Tag Archives: 91 points

Skouras Moscofilero 2019, Peloponnese, Greece

06 Sunday Feb 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


We kicked off the next series in our Virtual Wine Tasting Company with a varietal I had never tried before- Moschofilero.  We first tasted it chilled and then at room temperature.  Keep in mind that the tasting notes you read are from a dozen voices!

The wine is pale gold (which was debated back and forth btw) and has pronounced aromas of melon, orange blossom, apricot, almond, peach and had a crispy effervescent hint to boot.  The palate was dry (also debated back and fro) with medium (+) acidity.  It was crisp and refreshing with flavors of honeydew, orange, lemon, pink grapefruit and nutty almonds.  Medium bodied it had a relatively short finish.

Tasted at room temperature the wine had much more floral aromas.  Honeysuckle, almonds, grapefruit and raw honey featured on the somewhat tart nose.  The palate had more pronounced flavors that consisted of grapefruit, almonds and more florality- there was a sense of sweetness to some…. yet tartness to others (me).  The wine felt creamier in the mouthfeel for some and crisper and lighter bodied for others- talk about a see-saw of opinions!

Overall this semi-aromatic grape was enjoyed by all I believe and will feature well at a pool or lake this summer- chilled and enjoyed with a cool, crisp salad with steamed prawns.  I would go 91 points for this $15 effort making it a 5 star wine that you need to try.  Drink now.  Salut….

Note- I discovered post-tasting that it does have some residual sugar, 4 gr/Ltr, which technically makes it Dry, yet there was a hint of sweetness as was noted!

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

04 Friday Feb 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


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….

Sandeman Fine Tawny NV, Porto, Portugal

03 Thursday Feb 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


I am preparing Lamb Shanks- which will braise in a new recipe that calls for Port wine.  I bought three different bottles but selected this $15 Tawny for the job.  I’m hoping it makes for a rich and silky gravy when I am finished.  In the glass this fortified wine is pale tawny (LOL) in color, the 19.5% ABV evident by the thick legs running down the inside of the glass.  The nose gives me dried nuts, stewed plum, prunes, cooked rhubarb, raisins and a dusty wood component.  The palate is off-dry with very rich cooked fruit as mentioned, dried nuts and very integrated tannins.  Medium acidity coupled with the richness of the fruit and structure from the tannins makes for a very nice mouthfeel that is medium to full bodied.  The finish is medium in length but the tannins grip for a long while.  I like this bottle, a lot.  I did not care as much for the Tawny style when I last tried it but this producer has crafted a very rich offering that gets 91 points from me.  Can’t wait to see how it transforms the sauce.  5 stars, worthy of keeping a few bottles laying around for an after-dinner tipple.  Salut….

Chateau Mukhrani Saperavi Superieur 2017, Georgia

31 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


I’m very new to this ancient varietal that has roots in the country of Georgia.  If you are bored you can read my original post on the varietal here: https://caspernick.com/2021/06/22/guardians-saperavi-2018-kakheti-georgian-republic/

This one is opaque ruby and a touch murky.  The nose has loads of black and blue fruit, some charred wood notes, spice box and a sweet smelling component, like jam.  The palate is dry with really nice tannins and bracing acidity.  Blackberry jam, black plum, blueberry compote, charcoal and spice wrap neatly around the structural components.  Very balanced wine that has loads of cellaring potential.  Medium to full bodied it finishes with medium length fruit and lots of astringency.  91 points for this $20 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Drink with hearty meat dishes till 2025.  Ps. I love the fact that it runs 12.5% ABV!  Salut….

Dr. Konstantin Frank Gewurztraminer 2020,Finger Lakes, New York

17 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


On our recent trip to the Finger Lakes I picked up some bottles to bring home for a more in-depth tasting and evaluation.  We kick off that series with this aromatic white made from the Gewürztraminer grape.  It’s a medium shade of gold in the glass.  The nose is full of aromatics- lychee, rose water, lemon verbena and finely sliced ginger.  There is a sharp focus in this wine and some minerality to boot.  Th palate tastes off-dry but I doubt there is any residual sugar- the 13% ABV points to a full fermentation.  Beautiful flavors of lychee, lemon verbena, ginger, honeysuckle and apricot would make me think I am drinking nectar.  Medium acidity makes for a great mouthfeel- this wine coats the palate with it’s full bodied weight and finishes long.  I am a big fan of this grape and look for it when shopping- this 91 point effort is well worth ordering if you like an interesting wine that veers away from the usual.  At $17 it gets 5 stars from me.  I would pair this with spicy dishes, Asian fare, even Jamaican Curry.  Drink chilled sooner rather than later to preserve the freshness.  Salut….

Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources 2015, Rhone, France

11 Tuesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


This Grenache blend was third up at our virtual tasting.  It showed well but was not my favorite.  Deep garnet, it was more opaque than I was expecting.  Pomegranate, raspberry, pepper, anise, kirsch, bramble and strawberry jam notes on the nose were echoed on the palate.  We also got a green olive aftertaste with cedar and charcoal on the mid palate.  Very integrated tannins, low acidity, medium bodied and a long finish made this a 91 pointer.  At $50 I was hoping it filled the 93 point hype the pros gave it, alas it was just decent.  3 stars from me.  Drink till 2025.  Salut…

Chateau de Belcier 2010, Cotes de Castillon, France

11 Tuesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Number two wine at our 23rd virtual tasting was this mature Merlot-based Bordeaux blend from the great 2010 vintage. Deep garnet with evidence of bricking in the glass.  Nose of black cherry, tobacco, graphite, musty and earthy with leather, pencil shavings, cassis and stewed strawberry.  The palate is very smooth with integrated tannins that are fully resolved.  The tertiary notes are all present alongside smoke, blackberry, blackcurrant and cedar.  The wine has a milder taste and is quite dry.  Medium bodied it has a medium length finish.  I’m going with 91 points and a drinking window up till 2025.  At $20- it’s a great intro to an aged Right Bank wine that gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Orin Swift Mannequin Chardonnay 2018, California

05 Wednesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


I am experimenting tonight with sous vide Salmon.  Never cooked it this way before and I’m finishing it with a cilantro and garlic butter so I needed a full bodied, rich white.  Orin Swift makes delicious reds which are powerful, extracted and definitely high on the alcohol side of things so I figured I would give their white a try.  It is a deep gold color in the glass and shows a watery sheen on the sides which does not indicate a thing about the monster 15% ABV which I noticed on the label.  The nose has pronounced lemon and lime aromas alongside hazelnuts, green apple, cut grass (strange aroma for this varietal), a touch of toast and butter.  The palate is classic west coast Chard.  Buttery, rich, full bodied, citrusy with a hint of that chardonnay yeastiness aka bakers spice.  The acidity is on the lower end of the spectrum but the wine is definitely bold, with big fruit flavors and plenty of mouthfeel.  The finish is decent in length and the malolactic notes (toast, butter, brioche) really feature on the back end.  This wine is 5 years old and is drinking nicely now but will potentially cellar till 2027.  I think the pairing will work nicely as would roast game hens, Paella or Gumbo.  $32 gets you a bottle of this 91 point wine.  5 stars but beware the well hidden alcohol, it will sneak up!  Salut….

Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2018, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

04 Tuesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I have drunk numerous vintages of this Malbec, in copious quantities to boot- so when I was looking for a red wine to try and pair with Andouille and Shrimp Creole I thought this might just work.  Spicy foods need to stay away from very tannic wines which need to be very fruit forward and cannot flaunt too much acidity.  This varietal is just that; medium tannins, high in fruit and mild in acidity.

This Reserve offering is inky purple in the glass, like opaque.  The nose is very fruity with ripe plum, toast, cinnamon, blackcurrant, black cherry and anise.  The palate is beautiful- full bodied yet super smooth with black fruits galore, gentle acidity and lithe tannins.  A virtual compote of black and dark red fruit with hints of oak.  A long finish that is all fruit, little astringency and mildly tart- perfect for my needs.  I would also pair this wine with roast poultry, venison, even a pork tenderloin and obviously steaks.  It will drink nicely till 2026 and gets 91 points from me.  At $18 it’s a steal that gets 5 stars.  If you like round, plush, fruity wines that are not very tart or astringent then look for this gem.  Salut….

Clos De Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2016, Napa Valley, California

01 Saturday Jan 2022

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Happy New Year!  I missed a night of tasting- opting instead for beer, champagne and mulled wine for the festivities.  Back to work, this is the Reserve version of the last wine I tasted- The Clos de Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.  This upgraded one is opaque and brooding- a deep ruby in the glass with watery legs.  The nose is uplifting with pronounced aromas of black plum, cassis, black fruit compote, eucalyptus, charred wood, graphite and a mineral streak.  The palate is yummy.  Slightly dry with good tannic structure that is integrating, medium acidity and a generous body.  Black fruits, deft oak and minerality make for a lovely mouthfeel that has plenty of structure and fruit that continues on to a medium-to-long finish that turns quite dry- somewhat mouth puckering to be sure.  The graphite note really hits on the finish, it is quite an interesting twist.  This is a cellar worthy wine that is drinking nicely now if you like them dry and fruity.  I think it will evolve nicely over time and drink till 2028.  Steaks are on the grill with sautéed eggplant alongside sweet potato fries.  91 points and 4 stars for this $40 Napa Cab.  Salut….