Author Archives: caspernick

Pikes Hills & Valleys Riesling 2019, Clare Valley, Australia

20 Wednesday Apr 2022

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My WSET tasting group was tasked with presenting notes on this Aussie Riesling.  It was pale lemon in the glass and we found the nose to have medium (+) intensity aromas of lemon, lime, mandarin, grapefruit, blossom, wet stones and that tell-tale petrol note.  The wine is considered youthful at this stage.  The palate was off-dry with medium (+) acidity, low alcohol (9.5% ABV), medium (-) body with medium intensity flavors of the above aromas.  We thought it fell off a bit on the palate versus the nose.  Ending with a medium finish we thought this $18 effort was of very good quality and could be drunk now with suitability to age as well.  If you like an off-dry Riesling that has already developed petrol notes (which I do), then this is for you.  Members of the class questioned a food pairing and one lady said Thai food- I concur.  91 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

2001 Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, France

18 Monday Apr 2022

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Back in 2003 I bought 3 cases of this wine and have steadily been drinking it on occasions like birthdays and Christmas.  This week I will be opening two bottles, this one and then another with my wine class in celebration of another year on earth.

I’m shocked at the color of this 21 year old- medium ruby, with a touch of bricking.  I could call it garnet but it still shows youth in the glass.  The nose is stunningly mature yet still gives off aromas of some primary fruit.  Blackberry, cassis, leather, tobacco, mint, rose water, black plum, vanilla- the list could go on.  It is so complex and earthy.  The palate is dry with quite a tannic grip on the forefront.  Medium (+) acidity makes for a sour note on the initial attack.  As the wine warms on the tongue I get all the primary, secondary and tertiary flavors I picked out on the nose with a helping of sour cherry to keep it sharp.  The wine is medium (+) bodied and is a comfortable 13% ABV.  The finish is medium (+) in length and tapers to mainly tertiary flavors, the fruit running out of steam early.  The sourness and acidity make it a mouthwatering wine that begs to be drunk.  This is by far my favorite label.  I paid $60 back in the day for one bottle that now runs $200.  I would says it is at peak and has another 3-5 years left.  It deserves more than the 90 points it got originally.  I would say it is a 92 pointer and I have to go with 5 stars.  Pairings would include any manner of meat, cooked in pretty much any style.  Love this stuff.  Salut….

Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2017, Rhone, France

17 Sunday Apr 2022

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I’ve been on a big Grenache kick lately and bought several different offerings from this producer whom I’ve tried before.  This one is medium ruby colored and has some nice red fruit and meaty aromas.  Raspberry, black cherry, bacon, lavender, red plum, red licorice and sweet cedar.  The palate is dry and tannic upfront.  Great acidity balances the well integrated tannic component and the flavors are delicious.  Red fruit, Ceylon tea, game, florals and oak nuance all mingle together.  The mid palate has a slight astringency akin to tea meets charred oak and mineral slate.  The finish is quite long for this full bodied wine that needs a bit of time to flesh out methinks.  I think it will be a great wine in a few years but right now it turned a bit angular on me.  I’m going with 90 points for now on this $32 blend that has some Mourvedre in it.  4 stars with a drink between 2024-2030 window.  Salut….

Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Sonoma County, California

15 Friday Apr 2022

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This one stumped me in a WSET blind tasting.  We were going to be discussing Spain and Portugal so I was convinced that the red wine had to be from the region but when I put this deep ruby colored wine up to my nose I was greeted by a very familiar set of smells.  Medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, red plum, cinnamon, blackberry, cedar and vanilla made me think this complex wine was a Tempranillo.  The palate was dry with medium (+) tannins, medium (+) acidity, high alcohol, medium (+) body and medium intensity flavors of the aforementioned, albeit slightly less intense on the palate.  This gave way to a medium length finish that had me grade this wine as very good, suitable to be drunk now or aged some more.  In reality, I had just predisposed myself to thinking I was drinking one varietal when in fact it was a Sonoma Cab I was sipping!  Looking back- this wine gets 91 points and for $55 it is a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Folonari Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2020, Veneto, Italy

15 Friday Apr 2022

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The first of two blind-tasted wines for my WSET course was this Pinot Grigio- I guessed Chardonnay but was corrected with a comment that indicated it had some lees aging which could have contributed to the conclusion I made.

It was pale lemon colored and had a medium (+) intensity nose of lemon, lime, green apple, pear, blossom and brioche (which was questioned by the instructor and a note was made to indicate possible lees aging).  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, medium alcohol, medium body and medium intensity flavors of the above- with a medium (-) length finish I thought this wine was of good quality but should be drunk now.  Overall- 90 points and for $7 it’s a steal for the summer time.  5 stars so stock up.  Salut….

La Crema Pinot Noir 2019, Willamette Valley, Oregon,

15 Friday Apr 2022

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This bottle was assigned to my WSET tasting group- an interesting one as this producer is big in Cali, not so well known for Oregon Pinot.  It shows a pale ruby in the glass and has medium intensity aromas of red cherry, red currant, red plum, cinnamon and coconut- it was considered youthful.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol and medium (-) body.  We matched the flavors with the aromas and thought they were slightly less intense, leading to a medium (-) finish.  At $32, this is what we considered an acceptable wine with a drink now window.  Overall I would rate it 88 points and 3 stars if that.  Think chilled Salmon on a bed of Boston bib or perhaps a thin sirloin flash grilled.  Salut….

Valli Gibbston Vineyards Pinot Noir 2018, Gibbston, New Zealand

14 Thursday Apr 2022

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Pale ruby with perhaps a touch of garnet.  The nose has got just what I looking for- pronounced aromas of earth, forest floor, red cherry, baking spice, black currant leaf, red plum, clove- very complex, almost Burgundian.  On the palate it is stunning- dry with very juicy acidity and medium tannins this wine has an upfront push of sour cherry followed by the earthy, forest floor component alongside other red fruits.  Baking spice hits on the mid palate and I get oak nuance from the get go.  This is quite full bodied and rich with flavor that finishes nicely with a sour note from cherries and cranberry.  The overall length of the finish is medium.  The balance of this wine is en pointe and the composure makes me want to keep sipping.  This $45 Pinot Noir got some pretty monster scores- I have to agree and go with 93 points.  I will be drinking the other three bottles over a 5 year period and watching the evolution.  Pairings could consist of  Duck l’Orange, Filet Mignon with Au Gratin or even Grilled white meats.  5 stars for this beauty.  Salut….

Luminous Hills Estate Grown Pinot Noir 2015, Yamhill-Carlton District, Oregon

13 Wednesday Apr 2022

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This Pinot Noir is pale ruby, bordering on garnet which is commensurate with its 7 years of age.    The nose has quite pronounced aromas of red and black cherry, baking spice, cranberry, rooibos tea, orange peel, strawberry compote and a touch of heat.  The palate is dry with very rich flavors of cherry (red and black), stewed red fruit and the other notes I mentioned.  Medium bodied, it has lithe, integrated tannins and medium (+) acidity.  The mouthfeel is great with the richness of the fruit balancing the acidity whilst the tannins give a touch of dryness.  The alcohol is not an issue at this point.  The finish is relatively short but packed with fruit.  I really like this wine- it drinks so easily and delivers lots of red fruit with a bunch of secondary and tertiary notes.  For $35 it is a very good Oregonian Pinot that shows off some New World fruit-forward notes alongside some Old World elegance and tertiary notes from aging.  92 points and 5 stars.  Drink till 2028 with some grilled poultry or a slab of charred Mackerel.  Salut….

Katnook Founder’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Coonawarra, Australia

13 Wednesday Apr 2022

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This was a wine we tasted at my WSET class.  I brought the dregs home for another look-see as the wine had some very powerful aromas and flavors that I wanted to get my head around.  Starting off it had some sediment in the bottle which is normal for an 8 year old bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.  In the glass it shows that age by way of a deep garnet hue.  The nose has pronounced aromas of eucalyptus, blackberry, coffee, black plum, blueberry compote, vanilla, mint, leather and tobacco.  It certainly is complex and showing some age as well as lingering youth.  The palate is dry with juicy acidity and a great tannic structure.  The rich fruit flavors are present coupled with oak nuance and tertiary notes but the coffee, mint and eucalyptus are the stars here.  Medium (+) bodied, this wine is very balanced and the mouthfeel is fabulous- a touch dry here and there with some juiciness to keep your palate alive.  The finish is quite a lengthy affair with black and blueberry fruit notes swirling with the tannin and acid- a nice way to end for this delightful wine.  I am impressed by this $25 effort that gets 92 points.  It needs to be drunk fairly soon- say by 2026 and gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Folk and Fable Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, California

08 Friday Apr 2022

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This medium purple colored wine has got a fruity, medium intensity nose.  I get aromas of black plum, blackberry, vanilla, blueberry jam and charcoal.  The palate has a sweetness from the Bourbon barrel- that delicious caramel, smoke, vanilla combo that melds nicely with the jammy black and blue fruit.  Medium tannins and medium acidity create a nice mouthfeel in this medium (+) bodied wine.  The finish has got loads of rich fruit and oak nuance and is short to medium in length.  This is not an overly complex wine, yet it adds a new dimension with the oak usage that makes it easy to enjoy and pair with many meat dishes, pasta, pizza and even burgers on the grill.  For $30 it is an elegant offering that gets 90 point from me and 4 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….