Author Archives: caspernick

Dolce Late Harvest Wine 2012, Napa Valley, California

21 Tuesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


I was a bit apprehensive when the cork snapped in two, hoping I could get the rest out without further ado.  I was lucky, just one floating bit.  You can never trust the provenance of a State liquor store bottle btw.  Having said that, this dessert wine is medium gold in color with very viscous legs in the glass.  The nose has pronounced aromas of apricot marmalade, honey, vanilla nib, candied lemon peel, creme caramel, peach pie and dried hazelnuts.  The longer it sits there the more tantalizing the nose gets.  The palate is sweet, as expected from this late-harvest and botrytized blend of Semillon and Sauvignon. Blanc.  There is some great acidity here that balances out the sugar perfectly leaving me with a very slippery wine with amazing mouthfeel that just transcends the palate from front to back with such ease.  The weight of this wine is sublime, full-bodied yet light and airy.  The finish is long and just a tad juicy from the acidity.  The whole package is amazing- worthy of 98 points that the pros at W.E. gave it.  For 375ml expect to pay $75.  A stunning 5 star wine that I will be serving with Blue Cheese and crackers after dinner.  Salut….

Hubert Meyer Riesling Winzenberg 2018, Alsace Grand Cru, France

20 Monday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


The thing that annoys me about Riesling is that most labels don’t tell you if it’s going to be dry, off-dry or sweet.  Deductive reasoning tells me this bottle is going to be dry due to it’s 13.5% ABV.  A very pretty medium lemon color in the glass with pronounced aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit pith, petrol, geranium and ripe pear.  It tastes dry as expected with very high acidity and a delicious cut of lemon/grapefruit.  The ripe pear note is more a green pear note on the palate but I do get florals and petrol.  I can sense the alcohol if I breath out through my nose, which is unusual for me as my threshold is pretty high to sense the burn.  I would say this wine is medium bodied and it has a juicy, tart finish that is medium in length.  It begs for Asian dishes or a grilled seafood platter.  I like it but think it will develop over time.  Right now it is really zesty with just a few primary flavors.  It should flesh out and develop with time as it has great structure for cellaring.  92 points from me for this $60 bottle makes it a 4 star effort.  Salut….

William Gordon Winery Petite Sirah 2015, Alexander Valley, California

19 Sunday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I love Petite Sirah, it’s one of my go-to varietals and this winery has been pivotal in my conversion to the grape.  They have changed the label but I hope the contents are as good as the 2013/4.  Inky purple in the glass it has very glossy, thick legs showing off the 14% ABV.  The nose has a heavy-handed charred oak whiff right off the bat.  Once that subsided I get very ripe plum, dark black raspberry, coconut, clove,  blueberry pie and vanilla bean.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) tannins, full body and rich, ripe black fruit flavors intertwined with luscious oak nuance.  The charred oak note is prevalent in that department but I do get some vanilla and coconut.  This is a rich wine that has layers of interesting fruit that show off California sunshine.  The finish is medium in length and the really fine-grained yet hefty tannins leave my jaw tingling.  Lovely stuff that gets 93 points from me and for $36 it’s a 5 star effort to pair with big steaks or hearty stews.  I bought several bottles and plan to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas ‘Les Souteyrades Vieilles Vignes’ 2019, Rhone, France

18 Saturday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


I drank the 2017 Les Souteyrades back in October, served with Tri-tip roast, and loved it.  Tonight is a repeat with this newer vintage.  Medium ruby colored in the glass it offers up medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, black cherry, licorice, spicy oak, dried thyme and bacon fat.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins, a medium (+) body and delicious flavors of raspberry, black cherry, spice, toasted oak and licorice. The finish is long and a touch astringent from the tannins that are very smooth, of medium intensity yet persistent.  I like this $35 blend of Grenache and Mourvedre a lot , like 94 points worth.  I would drink/cellar this 5 star effort till 2032 at the least, it will develop nicely.  Salut….

Cave Dog Albarino 2019, Napa Valley, California

17 Friday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


A New World Albariño, I’m excited!  Medium lemon colored, it has fast moving legs belying its modest 13% ABV.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of pineapple, lemon zest, bruised apple, geranium and baking spice.  On the palate it is dry, really dry, with high acidity and a tart opener.  Lemon, underripe pineapple, green apple and spice.  There is a piercing minerality on the mid palate that I am really enjoying.  The body is fairly light whilst the finish is medium in length and refreshing with the cut I got initially.  A nicely crafted wine that gets 90 points from me and 4 stars for it’s $37 sticker price.  I am pairing it with Thai beef salad and some Szechuan fried veggies.  Drink now.  Salut….

Clarendon Hills Romas Grenache 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia

16 Thursday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium/deep ruby to garnet colored, this 11 year old Grenache is playing tricks on my old eyes.  The nose has generous aromas of rich red raspberry, red licorice, coconut, rooibos tea, dried herbs, menthol and black cherry.  The palate is dry with crispy tannins that coat my upper gums.  Low acidity and medium to full bodied, this delicious wine has ripe flavors of red and black fruit with red licorice, cocoa powder, menthol, rooibos tea, dusty bramble, leather and that garrigue I got on the nose.  I’m generally impervious to the alcohol level as I find it difficult to ascertain but this one does have a bit of heat on the back end (14.5% ABV).  The finish is medium plus in length with the tannins fading faster than the fruit.  I pretty much love everything that comes out of this winery- this bottle is no exception.  The alcohol detracts a bit but I think it is well made and delicious, worthy of 93 points from me. It runs  upwards of $70 per bottle making it a 5 star treat wine to drink till 2027.  I think it will develop more tertiary notes by then and be even better.  Roast game, grilled lamb leg or even Moroccan tagine.  Much better than the previous tasting of this wine.  Salut….

Herencia Altes La Peluda 2016, Terra Alta, Spain

15 Wednesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I had to look up the varietal- Garnaxa Peluda.  It literally translates into “hairy Grenache”, a variant of the workhorse grape that develops a thin film layer on the underside of the leaves to protect the vine from transpiration in a warm climate.  This particularly offering is medium garnet colored and has slow moving legs confirming a high ABV (15%).  The nose has pronounced aromas of red raspberry, garigue, ripe black cherry, menthol, vanilla, coffee, popcorn? and bramble.  I’m surprised I did not get tertiary notes from aging as this wine is already 6 years old.  The palate is dry with grippy tannins and medium (+) acidity.  The body is medium in weight and I get nice flavors of raspberry, black cherry, some charred oak, coffee and vanilla.  I lost the popcorn and menthol along the way.  The tannins really take over on the finish, leaving my mouth covered in a black tea component.  The flavors last a decent length even when masked by the tannins.  The mouthfeel is a little rough, the astringency being a little out of balance for me.  I would need to throw a juicy, fatty steak at this wine, which is probably what it was made for.  I give this 91 points and think it should cellar for a little longer.  For $15 it’s a steal btw that gets 5 stars.  Be patient with this blockbuster as it needs to meld a touch more.  Salut….

Domaine Ste. Michelle ‘Michelle’ Brut NV, Columbia Valley, Washington

14 Tuesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


It’s mid-June and I need a refreshing drink.  This one is labelled as a Brut, meaning it can have up to 12 g/l of sugar.  After a bit of digging I found it runs 6.3 g/l, just slightly into the Brut category.  It shows 11.5% ABV, which is normal for a traditional method sparkling wine.  The color is medium lemon and the mousse is quite fine.  On the nose I get aromas of brioche, Meyer lemon zest, cinnamon, toast, biscuit, Mandarin orange and vanilla lollipop.  The palate is actually quite dry with delightfully fine bubbles that tickle ever so slightly.  Medium acidity creates a defining cut to the wine and the autolytic flavors I got on the nose are all present with the citrusy notes focusing more on a lemon and Meyer lemon profile with a touch of green apple.  I don’t get any vanilla or cinnamon at this stage.  The finish is medium in length and the wine is very balanced.  I have to say, this $12 sparkling wine is a stunning value that gets 89 points from me.  This 5 star effort is one to buy by the case to have handy, you never know!  I’m pairing mine with clams and pasta.  Drink now.  Salut….

El Coto ‘Coto de Imaz’ Gran Reserva 2015, Rioja DOCa, Spain

13 Monday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I have drunk gallons of this wine, from several vintages.  Always a great experience, especially at $27 per bottle.  This is the youngest version I have tried thus far and it looks promising with deep ruby/purple shades in the glass and really thick, slow moving legs on the rim giving away the 14.5% ABV.  Intense aromas of black and red fruit, leather, dust, coconut, vanilla, coffee bean-stunning and fresh.  The palate is dry with rich flavors of blackberry, cassis, red raspberry, leather, tobacco, vanilla, coffee and bramble.  Rioja wines are very rustic IMO.  I love that dusty, earthy character which this one delivers.  The acidity is quite high and the tannins are integrated and of medium intensity.  The body is full for sure and the finish is medium in length.  Another delicious wine that gets 93 points from me and 5 stars.  This Tempranillo will last a while in cellar and drink beautifully until 2030 at the earliest.  I would pair it with tapas, grilled beef or lamb and definitely a peppercorn steak.  Salut….

Weis Vineyards Semi-Dry Riesling 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

13 Monday Jun 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Medium lemon color. On the nose I get pineapple, pink grapefruit, Meyer lemon zest, nutmeg and honey.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity, medium body and fresh fruit flavors of pineapple, lemon and grapefruit with some zingy minerality, finishing with  some honeysuckle.  The finish is medium (+) long with a fresh cut from juicy acidity.  The fruit flavors linger nicely. It’s is a delicious wine that has some residual sugar but is not cloying.  A 12% ABV is indicative of its sweetness level.  This refreshing wine will go well poolside or served up with a chilled salad topped with steamed prawns or grilled octopus.  Drink till 2028.  92 points for this $20 beauty makes it a 5 star summer wine to drink till 2027.  Salut….