January Wines

March 2, 2019

Richard Moore

Wine of the Month

Hands down one of the best wines I have every had the Opolo Forte Zinfandel is amazing and was an easy pick for wine of the month.

Opolo 2015 Forte Zinfandel ($32 Opolo Wine Club)

OMG I am in love. This just might the best Zinfandel I have ever had. We loved the 2013 vintage and this is even better. Blackberry, butter and vanilla on the nose. No sting and very dark in the glass. In the mouth nice ripe blackberry, jam, vanilla, and a nice white pepper spice that all continue into the long dry finish that adds some leather on the tongue. The finish is very long with all elements moving in and out. Notes: “Blended from our finest Westside Vineyards, the Forte represents one of our finest examples of Paso Robles Zinfandel. Bright aromas of red cherry and raspberry are framed by sweet strawberries. Medium bodied and lively with a wonderfully long and racy finish.“ Repeat buy, yes!

Pico Cuadro 'Original' Ribera del Duero 2010 ($16.99 WTSO)

Pretty amazing wine. Very full bodied. I was not expecting much since the cork fell apart taking it out of the bottle so I was very pleasantly surprised. Dark in the glass, a bit nondescript aroma with no sting. Lots of oak and very dark fruit in the mouth. It just wraps around your tongue and won't let go. Very mouth drying finish with oak tannins and some fruit lasting. With air this wine really opens up and develops a nice dark fruit and a bit of jamminess, but still has a very dry and long finish. Wine notes: “Bright violet. Intensely perfumed aromas of black and blue fruits, potpourri and incense, with a bright mineral overtone. Juicy, penetrating and lithe, offering concentrated boysenberry and cherry-cola flavors lifted by zesty acidity. An energetic and impressively persistent finish features silky tannins, subtle oak spices and a sexy floral pastille nuance.” Not sure I got all of that, but what I tasted was very good. Repeat buy, yes if I can find it.

Gran Reserva Rioja 2001 Bodegas Lar de Paula Gran Baroja ($19.99 WTSO)

A nice find, this was hidden in the cellar. Quite a bit of oak in the aroma, with a bit of bright fruit that is cherry like. Very long and chewy finish. You can taste the caulky clay soil the grapes were grown in. Opens up with some air and the fruit and a bit of jam become more apparent. Wine notes: “This great wine has been made with choice Tempranillo grapes and aged in French Oak casks for 36 months, followed by further extended period in the bottle. The result is a cherry red Rioja with intense aromas which bring out the wood ageing in perfect combination with the fruitiness from the Tempranillo. A dry, powerful, robust wine which is sure to surprise discerning palates” I would agree with notes. Repeat buy: yes if I can find some as it is a solid 4.5 stars almost 5.

Rosso di Ca Momi 2015 California Red Wine ($7.99 Wine.com)

A nice dark ripe plum aroma with no sting. Very dark in the glass. Starts a bit light and watery in the mouth, then the dark fruit develops, then it gets very spicy, back to fruit, and on to an oaky finish that is chalky. Wine notes: “Juicy, inspired aromas of ripe blueberries, smoldering campfire smoke and bold brambles put the sass in your glass. Bursting, juicy plum, savory blackberry pie and toasted spice mingle on the palate, with just enough supple tannin to support structure through a lingering finish.” Not sure about the aroma section. The mouth section is spot on. Repeat buy, yes at 7.99 this is quite the buy and I have ordered more bottles from wine.com.

Cune Vina Real 2015 Rioja Crianza (13.99 Gary's Liquors)

I had heard of Gary’s on a VBT vacation years ago and they are finally shipping to Minnesota! Very aromatic, fruity (cherry and strawberry) with no sting. Light color, Pinot Noir like in the glass. Strawberry fruit in the mouth with some jam. Becomes very dry in the mouth. No spice to speak of. A bit lighter wine than I was expecting. Wine notes: “This wine shows shades of medium to deep shiny cherry colour on a purple background. To the nose, intense aromas of ripe fruits (blackberries, blackcurrants) stand out, complemented with subtle hints of oak. To the palate, it shows structured and round with a good integration of fruitiness and oakiness. The aftertaste is marked by very well balanced tannins as well as by persistent spicy, toasty and balsamic aromas.” I would agree expect maybe the “persistent spicy”. Repeat buy, no sure as I go back and forth on this wine. I have 8 more bottles left to decide.

Until next month, happy tasting and drinking.

Ratings:

Wow, knock my socks off good. A wine to stock up on.

A very good wine, also a wine to stock up on.

A good average wine that is very drinkable, one that I might buy

again.

An okay wine, one I can drink but would not run out to buy any of.

Not worth really drinking, most likely poured out.

keywords: Wine,Wine Tasting, Wine Reviews

description: New wine tasting notes for January of 2019