

Purchase Price: $8.99

Rankings: James Suckling 90, Robert Parker 90, ElsBob 89.

ABV 14.5%

A deep ruby with aromas of black fruits and spices, medium to full body, dry and not too acidic with a medium finish. A middle of the road wine that is useless for sipping, must drink with spicy food to appreciate.

A very good wine that is worth exploring if you can find it under ten dollars.