Author Archives: caspernick

Masciarelli Marina Cvetic S. Martino Rosso 2016, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy

01 Friday Oct 2021

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Tonight I am preparing stuffed shells on a bed of Kale with meatballs on the side- the classic Italian dish that this varietal was made for.  It’s a bit murky in the glass and semi opaque.  The nose is brimming with red fruit, rose, violets, walnut and cedar.  There might be a hint of tea in there as well.  The palate is dry, acidic and carries some medium tannins.  The red currants, red cherry, raspberry and pomegranate notes are all there along with the florals and oak notes.  It’s quite tart on the back end but that’s what I was hoping for.  It’s labelled Reserva, which means nothing officially but it’s a way the producer tries to identify a superior product in this region.  I did a bit of research following my tasting- it’s interesting that three different pros described three different fruit profiles.  One said red fruit, one said blue and the last stated black.  Either way, it got decent scores and I would agree with the 91 pointer.  For $25, it’s a good Friday-with-Pasta wine that gets 5 stars from me.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Clos de los Siete by Michel Rolland 2018, Vista Flores, Argentina

01 Friday Oct 2021

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If you read much about winemaking the name Michel Rolland will no doubt come up, several times.  He’s a consultant oenologist who works with hundred of clients worldwide.  At a steak house in Quebec they offered this blend of 55% Malbec, 19% Merlot, 10% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot , 2% Cabernet Franc.  It normally retails for $16 and garnered high marks from the pros so I had to try it.

Inky with rich aromas of blackberry, black currants, mint, charred wood and licorice.  Full bodied with rich flavors and medium tannins.  Gentle acidity makes for great mouthfeel. 92 points.  Till 2028

Those were my tableside notes- very brief but you get the idea (I did not want to detract from the conversation to write details!). Drink this 5 star gem with steaks all day long- the pairing is magical.  Salut….

Chateau Haut Monplaisir 2018, Cahors, France

01 Friday Oct 2021

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We went to Montreal recently and dined at a Middle Eastern restaurant that featured lots of Lamb dishes.  I selected this Malbec for its fruitiness but I was really hoping for a tannic wine to help cut the usually fatty cut of a Lamb shoulder cooked in the Tagine.  In Cahors, Malbec is known as the “Black Wine”.  It did not disappoint- Dark hued, opaque and brooding in the glass.  Black currant jam, oak, charcoal, funk and garrigue all hit me on the nose and palate where I got medium acidity and medium plus tannins.  Fresh and dry with a medium length finish of dried herbs, black licorice and jammy fruit- this 89 point wine get 4 stars from me.  You can find it for $17.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

 

 

Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Muscadelle NV, Rutherglen, Australia

30 Thursday Sep 2021

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I’m delving into the unknown with this one.  I have never tried a Muscadelle, but I have heard about it in my wine course.  In an effort to expand my palate I went looking for one of these and boy is it a rich amber color.  It looked syrupy when I was pouring it and the legs are just a watery sheen on the glass which is surprising considering this sweet dessert wine weighs in at 18.5% ABV.  The nose is interesting- some oxidation with stewed fruit and nuts, almost peanuts…  On the palate it is very thick and rich with aromatic fruit.  Pecans, honey, tangerine peel, burnt sugar, dried apricots, medicinal- think lemon and honey cough drops.  It is unctuous and sweet for sure but there is a bitterness too.  The acidity is medium and the finish is also medium in length.  To say it is full bodied would be an understatement, but the mouthfeel is great.  I am liking this intro to the style yet miss a botrytized white, that’s more down my sweet wine alley.  This bottle will eventually get finished, unlike a good Sauternes which won’t last but a few short hours.  Not knowing what to score this $15/375ML offering, I will defer to the pros who gave it 91 points.  5 stars, drink with dessert!  Salut…

Bodega Quo Grenache 2012, Campo de Borja, Spain

29 Wednesday Sep 2021

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I have been getting into Grenache more and more lately so when this bottle showed up with 9 years of cellaring- I had to try it.  In the glass it is of medium opacity and still bright ruby.  The nose has earthy Spanish dirt alongside blackberry, blackcurrant, vanilla, bramble, dried herbs and eucalyptus.  The palate is gorgeous.  The richness and freshness of the black fruit is amazing.  The earthiness is somewhat subdued, allowing the fruit to shine.  Lithe tannins and medium acidity make for a lighter than expected body but the mouthfeel is great.  The finish is short but makes me reach for more, it’s that delicious.  My pairing is Lamb chops and roasted sweet potatoes.  This wine has plenty of age but is youthful.  Drink till 2028 and for $12, this 90 point wine is a 5 star winner.  Salut….

Domaine Baptiste Boutes Minervois 2016, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

28 Tuesday Sep 2021

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I must admit- I shop the bin ends and any closeouts.  I have found some great bargains but more importantly, aged wine that someone else has fronted for and held on to so I can swoop in and get it at its prime.  So I had to chuckle when I finally red the label on this 2016 vintage blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.  It says “to be kept between one and two years of age’.  Whoops!

In the glass it’s a medium intensity ruby in color with watery legs.  On the nose- it still smells fresh!  Red currants, raspberry, blueberry, red plum and licorice.  The palate is delightful- medium acidity, lithe tannins and good expression of red fruit, a hint of oak and some black licorice.  I get a tea component on the mid palate and the finish is medium in length with charred oak, red fruit and stewed red plum. The structure is holding on and will allow this wine to be enjoyed for another few years, perhaps with Cassoulet, braised meats or a roast duck dish- it needs a rustic pairing.  89 points from me and at $14 it’s worth buying if you bump into it- 4 stars.  Salut….

David Akiyoshi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Clarksburg, California

27 Monday Sep 2021

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I just fired up the Big Green Egg to char some Picahna steaks- they will need a bold, tannic wine so I picked this young Cab Sav.  It’s pretty opaque in the glass and shows watery legs, which makes sense for a 13.5% ABV wine.  The nose has nice aromas of red plum, black plum, black currants, spice box, cedar and chocolate nibs.  The palate is very smooth, with lithe tannins and juicy acidity- I was hoping for a more dry and tannic wine but the acidity will have to suffice in cutting the fat from the steaks.  The fruit is very evident with red and black notes mingling with the cedar and spices.  It has a touch of sweetness from the ripeness of the berries but I doubt it has any residual sugar- akin to a light preserve/jam.  The tannins are very svelte on the medium length finish which is still chock full of fruit, I really like it!  Overall this is a good wine that will drink nicely till 2024 with Filet, roast Cornish Hens or even a pasta dish.  89 points from me make this $13 effort a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Bodegas Manzanos Voche Reserva 2013, Rioja DOCa, Spain

23 Thursday Sep 2021

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I find Spanish wine to be the most consistent.  You always know what to expect and you know it will taste great- it’s my go-to in a pinch.  This particular bottle is short and squat, unlike any other wine bottle I have seen so I had to try it.  The wine is semi opaque and a nice shade of ruby.  On the nose it’s a medium intensity with aromas of stewed black plum, graphite, blackberry and that earthy/dusty quality I love in Riojas. The palate is dry and offers up rich blackberry, black plum, dust, charred wood and chocolate.  The tannins are grippy and the acidity is quite lithe.  I get black tea and earthy bramble on the mid plate and the finish is a dry affair with medium length.  Overall its a decent wine that I would cellar for another year or two unless you like them tannic.  It should drink well after that till 2028.  I’m pairing mine with Honey Bourbon London Broil.  90 points for this $40 wine makes it a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Ixsir Altitudes Rouge 2016, Batroun, Lebanon

22 Wednesday Sep 2021

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It’s Middle Eastern cuisine tonight so I pulled out this Lebanese blend of 35% Cab Sav, 26% Caladoc (?), 22% Syrah and 17% Tempranillo.  Interesting varietals all mixed together.  The wine itself is semi opaque in the glass and has medium intensity aromas of red currants, raspberry, blackberry and cloves.  The palate is dry but has a blackberry jam sweetness to it, I doubt there’s any residual sugar here, it just tastes that way.  The black and red fruit components are well balanced with the lithe tannins and medium acidity.  There is a black tea hint on the mid-palate and I also get charcoal on the back end.  The finish is mid length and tasty.  There is a medium weight body to this wine and good mouthfeel.  I am enjoying it and think it’s a 90 pointer that gets 5 stars for the reasonable $15 price point.  Drink till 2025 with grilled meats aka shish kebab!  Salut….

Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley, Australia

21 Tuesday Sep 2021

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I’ve been a fan of this winery for many years.  In fact I have written about several wines from them and each one got a glowing review.  I just realized that this bottling  is named after the founder’s daughter who is but 3 days older than my youngest son, Jet.  This vintage runs a little less ABV than previous, 14.2%.  In the glass it is deep purple and showing youth rather than maturity.  The nose is very pronounced with aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant and white pepper.  There’s oak for sure, it’s just seamless and presents itself in vanilla and perhaps some chocolate notes.  As I swirl the flavor profile shifts towards blue fruit- think blueberry and plum.  There is a sweetness to this wine that might manifest into a jammy component on the palate- let’s see.

On the initial attack I get blueberry cobbler, vanilla, grippy tannins, juicy acidity and ever so slight jamminess.  It’s not overly thick like some Aussie Shirtaz-bombs can be, more subtle.  I get a distinct smoky note which is actually not playing well into my aspirations, it’s a bit disjointed.  The mid palate is quite dry and the finish is definitely where the tannins are showing up.  It’s quite a long affair with plenty of fruit flavors, but the grip is very present.  I like it.  This wine will pair well with my char-grilled strip steak and Chorizo sausages.  I think it drinks nicely now and will continue to evolve and get better with time.  Cellar or drink till 2028 for this 91 point wine that gets 4 stars for it’s $55 entry fee.  Salut….