Great Wines Over the Week

Well I am fortunate that 1. I can afford to buy these wines and 2. I am the only independent critic that buys my own samples that is at the top of the wine game. Most critics are really not accurate on certain wines and no Caymus, Prisoner and that junk are not 90 point plus wines but low 70s. Enjoy.

• 2020 Château La Pointe – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (8/16/2025)
  Day 1: Excellent and this is a 2020 that will be good on a pop and pour. Minerals, blue currants, dust, earth, cherry, graphite, baking chocolate and cigar. Medium plus finish and super tasty. Outstanding value and really someone gave this 71 points? Please. 94 points (94 points)
• 2020 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cyrus – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (8/15/2025)
  Didn’t make it to day 2. Niece was in town. Excellent with cherry, plum, mild oak, spice, floral and cigar. This is a Cyrus to drink now through 2030. No smoke taint here as one of the leading experts calling out 2020 smoke taint. (93 points)
• 2020 Château Malescot St. Exupéry – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (8/13/2025)
  Natural cork. Excellent after a 4 hour decant. This will drink well young, medium and with some age. Tobacco, cherry, minerals, spice, wood and dust. Very nice finish and highly recommended. 93-95. (93 points)
• 2007 Corliss Estates Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (8/13/2025)
  Outstanding with cherry, plum, menthol, wood, spice, floral and blue currants. Medium finish and I would argue these are the best cabs from Washington. (95 points)
• 2024 Homage to Heritage Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (8/13/2025)
  Day 1: Natural cork. 14% alcohol. 50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Bourboulenc & 25% Claudette. Clear as water floral, matchstick, spice, lemon, white flowers, apricots, burnt toast and minerals. Medium plus finish. Solid.
  Day 2: Very nice and fruit is more present with apricots, mango, lemon and orange. Minerals, white flowers, spice and matchstick. Medium plus finish. 93 points
  Recommendation: A solid well made wine for under $40.00. (93 points)
• 2021 Château Olivier Blanc – France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (8/12/2025)
  Day 1: Natural cork. Cat pee, lemon, floral, mango, spice, kiwi and orange peel. Medium finish. Excellent. 93 points
  Day 2: Vibrant fruit and even more intense than day 1. Mango, tropical fruit, lime and lemon. Spice, dust, minerals and crushed shells. Wonderful acidity. Medium plus finish. 94 points
  Recommendation: For sure buy more. (93 points)
• 2016 L’Ecole No. 41 Estate Ferguson Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (8/11/2025)
  Day 1: Menthol, spice, blue currants, rose petals and minerals. Medium plus finish. A little tight and needs to integrate. Decanted 2 hours but need 4 plus. 92 points
  Day 3: Well hello again a day 3 success story. Leather, minerals, wood, cherry, blueberries, rose petals, chocolate and spices. Very concentrated wine and dry in style. Love it. 94 points
  Recommendation: Ferguson’s need some serious air even at almost 10 years. Drink now to 2032. (94 points)
• 2023 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (8/11/2025)
  Day 1: Well this will make it only to day 2 as brother is in town and more consumed. Well this is not an 89 point score that is for sure. This wine is better warmer than recommended temp to bring out all the aromatics of this wine. Honey suckles, white flowers, white peaches, lemon, spice, minerals, orange peel and tropical fruit. Amazing stuff and the best white wine for the money in Washington. 94 points
  Day 3: These are as good as day 1s. One of the best white wines from the US for the money. Orange peel, honey suckles, white flowers, white peaches, spice, lemon and tropical fruit. Amazing in MN we get these under $25.00. 94 points
  Recommendation: Easy buy every vintage. (94 points)
• 2014 Château Léoville Poyferré – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (8/11/2025)
  Day 1: Natural cork. Classic Poyferre and not over the top like some of the modern styles we have seen over the past 20 years. Gravel, cigar, blue currants, spice, dust, earth, minerals, mild funk and raspberries. Medium plus finish and nice concentration. A wonderful wine on a pop and pour and will sample this again at dinner. 94 points
  Day 2: Outstanding with gravel, cigar, blueberries, raspberries, cherry, spice, dust, earth and wood. Medium plus finish and this has plenty left in the tank for another 15 year run. 94 points
  Day 3: Still solid and amazing a 10 year old wine is still good on day 3 but this is Poyferre. Mild funk, wood, gravel, dust, graphite, dried flowers and blue currants. Wonderful all 3 days. 94 points
  Recommendation: If you can get this under $100 you are winning! (94 points)