While many other wine shops that send out flyers, South Lyndale has stepped up their game on their sales. They were not on my radar five years ago however they are now a go to wine shop and top five in the state! Quality wines and competitive pricing . Check out some of my picks!!!
Here are some of the previous posts on their sales Spring 2019 and Fall 2018.
Here are some must buys from the sale:
2016 Buehler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley (10/10/2019)
This represents a very good value from Napa. Fruit forward wine featuring cherry and blueberries along with spice and mild oak. Drinking really well now and could age 5 years or so. (90 points) $20.99
2017 Argyle Pinot Noir Reserve – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (10/12/2019)
Day 1: First reviewer on this wine. Very light color. Floral, underbrush, strawberry, wood and dust. Very flavorful on the initial taste and then picks up some wood and underbrush character. Very much the style I enjoy. Solid but not as good as the 2016 yet. 91 points (91 points)
2016 Felsina Chianti Classico $22.99
2013 Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva $28.99
Inama Soave Classico $12.99 (White)
Tre Monti Trebbiano $10.99 (White)
2014 Vajra Barolo Albe $27.99 (Great price)
2015 Vietti Barolo Castiglione $45.99
2017 St. Cosme Cotes du Rhone $12.99
Sparkling/Champagne Corner
NV Jacques Chaput Champagne Tradition Brut – France, Champagne (10/9/2018)
Yeast, bright citrus fruits, chalk and baked pie crust. On the palate nice fruit and chalkiness. Medium plus finish. The only detractor on the finish is a bit too chalky. This is an excellent value Champagne for under $30.
As this warms up it is even better and the chalkiness integrates better. I almost like my Champagnes at room temperature.
Day 2: This is outstanding in day 2 as well if not better. Nice acidity, chalk is in check, fruit featuring lemon, tangerine and oranges. Medium finish and quite balanced. This version of the NV will drink well for five plus. 92 points
Recommendation: Drink now or later. This NV has some aging potential. (92 points)
NV Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs $45.99
Argyle Brut (Always a great sparkling wine) $18.99
NV Marc Hebrart Brut Rose $49.99
NV Henriot Blanc de Blancs Champagne $54.99
Spanish Corner
2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (10/10/2019)
Top 3 wines of the night. This wine does have some dill but also features wood, raspberries, floral, minerals and leather. Complex and long finish. I love the concept La Rioja Alta lives by. Release the wines when they are entering the drinking window. This wine has another decade of enjoyment. 93 points now with 95 potential. (93 points) $34.99
2005 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (4/22/2018)
Day 1: Opened a few hours ago. Nose of summer sausage, leather, muted fruits. The palate is thin and watered down. Going to hold off on this wine until day 2 as seems flawed. No score.
Day 2: Much more open for business but still not ready to be properly reviewed.
Day 3: Rounding into a significantly better wine. Burnt toast, green olives, raspberries, tobacco and rustic notes. This went from a watered down wine to quite concentrated in flavors. Some smoked meats and sour cherries on the palate. Not a long finish but flavorful. I will be trying this wine on day 4 and 5.
Current recommendation: If you pop and pour this disappointment will set in as many notes indicate. I would have dumped this at a tasting. This is an extremely young wine and will need a decade minimum. 90-92.
Day 4: Many characteristics as day 3 but acidity is sharp. Picking up some nice minerality and subtle spices. Rounding into form as an Old World Rioja wine. 92 plus
Recommendation: Hold for 5 to 10 years. This is why I started doing the 3 day wine review business model. So many of these wines are not pop and pour and this is a prime example of that. How a critic can score this on a quick sample taste is beyond me.
Day 5: Still has the laser like acidity. More concentration of flavors and has gone from a very light/watered down affair to great fruit and earth components. As many of complemented on Wine Berserkers these wines are long term agers.
Final recommendation: Drink on day 5 or hold for 10 years. (92 points)
2008 Lopez de Heredia Cubillo $19.99
2014 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Ygay Reserva – Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (10/10/2019)
Always a great under $20 value. Raspberries, dust, earth, wood, minerals and blueberries. Nice balanced wine with ample acidity. Should drink well through 2023. (90 points)
(Best price $18.99)
Lopez Heredia Tondonia Reserva Rojo $27.99 (Age Worthy)
SYRAH CORNER
I believe this is the best part of their sale. While not a ton on sale it does offer some great wines!
2017 Pax Syrah Sonoma Hillsides – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/2/2019)
Day 1: 12.9% alcohol. One of the more interesting wines I have tasted this year. Black and green olives, tar, roasted meats, ink, stone, white pepper and violets. On the palate picks up some blueberries and boysenberries. This possesses a long, concentrated finish. Top five wine for sure this year! Reminds me of the better wines from the Rocks district. Outstanding. 95 points
Day 2: Not as intense but still many similar qualities. Black and green olives are pronounced along with stone, violets, roasted meats, white pepper and tar. Medium to long finish. Good acidity. Just a well made enjoyable wine. Not an in your face effort like so many Syrahs out there. 93 points
Day 3: Olives, tar, gravel, spice, floral, roasted meats and white pepper. Very interesting wine and holding strong on day 3. Similar to day 2 in quality. 93 points
Recommendation: For $40 this is a no brainer wine. Drinks better than wines 2 to 3 times the price. This will drink well from now to 2025. (95 points)
2015 Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Chênes – France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (10/10/2019)
Day 1: Nice mixture of fruits and earth elements. Dark cherries, blueberries along with earth, spice, floral and gravel. This is a big style Northern Rhone wine. Acidity is present and medium plus finish. Drink now to 2025. (90 points) $24.99
2015 Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Chênes – France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (12/8/2018)
Syrah & Shiraz Tasting (Gary’s Place, Minneapolis): This is a big style wine for Northern Rhone standards. Perfume wine with Garrique, stone, mint and roasted meat. Great flavor profile. This is a winner for the price point.
Recommendation: Buy more! Decanted 1 hour. (91 points) $24.99
2014 Wind Gap Wines Syrah Nellessen Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (4/1/2019)
Day 1: Not a big Syrah featuring green olives, white pepper, match stick and lavender. Short to medium finish with good acidity. Unique but really tasty. Will revisit this wine in a few hours for day 1 score but interesting wine.
Day 1.5: Very similar and very enjoyable. Not a block buster but worthy of $30. 90 points
Day 2: Black olives, match stick, perfume, mint, white pepper and lavender. Very similar experience to day 1. Very much a unique Syrah for California standards. Lower alcohol and good acidity. 90 points (90 points) $26.99
Other Syrah/Shiraz Picks
2014 Schild Estate Shiraz – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (10/3/2019)
Day 1: Fragrant nose with pepper, floral and raspberries. The palate offers some spice, pepper, darker fruits and floral notes. The initial palate is pretty intense but offers a shorter finish. A well made wine that would be a crowd pleaser. Nothing great and no serious flaws. 88 points (88 points)
Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier $9.99
2016 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah North Coast – USA, California, North Coast (10/5/2019)
Day 1: Ok at best. Cranberry, spice, sour cherries and dirt. Not much on the finish. This is a pop and pour so I will wait to score it and see how it opens up later but right now not good! 84-86.
Day 2: Hoping for more and not getting it. Pepper, dirt and lots of it, celery and spice. Not typical California Syrah or Washington or Northern Rhone or Australia. It is drinkable but not pleasing to my palate. 84 points
Day 2.5: I don’t know how anyone on a pop and pour could drink this wine. This is drink 2023 and beyond. Finally opening. Black pepper, blackberries, boysenberries, forest floor and menthol. Medium plus finish. Significantly better than earlier today. 90 points
Day 3: Black pepper, earth, blackberries, spices, menthol and coffee grounds. Big style wine and has opened up from day 1. Would not drink these until 2023 based on this bottle. Needs some time. 90 points
Recommendation: Reward if you can wait on these. No enjoyment on the pop and pour. (90 points)
2014 Drew Perli Vineyard Syrah $39.99
2014 Arnot Roberts Syrah $32.99
Stolpman La Cuadrilla $14.99
I will be stocking up
Jen the Pax Syrah will be available on Tuesday. I know the last 2 bottles are long gone.
After looking at the other major players this is the best sale in regards to pricing in the Twin Cities this Fall.
2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (10/10/2019)
Top 3 wines of the night. This wine does have some dill but also features wood, raspberries, floral, minerals and leather. Complex and long finish. I love the concept La Rioja Alta lives by. Release the wines when they are entering the drinking window. This wine has another decade of enjoyment. 93 points now with 95 potential. (93 points) $34.99
John good to meet you there today. Thanks for recommending some really good wines. I will post on how they are showing.
Felsina wines are the best.