Amalaya Gran Corte Malbec Cabernet Franc 2016, Valle Calchaqui, Salta, Argentina 🇦🇷

🍇 Malbec 85%
🍇 Cabernet Franc 10%
🍇 Tannat 5%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

🔹Beautiful and very inviting nose with aromas of blackberries, blueberries, cigar box, cedar, vanilla and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with delicious forward fruit, smooth tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is long with flavours of black fruit, chocolate and oak spices.

🔸 I tasted their 2017 vintage @vanwinefest  and loved it. Our store @vintagespiritsvictoria  placed an order, but we received the 2016 instead. While the 2017 was a stunning wine with firm tannins which required additional time in bottle this 2016 is drinking beautifully right now. It’s definitely in a style which should have a wide appeal. A big and flavourful wine that would work beautifully paired with a BBQ steak. I am definitely waiting for the 2017 to arrive here, but in the meantime this 2016 is definitely worth repurchasing. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Hidden Bench Felsesk Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016, VQA Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Pinot Noir 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🔹 Slightly shy on the nose with aromas ripe cherries, pomegranates, underbrush, graphite, spices and light smoke. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, slightly rustic with fuzzy tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium length with sour-edged flavours of cherries and plums with underlying earthiness and minerals.

🔸 I fell in love with this Pinot, when I visited the winery last December. This is complex style of Pinot which would shine at the diner table. I can really see this wine being paired with a Coq au Vin. There is so much going on in this dish that the flavours of this Pinot would pair beautifully. Great potential to score even higher with a few extra years in bottle. Certainly glad that I have a few more bottles left. Cheers my wine friends🍷

St. Urbans-Hof Nik Weis Old Vines Riesling 2018, Mosel, Germany 🇩🇪

🍇 Riesling 100%

🧐 Alcohol 11%

🍁 My Score 92 Points

🔹 Very attractive nose with aromas of apples, lemons, tropical fruit, mineral notes and light petrol. On the mouthfeel light to medium bodied, off-dry, luscious mid palate and refreshing acidity. On the mouthfeel, long finish with flavours of limes, tangerines, mango, honey and underlining minerality.

🔸 Oh my god! This Riesling is such a treat. I still have such a great souvenir of visiting St. Urban-Hof in September of 2018. My hotel was able to book a last minute visit. My host was none other than Daniela Weiss. She was such a gracious host and offered us a great tasting experience. As for this wine, classic Riesling nose with a wonderful balance of residual sugar and acidity in perfect harmony. I am so happy that our store Vintages Spirits in Victoria are stocking three of their wines. As for the food pairing, a delicious spicy crusted cod. I would love to see how this would taste in about five years, but hard to resist right now. Cheers my wine friends 😊

Frescobaldi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2016, Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Sangiovese 90%

🍇 Malvasia Nera 4%

🍇 Colorino 2%

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 2% 

🍇 Merlot 2%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 90 Points 

🔹 Big and attractive nose with aromas of cherries, black plums, black currants, Asian spices, vanilla, smoke and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, surprisingly full bodied, bone dry, intense, structured with dusty tannins and refreshing acidity. 

🔸 From a superb vintage, this wine is a delicious every day wine and luckily many of us, widely available. Tannins and acidity provide a great framework and additional time in bottle should acquire more elegance and savoury character. I enjoyed this Chianti without decanting, but I would recommend decanting for a few hours and paired with meat instead of Italian pasta. Definitely worth multiple purchases to be enjoyed over the next 5-7 years. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Luigi Bosca 2016, Terroir Los Miradores, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

🍇 Malbec 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14.4%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🔹 A rich and inviting nose with aromas of blackberries, black cherries, burnt sugar, cedar and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, with delicious forward fruit, oak spices with grainy tannins and lively acidity. The finish is long and flavourful with sweet berry fruit, spicy with cedar notes.

🔸On a relaxing Friday night, in my glass, was this always dependable Malbec from Argentina. The company of an old friend. I have enjoyed this Malbec many times, including this vintage, twice over the last few weeks. No bottle variation here, just a delicious and rich style of Argentina Malbec paired with a BBQ steak. Comfort wine for the soul. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Luis Seabra Xisto Ilimitado Branco 2017, Douro Valley, Portugal 🇵🇹

🍇 Rabigato 50%

🍇 Códega 20%

🍇 Gouveio 15%

🍇 Viosinho 10%

🍇 Other Varietals 5%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 93 Points 

🔹 Alluring nose with aromas of gooseberries, honeydew melon, citrus fruit and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with a beautiful purity of fruit and fresh acidity. The finish is very elegant with refreshing flavours of stone and citrus fruits, honey and underlying mineral notes.

🔸 I must admit that I had never heard of these varietals before. Have you?  This is a flavourful, well crafted, elegant blend.  A beautiful purity of fruit, with an underlying minerality throughout, combining both freshness and complexity. It’s love at first sip. Awesome wine experience my wine friends 🙂

Hester Creek The Judge 2014, Golden Mile Bench, VQA British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦 ⁣

🍇 Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon ⁣
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🧐 Alcohol 14.2%⁣
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🍁 My Score 92 Points ⁣
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🧩 12 months in barrels, 75% French oak and 25% American oak⁣
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🔹 What a sensuous nose with aromas of field berries, plums, cassis, leather, charcuterie, toasted oak, vanilla and savoury herb. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, elegant and flavourful with silky smooth tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of soft seductive fruit and savoury herbs.⁣
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🔸 I believe that I have enjoyed every vintage of The Judge since 2009. For me, the last two vintage have been the best. On this vintage they nailed all elements of this blend. The nose is rather intoxicating, the mouthfeel is quite seductive and the finish is very flavourful. Nice bricking colour on the rim, drinking really well now. Looking forward to my 2015 & 2016 vintage. I declare “this is one sexy wine your Honour”. Cheers my wine friends 🍷⁣
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