• About Caspernick
  • Star Ratings
  • The Master tasting list

Caspernick's Blog

~ My personal wine tasting notes

Caspernick's Blog

Tag Archives: 3 stars

Bodega Valduero Reserva 1995, Ribera Del Duero, Spain

23 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$42, 3 stars, 88 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo


An interesting shade of garnet with copper highlights, and medium viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of prune, baked blackberry, leather, tobacco, dried herb, thick black coffee, orange peel, and black currant syrup.  The palate is dry, with medium (-) acidity, a medium (-) body, and low tannins that have fully melded.  The initial taste is somewhat tart and bitter, not delicious at all.  I work my way through the different stages and it shows aged fruit that is still holding on, barely, along with tertiary development.  It ends on a slightly bitter note that is short in length.  The more it sits and opens up, the better it gets.  The bitterness has started to subside and the tartness is somewhat expected from an Old World wine, especially one from the late ’90’s when grapes were not as ripe (hence the 12.5 % alcohol).  It’s starting to perform as I had hoped, keeping in mind that the cork was compromised and failed when using the Ah-so to gently open the bottle.  I paid $42 for this Tempranillo, which would warrant an 88 point rating as it has no life left.  If you come across one, check the capsule for leakage and if possible, the cork for any trace of failure.  3 stars.  Salut….

bodega valduero reserva

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Like Loading...

Black Box Pinot Noir NV, California

21 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$4, 3 stars, 83 points, california, pinot noir


Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of black cherry, baking spice, strawberry coulis, and some toasted oak.  It’s not overly complex, but typical for the variety.  The palate is slightly off-dry, with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and low tannins.  Medium (-) intensity flavors of cherry, strawberry, baking spice, and chocolate powder lead to a medium (-) length finish.  There are times I would attribute sweetness to ripe fruit, but I somehow doubt this to be the case here.  I originally wanted to purchase this box, yes box wine, to use in cooking Coq Au Vin but I forgot my drivers license and had to come home empty handed, opting to pour a bottle of Bojo into the recipe instead.  Either way, I decided to try this box, on sale for $18 (that’s 4 bottles of wine inside!).  It’s a very serviceable weekday quaffer if you can deal with the residual sugar.   Alternatively- a very reasonably priced cooking red that will go nicely in any braise you could imagine, or even a gravy reduction.  In fact, that’s next, Sunday roast with a red wine sauce.  83 points is the best I can go, but for the price- 3 stars!  Drink immediately.  Salut….

black box pinot noir

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Like Loading...

Yamhill Valley Vineyards Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2017, McMinnville, Oregon

18 Tuesday Nov 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$60, 3 stars, 90 points, mcminnville, oregon, pinot noir


Pale garnet colored, with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red cherry, strawberry coulis, straw, red currant, cherry cola, and a hint of plumcot. It’s New World in nature, lacking any funk, but not candied.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins that are fine grained.  The red fruit dominates the medium (+) intensity flavor profile with some earthy dry vegetal notes and a touch of cola.  The finish is medium in length and refreshingly tart.  This is a very tasty wine, albeit somewhat one dimensional, but it’s going to go well with baked Salmon.  It gets 90 points from me and for the $60 price point- 3 stars.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Yamhill Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Like Loading...

Zephaniah Farm Vineyard Rose 2023, Loudoun County, Virginia

01 Saturday Nov 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$32, 3 stars, 88 points, chambourcin, Loudoun County, rose, virginia


Pale salmon colored with medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of strawberry, lemon pith, tangerine, lanolin, white blossom, and papaya.  The palate is dry with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of strawberry and lemon pith, with some tangerine and white blossom notes.  The wine is bracing and the finish runs medium (-) in length but the acidity goes on for days.  It’s ‘refreshing’.  I’m pairing it with Cajun Shrimp and Andouille- should work out perfectly.  88 points from this Chamborcin based rosé which runs $32 ex-chateaux making it a 3 star wine to drink over the next few years.  Salut….

Zephaniah Farm Vineyard Rose

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Like Loading...

Monchiero Langhe Nebbiolo 2022, Piedmont, Italy

12 Sunday Oct 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$24, 3 stars, 87 points, Italy, langhe, nebbiolo, Piedmont


Pale ruby colored with copper highlights, and medium (-) viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red cherries, green herbs, orange peel, rose, and tobacco.  It needs coaxing.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) body, and high tannins.  The flavors are slightly more intense than the nose, yet there is a one-dimensional aspect along with some bitterness.  The tannins grip for ages, but the astringent feeling is midpalate driven and fades before the tannins.  It’s not my favorite.  The finish is medium in length and concentrates on red cherry and herbs.  I am planning on pairing it with roasted tenderloin, it should work okay as I have a Rösti on the side that might tame the tannins.  87 points from me for this $24 effort makes it a 3 star wine.  I would cellar a bottle or two and re-taste in 3-5 years.  Salut….

Monchiero Langhe Nebbiolo

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Like Loading...

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carré 2022, Rhone Valley, France

29 Monday Sep 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$25, 3 stars, 89 points, france, grenache, rhone valley, southern rhone, syrah


Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, and a medium (+) viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of smoke, bacon, black cherry, black raspberry, garigue, and wet stone.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins.  The flavors are more pronounced than the nose but the dark, brooding fruit is there as are the smoldering notes.  Licorice appears and there’s a slightly gamy profile thanks to the Syrah (45%) that is tempered by Grenache at 55%.  The finish is a bit astringent, which is actually enticing.  The length is medium (-).  It’s a fun, food centric wine that might be a touch ascerbic if drunk alone.  89 points from me, with a drink by window till 2030.  At $25, it gets 3 stars.  I am pairing it with roasted Shoulder Filet and Harissa potatoes.  Salut….

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Vacqueyras Mas Carré

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Like Loading...

Ravines Wine Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Finger Lakes, New York

25 Thursday Sep 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$17, 3 stars, 88 points, finger lakes, New York, Sauvignon blanc


Pale straw colored with lowish viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of cut grass, lemon/lime soda, passion fruit, papaya, and cut green herbs.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  The flavors are medium in intensity and mirror the nose ending with a medium length finish.  There’s nothing too exciting going on, it’s a subtle approach to Sauvignon Blanc.  I am pairing it with Lobster Scampi, I think the acidity will go nicely with the buttery garlic.  88 points from me for this $17 effort makes it a 3 star wine to enjoy in the short term.  Salut….

Ravines Wine Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Like Loading...

ZD Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, California

21 Sunday Sep 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$257, 3 stars, 92 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, napa cabernet, napa valley


I’m a little concerned about this bottle, the cork is showing signs of seepage, but here goes.  Deep ruby colored, slight staining, and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of blackberry coulis, vanilla, baking spice, black plum reduction, a hint of eucalyptus, toasted oak, cedar lined cigar box, acai berry, a trace of toasted coconut, and a touch of cassis.  There’s obvious ripeness in this Napa Cabernet- the sun was definitely shining!  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins- but there’s also a definitive sourness to the wine.  Is it seepage from the cork?  The fruit is slightly muted, but still showing ripeness and structure.  The tannins smooth out nicely and the finish is long with dark fruit dominating, yet there’s something slightly out of balance.  For such a rich and ripe wine, the tartness is quite obvious.  I wonder if the bottle is flawed?  Tertiary development is forthcoming as the primary fruit is still the driving force, I would imagine a long lived wine if stored correctly and a cork that was intact.  I can only go 92 points on this award winning wine which runs $257 ex-chateau.  3 stars- pairing with grilled tri-tip.  Salut….

ZD Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Like Loading...

Il Borgo Collinare Nero d’Avola 2023, Sicily, Italy

06 Wednesday Aug 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$8, 3 stars, 85 points, Italy, nero d'avola, sicily


Medium ruby colored, with a hint of staining, and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red currant, blood orange, white cherry, cinnamon-driven spice box, a hint of licorice, and pomegranate.  I can almost smell the acidity.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that are hitting on the upper cheeks.  Medium intensity flavors of red fruit, some spicebox and a hint of blood orange peel.  The finish is a zesty affair with the acidity firing on all cylinders.  It finishes a medium (-) length without much fanfare.  It’s a basic, everyday bottle that runs $8 and gets 85 points from me.  Drink sooner rather than later, this 3 star effort is made from organic grapes.  Salut….

il borgo collinare nero d'avola

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Like Loading...

Domaine Durieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reserve Lucile Avril 2020, Rhone, France

09 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$45, 3 stars, 90 points, Chateauneuf-du-pape, france, grenache, mourvedre, southern rhone, syrah, VWTC


The closer at the 40th virtual wine tasting was this CDP.  Medium ruby colored with a high viscosity (15.5% ABV).  The group found medium intensity aromas of black cherry, bramble berry, funk, blackberry, leather, green leaf and a benzene note.  On the palate it was dry, with medium (-) acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  Flavorwise- it was syrupy with black raspberry, bramble berry, overstepped black tea and black cherry.  Slightly astringent, it finished long.  It was not my favorite by a long shot and only garnered 15 points out of a possible 20 on our tasting sheet but technically speaking- this $45 effort got 90 points making it a 3 star wine.  It has some cellaring capacity even though it’s currently open for business. My buddy gave it a perfect score but then again he was pretty cheery by the close and loves Southern Rhone wines in general.  A blend of 80% grenache, 10% syrah and 10% mourvedre.  Salut….

Domaine Durieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reserve Lucile Avril

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
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 199 other subscribers
Follow Caspernick's Blog on WordPress.com

Archives

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Caspernick's Blog
    • Join 187 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Caspernick's Blog
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d