star rating: Five Stars (92-100)

Poggio Anima Belial 2017

92
Poggio Anima
Fanciful Name: Belial
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Toscana IGT
Retail Price: $14.99

Tasting Notes: 100% sangiovese from Tuscany Earthy and rustic. Bright and fresh with hints of cherry, and plum. This is a well-put-together offering that won’t break the bank.

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Paul Jaboulet Parallele 45 rouge 2016

92
Paul Jaboulet
Fanciful Name: Parallele 45 rouge
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Cotes du Rhone
Retail Price: $16.99

Tasting Notes: Paul Jaboulet’s Parallele 45 Cotes du Rhone is a fresh, medium-bodied red driven by notes of black fruit and exotic spices with a rounded and delicate mouthfeel.

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Bordeaux de Gloria 2015

92
Bordeaux de Gloria 
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Bordeaux
Retail Price: $21.00

Tasting Notes: This third bottling of Chateau Gloria shows how good 2015 is! Amazing value showcases black current, sour cherries, cedar, leather and vanilla tones from the oak. The tannins and acid are in wonderful balance with each other. The full body and long finish on this wine ends with a pleasant balance of fruit and earth. 

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Lechuza Garnacha 2015

92
Lechuza Garnacha
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Spain
Appellation: Carinena
Retail Price: $10.99

Tasting Notes: Beautiful scents of violets and blueberry are met by rich flavors of blackberry and wild strawberry. A full-throttle wine with big flavors and rich texture. Enjoying this wine is simple: cut the foil, pull the cork and savor it! Great wine doesn't always have to be so complicated.

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Azul Y Garanza Tempranillo 2017

92
Azul Y Garanza Tempranillo
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: Spain
Appellation: Navarra
Retail Price: $14.99

Tasting Notes: Fresh, dry and delicious, making the case for ‘bigger is better’ (at least in terms of volume). Bright aromatics of red cherries and raspberries give way to copious amounts of strawberry and hints of cedar on the palate.

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Armani 2015

92
Armani
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Valpolicella Ripasso
Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: Luscious and powerful, this Ripasso is rich and packed with raspberry, and dark cherry notes. Not to be outdone, the striking tannins and smooth texture balance this extracted, full-bodied wine.

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Bodegas Larchago Izarbe Reserva 2008

93
Bodegas Larchago
Fanciful Name: Izarbe Reserva
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2008 
Country of Origin: Spain
Appellation: Rioja
Retail Price: $26.99

Tasting Notes: Intense and inviting, classic oak-aged aromas of toast, vanilla, with plum and dried cherry fruits. Fine-grained tannins help this well-balanced medium-bodied red sail through a long finish.

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Bodegas Condado de Haza Crianza 2014

93
Bodegas Condado de Haza Crianza 
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: Spain
Appellation: Ribera del Duero
Retail Price: $24.00

Tasting Notes: The aroma of dark cherries and dried raspberries is beautiful on the first approach to this wine. The tea and savory herb notes come in toward the end At first sip, the structure comes through and the palate confirms the aromas Floral notes of violets and light touch of spice from the slight oak influence, which add dimension and balance to this wine. Very pleasing long finish, with a silky tannin core.

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Paulo Laureano Ema’s Vineyard 2015

93
Paulo Laureano
Fanciful Name: Ema's Vineyard
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Spain
Appellation: Alentejo
Retail Price: $15.00

Tasting Notes: Produced by one of Portugal's most iconic winemakers, this blend of Portuguese varieties creates a wine of intensity, with great color and a distinctive, clean nose, with great red and black fruit notes. It has nice weight, and plenty of nice fruit aspects, with a long and balanced finish.

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Clape 2016

93
Clape
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Saint-Peray
Retail Price: $47.99

Tasting Notes: Very spicy and peppery on the nose. The palate is ripe, honey and waxy 70% marsanne, 30% roussane.

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