by Winepisser | Sep 19, 2017 | Full Article
Dr. Loosen won a five-star review for its 2014 Kabinett Riesling last year, and got praise for other selections, including it’s reliably great Blue Slate offering, which I’m drinking as I write this. But this Beerenauslese dessert reez earns the good...
by Winepisser | Sep 19, 2017 | Quick Review
We battled this against a Protos tempranillo and while the Protos won out, this fell just shy of 5 stars due a some slight imbalance and tannins which just didn’t work for me. Dark ruby in the glass, it’s all blackcurrant, blackberry and black pepper....
by Winepisser | Sep 17, 2017 | Quick Review
Sometimes you encounter a bad wine pairing and this was one of them. Since I prepared the food, I thus blame the wine. This tasted of sour apple and petrol, which is never good. Had none of the usual SB aspects, except for a touch of grassiness. Not recommended.
by Winepisser | Sep 16, 2017 | Quick Review
Slightly more lively than the 2014 vintage but not much so. Lacks almost all of the characteristics of SB bit has a hint of apple. Generally unexciting.
by Winepisser | Sep 15, 2017 | Quick Review
Wildly erratic, I have had bottles of the same vintage that were dull and flat, and others that were flavorful. This review found a generally good glass, with aspects of apple and green pepper, which paired very well with a tame chicken and rice dish. Your mileage...
by Winepisser | Sep 5, 2017 | Quick Review
Nose was obscured by the restaurant kitchen smells so can’t comment on it. But on the tongue it’s a mineraly experience with a slight tanginess, and relatively dry. I paired this with a salmon burger and it lined up very nicely. Very subtle flavors but I...
by Winepisser | Sep 1, 2017 | Full Article
My aerospace travels took me, of all places, to Redmond WA, literally pissing distance from the godawful Chateau Ste. Michelle winery where, if there weren’t so many damned cameras around these days, I probably would have literally pissed on the building. And...
by Winepisser | Sep 1, 2017 | Quick Review
Garnet color looks nice in the glass and nose is very subtle, almost nonexistent. Tasty though, with enough fruit to please most folks but still dry enough to pair with most Italian plates. Seeing the name Cavit on the label was disappointing but it was nevertheless...
by Winepisser | Sep 1, 2017 | Quick Review
Slightly tart, slightly citric, slightly fruity, but no one thing dominates the others. Not bad, and paired well with a spicy fish dish. Drinks well on its own, too. Overall a very surprising blend with very surprising results, all of them good.
by Winepisser | Aug 31, 2017 | Full Article
OK, so how many Winepisser readers enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich which has been rubbed in celery salt and truffle oil? Not many I expect. What about a fine filet mignon that has been cooked to perfection and then soaked in the leftover milk from a bowl of...
by Winepisser | Aug 31, 2017 | Quick Review
Very nice with a perfect balance of grassy goodness and fruit, without either overdoing it. A great example of the miracle that is Marlborough sauvignon blanc. Easy minerality too, so it avoids the cat pee that turns off some SB fans. Nice bite. Recommended.
by Winepisser | Aug 31, 2017 | Quick Review
Not complex or particularly robust but nevertheless very nice. Strong red cherry notes on the nose. Pleasant, but will probably be much, much better in a few years.
by Winepisser | Aug 31, 2017 | Quick Review
Low tannins in this vintage make it chocolatey smooth but also hinder the character just a bit. Nose of tobacco and cocoa and then a rush of smoke and deep, deep black cherry follows through on the tongue. A touch of sugar keeps this from being called dry, but blink...
by Winepisser | Aug 26, 2017 | Quick Review
Noseless but bright and fizzy on the tongue, lack of initial oomph makes you think you’ve just swigged seltzer water but give it a second and some pleasant floral tones come through. Needs more fruit to give it character but those who like their wines more...
by Winepisser | Aug 25, 2017 | Quick Review
Now that’s more like it! The 2014 vintage left me wanting (review here) but this one is a knockout. Nice straw and cat scents without one dominating the other with a great balance of light, bright fruit and gravely minerals. Medium dry. Highly recommended.
by Winepisser | Aug 25, 2017 | Quick Review
Much better than the 2016 vintage (review here), this one hits enough of the right notes to earn a recommendation, albeit a cautious one. Tart fruit would benefit from more gravely minerals, but it’s nevertheless a very nice glass. I paired this with a steak...
by Winepisser | Aug 23, 2017 | Quick Review
Jammy and spammy. Too much fruit and the bourbon barrel thing comes off as gimmicky. It’s also way the hell too sweet, bordering on port. I’m not sure what this wine wants to be. Packs an alcoholic punch though. 38% Merlot, 37% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel, 7%...
by Winepisser | Aug 21, 2017 | Quick Review
Some will say this is overtart, with strong green apple present here, but I paired with a spicy portobello mushroom soup and it really matched nicely. Floral notes on the nose while apple and melon are dominant on the palate. You’d be forgiven for thinking this...
by Winepisser | Aug 20, 2017 | Quick Review
Silky but maybe too much so. Fruit forward with nearly zero tannins, this wine was slightly disappointing since it was recommended by someone. Lovely nose promises an experience the rest of the glass can’t deliver on.
by Winepisser | Jun 22, 2017 | Full Article
I’m an unabashed fanboy of anything coming out of the producers Hugel et Fils, from the Alsace region of France. My first tasting was at an exclusive Hugel-only event in Orlando many years ago, pairing some of their fantastic Gewurztraminer with remarkable...
by Winepisser | Jun 21, 2017 | Quick Review
Cakey, with melon and very slight lemon hints, this was served too cold, but when allowed to get closer to ambient, really came forward. Don’t make the mistake our host did, and serve this overchilled! Pairs well with salad course, breads, and fish, but I...
by Winepisser | Jun 21, 2017 | Full Article
This wine should get extra points just for the outlandish winemaker’s notes on Vivino. I’m not sure if they translated the original text using a ventriloquist dummy with its mouth filled with socks, or if they just drank too much of the stuff beforehand,...
by Winepisser | Jun 21, 2017 | Quick Review
Low acidity, medium sugar, and a velvety texture. Tangy hints of pineapple mix with floral notes making this very drinkable, if unusual. It’s from Mosel, so of course it’s fantastic.
by Winepisser | Jun 21, 2017 | Quick Review
Remember the 5-star winning, Winepisser 2015 Best Wine of the Year, Apothic Red? Remember the follow-on near-winner Apothic Dark, which won 4 stars? This isn’t either one of those. Instead, this is just the thing you need if you are craving those artificial...
by Winepisser | Jun 21, 2017 | Quick Review
Lush velvety swoon, this is babymaking CDP. Mild tannins yield to complex berry and black forest mystery. Allow to rest in the glass for 10 minutes before drinking.
