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Tag Archives: 98 points

Dolce Late Harvest Wine 2012, Napa Valley, California

21 Tuesday Jun 2022

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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$75, 5 stars, 98 points, botrytis, california, napa valley, Sauvignon blanc, semillon


I was a bit apprehensive when the cork snapped in two, hoping I could get the rest out without further ado.  I was lucky, just one floating bit.  You can never trust the provenance of a State liquor store bottle btw.  Having said that, this dessert wine is medium gold in color with very viscous legs in the glass.  The nose has pronounced aromas of apricot marmalade, honey, vanilla nib, candied lemon peel, creme caramel, peach pie and dried hazelnuts.  The longer it sits there the more tantalizing the nose gets.  The palate is sweet, as expected from this late-harvest and botrytized blend of Semillon and Sauvignon. Blanc.  There is some great acidity here that balances out the sugar perfectly leaving me with a very slippery wine with amazing mouthfeel that just transcends the palate from front to back with such ease.  The weight of this wine is sublime, full-bodied yet light and airy.  The finish is long and just a tad juicy from the acidity.  The whole package is amazing- worthy of 98 points that the pros at W.E. gave it.  For 375ml expect to pay $75.  A stunning 5 star wine that I will be serving with Blue Cheese and crackers after dinner.  Salut….

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Weingut Turk Eiswein vom Gruner Veltliner 2018, Niederosterreich, Austria

27 Sunday Mar 2022

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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$50, 5 stars, 98 points, austria, dessert wine, grüner veltliner, Ice wine, niederosterreich


Grüner Veltliner Eiswein is a new one for me.  This one is deep gold in the glass with a watery sheen highlighting the relatively low 8% ABV.  The nose is exquisite- pronounced aromas of stewed apricots, grilled honey, mango, geranium, almond slivers, white peach, mandarin orange peel and bananas foster.  Stunning.  The palate is lusciously sweet.  Low acidity, full bodied, unctuous and simply delicious.  The primary flavor I get is stewed stone fruit, with honey in abundance.  Floral notes, nutty nuance and a hint of mango and orange citrus makes for a yummy experience.  This is spectacular.  98 points was awarded by one pro.  I have to agree.  This $50 sticky is amazing and gets 5 stars.  I feel it will drink well till 2035.  #blownaway.  Salut….

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Mollydooker Velvet Glove 2012

17 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

$180, 4 stars, 98 points, aussie shiraz, mclaren vale, shiraz


It’s Sunday, March 16 in Northern Virginia, a few days before spring.  It’s snowing outside, I’m listening to the BBC radio from England and drinking this amazing Mclaren Vale Shiraz from Australia….

We promptly lost all electrical power at 6 pm and finished our evening sipping this purple nectar whilst playing Pay Day with two of our kids by candlelight.

The evening started with me sending this young bottle of Shiraz through my Vinturi and into a large Riedel decanter for about an hour.  I figured this wine would need coaxing to get it going at such a young age.  It has just recently been released and WS gave it a whopping 98 points.  I have had numerous wines from Mollydooker and have grown accustomed to their style and sort of know what to expect with respect to the profile and tastes involved.  I did not know to what level and depth this particular cuvee was capable of….  I’m jumping the gun.

I decided to grill some Cornish hens after marinating them in garlic, herbs and lime.  The sides included riced cauliflower and sautéed spinach with goat cheese and pine nuts.  I figured this melange would be able to stand up to the wine and vice versa.  It worked a treat.  Now to the wine.

I first poured off a half glass to make room for the ‘Shake’ prior to decanting.  My initial impressions:  Dark and brooding in the glass with a nose of tar, licorice and black fruits.  On the palate I got an intense black berry component.  I timed a 2+ minute finish.  The wine covers the palate in an indescribable way, from front to back.  I believe they call it fruit weight, a catchy term but very appropriate.

I then moved on to the aerated and decanted wine and was in for a further treat.  The first thing I noticed was a bracing acidity on the front end that was entwined with a gorgeous black cherry component.  Capsicum and blue fruits came across in various waves as the wine progressed, an interesting combo if you ask me.

Close your eyes and imagine drinking—— purple.  That is possibly the best descriptor I can think of to emphasize the wine’s purity and concentration.  It is rich and layered, precise without being bombastic, lengthy.  A slight hint of its 16% alcohol comes out on the nose yet is well crafted into the wine so you can’t taste it.  The wine gives me the impression that it was stirred with an oak ladle, imparting only a touch of wood and not over doing the treatment.  The extremely fine-grained tannins are a pleasure on the palate and give this wine a drinking window between 2016-2025 in my opinion. I would look forward to this wine evolving somewhat but think it will be a pleasure to drink at an early age.

At $180 this is no everyday drinker, but a super special treat wine.  I think its depth and complexity will please any fan of red wines as it offers multi-dimensional flavors and great length.  Pairing it with food would be ideal, but enjoying it on its own is certainly one way of experiencing its many nuances.  I have only had a handful of 98 point wines in my life, to be able to taste near perfection is truly a treat.  If you can find a bottle or two, get them, cellar them and enjoy them.  PS. Did I mention that the packaging is amazing: a velvet black bag and velvet-like labels with a lithe bottle shape- all adds up to an incredible wine.  4 stars when you weigh the price and value.  Salut….

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