I keep waiting for this Syrah-dominated blend to come around, but I'm not sure it ever will. The tannins are pretty hard here. It is now at age 10. In terms of mid-palate finesse and precision, complexity and nuance, it does a great job. But I'm not sure the balance will over be quite right. About €60 in Portugal.
#wineadvocate #winesofportugal #montedoiro #lisboawines

I posted on even older vintages of late, but just a few years of extra youth really mattered here. The fruit here was fresher. It was in a pretty good place. I love the tightly wound feel to this, the blackberries and plums.
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#pinotnoir #oregonwine

Elegant and holding well, this Branco has integrated its wood very well now too. This is a perfect food wine now, and in prime time. Of course, it has plenty of life left.
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The red label ($217) is a solera that contains some of the 2019 Megas Oenos juice ($43). This is at a point where they have more similarity these days than they used to in new releases. The older soleras were more complex and earthier. This one is pretty young. I still say Labyrinth is the better wine, but given the increasing price differential, it sure isn't the better deal.
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This 2015 red from CHECKMATE in British Columbia is a Merlot that is developing beautifully. The winery isn't inexpensive (this hits $75 or so) but their Chardonnays and Merlots are very fine. I've liked the Chards better early on, but the Merlots clearly needed more time. Here, this bottle from 2015 is starting to get those extra years since I first saw it. It is still on the upswing. The wines are named after chess moves. This is the Opening Gambit.

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This lovely Pinot Noir from Slovenia and Jakoncic has fleshed out since I first saw it. It has evolved and it is showing beautifully now--elegant, polished and flavorful. Although this has certainly improved, the problem here was never the quality, but the price. In the US, I was given a suggested retail of $120. That's going to be pretty tough. It is ready to roll today
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I won't quite say that these are immortal, but this is in nice shape. It opens a little hard with a touch of char, then it blossoms. The juicy finish is enticing. It is certainly fully mature and it isn't getting any better. But it's still a nice drink.
#winesofloire #chinon #robertparker #wineadvocate #cabernetfranc @charles_joguet

From Santo Wines, this is in perfect shape and modestly improved. You always wonder how the basic Assyrtiko will age. ($19 on release, although that has escalated.) This isn't even close to being done. Of course there was that bright green cork.
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This 2012 Areti white, all Assyrtiko from Biblia Chora, has in most respects held brilliantly. Certainly, better than I thought it could. But that reductive nuance that I originally noted is even worse. Well, you could try pouring off a little, recorking it and drinking it the next day. The aeration will help. But it is always a dilemma as to how to rate a flawed wine that has so many good things going on.
#winesofgreece @ktimabibliachora #wineadvocate #robertparker

A chilly, rainy day called for meatloaf, mashed potatoes and this beauty of an aged CdP. This 2009 Vieux Lazaret has black cherries turning gently leathery, a touch of wood spice, and dark chocolate notes. Full but silky, good length, a winter-weight wine that matched nicely with today’s early spring conditions.

#wine #rhonewine #chateauneufdupape #grenache #vieuxlazaret #upfromthecellar #robertparker #wineadvocate

Like it's 1999 sibling, this is probably a couple of years too old, but it is still drinking decently and has the ability to wake up with some air. I'm not throwing them down the drain. I appreciated the good mid-palate concentration, precision and juicy finish. The nose seems older than the wine, but everything woke up a bit with some air. I would say, drink up. It won't die overnight, of course, but it has passed prime.
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Ok, so in this group from Cyprus the most familiar grape for non-Cypriots is likely Xynisteri, which I rather like, by the way. Then you get things like Spourtiko. 🤔 Now, on to Eastern Europe, where I am hoping they have some Chardonnay and Cabernet. 😃 Just kidding. I like experimenting. It is rare that you get a group that has so many different ones though. How many do you know?
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Another case in point of liking them more mature. When young it is certainly scrumptious, peaches and apricots, yum.But now it has a caramelized apricot overlay to it that is more complex. It has so much more going on than just sweet fruit and yet it actually seems richer than when it was young. The color has gone very dark, but the wine is perfect. I don't know what you have to do to kill this, but it is not dying anytime soon.
#wine #robertparker #wineadvocate #riesling @navarrovineyards

The hardest thing about wine is drinking windows to me. The truth is, well stored wines fade very gradually. That means it is not a black-and-white answer, but more a line to draw as to when you think the wine is too old. Many issues there! So, it is good to go back and reevaluate things sometimes. Actuality is better than guessing. #wine #wineadvocate #robertparker #winesofportugal

Winemaker Antonio Maçanita called their Syrah the winery’s Barossa Shiraz (although from Alentejo). Owner Michael Brian Reynolds Mollet is a descendant of the Reynolds family, known for the English painter, Sir Joshua Reynolds, but to wine lovers for Mouchão. The labels are atmospheric. Wines like Cem Reis have gained plaudits, but they are big, flirting with 16 points, not my style. Lower-level wines are often good values and more manageable. #wine #winesofportugal #robertparker #wineadvocate

The road less traveled. Canada and Colorado. This was mostly about Cave Spring in Canada, though, in a new report. I loved the freshness in the Canadian Rieslings. The acidity in the Cave Spring Ice Wine was just, um, tingly. #wine #wineadvocate #winesofcanada #robertparker #winesofcolorado

Alpha Estate is one of my favorite Greek wineries. This group (reviews now live at my website) is another example of why. The wines have polish and freshness. When they try something new, they plug away at it and eventually get it right. They know what they are doing and they are terroir-specific. #wine #winesofgreece #robertparker #wineadvocate @alphaestate

Another night, another aged McLaren Vale Shiraz. I recall this 2010 Warboys being quite tannic on release, but this was broad and supple, with lots of vanilla framing blueberry and boysenberry fruit. Plenty of runway left…

#wine #aussiewine #mclarenvale #mclarenvalewine #shiraz #syrah #upfromthecellar #robertparker #wineadvocate

Uncorked. Good fill. Smells good. Last bottle.

"Tonight's the night
It's gonna be alright"

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The Madeirense wines, the Titans and more. The flow from Portugal never stops. Those people make a lot of wine and they drink a lot too. 😄 New report.
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#winesofportugal