4/23/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV). The nose of this Xinomavro, Merlot and Syrah blend has medium (-) intensity aromas of black raspberry, black plum, lilac, mulberry, licorice, coffee, vanilla and bilberry. It's quite an interesting nose that gains some power as it opens. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are a touch green. Flavors of blackberry, bilberry, black raspberry, plum with coffee, vanilla and a hint of purple licorice are balanced by the firm structure of tannins and acidity. It's a pretty bold wine with nice fruit that lingers on a medium length finish. The tannins are the last to bow out leaving my mouth slightly dried out but wanting more. I am mixing up some Chimmichurri to go with cast-iron prepared Hanger steaks with Korean sweet potatoes and green beans, should work a treat. 92 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 5 star wine to buy again. Drink till 2028.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3AO

4/22/2024 - caspernick wrote:

Slightly cloudy, medium garnet colored with a low viscosity (12% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe raspberry, black cherry, boysenberry, dried wheat and a touch of earthiness. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body and medium tannins. The fruit is somewhat tart, red in nature and melded with some earthy undertones. The finish is short-lived but lively with acidity and tart red fruit popping all over the palate. I was expecting a tannic, brooding wine based on the Baga, but this is a relatively mild affair with the Touriga Nacional also not contributing much to the structure. There's plenty of acidity but not much else that we expect from these two grapes. I guess the 8 years of age may have mellowed some of the pieces to the puzzlebut it is not complete. 85 points from me, even though I am enjoying this $18 bottle tremendously before we embark on making home-made pizza. It gets 3 stars with a drink now window.

4/21/2024 - caspernick wrote:

Deep purple colored with low viscosity (12.5% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of game, black plum, black raspberry, violets and some garigue. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body and medium tannins. Flavors of game, black cherry, black raspberry and black plum with some floral highlights. The finish is light and medium in length, not overly complex or tantalizing. This wine is a bit one dimensional and I can feel some alcohol yet it only rings in at a modest 12.5%. It runs $23 and gets 86 points from me making it a 2 star effort to drink by 2025. I am pairing mine with a smoked Beef shank.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3Ax

4/16/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Pale gold colored with medium intensity bubbles and low viscosity (11.5% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of white pear, brioche, grapefruit pith, white blossom and salted caramel. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a light body and a medium (-) mousse. Flavors of citrus pith, brioche, white blossom, ripe white pear and lanolin. The mouthfeel is very smooth as the mousse has tamed itself with plenty of aging whilst the acidity is still bright and refreshing. The finish is a tasty affair that is medium in length and very satisfying- some spritz, some zing and fresh fruit surrounding the bready, brioche notes. This bottle has dubious provenance, it sat in my buddy Rewt's basement for god-knows-how-long yet is shows decent quality and aging capacity. As with most Non Vintage Cava, it is hard to tell the disgorgement date so I have no idea how long this bottle has slumbered. A curious web search made my jaw drop- $9. Yup, under 10 bones and you are drinking a very serviceable and delicious sparkler that is made in the traditional method out of Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo grapes. I would be looking to stock up for the summer, this is a porch-pounder for sure. 88 points, and 5 stars.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3Aq

4/15/2024 - caspernick wrote:

Deep ruby colored with light staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of black plum, baking spice, rose, licorice, coffee, vanilla and dried green herbs. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body and medium tannins. Medium intensity flavors of black plum, black cherry, vanilla, baking spice, purple licorice and black pepper. The finish is slightly tart with the tannins starting to show more prominence. It lasts for a good 20 seconds. My pairing for this $18 bottle is a meat lovers pie from our local wood oven pizzeria. It gets 87 points from me making it a 3 star effort to drink till 2025.

4/13/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep garnet colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV). On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of cassis, leather, mint, pencil shavings, blackberry, black plum, coffee, vanilla, toasty oak and stewed mulderberry. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are integrating nicely. Rich flavors of cassis, stewed mulderberry, black plum jam with tertiary development by way of leather as well as oak influence- vanilla, coffee and toasty oak. The pencil shavings and mint are present and add a nice angle. The finish turns a little tart, surprising for a New World wine but then again this is a classic Bordeaux blend- Cab Sav 70%, Merlot and Cab Franc at 15% each. The length of said finish is quite long and lingering, inviting me to take another sip. This bottle is at peak and en pointe. I nearly pulled it 5 years ago, thank goodness I waited. 93 points for this $70 wine makes it a 4 star effort. Drink by 2028. I'm pairing it with Tenderloin tails and Peppercorn sauce.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3Ad

4/11/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep garnet with slight bricking and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of dried red plum, desiccated raspberry, bacon, game, dried lavender, baking spices, cocoa, espresso and purple licorice. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins with a medium body. Flavors of drying red fruit, game and dried herbs combine with some cocoa, coffee and licorice nuance. The finish is quite long and tends towards forest floor notes along with smoky oak. I like this wine but feel it is at peak or just past. The entry fee is $18 to try out this indigenous Cretian variety that has been blended with Syrah for some structure. 88 points from me and 4 stars.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3A5

4/10/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

A vibrant hue of lemon with a watery sheen (13.5% AVB). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon zest and pith, grapefruit, beeswax, white blossom, crunchy green apple, slate, vanilla thread and petrichor. The palate is dry with a medium to full body and medium (+) acidity. Flavors of lemon zest, grapefruit zest, white flower, tart green apple and that mineral note like licking a piece of granite. There is a slight waxy feel to it that I am intrigued by, it's delicious. There is obviously some oak attention here, which explains some of the heaviness and also the slight vanilla character I am picking up. The finish is moderate in length and sits nicely on my palate- an interesting dichotomy of freshness from the acidity yet weight from the treatment. I like it. 92 points worth, and at $22, it gets 5 stars. Drink till 2029. I am pairing it with Yuzu marinated grilled chicken. It's a blend of Viura (60%) with support from Malvasia, Torrontes, Garnacha Blanc and others.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3zW

4/9/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep purple colored with medium staining and a high viscosity (14.4% ABV). The nose has intense aromas of vanilla, black cherry, spices, black plum, ripe mulberry, black licorice, toasty oak and hint of alcohol. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are silky. Powerful, mouth coating black fruit- mulberry, black plum, black cherry and blackberry kick things off followed by a hefty dose of vanilla, some spices and black licorice finishing long with some toasty oak notes. This is a powerful and thick wine- perfect for my Lamb dish. It is youthful yet shows structure for the long haul, it is heady yet graceful. I love it. 93 points from me for this $25 bottle makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2030.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3zO

4/8/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of game, infused blackberry, funk, macerated black cherry, baking spice, elderberry and over-ripe papaya (yes, I know, but there's a definite funkiness). The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (-) tannins on a lithe medium (-) body. It's an interesting melange of ripe dark fruit with some funk, game and spice. My first foray into this relatively new grape variety that happens to be a cross of two other varietals from Germany. The spiciness really kicks in on the medium (+) finish- very interesting. I picked this wine to pair with grilled Pork Tomahawks, I think it will work nicely. The funky game note will pair up with the rosemary infused Dijon mustard that will glaze the meat. Lower acidity and low tannins will allow the fruit to shine on the white meat. For lack of experience I will give this wine a generous 86 points, and for $15, it gets 3 stars. Try the varietal if you are in an adventurous mood or just want to expand your palate. This one probably needs drinking sooner rather than later.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3zG

4/7/2024 - caspernick Does not like this wine:

Medium to deep red-ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of bramble, mulberry, vanilla, cracked black pepper, mint, black plum and a medicinal note. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (-) tannins. It's quite bitter right off the bat but then I get muted black fruit, vanilla, mint, and black pepper. There is a coffee note to go along with a touch of the medicinal hint I got on the nose- both from oak treatment. The astringency is cloying and sticks with me to the bitter end, which is relatively short in nature. This wine is a bit disjointed and the bitterness is out of balance with the fruit and structure. 86 points from me for this Zinfandel that I will be pairing alongside Bison steaks. At $15 it gets 3 stars. Drink till 2026.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3zy

4/5/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (15% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, vanilla, blackberry, game, bramble, dried herbs, baking spice, ripe black cherry and wildflowers. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium tannins. This is a rich wine with layers of dark, ripe fruit interlaced with oak nuance, telltale game and some dried herbal notes. It has a medium (-) length finish as far as the fruit goes, but the tannins are super fine and caress my gums for quite a while. This is a $15 Monastrell, aka Mourvèdre that really brings value and gets 91 points from me making it a 5 star effort. Drink till 2029 with steaks or even stews, like the Goulash I am whipping up tonight.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3zp

3/31/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Pale garnet with brick highlights and a medium viscosity (13% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of chocolate covered cherry, barnyard, orange peel, vanilla bean, mushroom, Rooibos tea, caramel, desiccated strawberry, petrichor, a touch of leather and some dried cranberry. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium (-) tannins that are fully integrated. Surprisingly fresh after 19 years of resting, this wine still shows loads of primary red fruit with deft oak and great structure. The tertiary notes are still developing and this beauty has tons of aging capacity left. The finish is sublime- a touch tart from the cranberry, there's also a baked cherry pie thing going on. Stunning stuff that gets 94 points from me. I bought this bottle so long ago, I cannot remember pricing. Modern vintages run $90, which would make it a 5 star wine. I'm pairing this Pinot Noir with Rack of Lamb on this glorious Easter Sunday.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3zg

3/30/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium ruby colored with slight bricking, some staining and a high viscosity (15% ABV). The nose of this Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre blend has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, vanilla, baked red apple, rhubarb crumble, blueberry pie, coffee, baking spice and garrigue. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium (-) tannins that are plush. The baked nature of the fruit comes out on the initial attack and then I start to get oak nuance by way of coffee, vanilla and baking spice followed by that earthy garrigue note and some meaty hints of game. The red and blue fruit are ripe and slightly desiccated but then I get a tart finish that is medium in length, intriguing. The high alcohol hits on the back end, I normally don't sense it but this case is different. I like it all things considered- 92 points and for a wine that is already 12 years old, it's just starting to show methinks. Drink till 2030 with stews, lighter grilled meats or even pasta. At $20, worth looking out for this 5 star effort.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3z7

3/28/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium garnet with copper highlights and a medium viscosity (13% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of coffee, bramble, blueberry pie, vanilla, baking spice, smoke, acai berry and clove. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins that are fine grained. Flavors of blueberry, acai berry, bramble berry, vanilla, baking spice and coffee abound. It finishes with a hint of tartness on the blue fruit but with decent length. The tannins are intriguing- very present yet unobtrusive. Very fine indeed. I really like this bottle that I'm pairing with charcoal grilled Sirloin chunks. 91 points, drink till 2028. For $29, this Plavac wine gets 4 stars.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3yY

3/23/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

The penultimate wine at our 35th virtual tasting- medium ruby to garnet colored with a high viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of barnyard, Sweet Baby Rays (from a fellow taster!), capsicum, cardamom, licorice, coffee, bramble, blackberry, smoke, leather, vanilla, baking spices and green pistachios. Quite a complex array of aromas! The palate was dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that were fully integrated. Flavors of tobacco, coffee, cranberry, bramble, blackberry, leather, vanilla and creamy milk chocolate that led to a medium (+) length finish. Everyone loved this wine- they should. It was $140 and got 100 points from one pro. For me, it fell short on the finish so I gave it 19/20 on our score sheet. Technically speaking it got 94 points and therefore it is a 3 star wine. Lovely and age-worthy, this is an iconic Chilean blend that is right up my alley. Drink till 2030.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3yP

3/23/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

The third wine at our tasting event was this Shiraz from the Barossa Valley. I picked it as I have tasted this wineries offerings in the past and feel they exemplify Aussie Shiraz. I was not disappointed. Deep ruby colored with medium staining and medium viscosity even though it sports a 15% ABV! High intensity aromas of game, prune, coffee, licorice, dark chocolate, and chocolate covered blueberries were the comments from the crowd. It's technically a dry wine that shows off ripeness on the palate with a sweet sensation- medium (-) acidity, medium (+) body and medium tannins. Ripe blueberry and blackberry, coffee, creamy chocolate, oak notes and very nicely melded tannins. The finish was medium (+) in length. A beautiful wine that scored 17 points on our sheet. For $23, this wine is a steal that gets 91 technical points from me and therefore a 5 star rating. Drink till 2029.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3yI

3/23/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

The second wine at our 35th tasting was this Kiwi Pinot. It is pale-to-medium garnet colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). Medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, cherry Coke, barnyard, cranberry, white pepper, licorice and leather. On the palate it was dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) body and low tannins. Flavors of cherry cola, Rooibos tea, white and black pepper, clove, cedar, cough medicine and yet more cherry led to a medium length finish. I loved this wine for its beautiful mouthfeel and great balance and gave it 15 points on our scoring sheet. We paid $55, which is quite pricy but the quality and purity of this wine was worth it- 92 points from me which makes it a 4 star effort to drink till 2028.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3yB

3/23/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

We held our 35th Virtual Wine tasting last night and it was one of the best yet. Kicking it off was this Gewurztraminer from Oregon that we tasted chilled and then at room temp. Normally, I have found more expression and wider appeal with the room temp versions of white wines, but that was not the case. Pale lemon colored with high viscosity (13.7% ABV). You could smell the aromas from a mile away- so intense! Lychee, yellow apple, nectarine, peach, red grapefruit, rosewater, apricot and honey- quite a melange. On the palate this wine was dry with medium (-) acidity and a medium (+) body. This varietal is often made in an off-dry style but this one was fully dry and slightly viscous in the mouthfeel. Notes of apricot, honey, lychee, rosewater, grapefruit and pear went on to a medium to long finish. It was delicious and got 17.5 points on our scoring sheet.

The room temp version was far less aromatic, which is counterintuitive. More lychee but less overall aromas that consisted of grapefruit, cotton candy, apricot, (Laundry detergent- in a fresh sense), crayon (not my words btw). On the palate it was fuller in body but the acidity was somewhat even less pronounced. Primarily honey and lychee driven, we also got cotton candy and some apricot. I gave it 13 points on our sheet.

Overall this wine was a success, but drink it chilled! I scored it at 91 points and for $20 it's an excellent intro to this highly aromatic and wonderful grape. 5 stars. Drink till 2027.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3yu

3/20/2024 - caspernick wrote:

Medium ruby colored with high viscosity (14% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of cherry, pomegranate, red licorice, rose, dusty earth and dried green herbs. It's kinda muted and one-dimensional. The palate is dry with high acidity, a medium body with medium (+) tannins. Flavors of red cherry, rhubarb, pomegranate and dusty earth dominate with some chalky tannins bringing grip to the tart, medium length finish. To me this is an 89 point Sangiovese that runs $20 making it a 4 star effort. Drink till 2028.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3yf

3/19/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (13% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of capsicum, bilberry, black raspberry, red plum, coffee, caramel, vanilla and smoke. The palate is dry with a medium body and medium tannins. Flavors of blueberry, plum, black raspberry, coffee and a remnant of the green pepper go on for a medium length finish. This $16 bottle is delicious and well balanced, albeit not overly complex. I would say it is worthy of 90 points and therefore- 5 stars. I have always enjoyed the wines from Bodega Garzon and find them to be exceptional value for money- their Tannat is awesome. My pairing tonight is a grilled Tri-tip with steamed Japanese yams. Drink till 2028.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3y7

3/18/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium lemon colored with a deceptively high viscosity (12% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of white blossom, lemon zest, lime zest, tangerine, honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, grapefruit pith and cheese curd. The palate is slightly off-dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body. The tartness of the wine sharpens the citrus notes that now dominate. The florals, which were quite lopsided on the nose now play second fiddle. This is turning into a food wine for sure, it needs seafood to balance it out. Delicious, en pointe and very zesty it has medium length finish. I paid $18 for this bottle that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars. Made from Hondarrabi Zuri grapes. Drink this delicious drop till 2025.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3xZ

3/17/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep ruby with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of bell pepper, black cherry, black plum, licorice, espresso, vanilla, baking spice and blueberry ganache. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium (-) tannins. Flavors of plum, black cherry and blueberry with green pepper and oak derived accents. There is a charred note on the mid palate where the green, herbaceous note fades. The finish is medium (-) in length but very pleasing. I like the structure of this wine- not too heavy, not too serious, not too tannic or tart- a perfect accompaniment to my Corned Beef dinner where the meat is soft in texture and slightly fatty served with a mustard gravy. Drink this 90 point wine till 2027. For $14 it's a 5 star bottle to stock up on.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3xR

3/16/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium garnet with a touch of bricking, light staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of dusty earth, desiccated plum, dried coconut slivers, dried dill, black plum reduction, blueberry jam and a bacon streak. The palate is dry with medium acidity,medium body and medium tannins that are fully integrated. Flavors of dried/desiccated blue and black fruit combined with oak nuance and dusty earthiness that is a telltale off the region and of the Tempranillo grape. The finish is medium (-) in length and focuses on tertiary notes of tobacco, tar, dust and dried herbs. I fear this wine is just past peak so I had better drink up. I like it, but the points will reflect the lack of further development. I paid $20 per bottle and will give it 89 points making it a 4 star effort. It's grilled lamb for the pairing btw. Drink now.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3xH

3/15/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Pale garnet with a watery sheen (11% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of rhubarb, pomegranate, white pepper, red cherry, strawberry leaf and tomato leaf. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a light body and very lithe tannins. Flavors of rhubarb dominate with red cherry, white pepper and green leaf notes supporting. The finish is a light yet zippy affair that lasts quite a while. I picked this bottle to pair with grilled pork Tomahawks, it should do nicely as the low level of tannins will not impeded the lighter meat flavors. I liked this wine when we toured the Finger Lakes wineries so I bought it- $25. It gets 88 points from me and 3 stars. Drink till 2028.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3xz

3/13/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). Ugh nose has somewhat muted aromas of black plum, blackberry, cedar, charcoal and baking spice. The palate is dry with a medium body and medium tannins. The lush black fruit is laced with baking spices and charred wood notes. I get a hint of coffee and a licorice note. The finish is surprisingly long for what started out as a fairly basic wine. What it lacked in complexity on the nose, it makes up for on the palate with some decent structure and ripe fruit. 89 points from me for this $10 effort gets it 4 stars. Drink till 2026 with burgers, pizza, grilled steak or even some charcuterie.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3xr

3/12/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Pale garnet with a copper tinge and medium viscosity (13.8% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red cherry, baking spice, pomegranate, cranberry, violets and crushed rock. The palate is dry with high acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins. Red fruit coupled with some spice, minerality and a touch of violet makes for a refreshing and crisp wine with very little astringency and a nice mouthfeel. The finish is surprisingly long on this aromatically challenged wine that I quite like. I picked it as a lighter pairing for a traditional Lebanese dish of chicken and rice. I think the crunchy red fruit will do nicely with the spiced rice (caraway seed) whilst the lithe tannins and zippy acidity will accentuate the chicken along with the toasted pine nuts and almond slivers. This is an even blend of Pinot Noir and Lemberger (aka Blaufrankisch). 88 points from me for this $22 bottle makes it a 3 star wine to drink till 2028.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3xk

3/11/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep ruby colored with minor staining and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, tobacco, cedar, black plum, camphor, mint, black coffee and iodine. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky and crunchy. Flavors of ripe blackcurrant, black plum, tobacco, cedar, coffee and that sanguine iodine note caress the tongue and carry on to a longish finish. I like the tannic structure- it's grippy yet lets the fruit do its job. I like the flavor profile, it's a classic Left Bank Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Lovely stuff that gets 92 points from me and for $34- 5 stars. It's open for business now if you like 'em a bit dry and astringent, or you could wait. This beauty will last till 2035. I'm charring up some Sirloins with a pepper sauce.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3xc

3/10/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep purple colored with slight staining and high viscosity (15% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, black olives, licorice, blackberry ganache, black cherry, granite and petrichor. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, full body and medium tannins. The flavors are quite pronounced- black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry, licorice, charred cedar, olives and that mineral granite note. The finish is long and silky with the tannins slinking away to reveal loads of dark raspberry and cherry notes. The slight oak nuance is nice, as is the earthy minerality. I like this $26 wine- 93 points worth, making it a 5 star effort. I would pair it with hearty stews, game meat or meatloaf. It’s drinking beautifully now and will do so for quite a few years. Mostly Grenache, there’s other Rhone varietals from different vintages thrown in for good measure. Look out for this wine. It’s yummy.

https://caspernick.com/2024/02/21/xavier-vignon-arcane-le-fou-nv-rhone-france/

3/9/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Pale straw colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV). The nose has intense aromas of cut grass, asparagus, gooseberry, Kaffir lime, peach and orange blossom. The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body. Tart yet refreshing I get medium (+) intensity flavors of lemon, Kaffir lime, gooseberry, cut grass and dare I say it- cat pee? (I actually like this note in my Sav Blanc every so often). The wine has a crispness to it and is laser focused. The finish is medium to long in length and the fruit warms up a bit- not as zesty as the opening. I like this $13 bottle- a lot. 91 points worth and 5 stars from me. A fascinating story about the winemakers- look it up. Drink till 2025.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3x5

3/2/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Pale lemon colored with copper highlights and a high viscosity (14% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, jasmine, lemon curd, white blossom, honeysuckle, tangerine peel and a waxy lanolin. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and some bitterness (skin contact perhaps?). Flavors of Jasmine tea, honeysuckle, lemon and tangerine skin, hints of peach and a salty minerality. The finish is medium in length and the bitterness has worn off at this juncture leaving the mouthfeel a touch waxy with some saline and honey. I am really enjoying the tropical notes of this rather aromatic wine, albeit not overly complex. It gets 90 points from me and 5 stars, I paid just under $15 for it. I'm gonna pair it with roast duck leg and mashed sweet potato. Drink till 2026.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3wU

3/1/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep garnet colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV). The nose of this Tempranillo has medium (+) intensity aromas of vanilla, coconut, back plum, black cherry, tobacco, dust, cassis, Maduro wrapper, mint, dried green herbs, dried orange peel and blueberry compote. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky. Flavors of black plum, black cherry, cassis, coconut, vanilla, baking spice, dusty earth, mint and tobacco persist to a long finish. I'm impressed with this wine's complexity and balance- 92 points from me and 5 stars since it runs $23. I believe it has great cellaring potential, till 2033 but is drinking beautifully now. Pairing tonight with Shish Kebabs.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3wL

2/29/2024 - caspernick wrote:

Deep purple colored with slight straining and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of blueberry, mint, green pepper, black raspberry, lavender, cedar and violet. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium tannins. Flavors of blueberry, black raspberry, menthol, green tea and cedar along with a phenolic bitterness. The finish is a bit astringent with medium persistence and a focus on the raspberry and menthol notes. It's got decent structure, I just worry about the astringency. 88 points from me for this $16 effort makes it a 3 star wine to drink till 2027. I'm pairing with seared Sirloin steaks.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3wE

2/27/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium ruby with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV) and it looks unfined/unfiltered. The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberries, licorice, charred oak, coffee, cardamom, red plum and white pepper. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium body and medium (+) tannins. Flavors of black raspberry and licorice dominate with plum, pepper, coffee, cardamom and violet supporting. The alcohol is quite noticeable btw. The tannins are very fine grained and quite prominent throughout. The finish is long with red fruit and some spice. It says to serve this blend of 35% Grenache Noir, 35% Cinsault, 30% Tempranillo slightly chilled.... I like it just fine at room temp and think it gets 89 points. For $22 it gets 4 stars from me. Drink till 2028.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3ww

2/26/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep ruby (inky) with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, baking spices, camphor (?), ripe blueberry, vanilla thread, boysenberry and Rooibos tea. The palate is slightly off-dry with medium (+) acidity, medium body and medium (+) tannins that are youthful. I get flavors of boysenberry, black cherry, a green vegetal note, dark chocolate, vanilla and baking spices. The finish is slightly tart and quite long. The camphor note I previously smelled has returned on the back end. A blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Alicante Bouschet and 30% Baga that gets 88 points from me and for $12- 4 stars. Drink now with hearty stews and grilled meats.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3wn

2/25/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep purple with moderate staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of capsicum, black cherry, black plum, licorice, coffee, burnt sugar, clove, violets and acai berry. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium body. Flavors of acai berry, black plum, black cherry, coffee, violets and smoky clove lead to a medium (+) length finish that has a nice tannic dryness and some caressing black and blue fruit. Retasting- the body is medium (-) in weight and the density of the fruit is a little diluted. I can't say I agree with the trio of 93 points from others, more like 90 to me. I am pairing it with Pot Roast and Yorkshire puddings, I think the tannic grip will do nicely with the fatty nature of the dish. At $22 it's a 4 star wine to drink till 2027.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3we

2/25/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

From a recent dinner I took very basic notes of this Argentinian Malbec that runs a mere $11.

Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV). On the nose I get aromas of plum, acai, blueberry and coffee. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins and a medium body. Flavors of blueberry, coffee, mocha, plum and a mineral note lead to a medium length finish. I like the balance of this wine and its mouthfeel- not overly done with pleasing acidity and tannins that are smooth and unobtrusive. 87 points makes this a 3 star wine to drink soon.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3w8

2/24/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of cranberry, raspberry, black cherry and pomegranate. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins and a medium body. Flavors of red fruit with cedar, red licorice and dusty earth to a medium length finish. 89 points for this $24 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2028 with pasta, Cornish hen or grilled/plank salmon.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3w4

2/23/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep ruby colored with medium intensity viscosity (13.0% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of garigue and funk, Cinnamon, bramble berry, blackcurrant pie, açaí berry, gamy meat and damp forest wood. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and a medium body. Flavors of charred oak, açaí, blackcurrants, earth and some baking spice lead to a medium (-) finish. The game note reverberates at the end. Well balanced with taut grip, this wine gets 91 points from me. $26, 5 stars. First time for me with the Refosk grape btw. Drink till 2029.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3w0

2/20/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Another bottle from my buddy's garage is this 25 year-old Riesling. It is medium gold colored, a stunning looking wine with a watery sheen (11% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe pear, apricot, honey, petrol, lime curd, vanilla thread, white and orange blossom, honeysuckle and candied tangerine. The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a medium body. Unfortunately the flavor intensity is a little lacking compared to the nose but I do get petrol, candied apricot, honey, pear, lime, candied ginger and blossom. There is a slight bitterness on the mid palate that carries through to the medium (+) length finish. I must say- I'm impressed that this wine is even drinkable considering its provenance and quality level, perhaps a testament to the longevity of the varietal and the agglomerated cork. You can purchase a current vintage for $10. This one got 86 points and a Best Buy rec from Wine Enthusiast back in the day. I can see why. Speechless to say the least.

xhttps://wp.me/p125DB-3vK

2/20/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Another of the lost 'garage' wines my buddy brought over. The back label was missing so I have no vintage information. The cork was pretty dry and fell in to the bottle when I tried to insert the corkscrew. The color is medium garnet with copper highlights and medium viscosity (12% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of dusty earth, desiccated red cherry, slightly cooked capsicum, mint, dried blackberry and burnt sugar. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are still quite bristly. A light body was to be expected. Flavors of dried black cherry, dusty bramble, stewed blackberry, bitter chocolate and dried prunes. The bitterness is a bit cloying and carries on to the medium length finish. This is not a very pleasant wine to drink but after being subjected to such harsh storage I am stunned that a $6 bottle of unknown age has withstood the test of time. I revisited after a few hours and actually enjoyed the second glass. I'm impressed tbh. I might pick up a recent vintage to check out. BTW- I looked up the label and think this might be a 1998 or earlier bottle. That's 26 years old my friends. Drink now?? Lol.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3vB

2/18/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium garnet colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, charcoal, blackberry, acai berry, mint, licorice, a slight green note and warm baking spices. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and medium body. The tannins are integrating nicely and make for a silky mouthfeel. Flavors that I love in Left Bank Bordeaux come out of the glass- cassis, leather, pencil shavings, licorice, blackberry and baking spice. The finish is classic for the region- slightly tart, long and a touch dry from the fantastic tannins. I first became a convert of this wine when we visited Lynch Bages and got to try this as part of the tasting. For $40, I am impressed with the quality of this Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. 91 points from me and 5 stars. It is open for business now but will cellar nicely till 2030. I'm pairing with Sunday roast.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3vt

2/17/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

My buddy Rewt kindly offered me a mixed case of wines that had been forgotten in a garage for 4 years. In actuality, some had been forgotten far longer with bottles from the late 90's mingling with an '89 White Zinfandel! You know where I am going with this..... down the drain with most of them. This Sauvignon Blanc however showed promise. A high ullage and decent color made me try it. I was pleasantly surprised!

Pale gold, perhaps medium lemon and still showing youth, even though it has lots of age on it. A watery sheen medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose is very interesting with some burnt ginger, dried grapefruit peel, blood orange pith, a hint of green grass, a touch of a smoky note and possibly some oak? The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a medium body. Albeit not delightful, it does show some interesting character and perseverance. There’s a certain level of bitterness, phenolic or otherwise that keeps showing up- I could even smell it. Considering this wine has been sitting in somebody’s hot garage for ages I’m totally blown away that a 16-year-old wine is in such good condition. The citrus fruits show off the wine's age- being desiccated, and very ripe. The smokiness I got on the nose carries through to the palate and the finish is quite long. The grapefruit pith flavors persist the longest on the backend. I would never have guessed that this wine was heat damaged, only past its prime. Drink it now or forever hold your peace. It’s hard to scale a wine of its provenance (or lack thereof) but it would probably have been a 91 to 92 pointer in its day. Fun to try!

https://wp.me/p125DB-3vm

2/15/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Deep ruby, inky with slight staining and high viscosity (14% ABV). Aromas of vanilla, baking spices, ripe blackberry, violets, blackcurrant ganache, mocha and blueberry pie. Dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and a full body. Flavors of blackberry, dusty earth, violets, blackcurrant, blueberry and vanilla lead to a medium (+) length finish that has some baking spice warmth. The tannins are delightful and silky. 91 points for this Tempranillo that runs $17 makes it a 5 star wine. Drink till 2030.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3vg

2/14/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

First time I picked up one of these bottles it was in Phoenix and I was traveling on business. I needed something easy that was going to bring pleasure without breaking the bank- Decanter gave this 95 points so I figured I could not go wrong. It's pale lemon colored with a watery sheen (11.5% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon, grapefruit zest, green grass, orange blossom, pineapple and wet slate. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and a light body. It's a crisp and refreshing wine with flavors of grapefruit zest, lemon, pineapple and a slaty minerality. The finish is medium in length and zippy- the light body coupled with the level of acidity making it easy to drink and refreshing. It's not a 95 pointer but it gets 89 from me and for a mere $12- 5 stars. Drink now.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3v7

2/13/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

This Sangiovese was served blind at our tasting group and it stumped us all. Medium ruby colored with slight staining and medium viscosity. The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of dusty black cherry, purple licorice, vanilla, baking spice, strawberry pie, caramel, açaí berry and roses. The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium (+) tannins. Flavors of black cherry, licorice, baking spices and vanilla are prominent, the dusty note faded. The strawberry shows up later in the game with the acai berry. It finishes medium in length and not as tart as expected from a Chianti. It's a young wine whose tannins need to settle down with time or vigorous decanting. This bottle was a brute last night but has since mellowed out very nicely. It should drink well till 2030 and gets 91 points from me. At $20 it's a definite 5 star wine to load up on.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3uZ

2/13/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Pale lemon with gold highlights and a medium viscosity (13% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, white blossom, saline, grapefruit, lemon pith and a hint of papaya. The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body. Flavors of white blossom, sea spray, peach, papaya, lemon pith and grapefruit zest with a medium to long finish. It runs about $20 and gets 90 points from me. I like the crispness and tangy acidity coupled with the saline notes. Drink this 5 star wine with seafood till 2027.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3uS

2/12/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Medium garnet with slight staining and high viscosity (15.2% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of blackberry, black plums, cracked pepper, violets, purple licorice, blueberry ganache, chocolate powder, baking spices, vanilla bean, coconut and eucalyptus (?). The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and a full body. The first thing that comes to my mind is the silky yet slightly chalky texture to the tannins. It’s beautiful. Medium (+) intensity flavors of blackberry, black plums, purple licorice, ripe/rich blueberry paste, vanilla bean, baking spices and cocoa powder- itfinishes long and sensual. Very smooth and delicious. 93 points. Drink now until 2030. Simply amazing. At $50- it's a treat for sure that gets 5 stars.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3uN

2/8/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Pale lemon colored with medium viscosity (12.4% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon zest, marzipan, brioche, white blossom, grapefruit pith, vanilla thread and white pear. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body. Flavors of acacia, white blossom, lemon zest, marzipan and brioche with a hint of white pear. The finish is medium in length and centers on the brioche and white blossom. I liked this bottle at the winery and I like it now in my tasting cocoon. It gets 89 points from me and for $17- 4 stars. Drink till 2027.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3uD

2/6/2024 - caspernick Likes this wine:

Pale ruby colored with medium viscosity (12% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of capsicum, cedar, red cherry, red plum, baking spices, currants and faint licorice. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins and a light body. The fruit flavors mimic the nose to an extent- currants, pomegranate, red plum with cedar, vanilla, chalky tannins, faint licorice and a hint of green pepper. The finish has medium (+) length and is slightly tart. For a $25 wine from a difficult vintage this is a very nice drop- I'm starting to appreciate and understand this varietal when made in the Finger Lakes. It's different from Loire or Bordeaux Cab Franc... see-through and much lighter in style. 90 points from me makes this a 3 star effort. Drink till 2028 with Veal, roast Chicken or baked Ham.

https://wp.me/p125DB-3ul