• About Caspernick
  • Star Ratings
  • The Master tasting list

Caspernick's Blog

~ My personal wine tasting notes

Caspernick's Blog

Tag Archives: france

Chateau Saint-Roch 2016, Saint-Estephe, France

13 Saturday Dec 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

87 points, bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, france, merlot, saint estephe


Medium ruby colored, with a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of tobacco, cassis, blackberry, green herbs, honey, a touch of earth, and petrichor.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins that are slightly overwhelmed by the acidity.  Medium intensity flavors of cassis, black raspberry, rhubarb, green herbs, and sour red cherries.  It’s an interesting wine that smells one way, and tastes another.  The shortish finish is quite tart, and lacking much fruit.  I want to give this bottle a chance to soften up, but for now it’s an 87 point wine at best.  I bought it at a wine shop in Paris and forgot to write down the price.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Chateau Saint-Roch

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 la Guintrandy Louise d’Agoult 20, Beaumes de Venise, France

13 Saturday Dec 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$15, 5 stars, 90 points, beaumes-de-venise, france, grenache, southern rhone, syrah


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas of black plum, black raspberry, cracked pepper, bacon, green herbs, licorice, and açaí berry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors, with black pepper being the most noticeable.  The tannins sneak up on the mid palate.  The finish has a slight green note and is medium in length.  Decent cellaring capacity unless you like a fresh wine with a slightly tannic mouthfeel.  A blend of Grenache and Syrah from the Southern Rhone that gets 90 points from me.  At $15 it’s a 5 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine la Guintrandy Louise d'Agoult Beaumes de Venise

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 Gigondas ‘Vieilles Vignes’ 2020, Rhone, France

28 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$30, 5 stars, 91 points, france, Gigondas, grenache, Mourvèdre, rhone, syrah


Deep ruby colored that is slightly cloudy, with high viscosity (15% ABV). Medium intensity aromas of black and red raspberry, licorice, green herbs.  The palate has medium acidity, a full body, and medium tannins.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of charcoal, ripe raspberry, licorice, lavender, stone and iron.  The long finish makes this a delicious wine which is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, hence the deep color. 91 points from me for this $30 effort makes it a 5 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine du Grand Montmirail Gigondas 'Vieilles Vignes'

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...

Georges Duboeuf Domaine des Rosiers Moulin-a-Vent 2021, Beaujolais, France

16 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$35, 2 stars, 85 points, beaujolais, france, gamay


Medium ruby colored, with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red grape, a green vegetal note (not loving that), pomegranate, cherry cola, and baking spice.  It’s somewhat one-dimensional.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (+) tannins that are quite grippy.  Medium intensity flavors of cherry, red grape, black tea, baking spice and pomegranate are overshadowed by a noticeable astringency.  It’s not something an aerator or decanter will fix, I think the tannins are green and hard.  The finish is medium (+) in length, but the tannic grip envelopes the whole mouth.  It gets 85 points from me, hopefully the other two bottles I have will mellow out.  Running $35 online, it’s a 2 star effort for me.  I’m going to pair it with Prime Rib, hopefully the fatty cut will sort out the tannins.  Salut….

Georges Duboeuf Domaine des Rosiers Moulin-a-Vent

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...

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...

Yohan Lardy Fleurie Le Vivier 2023, Beaujolais, France

09 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$23, 3 stars, 89 points, beaujolais, france, gamay, VWTC


I wanted our virtual tasting group to try a cru Beaujolais, unfortunately this one wasn’t it…. Medium ruby bordering on garnet with a low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of purple grapes, pepper and plum.  It was quite boring.  The palate had medium (-) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Flavors of green pepper, grape, fresh peppercorns, and some plum gave way to a decently long finish that lifted the low score of this one-dimensional wine.  I scored it a mere 12 points on our tasting scale and awarded it 89 points on technical merit.  I paid $23 for this 3 star effort.  Drink till 2028. Salut….

Yohan Lardy Fleurie Le Vivier

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...

Sebastien Dampt Cote de Lechet 2022, Chablis Premier Cru, France

09 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$30, 4 stars, 91 points, burgundy, chablis, chardonnay, france, VWTC


We tasted this Burgundian Chardonnay at the 40th virtual wine tasting.  Per normal,  it was served chilled first followed by a room temperature glass for comparison.  The chilled version scored far better for me which is unusual.  Pale gold in color with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose gave us citrus, nectarines, honey, melon, peach and pink grapefruit.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, and a medium (-) body.  The flavors are very terroir driven with loads of minerality and a long finish.  I scored this one a 16 on our tasting scale with a 91 point technical score.  The room temperature version was far less aromatic on the nose which surprised me.  It was more broad with lemon and grapefruit pith notes coupled with some honey and peach.  The palate was fuller in body but less powerful, not as complex and lacking focus.  The peach note remained alongside some ripe Honeycrisp apple notes and a slight bitterness.  The finish was only medium at this temperature.  I scored it a mere 10 points on our sheet.  Overall, I really enjoyed this wine well-chilled on night two.  At $30, it’s a treat bottle that gets 4 stars from me.  I believe it has some decent cellaring capacity with potential to evolve.  Salut….

Sebastien Dampt Cote de Lechet

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...

Stephane Brocard Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru 2000, Cote de Nuits, France

11 Sunday May 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$100, 4 stars, 93 points, burgundy, cotes de nuits, france, pinot noir


Medium garnet colored, edging to clear with high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of Luxardo cherries, spice box, tobacco, red plum, mushroom, forest floor, desiccated cranberries, and lavender.  It’s more youthful in sight and smell than I was expecting from a 25 year old wine.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins that are fine grained and mostly integrated.  Medium intensity flavors of mulled cherry, dried cranberry, red plum reduction, spice box, that earthy forest floor coupled with an umami mushroom note.  The tannins start to grip on the mid palate showing off this wine’s structure, which somewhat overshadows the intensity of the fruit and tertiary notes.  The finish is medium (+) in length, adding a point to this well aged wine that is still developing and will hopefully gain more intensity whilst the tannins fully soften away.  I paid $100 for it a few months ago.   It gets 93 points from me and therefore 4 stars.  Drink this Pinot Noir till 2030?  I’m pairing it with Filet for Mother’s Day dinner.  Salut….

Stephane Brocard  Clos Vougeot grand cru

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 Passot Les Rampaux Fleurie 2022, Beaujolais, France

28 Monday Apr 2025

Posted by caspernick in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

$20, 5 stars, 91 points, beaujolais, fleurie, france, gamay


Medium purple colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, white blossom, orange peel, acai berry, blueberry, and black grape.  The palate is dry with high acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of acai berry, slightly underripe blueberry, red and black cherry, white blossom and crunchy red grapes.  Cru Beaujolais is not at all what Nouveau is.  The fruit is vinified differently and the resultant structure, especially tannins, are much more apparent.  This Gamay based wine is built to last a few years, and might just be starting its approachable stage.  The finish is medium (+) in length and drives home the slightly green nature of some of the fruit, tart is the key word here.  It’s a very interesting and slightly different wine that I am enjoying tremendously.  91 points worth for this $20 effort makes it a 5 star wine, to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Domaine Passot Fleurie

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