Author Archives: caspernick

Arraigo Benegas Estate Wine Cabernet Franc 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

12 Tuesday Dec 2023

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Deep purple colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of blueberry pie, with vanilla and baking spices really prominent.  Acai berry and black plum support alongside bell pepper and mint.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (-) tannins.  A medium body shows off ripe blue fruit, vanilla, spices and a hint of greeness.  The finish is a little bit tart with the blueberry tending to slightly underripe which is interesting.  The length is short to medium and very pleasant.  I like this somewhat basic wine for what it is- a $20 weekday quaffer.  It gets 87 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Benjamin Darnault Domaine De Montahuc Vin Doux Naturel 2019, Saint Jean de Minervois, France

11 Monday Dec 2023

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Pale lemon colored with high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose of this dessert wine has intense aromas of honey, orange marmalade, bruised red apple, a hint of apricot and a touch of vanilla bean. The palate is sweet with medium (+) acidity and a full body.  The wine starts out bitter right off the bat, the astringency is akin to candied grapefruit pith.  The marmalade and honey notes come along with some vanilla and red apple.  The mid palate is where the wine settles down and the honey, marmalade and apricot come to the forefront.  The finish is long and sweet, syrupy and delicious.  I think it needs a bit of air TBH.  Right now, it gets 88 points from me but it could improve with some time.  Cellaring capacity is probably good- say till 2030.  I paid $19 for a 500 ml bottle, making it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

Anton Bauer Gruner Veltliner Ried Gmirk 2021, Wagram, Austria

11 Monday Dec 2023

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Pale platinum lemon colored with a watery sheen (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of wool, white pepper, lemon zest, grapefruit pith, saline and petrichor.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a light body.  The pepper and wool notes resonate right away followed by the citrus peel, pith and zest.  Wet stone is prevalent on the mid palate with a touch of bitterness.  The back end is tart with citrus and carries on for a medium finish that is quite refreshing.  I’m baking some lemon/ butter Barramundi and rice to pair, should work quite well.  Drink this light and lively number till 2025.  89 points from me for this $17 bottle makes it a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Clos St. Thomas ‘Chateau St. Thomas’ Rouge 2015, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

10 Sunday Dec 2023

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Deep garnet colored with moderate staining on the walls and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of baking spices with ripe blackberry, cassis, black plum, vanilla, coffee, menthol and mulberry preserves.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are slightly chalky.  The wine is full bodied and I get medium (+) intensity flavors of ripe black berries, finely integrated oak nuance and tertiary development.  The vanilla, baking spices, coffee and menthol are the supporting characters to the blackberry, mulberry and cassis notes.  The finish is long and delicious.  One of my favorite wineries that continues to overdeliver wines that have excellent aging capacity and bring much pleasure.  I would go with 93 points for this $30 wine that gets 5 stars.  Drink this Cab Sav, Merlot and Syrah blend till 2035.  Salut….

Sam Plunkett The Halo Effect Late Harvest Viognier 2020, Strathbogie Ranges, Australia

09 Saturday Dec 2023

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Pale gold with high viscosity (10.3% ABV) due to the residual sugar.  The nose of this dessert wine has medium (+) intensity aromas of oaky vanilla, apricot, blossom, peach, and more oak.  The palate is sweet with high acidity and a full body.  There is a touch of astringency from the lengthy oak contact which is interesting.  A heavy cloak of oak hangs over the more subtle apricot, honey, peach and orange blossom flavors.  If you are a fan of Cali chards that are oak dominated then this sweet wine is right up your alley.  I’m infatuated with this bottle, it’s very interesting and will go well with our pear tart and a dollop of vanilla ice cream.  At $15 for a 500 ml bottle this 92 pointer gets 5 stars.  I would love to have more to track the evolution, which may well last till 2035.  Salut….

Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir 2014, Franschhoek Valley, South Africa

09 Saturday Dec 2023

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Medium garnet colored with a watery sheen (13.5% ABV).  The nose of this aged Pinot has medium (+) intensity aromas of dried cherry, baking spice, earthy forest floor, dried mushroom, vanilla bean, blueberry (?), desiccated cranberry and a woodsy note reminiscent of wet tree bark.  It’s certainly developing nicely.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (-) tannins.  A lightweight body allows the seductive nature of this varietal to shine.  Whilst the nose was very complex, the palate is not as prominent.  I get dried/stewed red cherry, cranberry and strawberry along with some earthy funk and oak influence. The baking spice is not as pronounced, nor is the vanilla.  The wine finishes medium in length with some tartness but no trace of any tannins. It is at or just past peak, drink up.  I’m pairing it with roast Pork shoulder and au gratin potatoes.  It would rock a Cornish game hen nicely as well.  For $57, it’s a treat wine that gets 90 points from me and 3 stars.  Salut….

Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Cabernet Franc 2021, Maipo Valley, Chile

06 Wednesday Dec 2023

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Deep purple colored with slight staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has  medium intensity aromas of candied black cherry, blackberry, coffee, violets, vanilla and eucalyptus- it’s quite perfumed.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky.  A full body on this wine brings flavors of toasty oak interlaced with blackberry, black cherry, violets, vanilla and coffee.  The finish is satiny and medium in length.  I picked this bottle to pair with Steak au Poivre- it’s the perfect choice.  I think this is a 91 point wine even thought the label clearly boasts a 93 point award.  For $17, it’s a 5 star bottle to drink till 2028.  Salut….

Tesoro de Bullas Monastrell 2019, Bullas, Spain

05 Tuesday Dec 2023

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Deep, dark ruby with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Monastrell aka Mourvèdre, aka Mataro has medium (+) intensity aromas of game, violets, black cherry, pine needles, blackberry tart and black currants.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins.  A full body carries the ripe dark berries and gamy notes.  I get a touch of the floral violets but no pine needles.  It finishes medium (-) in length but has a nice closing.  It’s a pretty nice presentation of this grape varietal that is normally blended as in ‘GSM’.  I like it and think it’s worthy of 90 points.   For $14 it gets 5 stars.  I’m pairing it with roasted Duck and gratin potatoes.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Precision Wine Company Method Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, California

03 Sunday Dec 2023

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Medium ruby colored with heavy staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, mint, eucalyptus, coconut, cocoa and cedar.  On the palate I get medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are fine grained to go along with a full body.  The ripeness of the dark berries is coupled with oak influence, licorice, mint and eucalyptus along with some dusty mocha.  It’s a really rich and fulfilling mouth feel that makes me reach for the glass.  The finish is medium in length and shows off this wine’s great balance.  Delicious stuff that gets 93 points from me.  I’m smoking a leg of lamb to pair with this 85/15 Cab Sav/Petite Sirah blend.  Cellar-wise drink this $25 wine till 2030.  It gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Cheap Bastard Basement Red NV, Lodi, California

28 Tuesday Nov 2023

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A friend of mine brought this over as a Thanksgiving gag wine.  Turned out, he was right on the money….

Deep purple colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of candied red cherry, raspberry and pomegranate. Dry with medium (+) acidity and low tannins this wine has a medium (-) body.  The label says to expect spicy ripe dark fruit- instead I’m getting some tart notes of underripe red fruit and perhaps some manipulation in the cellar.  This wine has no finish and is a major pass at 75 points.  I ended up using it in a braise with Oxtails, it did okay in that role.  $6 still makes it a 1 star effort.  Salut….