Author Archives: lcwineguy1997

2023 Chateau Palene Bordeaux (AOP) For the final day of Advent, we have a 2023 Bordeaux from Chateau Palene. The nose swirls with aromas of cherry and other red fruits, spice and just a hint of cedar. Black cherry is on the palate, as is mint, with a strong tannin structure underneath. Indeed the tanninsContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 24”

Cavalys Sauvignon Blanc Just one more day to go… For the penultimate day of Advent we have a Sauvignon Blanc from Cavalys, or to hear my wife put it, “great, another Sauvignon Blanc”. She’s not a fan of the wine, which is ironic considering she usually prefers whites to reds. Thing is, she doesn’t likeContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 23”

Magic Box Pinot Noir For Day 22 we have a Pinot Noir from Magic Box. Cherry and spice on the nose and I swear I caught a hint of tobacco. But the palate told a slightly different story. cherry and strawberry were the primary, followed by an undertone of spice and vanilla. There is aContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 22”

Summer Touch Peach Day 21’s offering is a rarity for these Wine Advent Calendars: a fruit wine (well, a grape wine with fruit flavors, but still). Summer Touch Peach is a sparkling, low-alcohol (8% ABV) peach. As my wife and I are fans of sparkling as well as fruit wines, this promised to be excitingContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 21”

Bistrot Chic Red Blend (France) Only 4 more days to go… Day 20 we have a red wine from the South of France, “Bistrot Chic”. As it says on the label, it’s a blend of 40% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah. It is very complex, with bright flavors of black cherry and currantsContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 20”

2024 Wild Coast Sauvignon Blanc (oops… The wife and I drank the wine before I photographed the bottle!) For Day 19 Total Wines features a Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa, Wild Coast. With its intense flavors of grapefruit, lemon and tropical citrus (pineapple), it is a little bolder than its French cousins (except BDX’s SauvContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 19”

Grand Sud Cabernet A week to go to Christmas. Day 18’s offering, Grand Sud’s Cabernet Sauvignon can be summed up for me in one sentence: “Just the fruit, the whole fruit and (almost) nothing but the fruit”. Stewed cherries and raspberries dominate the palate with an undertone of mint. The tannins, normally a mainstay ofContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 18”

BDX Sauvignon Blanc (Bordeaux, France) For Day 17 we have a Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux’s own BDX. With its bold grapefruit and citrus fruit aromas and lively acidity BDX’s creation is what I would expect of a typical Sauvignon Blanc… from New Zealand. Granted, it lacks the tropical notes of a New Zealand Sauv BlancContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 17”

Magic Box Red Blend Day 16’s offering is Magic Box’s Red Blend from Spain, and I will just say this point blank – I think this may be my favorite red that I’ve tried so far this Advent. Warm notes of oak, baking spices, black cherry compote, raspberry and vanilla hit you all at onceContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 16”

Grand Sud Pinot Grigio When I was taking my WSET Level II class, my instructor once remarked that she could easily identify Pinot Grigio in a blind tasting. “If it tastes like water, it’s a Pinot Grigio.” Since then I’ve had a lot of Pinot Grigio wines that were stronger than weaker on flavor. ItContinue reading “2025 Wine Advent-ure: Day 15”