Author Archives: caspernick

Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling 2021, Salta, Argentina

05 Sunday Jan 2025

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We kicked off the 38th virtual wine tasting with this Torrontes/Riesling blend (85/15%), served initially chilled then at room temperature.  Pale yellow colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV), it gave the tasters medium (+) intensity aromas of honeysuckle, lemon, nectarine, peach, pear, lychee, and rose water.  On the palate it is dry with medium (+) acidity thanks to the Riesling, with a light body.  The flavors were similar to the nose with the addition of vanilla- the finish was long.  We then tasted the room temperature version which gave us more pear, some petrol, a hint of ginger, and perhaps vanilla thread.  The acidity was a bit subdued but the body felt heavier with tangerine, pear, honeysuckle, and a citrus driven finish that went on for ages.  I scored it 15 and 14 on our tasting sheet but this $12 bottle gets 91 points on technical merit making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling

Precision Wine Company Circumference Chardonnay 2023, Russian River Valley, California

01 Wednesday Jan 2025

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Pale lemon colored with gold highlights, and a watery sheen that gives way to some thick, slow moving legs (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe tropical fruit.  Pink guava, apricot, papaya, nectarine, green almond, a touch of butter, and a hit of baking spice.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and ripe fruit flavors that echo the nose.  The finish is silky and medium (+) in length, showing off the fruit rather nicely.  There are subtle secondary notes, the focus being the fruit profile.  It’s a heavy wine with a rather substantial alcohol content that would probably need to be served well chilled as I can see it ballooning out of control once it gets warmed up.  I am pairing it with Chinese food and it’s working rather nicely.  89 points for this $25 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

precision wine company Circumference Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Les Vignerons de Pierrefeu Prestige Rouge 2005, Cotes de Provence, France

30 Monday Dec 2024

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Deep amber colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of prune, balsamic syrup, roasted almond, raisin, desiccated blackberry jam, and alcohol (I get loads of it in my shnoz).  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body and very astringent tannins that are melded but still providing grip.  Dried, stewed fruits and over-steeped black tea with some roasted nuts make up the flavors, which are of medium (+) intensity.  The finish is super astringent and the flavors last a medium length but the astringency is something to behold, wow.  This is certainly not a wine that was meant to be aged, it just happened to be forgotten in my brother’s kitchen.  Purchased in Provence in 2008 at the winery where my cousin had his wedding reception.  They got divorced but the wine is still here, barely.  No scores given, no pricing is available, and the rest is destined for the kitchen sink.  A real shame we didn’t open this (Cabernet Sauvignon?) sooner.  Oh well.  You win some, you lose some.  Salut….

Les Vignerons de Pierrefeu Cotes de Provence Pierrefeu Prestige Rouge

Quevedo Family Red Blend Xisto 2021, Portugal

22 Sunday Dec 2024

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Deep purple colored with a watery meniscus, and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, red plum, acai berry, vanilla bean, menthol, and red licorice.  The palate is slightly off-dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Very light in the mouth with very little structure- it has nice flavors of raspberry, plum, acai berry and red licorice with some vanilla and menthol notes.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing with its fresh approach.  A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Sousão that drinks effortlessly.  This easygoing style will appeal as an aperitif or with lighter fare. It runs $11 and gets 86 points from me which makes it a 3 star wine.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

queued family xisto red

Castelli del Grevepesa Lamole 2019, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Italy

21 Saturday Dec 2024

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Pale to medium garnet colored with copper highlights, and a medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red cherry, pomegranate, rhubarb, baking spice, olive tapenade, and a green stalk note (thyme?).  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium (+) tannins.  Flavors of red cherry, pomegranate, thyme, dried leather, rhubarb, and some baking spice.  The finish is zippy with some acidity that lingers.  Fruit length is medium and red in nature with some slight astringency right at the end.  It’s a very delicious and food-worthy wine that gets 92 points from me.  I would drink this $25 effort till 2030 with Bolognese all day long. 5 stars.  Salut….

castelli del grevepesa lamole chianti classico gran selezione

Bodegas Balbás Ardal Cuvée Especial Crianza 2020, Ribera del Duero, Spain

16 Monday Dec 2024

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Medium-to-deep ruby colored with slight staining and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, dusty earth, oak stave, acai berry, menthol, a medicinal note, tomato stalk, black licorice, and a whiff of tobacco.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and high tannins that are gritty and young.  The fruit is more intense on the palate than it was on the nose.  Dark berries with nuanced oak and some grippy tannins that carry on for an eternity.  The finish, albeit quite dry, lasts for a medium length and is begging for some food.  I’m guessing the 20% addition of Cabernet Sauvignon has beefed up the normally tame Tempranillo- it makes for an interesting and structured wine that has managed to hide its high alcohol nicely.  I would give this one a wide berth and cellar till 2026, with a drinking window into 2030.  92 points from me for this $30 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Bodegas Balbás Ardal Cuvée Especial Crianza

Barboursville Vineyards Octagon 2017, Monticello, Virginia

15 Sunday Dec 2024

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Deep ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pencil lead, blackberry, cassis, menthol, orange peel, bramble berry, black plum, and coffee.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that build on the mid palate.  Medium intensity flavors of blackberry, plum, cassis, bramble berry, coffee, menthol, and graphite.  The finish is very dry and long.  The tannins really grip here along with some juicy acidity.  It’s a delicious wine that is evolving nicely but I think the 2016 might be better (I gave it 93 points).  This one gets 91 points from me and at $95 it gets 3 stars.  I’m pairing with Sunday roast for the treat.  A classic Right Bank blend of Merlot, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot.  Salut….

barboursville octagon

Basilisco ‘Fontanelle’ 2017, Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG, Italy

14 Saturday Dec 2024

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Opaque, inky purple colored with medium staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, black currant, coffee, loamy earth, eucalyptus, licorice, bramble berry and blueberry.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a full body and high tannins that are slightly green and very grippy.  Ripe fruit flavors of black cherry, black plum, blueberry, bramble, leather, licorice, coffee, loam, and eucalyptus.  The wine is weighty and very rich as well as structured.  This is a young wine for sure.  The finish is medium in length and layered with dark fruit and secondary flavors.  The tannins seem to sort themselves out after a few minutes, they are very prominent but not green and rough.  This is a delicious bottle that needs a hearty pasta or thick Ribeye.  It will cellar well for at least 20 years and become more approachable in 5, but you can drink now if you like them super dry and astringent.  If not, aerate or decant and you should be good to go.  93 points from me for this $35 effort makes it a 5 star treat.  Salut….

Basilisco 'Fontanelle' Aglianico del Vulture Superiore

Loosen Bros Dr. L Riesling 2023, Mosel, Germany

09 Monday Dec 2024

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Pale straw/lemon colored with high viscosity (8.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon zest, petrol, green apple skin, white and orange blossom, slightly underripe apricot, and a hint of wet slate.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a medium body.  The viscosity in the glass is obviously a result of the RS (residual sugar) and not the alcohol content.  The flavors are slightly muted by the piercing acidity, even though it is tempered by the sugar.  Citrus zest, green apple, apricot, and that stony mineral note make it through the powerful facade of this refreshing yet weighty wine.  It’s an interesting dichotomy.  I’m enjoying it very much as an aperitif to a Greek Chicken Souvlaki dinner, which has a lemon-based marinade.  The finish is very interesting- a ying and yang of sweetness versus tartness.  It lasts quite a long while.  Loving this $12 bottle that gets a decent 89 point score from me and 5 stars.  I will be stocking up on this porch pounder.  It will pair beautifully with spicy dishes as well as Asian inspired cuisine.  I think it has some cellaring capacity and would be interested to hide a few bottles for extended periods, checking every so often on the development.  Yummy.  Salut….

dr loosen dr l riesling

Quinta da Foz Reserva 2020, Douro, Portugal

08 Sunday Dec 2024

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Deep purple colored with medium staining, and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, vanilla, coffee, dark chocolate, menthol, bramble berry, and a medicinal note.  It’s very enticing.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins that are melding nicely.  The richness of the fruit is profound- dark berry with oak nuance by way of vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and a medicinal note.  The menthol note only appears on the back end. The finish is juicy and medium (+) in length.  A delicious blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tina Roriz.  I have tasted two earlier vintages of this Reserva with equally impressive notes and high scores.  I will go with 94 points this time and for $25- I’m stocking up.  5 stars with a drink till 2030 window.  Salut….

Quinta da Foz Reserva