Luís Seabra Xisto Ilimitado 2016, Douro Valley, Portugal 🇵🇹

🍇 A field blend from Touriga Franca, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Roriz, Rufete, Tinta Barroca, Malvasia               Preta & Donzelinho Tinto

🧐 Alcohol 12.5%

🍁 My Score 92 Points 

🧩 Whole clustered fermentation, indigenous yeast and aged for 22 months in used French oak.

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Exquisite nose with aromas of black cherries, blueberries, plums, violets and forest floor notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful with slightly dusty tannins and lively acidity. The finish is medium-long, slightly tangy with flavours of red and blue fruit, white pepper and fine mineral notes.

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What a delicious wine experience! Such an interesting, unique wine. At first, the aromatics felt like a Pinot but the mouthfeel was more like texture of Nebbiolo. Such an interesting wine, thank you @premiumportugalwines  for this delicious recommendation. I picked up this gem Cork & Barrel Spirits Merchant here in Victoria.  Beautiful wine boutique with a great selection and friendly, knowledgeable staff.  I will be back for more.  Load up the car!  🙂 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Poplar Grove Merlot 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot 89%
🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 11%

🧐 Alcohol 14.1%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 21 months in French oak (25% new, the remaining in a combination of 1-3 years old), followed by a minimum of 12 months of cellar aging prior to release.

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Gorgeous nose with aromas of black plums, cherries, black currants, leather, underbrush, spices and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, good structured and complexity, fine grainy tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length with a flavourful mix of black fruit, peppery and savoury notes.

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Poplar Grove is one of my favourite B.C. Merlot and this vintage certainly doesn’t disappoint. I have tasted this wine at two separate trade tastings, it’s definitely improving nicely. Most likely a higher score in 5-6 years. I was lucky enough to pick up the only bottle left on the shelf. When I see it again, I will definitely pick up a few more bottles. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Villa Raiano Taurasi 2012, Campania, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Aglianico

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 88 Points

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Intriguing and intense on the nose with aromas of black cherries, coffee ground, charred wood, underbrush and lead pencil. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, bone dry, chalky texture, grainy tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of leathery fruit and bitter chocolate.

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Aglianico is one of the very few varietals that I could purchase without researching the product before hand. I love the flavours and structure of this varietal, but it is difficult to find here. This was definitely a different style of Aglianico that I am use to. An old school, rustic type of wine where the fruit takes a back seat to the earthy and mineral character. This was still a great wine experience, even with the restrained fruit character of this wine. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Winemaker’s Cut 2020 wine collection release.

There are few things in life more stressful then moving. The preparation, packing, unpacking, cleaning and reorganizing. The arrival of Winemaker’s Cut Spring wine release is definitely an additional unpacking I can definitely get behind 🙂 When I first tasted their wines last Spring, I became a fan of the winemaking style of winemaker Michael Mosny, who is originally from Slovakia show a European flair with wines that are beautifully balanced, with great elegance. Definitely a fan of his lower alcohol wines, which range from 11.5% to 13.5%.

I look forward to sharing with you, my thoughts and tastes of these wines in the near future;

🔸 Winemaker’s Cut Sauvignon Blanc 2019

🔸 Winemaker’s Cut Grüner Veltliner 2019

🔸 Winemaker’s Cut Muscat Canelli 2019

🔸 Winemaker’s Cut Boho Beat 2019 (Riesling, Kerner, Gewürztraminer & Viognier)

🔹 Winemaker’s Cut Rosé 2019

♦️ Winemaker’s Cut Syrah 2018 

♦️ Winemaker’s Cut Bohemian Cuvée 2018 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Syrah)

♦️ Winemaker’s Cut Boho Zen 2019 (Syrah & Merlot)

I strongly believe this small production winery is about to have their big coming out party, based on the outstanding quality of their wines. Cheers my wine friends 🍷