Author Archives: caspernick

Firefly Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Stephanie 2012, Coombsville, California

11 Monday May 2026

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Deep ruby, inky, opaque… with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.9% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, black plum, mint, oak, smoke, licorice, acai berry, and alcohol.  It’s quite potent.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are melding into a powdery texture.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of dark berries, blackcurrant jam, mint, oak nuance and licorice.  The heat is noticeable on the back end.  The finish, whilst a bit hot, is medium in length and laced with dark fruit and silky tannins.  I like this wine’s flavor but the alcohol is out of balance, it takes over the nose and the palate and costs the score a point or two.  It retails for around $65.  I give it 91 points, which makes it a 4 star effort in my books.  Drink till 2035 with a hearty steak or braised beef dish.  Salut….

Firefly Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Stephanie

Fritz Windisch Dornfelder 2024, Rheinhessen, Germany

08 Friday May 2026

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Deep purple colored, with a watery sheen (8% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of candied red cherry, ripe black raspberry, red plum, violets, acai berry, and petrichor.  The palate is semi-sweet, with medium (-) acidity, medium (+) body, and low tannins.  Medium (-) intensity flavors of a red fruit cocktail with some herbal notes.  The weight comes from the residual sugar, whilst the low tannins make it a relatively easy drinking sweetie.  The lowish acidity adds to the weight, making it a bit cloying.  The finish is medium (-) in length.  It’s not my style, nor did I mean to buy a semi-sweet red wine.  I have had others, which balance the sweetness with some acidity, making the mouthfeel less heavy.  It’s not a refreshing wine, nor is it sweet enough to be a stickie, it’s probably a decent aperitif for some.  84 points from me for this $14 effort makes it a 2 star wine in my books.  Drink now.  Salut….

Fritz Windisch Dornfelder

Tiefenbrunner Merus Chardonnay Sudtirol-Alto Adige 2023, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

03 Sunday May 2026

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Pale lemon colored, with a green tinge, and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, tangerine, lanolin, garden herbs, white grapefruit, a hint of peach, and white blossom. The palate is dry, with medium acidity, and a medium body.  Medium intensity flavors with a medium length finish.  Delicious, making me grab the glass for another sip.  It is youthful and shows some cellaring potential.  I like this style of Chardonnay- unoaked, with minimal interference and no MLF.  91 points from me for this $21 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Tiefenbrunner Merus Chardonnay Sudtirol - Alto Adige

Havens Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Mendocino County, California

01 Friday May 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, charred cedar plank, eucalyptus, mint, powdery dirt/dust, acai berry, blueberry, black plum, and baking spice.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium tannins that are melding nicely.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit, with some charred wood notes, and a herbal twist.  No sign of eucalyptus or mint, but there is a green note.  The finish is medium (+) in length and very pleasing.  A nice Cabernet from Mendocino County that gets 91 points from me and for the $52 price point, 4 stars.  Drink till 2030 with Beef and Lamb dishes.  Salut….

Havens Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino

St. Giorgio Super Tuscan 2020, Toscana IGT, Italy

30 Thursday Apr 2026

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Medium purple colored, with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of cherry, pomegranate, candied red licorice, oak, and a green vegetal hint.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are pretty grippy.  Medium intensity flavors of black cherry, ripe pomegranate, rhubarb, and a touch of oak.  The finish is medium (-) in length and the tannins hang on past the fruit- they are rather aggressive, indicating youth and possibly more cellaring capacity.  I picked this Tuscan blend (Sangiovese, perhaps Cabernet Sauvignon, and maybe Merlot) up for $16.  It gets 89 points from me making it a 4 star effort.  Think pasta with Ragu, or a hunk of beef to pair with.  Salut…..

St. Giorgio Toscana

Firefly Vineyards Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Napa Valley, California

29 Wednesday Apr 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.8% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry jam, cassis, eucalyptus, mint, oak, smoke, leather, tobacco, black plum, baking spice, and vanilla.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose and finish on a long note.  The potent alcohol is well masked, so buyer beware.  The ripeness of the fruit is evident and very rich but starting to meld into the background whilst the tertiary development is beginning.  The silky nature of this wine is very alluring, a rather heavy yet seductive mouthfeel. 92 points from me for this aged bottle, pricing is unknown.  Drink with a hearty steak over the next decade.   Salut….

Firefly Vineyards Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon

Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023, Burgundy, France

28 Tuesday Apr 2026

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Pale garnet colored, with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pomegranate, cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, bark, with a touch of some herbal/vegetal notes.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins that are surprising.  Medium intensity flavors of red fruit coupled with the lively mouthfeel make for a delightful, if somewhat one-dimensional experience.  The finish is medium (-) in length.  Overall, a very serviceable Pinot that runs $16 and gets 89 points from me making it a 4 star effort.  It’s a midweek pop-n-pour, no cellaring required or warranted.  Salut….

Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Forte Incanto Primitivo 2021, Salento IGT Puglia, Italy

27 Monday Apr 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of prunes, stewed blackberry, a medicinal note, brambleberry, purple licorice, and a slightly green vegetal note.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors offer up much the same as the nose, the plums, blackberry, cherry et al have a slightly cooked/stewed slant- indicating maturity of the wine.  It’s kinda young to be showing that level of age.  The mouthfeel however, is silky smooth.  I am actually enjoying this wine more than I thought when I first smelled it.  The finish is medium in length and adds a point or two for its redeeming qualities.  I would say this is a drink-now 89 pointer that gets 4 stars for its $17 price point.  Salut….

Forte Incanto Primitivo

Boschendal Vin d’Or Late Harvest 2016, Western Cape, South Africa

20 Monday Apr 2026

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I bought every bottle the local Philly wine shops had at the time- it was on sale for $15.  The last bottle I drank was stunning, this one- even better.  The color has matured to gold, the elixir, golden.  I took no notes as it was a birthday celebration.  I would rate this as a 95 point wine and put it up against many well known dessert wines.  Luscious with honey, apricot, marmalade, orange blossom.  Structured for the long haul with fantastic acidity, this wine is a shocker for the price paid.  I might have one bottle left from my haul years ago.  Current vintages are Viognier/Riesling blends.  They retail at the winery for about $38 a bottle.  Salut….

boschendal vin d'or noble late harvest

Cos D’Estournel 2001, St. Estephe, France

20 Monday Apr 2026

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For my birthday weekend I opened/will open some treasures from the cellar, including the 2001 Cos.  I did not take real notes as I wanted to enjoy my family, and the wine.  It was stunning.  I remember the day I purchased the case, back in 2003?  I have tasted this wine’s evolution and it is at peak.  Delivering aromas and flavors of  everything you could image a Left Bank wine of such pedigree could offer….. Cassis, tobacco, pencil shavings, plum, blackberry, baking spice, etc etc.  The intensity on the nose and palate were both amazing and the finish clocked in as medium (+) in length.  The tannins have done a good job keeping up with Father Time, fully melded yet still gripping.  Such a lovely, silky bottle with plenty of life left.  95 points from me.  Salut….

cos d'estournel