Author Archives: caspernick

Alpha Estate Single Vineyard Turtles Malagouzia 2021, Amyndaio, Greece

28 Friday Jun 2024

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Pale lemon with some green tint and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of pineapple, tangerine, melon, papaya, lanolin, crisp white pear and peach.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of white pear, peach, melon, papaya and mixed citrus make for a delightful flavor bouquet.  The finish is crisp, clean, and mouthwatering.  It last 10-15 seconds and makes me reach for another sip.  Delicious and showing complexity, this wine is a treat that I will pair with oysters.  It gets 91 points from me and for $22 it’s a 5 star wine to stock up on.   Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Buil & Gine ‘Gine Gine’ 2020, Priorat DOCa, Spain

27 Thursday Jun 2024

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Deep purple/garnet with some haze, minor staining and high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe black cherry, black raspberry, licorice, slate, menthol, baking spices, brambleberry and is very primal at this stage.  The palate is  dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins, bordering on high.  Rich, ripe dark cherry, raspberry and brambleberry resonate right off the bat.  I get nuance of licorice as was on the nose and also some menthol and dried herbs.  The slate/iron note is somehow absent.  The fruit is very much in charge here but the tannins kick it up on the mid-palate.  The finish is a touch dry and quite long.  This Grenache based wine has aging capacity and should soften with tertiary development till 2032.  I am going with 90 points and for $21, this is a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Ballatore Cellars Gran Spumante NV, California

22 Saturday Jun 2024

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Pale to medium lemon/golden colored with big bubbles and low viscosity (8% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of yellow apple, melon, grapefruit pith, honeysuckle, apricot and peach. On the palate it is semi sweet with medium acidity, a nice mousse and light bodied. Flavors of pineapple, peach, melon, apple, grapefruit, and honeysuckle. The finish is delightful with some sweet notes and good vibrancy from the acidity and the mousse. It lasts short to medium and begs for another sip. The provenance of this particular bottle is actually quite poor yet it has survived years of abuse and neglect in somebody’s garage. I’m quite impressed and give it 86 points.  At $10 a go, this cheery sparkler gets 5 stars- we are pairing it with Vietnamese rolls tonight.  Salut….

Boutari Agiorgitiko 2021, Nemea HQ, Greece

21 Friday Jun 2024

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity  aromas of black cherry, earth, licorice, bramble berry, caramel, blackcurrant, baking spice, cracked black pepper and singed alder.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body and medium (+) tannins that are quite astringent.  Flavors of black cherry, bramble berry, black currant, caramel and licorice dominate with some charred wood and black pepper notes alongside baking spices.  The finish is medium in length and the astringency disappears, leaving some generous fruit notes.  It all balances out in the end after the dry opening that was a bit disjointed.  I like this super dry wine and will be pairing it with grilled Sirloins.  89 points from me for this $18 effort makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2029.  Salut….

Domane Wachau – Freie Weingartner Bruck Riesling Federspiel 2021, Wachau, Austria

11 Tuesday Jun 2024

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Pale lemon colored with medium viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of petrol, white blossom, lime pith, lemon zest, grapefruit, peach and crunchy yellow apple.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Crisp flavors of lemon zest, grapefruit, white peach, petrol, flint and melon.  The finish is zesty and refreshing with nice cut and medium length flavors that caress.  It’s a delicious and lithe expression of Riesling that I have chilled nicely to pair with baked Salmon and Tortellini salad.  92 points from me for this $38 effort makes it 5 star wine to drink till 2035.  It should evolve nicely.  Salut….

Mary Taylor ‘Annamaria Sala’ Sicilia 2022, Sicily, Italy

06 Thursday Jun 2024

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Deep purple colored with some staining and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose of this Nero d’Avola has medium intensity aromas of game, black plum, cracked pepper, purple licorice, violets, charred oak and blueberry compote.  It’s very uplifting and quite floral once past the initial waft of gaminess.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium body and medium tannins that tickle the front of my tongue.  Flavors of black cherry, black plum and ripe blueberry with somewhat muted florals and oak.  The bitterness I get on the mid palate is noticeable yet enjoyable.  The finish is medium (-) in length and trends toward earth and bitterness.  The game note I got on the nose never showed.  I like this $19 effort and think it gets 89 points which makes it a 4 star wine to drink till 2028.  My pairing tonight is cast iron steaks with baked yams and roasted asparagus.  Salut….

Chateau Guiraud ‘Le G de Chateau Guiraud’ Blanc Sec 2022, Bordeaux, France

31 Friday May 2024

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Pale lemon colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose of this Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend is intense. Aromas of lemon, lime, cut grass, nectarine, cat pee, tangerine zest, lanolin and orange blossom.  It’s full on and stunning.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body with some phenolic bitterness.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of lemon, tangerine, nectarine, cut grass, lanolin, orange blossom and green herbs.  The finish is long in length and mouthwatering from the acidity- lovely and cutting.  I loved this wine when tasted at the chateau prior to release and am ecstatic that I scored a case recently.  It should develop over the next few years but I may not have the patience.  93 points from me and for $19- 5 stars.  Salut….

 

Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli 2022, Getariako Txakolina, Spain

26 Sunday May 2024

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Pale lemon with gold highlights, some spritz and low viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose of this Hondarabbi Zuri has medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, lanolin, seaweed, saline, white grapefruit, lemon pith, brioche and peach.  The palate is off-dry with an ever-so-soft hint of effervescence to go along with a light body and high acidity.  Citrus, sea breeze, minerality and a touch of peach round out the very refreshing flavors that linger on a medium finish, making me want to sip more. The Brioche I smelled is very feint on the palate and is a result of some Sur-lie aging. It’s a delicious summer sipper and at a relatively low 12 % alcohol, it’s easy going.  I was planning to pair with Alfredo, good thing there’s shrimp going in as well plus the Caeser salad.  Anything heavier would not work, this wine needs lighter fare and perhaps something from the sea.  90 points from me for this $19 effort makes it a 5 star stunner to buy in bulk- summer is here.  Salut….

Kourtaki Mavrodaphne of Patras NV, Peloponnese, Greece

24 Friday May 2024

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity (15% ABV), which is expected.  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of prune, baked strawberry, walnut, raisins, soaked oak, (wafting alcohol, burning my nostrils!) and dried herbs.  The palate is sweet with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium tannins.  Flavors of stewed and baked plums, strawberry and blueberry with walnuts, raisins and old oak.  The finish is long, held that way by the potent alcohol yet nicely balanced with acidity and a a touch of tannic grip.  I love dessert wines so this one is a treat to savor after our grilled steaks with blue cheese sauce.  Drink this non-vintage wine on purchase. It gets 87 points from me and for $13, 3 stars. Salut….

Tsantali Naoussa 2018, Macedonia, Greece

21 Tuesday May 2024

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Pale to medium garnet with copper highlights and low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of brambleberry, red plum, cloves, coffee, mint, coconut shavings, cedar.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins that fade fast.  Flavors are medium in intensity and give me red fruit, some oak integration with cedar, cloves, coffee and mint but the coconut I thought I smelled is not present.  The finish is pleasant and medium in length with the tannins surprisingly tickling under my tongue.  I like this fun Xinomavro and will be pairing it with grilled lamb chops, middle eastern rice and pickles.  88 points and for $18, it gets 3 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….