- 2012 Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja (3/1/2020)
Day 1: For all the issues I am reading about this bottle certainly has none. Nice funk on the nose and features raspberries, wood, spice, minerals and rose petals. Good intensity on the finish and medium plus. A wonderful wine for the money. 91 points
Day 2: Good and still has some nice funk, raspberries, wood, minerals and twigs. Very dry style wine but plenty of flavor. A solid Rioja Reserva. 90 points (91 points) Purchased for less than $10 at Sam’s Club Bloomington
- 2008 Davenport Cellars R.H.D. – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (2/27/2020)
Day 1: Cassis, gravel, funk, burnt toast, blueberries and earth. On the medium finish picks up some sweetness in a good way. This is a mature wine that should be consumed sooner than later but a very solid effort. 91 points
Day 2: Fading a bit and recommend pop and pour on this wine. Earth, blueberries, mild oak, underbrush and gravel. 88 points
Recommendation: Pop and pour and consume. Drink now to 2022. (91 points) - Purchased at Winery for $10.00
- 2015 Bodega Norton Privada Mendoza – Argentina, Mendoza (2/26/2020)
Day 1: This is the best of all the bottles so far. Some funk, minerals, blueberries, spice and roasted meats. There is a nice perfume quality. Should evolve well over 3 days. 92 points
Day 2: Minerals, cherry, plum, raspberries, floral, spice and perfume. Picks up some roasted meats on the finish. Powerful wine and starting to come together. 92 points
Day 3: Blueberries, raspberries, cherry, floral, roasted meats and perfume. Very flavorful and drinking really well on day 3. 92 points
Recommendation: This is hitting its stride and should drink well over the next 5 years. (92 points) - Purchased at Costco for under $15.00
- 2015 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (2/24/2020)
Day 1: Just a small glass so no formal notes.
Day 2: This is blossoming. Beautiful featuring cassis, plum, cigar, sweet peppers and oak. Very rich and flavorful wine. A real gem and certainly needs time. If you pop and pour you will not get the full potential of this wine. 93 points
Day 3: Showing well but spices and some heat get in the way of the awesomeness day 2 showed. Cassis, spices, oak and red hots. Medium finish. 87 points
Day 4: this is better than 3. Spice, coffee beans, cherry, plum and earth. 90 points
Recommendation: Pop now and drink most of the bottle on day 2. (93 points) - Purchased at Big Top prior to closing for $25.00
- 2015 Buena Vista Chardonnay Carneros – USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros (2/24/2020)
Day 2: Better than the last bottle. Oak, minerals, lemon, sour apple and spices. Very solid effort and drinks like a $35.00 Napa Chardonnay. 90 points
Day 3: The warmer this wine gets the better. Oak, lemon, spice, minerals and pear. Medium plus finish and complex wine. An excellent value. 91 points
Recommendation: I would hold these if you have one or two bottles. Drink 2022 to 2025. (91 points) - Purchased $10 at Costco Maple Grove