Interesting Wines Available in the Twin Cities

Some recent tasting notes.

2014 Domaine Lafage Côtes du Roussillon Bastide Miraflors – France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon (9/11/2018)
Day 3: Solid Syrah/Grenache Blend. Floral, underbrush, ripe red fruits and dust. Short to medium finish. Acidity is lacking but for the price point solid effort. (86 points)
From Winestreets, North Oaks. $12

NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige – USA, California, Napa Valley (9/9/2018)
Baked apples, dough, lemon and spice. Another really good bottle. (90 points)
From Haskell’s Sale $15.99

2015 Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast Reserve – USA, California, North Coast (9/5/2018)
Day 1: Complex no, guilty pleasure Cab yes. Lots of fruit with blueberries, Bing cherries, blackberries and ripe plums. Also featuring spices and chocolate. This possesses a medium finish. Mild oak detected. Will see how this develops but something tells me drink now. 87 point
Day 2: A bit over the top on day 2. Lots of spice and some heat. Fruit is still there but not as good. Too jammy. 85 points (87 points)
From Big Top’s Tuesday Dash $12

2013 Bodega Norton Privada Mendoza – Argentina, Mendoza (8/28/2018)
Day 1: Most funked up wine of the lot so far. Bordeaux like with funk, tobacco, dark currants and menthol. Medium plus and concentrated finish. Tastes like a $50 Bordeaux wine. Outstanding value again.
Day 2: Funk was not as powerful but still present. Again wonderful. 93 points
Day 3: Even better. More integrated and balanced. This wine delivers big time on the finish with nice pencil lead, vibrant fruits, gravel and coffee beans. Long finish. 94 points
Recommendation: The best bottle of the lot I bought. Certainly the front runner for my wine of the year in the QPR category!!! (94 points)
From ? Not telling any wine friends as this cost me $13.

2013 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley (8/26/2018)
Day 1: Muted fruit. A bit too tannic and offers up a variety of spices, earth and green pepper. Score with held.
Day 2: A bit more open for business with blueberries, plum, spices, earth, tobacco and green pepper. Medium plus finish. 87 points
Day 3: Better than the first two days. Still has a tannic streak to it which should mellow with time. The fruit is showing more and medium plus finish. Not getting much oak on any of the days which is somewhat surprising. 88 points
While go day 4 on this one.
Day 4: Another reminder why I created 3 Day Wine Review. I would have not recommended this wine via the previous 3 days. Not a good QPR, however day 4 screams hold this wine. Wonderful transformation with menthol, plum, cherry, blueberries, coffee grounds and spices. Very complex wine and medium plus finish. Excellent wine. 92 points
Recommendation: Hold this wine until 2020. This needs some time and even then decant a few hours. Took a while to open up but worth the wait! (92 points)
From Sam’s Club $22

2016 Tablas Creek Côtes de Tablas Blanc – USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Adelaida District (8/16/2018)
Day 1: Tropical fruit, lemon, chalk and spices. Very aromatic and flavorful on the palate. Picks up some match stick on the medium plus finish. Excellent wine. 91 points
Day 2: Bery consistent with day one. Vibrant acidity. 91 points (91 points)
From Big Top Closeout Bins $6.60 Yes I bought them all.