Tag Archives: 4 stars

Famiglia Cotarella Falesco Vitiano Rosso Italia 2018, Italy

15 Tuesday Feb 2022

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It’s labeled as a Rosso Italia which means there is no rules the winemaker had to play by as far as varietals, blending, aging etc.  It’s the way it should be if you ask me- let the winemaker make the choices, not hamstrung by Byzantine Old World rules.

It is a deep claret color with medium intensity aromas of red cherry, blackcurrant, ripe plum, baking spice and a touch of charcoal.  The palate is dry and grippy with upfront, somewhat green tannins.  Medium (-) acidity, medium body and short finish.  The flavors are much more focused on blackcurrant and cherry, with a hint of spice and oak influence peeking out from behind the tannic veil.  The astringency is a little much to be honest, this is either a very young wine, or just out of balance.  At $12 per bottle it is a handy blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cab Sav that get 88 point from me.  Drink this 4 star wine with meaty dishes or hearty pasta till 2025.  Salut….

Dr. Konstantin Frank Hilda Chardonnay 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

09 Wednesday Feb 2022

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This Finger Lakes Chardonnay is a very pale shade of lemon in the glass.  The nose is an explosion of aromas- lemon, grapefruit, tangerine spritz, candle wax, honeysuckle and orange blossom.  It is very clean and precise.  The palate is dry with bracing acidity and tons of citrus and floral notes.  The focus is on lemon and tangerine but I also get a hint of green apple and quince.  The cutting acidity is very refreshing so is the lack of any Malolactic fermentation.  This Chardonnay is made in a much leaner style than some of the flabby, buttery ones from out West.  Medium to full bodied, it has great structure and balance that leads to a medium length finish.  I drank it at the winery and reviewed it very casually- giving it 91 points which is the same figure here.  $35 makes it a 4 star wine that I will be pairing Salmon with.  Drink over the next few years with seafood or white meat.  You can read my write-up at https://caspernick.com/2022/01/15/dr-konstantin-frank-winery-tasting/ Salut….

Alpha Estate Hedgehog Vineyard Xinomavro 2018, Amyndeo, Greece

06 Sunday Feb 2022

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Our third wine of the evening (virtual wine tasting) was this Xinomavro from Greece.  Having never tried this varietal everyone was on an even keel starting out with some loving it and others hating it.

Reminiscent of Pinot or Nebbiolo this wine is see-through and has a beautiful shade of ruby in the glass.  It’s a vegetal wine with earthy tones on the nose alongside syrupy anise, white pepper, rhubarb, tomato and BBQ sauce (I know…..just go with it).

The palate is dry with high levels of tannin, medium acidity, medium body and a medium length finish.  Tart cherries are the flavor of the day- this wine was loaded with sourness which was off-putting to some.  Rhubarb, another tart component, was present as was cranberry.  See where I’m going here?  A touch earthy there was perhaps a bit of licorice as well.  This wine was revered by the New Jersey peeps, and poo-pooed by the Maryland crowd.  Technically speaking I gave it 90 points and feel it is worthy of a re-taste tonight after it has had some air.  For $23 you too can explore this Greek varietal and let us know your thoughts.  4 stars, with a drinking window till 2027.  Salut….

Matias Riccitelli Vineyard Selection Vinedo de Montana Cabernet Franc 2018,Mendoza, Argentina

04 Friday Feb 2022

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This Argentinian wine is deep, deep purple- like opaque and brooding in the glass.  The nose starts off with a vegetal note- green peppers, asparagus, grass.  I manage to coax blackberry, iodine, ripe blueberry and smoke with some vigorous swirling.  The palate is bone dry with pretty gritty tannins, medium acidity, full body and a mid length finish.  The fruit flavors start with black and blue berries and then some green veggies and black licorice, opposite order from the nose.  The oak influence is less noticeable on the palate but I still get a touch.  Iodine and an iron-like note kick in on the mid to back end.  This wine would pair beautifully with a juicy steak and some fried batatas.  It will cellar nicely till 2030 and gets 91 points from me.  The pros all went 94, which is stretch in my book.  At $40, it gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Tinazzi Poggio ai Santi Le Guardie 2019, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy

26 Wednesday Jan 2022

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Pasta for dinner means an Italian wine but I’m afraid this one might be a touch young.  Made from Montepulciano grapes it is medium opacity with garnet hues.  The nose is medium (-) in intensity and gives me aromas of red licorice, cherry, smoke, nutmeg, red plum and cherry cola.  The palate is not what I was expecting- much more approachable.  Dry, with medium (-) tannins, juicy acidity and medium weight body.  The flavors are medium intensity with notes of cherry, cola, strawberry, nutmeg, and a hint of red plum.  I don’t get the smoke component any more.  The tartness of the cherry is evident on the finish, which is relatively short.  I like this wine as a basic, no frills red that will serve the pairing well.  It gets 88 points from me and for the entry-level price of $11 it is worthy of 4 stars.  Keep a few on hand for a weekday spaghetti night.  Drink now.  Salut….

Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Gewurztraminer 2020, Finger Lakes, New York UPDATED

19 Wednesday Jan 2022

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Another Finger Lakes wine to try from our recent trip- this one is a Dry Gewürztraminer which I am pairing with Beer-Can Chicken….  but I am a little concerned.  The cork was funky, looked very wet and there was some schmutz inside the neck.  I ran the first glass through a filter and here goes nothing:

Medium lemon color in the glass.  The nose is somewhat muted, surprising for the varietal but not for this particular bottle.  I do get some citrus, hazelnuts, bread and a hint of the telltale lychee.  The palate is better.  Medium intensity flavors of tangerine, lemon, lychee, rose, geranium and no sign of the bread or nuts.  Light to medium bodied it has gentle acidity and a medium length finish.  I love the varietal, but this bottle might be suffering.  Luckily I have another one nearby.  I’ll give it a try in the near future.  For now this $25 wine gets 86 points and 2 stars.  Hopefully it will improve on the next go.  Salut….

 

UPDATE

I wrote to the the winery to let them know I had an issue and they promptly refunded me the cost of the bottle.  Tonight- I taste the second bottle.

It has evidence of being frozen, with crystalized deposits in the neck.  The appearance is fine otherwise.  The nose shows much better than the previous bottle.  Medium intensity aromas of geranium, lemon, tangerine, rose and lychee that are crisp.  The palate is dry from a residual sugar standpoint but the varietal always has a certain sweetness to it that I love.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of the aforementioned citrus and floral notes, with less emphasis on the lychee.  Shame, as I look forward to that component in Gewürztraminer.  Medium bodied it has great mouthfeel for a wine of low acidity.  The finish is decent in length and concentrates on the flowery flavors versus the citrus.  It is drinking far better than the flawed bottle and gets a respectable 89 points from me making it a 4 star effort.  Bravo for pulling it together!  Salut….

Dr. Konstantin Frank Muscat Ottonel 2020, Finger Lakes, New York

18 Tuesday Jan 2022

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Next up in my series on Finger Lakes wines is another aromatic varietal- Muscat Ottonel.  This one is a deep lemon color in the glass and rings in at 11.5% ABV.  The nose has pretty florals, lychee, sea salt and lemon/lime spritz.  On the palate it is off-dry with a hint of sweetness and plenty of body.  The tropical fruit coats my mouth and the aromatics are powerful.  This wine is weighty with medium (-) acidity and a long finish.  It is delicious and unique.  I decided to pair it with English Bangers and Mash with onion gravy.  I do believe it will work well- as would a Cobb salad, perhaps Lobster Thermidor or even roasted Cornish Hens.  It reminds me of last night’s Gewürztraminer but with less acidity, less minerality but more body and fruit.  89 points for this $20 wine makes it a 4 star effort.  Drink now.  Salut….

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Fay Hillside’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Napa Valley, California

16 Sunday Jan 2022

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We went over to Keef and Arty’s for a Christmas Tree unravelling party the other night.  It’s a lot more fun taking it down when there are others to help and some alcohol to boot!  This bottle has been cellared nicely for many years and it was drinking en pointe.

Opaque dark ruby.  Cassis, chocolate powder, blackberry compote, earthy dust, charcoal, rich blueberry, vanilla.  Very smooth with fully resolved tannins, medium (+) acidity and a lovely mouthfeel.  Medium bodied with a good length finish that has a mineral streak alongside the rich fruit flavors.  This wine is at peak, and needs to be drunk sooner rather than later.  Lovely stuff that’s hard to put down.  92 points and 4 stars for this treat that runs $150 new.  Salut….

Boutari Nemea 2017, Peloponnese, Greece

15 Saturday Jan 2022

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I’m cooking Lamb Chops with olive oil, lemon, garlic and other sundry Mediterranean spices so I figured a Greek wine would pair nicely.  I have never tried Agiorgitiko before and am looking forward to this pale ruby colored wine that carries a relatively light 13% ABV.  The nose has some interesting spices- nutmeg, crushed black pepper and cinnamon.  Red fruit notes from pomegranate, red plum and black cherry try to compete for space but the spices dominate.  Some oak is present but very faint.  On the palate this wine has sweet fruit and the obvious spices.  It’s a dry wine (ie. no residual sugar) that has really smooth, integrated tannins that balance nicely with juicy acidity.  Medium (-) body and a svelte finish that is medium in length makes for a delightful mouthfeel.  If this is what the varietal is like I am thinking of many possible pairings.  Not a blockbuster but well made and enjoyable in the near term.  Drink with grilled meat, rich pasta dishes or some charcuterie.  89 points and for $15- 4 stars.  Salut….

Ricitos de Oro Black Garnacha & White Garnacha 2013, Navarra, Spain

03 Monday Jan 2022

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Semi opaque ruby in the glass- this is a blend of black and white Grenache (Garnacha).  The nose is a bit tart with red currants, sour red cherry and raspberry.  Orange peel (oak influence) and pomegranate also come to mind.  There is a leathery component but it is faint.  The palate is very unique.  First off, it is dry ie. not sweet, and has some lithe tannins.  Medium acidity and medium weight body carry the red fruit flavors to a decent length finish.  I totally get the orange peel on the palate alongside what I could best describe as strawberry soda pop.  It tastes almost sweet but there is no residual sugar here.  It may be the ripeness of the fruit at play.  Very nice, easygoing mouthfeel makes this a pleasure to sip.  It doesn’t have terrific structure left but it is holding out pretty well at 8 years old.  Perhaps till 2025 and pair it with lighter steaks, maybe roast duck, or even vegetables tossed with pasta and Olio.  89 points from me makes this $15 wine a 4 star effort.  Salut….