Author Archives: caspernick

Jumble Sale Merlot 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington

29 Friday Apr 2022

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Deep ruby colored, this Merlot shows off its 15% ABV with thick legs in the glass.  The nose has rich aromas of ripe raspberry, black cherry, vanilla, caramel and red licorice.  The palate is dry with slightly green tannins, medium acidity and medium intensity flavors.  The body is medium (+) on this juicy wine.  The mid palate is a touch astringent that also shows some charcoal notes.  The finish is dry and somewhat tart, reminiscent of sour cherries and black tea.  It’s a decent drop that gets 89 points from me.  I would imagine this will drink till 2025 and pair well with grilled meats and charcuterie.  $22 makes this a 3 star wine in my books.  Salut….

Saxon Brown Fighting Brothers Zinfandel 2015, Sonoma Valley, California

27 Wednesday Apr 2022

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Medium ruby colored- this 14.7% ABV Zin has got thick, globby legs in the glass.  The nose has pronounced aromas of stewed blackberry, prunes, blueberry compote, walnuts, vanilla, cedar and spice box.  I like the tertiary notes of this developing wine. The palate is dry and fully bodied with well integrated tannins and juicy acidity.  The flavors are delicious and pronounced as I swirl the nectar around my mouth, sucking air in to boost the flavors.  The finish has a touch of heat on it but still shows lovely fruit flavors for a medium length finish.  The alcohol is a bit of an unbalanced distraction that will cost a point or two.  This $40 wine gets 91 points and 4 stars from me.  It is really good all by itself but may pair well with grilled Picanha steaks or roasted duck with a cherry reduction.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Brokenwood Oakey Creek Semillon 2009, Hunter Valley, Australia

27 Wednesday Apr 2022

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At my weekly WSET class we were tasked with the notes on this Semillon.  It was medium lemon colored although there may have been a tendency toward gold IMO.  The nose was of medium (+) intensity but fell off quickly.  We got aromas of beeswax, toast, flint, tangerine, grapefruit, white blossom and ripe pear.  I thought this developing wine was quite complex albeit not yet showing the big tertiary notes associated with the Hunter Valley.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity- a good thing for helping age these graceful wines.  Medium (+) body coupled with medium alcohol and medium (+) intensity flavors of the above.  The citrus stood out on the mid palate and long finish.  We though this wine was of Very Good Quality and could do with further aging.  Overall I feel this is potentially a 91 point wine and for $30 it gets 4 stars.  The pros went as high as 94 but I don’t see it.  Salut….

Negretti Barolo DOCG 2017, Piedmont, Italy

25 Monday Apr 2022

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Bordering on medium garnet- Nebbiolo typically shows this color even when but a few years old.  The nose gives off charming aromas of red cherry, dried herbs, cranberry, coffee, a touch of tar and some violet.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium (+) tannins.  A full body and luscious flavors of red fruit, some sour cherry and the nuances of oak, tar and floral violets.  The finish is purely sour cherry, tannins and juicy acidity with some smooth yet powerful tannins.  It is medium in length and balanced.  For a young Barolo it is drinking nicely already and will mature over time to give tertiary notes hopefully.  90 points from me and for $36 it gets 4 stars.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Tomfoolery Son Of A Gun Cabernet Sauvignon – Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, Australia

23 Saturday Apr 2022

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Every so often I shop the bin-ends at my local wine shop, some are hits whilst others are a waste of time and money.  This blend of Cab Sav and Shiraz ran me $20.  It is showing a bit of age- medium garnet in color.  The nose is still fresh however with primal aromas of blackberry, mint, black pepper, ripe blueberry jam, cloves, cedar and vanilla.  The palate is dry with resolved and silky tannins, high acidity, medium to full body and flavors of black and blue fruit, menthol, spicy black pepper and oak by way of vanilla and cedar.  The finish is medium in length and leans on the mint/menthol as well as the blackberry fruit.  It’s a tasty drop that is at peak now and will need to be drunk by 2024 if you have some.  Pairing tonight with grilled steaks and salad.  90 points from me make this a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, McLaren Vale, Australia

22 Friday Apr 2022

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This wine is opaque with a garnet hue.  The nose is classic Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon- Blackberry, black currants, mint, eucalyptus, coffee, blueberry compote, açaí berry, bilberry and vanilla.  A very inviting and complex nose to say the least.  On the palate it is gorgeous.  Ripe tannins and medium (+) acidity coat the black and blue fruit notes with emphasis on blueberry compote.  The richness of the fruit and the oak influence make for a full bodied wine that has pronounced flavors.  The minty component is delicious.  The finish of this wine is quite long and very balanced as is the whole package.  I am enjoying this immensely.  It gets 93 points from me and for $30 it’s a 5 star effort to be drunk till 2027.  We are pairing it with Bavette steak.  Salut….

Doble de Diez Mencia 2018, Spain

21 Thursday Apr 2022

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This Mencia varietal is medium garnet in the glass with interesting aromas starting with vanilla and dill.  I get fruit-driven cherry, pomegranate and cranberry with secondary notes of cinnamon and smoke.  The palate is lightweight for sure- it’s very easy to drink with medium (+) acidity, gentle tannins and medium intensity flavors of red fruit.  The vanilla and green note taper off quickly but I do get the smoke and spice.  The finish is short lived but very yummy with tannins that just fade away.  This wine is begging to be drunk- it is so smooth and the lower than usual alcohol (12.7 ABV) makes it possible.  We are pairing it with meatballs in Boom Boom sauce on a bed of shredded veggies.  Drink this 90 point wine till 2024.  It retails for $20 and gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Marlborough, New Zealand

21 Thursday Apr 2022

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We drank this Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc at my WSET wine course and I recognized the name and bottle.  Looking it up I realize that Moxie and I had drunk some of the 2012 Spy Valley on a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to Bali back in 2013.

This one is medium lemon colored with pronounced aromas of cut grass, asparagus, passion fruit, lemon, blossom and grapefruit.  It is still youthful.  Dry with high acidity I got medium (+) flavors of this medium bodied wine.  Medium alcohol and a long finish with a juicy ending.  Rating it 92 points and 5 stars cause you can grab some for $15.  Drink with a crisp salad, a light pasta or even grilled trout. I would  enjoy this wine till 2025. Salut….

Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012, Rhone, France

20 Wednesday Apr 2022

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It’s my birthday so this treat got pulled to go along with char-grilled New York Strip steaks.  At 10 years of age it is still deep ruby colored with no signs of bricking.  The nose is intense with gorgeous aromas of ripe raspberry, red licorice, violets, red plums, vanilla, garigue, coffee and black cherry- it is amazingly complex and the smells are making my mouth water.  The palate is dry, slightly tannic and delicious.  Super smooth and full bodied, this blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah presents a mouthful of flavors and great structure from the medium firm tannins that are integrating nicely along with medium (+) acidity.  The finish is quite long and tends toward red and sour cherry with raspberry supporting.  The tannins are fine grained on the back end and caress my gums ever so.  A beautiful wine that is in youth right now and will drink well till 2030 at the least.  94 points for this silky smooth $100 offering makes it a 5 star wine to be opened at special occasions.  Salut….

Weingut St. Urbans-Hof Nik Weis Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Kabinett 2017, Mosel, Germany

20 Wednesday Apr 2022

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Tasted blind for practice at my WSET class, this Riesling was pale gold in the glass.  Medium (+) intensity nose with aromas of ginger, honey, tangerine, lemon, lanolin and wet stone.  I made a note that it was developing ‘nicely’.  The palate was off-dry with high acidity, low alcohol and a full body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echoed the nose and the wine finished with a decent medium (+) finish.  I thought this was an ‘Outstanding’ wine based on the WSET criteria and feel it could be drunk now or aged some more.  I really liked it and for $17 this 90 pointer gets 5 stars.  Spicy Asian dishes come to mind.  Salut….