• About Caspernick
  • Star Ratings
  • The Master tasting list

Caspernick's Blog

~ My personal wine tasting notes

Caspernick's Blog

Tag Archives: 1 star

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT 2015, Veneto, Italy

28 Monday Sep 2020

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$17, 1 star, 85 points, corvina, Italy, rondinella, veneto, VWTC


This was the last wine in tasting #9 of the Virtual Wine Tasting Company.  It’s a blend of Corvina and Rondinella with 30% of the fruit undergoing a drying process prior to vinification.  This style of winemaking is very prevalent in Amarone wines so I was intrigued to try this vino.  It’s quite dark and thick in the glass, which is what I was expecting.  On the nose it is quite horrendous IMHO.  Asphalt, baby diaper, cat box, cat pee and tea were all notes from the group. On day 2, it’s pretty much the same for me.  The palate is plummy, surprisingly light, spicy and has notes of blackberry, pepper and is a touch spicy.  On the mid palate it gets a black tea note and some dusty tannins.  The wine finishes a touch dry and has some plums eking out the funky notes for a last minute stand.  The finish lasts a good 30 seconds but is not very pleasant.  85 points from me, perhaps this bottle is not right either?  At $17, it gets 1 star.  Salut….

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Abremundos ‘Octava Alta’ 2014, Uco Valley, Argentina

28 Monday Sep 2020

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$35, 1 star, 86 points, Argentina, Malbec, Uco Valley


This wine was all over the shop with the group at the #9 virtual wine tasting.  Some loved it, others hated.  It’s an 80/20 Malbec/Cab Franc blend from Argentina.  It is a very dark shade of purple in the glass.  The nose is chock full of cigar box, smoke, Port wine, tar and oak.  The fruit finally appears after a big swirl- black cherry and Welch’s Grape juice.  There is a concerning acetone whiff, not a good sign.  On the palate it is very rich and upfront with pepper, bitter chocolate, black plum and violet.  That medicinal/tarry note that I am associating with the acetone is bothering me.  The wine finishes with a touch of tannin and some oak influence.  This is not my fave- I think it may have flaws and only gets 86 points from me.  For $35 it only gets 1 star.  Salut….

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou ‘La Croix de Beaucaillou’ 2010, Saint-Julien, France

05 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$75, 1 star, 86 points, bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, france, merlot, saint julien


It’s inky, brooding, opaque and shows fine legs in the glass.  On the nose I get graphite, plums, oaky vanilla and cedar.  On the palate there are black currants, green plums, black tea and dry tannins.  The mid palate is very astringent with more tea, strange tannins, some black fruit and not much acidity.  I’m not enjoying this wine very much, too off-balance and way too dry without fruit to back it up.  The finish is very dark and austere- over-steeped tea, some plums and a woodsy note.  The grip of the tannins hold on for a while but the fruit fades quickly.  Overall a disappointing wine from a great Bordeaux vintage.  86 points from me, the pros went much higher but I don’t see it.  It may mellow out in the near future.  Drink till 2025.  For $75 it gets  1 star and a pass from yours truly.  Salut….

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Bodegas Nekeas Vega Sindoa Merlot 2018, Navarra, Spain

27 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$12, 1 star, 83 points, merlot, spain, splash wines


The third SplashWine in the lineup is a Merlot from Spain.  It’s a dull shade of purple and nearly see through.  On the nose I get cherry, raspberry and oregano.  On the initial palate it is somewhat sweet with cherry juice, more red fruit melange and tart acid.  The mid palate is not so sweet and the proper flavors come around.  Raspberries and sour cherry are more like it.  The wine finishes quickly, with some red fruit, crunchy tartness and a trace of tannins.  83 points from me and 1 star for this $12 wine.  Salut….

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

La Croix-Barton 2015, Bordeaux, France

20 Thursday Jun 2019

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

1 star, 84 points, bordeaux, france


Pale purple and seethrough in the glass.  The nose is black kirsch and charcoal.  On the palate it has a definitive woodsy note that opens up the initial palate.  Black berries appear alongside rooibos tea, but it’s a little thin.  On the midpalate I get some juicy acidity alongside some dark fruits.  The finish has some tannic bite, albeit slightly green.  Overall I’m quite disappointed in this vintage.  84 points and 1 star for this $15 wine, a major pass I’m afraid.  Salut….

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Cap Royal Bordeaux Superieur 2015, France

18 Thursday Oct 2018

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

$15, 1 star, 83 points, bordeaux, bordeaux superier


Light to medium density in the glass.  A lighter shade of purple that offers up plum, star anise and a stony minerality on the nose.  On the palate, it is somewhat sour and lacking in upfront fruit.  I have to coax some dark fruits, mainly plum out of the midpalate.  There is a herbaceous component that disjoints the wine coupled with volatile tannins.  The lack of fruit bothers me somewhat.  The overpowering dryness is quite dominant making this wine not very pleasant nor technically very good.  83 points- a pass of 1 star, save the $15.  Salut….

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Mission Estate Winery Merlot 2014, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

22 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$18, 1 star, 85 points, merlot, new zealand


Dark but opaque purple.  Nose has flavors of raspberry, oak and nutmeg.  On the palate, somewhat tannic and dry on the initial taste with red berries and an astringency that is somewhat overpowering.  The tannins continue the dryness onto the mid palate where I get some black cherry notes, but just barely.  The finish is one dimensional.  For me this wine is unbalanced and lacking fruit.  It could be in a dumb phase.  Right now I’m thinking 85 points and for the $18 I paid it is a pass and 1 star.  It’s a shame as I really enjoyed the 2014 Mission Cabernet Merlot blend which I gave 89 points to.  Salut…

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Quinta do Vallado Tinto 2013, Douro, Portugal

30 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$14, 1 star, 83 points, Douro, portugal


I really look forward to Portuguese wines.  I normally find them to be full of flavor, with good structure and interesting profiles.  This one was on sale for $14 and relied heavily on past vintage points awarded.  It starts off very promising with a rich deep purple in the glass.  Nose of bramble, blackberry and earth.  The palate is initially a little light for me.  Black cherry, more blackberry but that’s about it.  The mid palate is one dimensional, offering a dusty blackberry note and not much else.  The finish is slightly dry with some tannins finally appearing.  This wine is too thin for me, not extracted enough and lacks any long term cellaring.  I don’t think it is a repeat purchase.  83 points and 1 star from me.  Salut….

vallado douru

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Laleure-Piot Les Tuvilains 2009

01 Friday May 2015

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

1 star, 85 points, Beaune, burgundy


If you read my first tasting note on this Beaune Premiere Cru you will recall that I hated it, giving it 80 points and 1 star.  I have a few more in the cellar and pulled one out for a comparative tasting after two more years of cellaring.  Not much has changed, unfortunately. I did some research and I must say I am confused.  It scored 91 points on average by peers on cellar tracker.  Vivino peeps gave it a good write up yet I can’t get my head around the muted nose of rhubarb and cherry pie which is too tart still with little fruit depth. Red currants and cinnamon finally showed up. I was kinder this time with 85 points, but that is generous.  A major 1 star pass for the money.  Salut….

IMG_2465

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Magistrate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

20 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$13, 1 star, 83 points, cabernet sauvignon, Cali cab, california, cheap and nasty wine


This wine rounded out our trio of Sunday Cabs-with-Football.  I recognized the label right away when my friend poured us a taste.  I wrote my notes based on this bottle and just now looked up the previous vintage that I tasted.  Yup, I hated the Magistrate 2011 just as much as I disliked this offering.  Sorry, but candied plums and oak again make me realize that there are far too many nasty wines out there that are merely juice with oak chips and tannin powder.  This one in particular had a slightly lighter body with purple fruits and wild flowers with slight tannins and a hint of acidity.  83 points and 1 star.  Major pass, yet again for this $13 bottle.  Salut….

magistrate cabernet sauvignon

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

RSS Me!

RSS Feed

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 265 other followers

Follow Caspernick's Blog on WordPress.com

Archives

Blogs I Follow

  • L'OCCASION
  • Charles Rose Wines
  • K&T Wine Notes
  • The Wine Wankers
  • Darren Brogden
  • Whine And Cheers For Wine
  • the drunken cyclist
  • Wine Star Services
  • The Armchair Sommelier
  • Red Wine Diva
  • The Fabulous Voluptuary
  • The Bubbly Professor
  • The Slant
  • Pound Grape.
  • The Wine Lab
  • From Vinho Verde to Barolo with Love
  • The World through My Glass!
  • grapefriend
  • Talk-A-Vino
  • Wine Visuals

Blog at WordPress.com.

L'OCCASION

Charles Rose Wines

Passionate about beautiful wines, spirits and gifts.

K&T Wine Notes

Kristina and Tony's personal wine notes

The Wine Wankers

G’day, you’re at the best wine blog ever! We're all about wine; without the wankery.

Darren Brogden

Words, wise or otherwise, about wine

Whine And Cheers For Wine

The Wine Experience and everything that comes along with it.

the drunken cyclist

I have three passions: wine, cycling, travel, family, and math.

Wine Star Services

The Armchair Sommelier

Kirsten Georgi, DipWSET, CSW

Red Wine Diva

It's a Wine Life: Musings and Tastings

The Fabulous Voluptuary

vo·lup·tu·ar·y noun: a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit and enjoyment of luxury and pleasure.

The Bubbly Professor

Excellent Adventures in Wine and Spirits Education

The Slant

running & wine...the perfect pairing

Pound Grape.

.....all about wine.

The Wine Lab

Smile! You’re on the coolest wine blog ever.

From Vinho Verde to Barolo with Love

Life reflected in wine

The World through My Glass!

Red, White and Sparkling!

grapefriend

grapefriend. wine. fun.

Talk-A-Vino

Wine, food and life

Wine Visuals

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: