by Winepisser | Nov 25, 2021 | Quick Review
The actress who shows potential, but never wins the Emmy. For me, cabernet franc is a wine I keep thinking will become a red fave, but never quite crosses the finish line. Here’s a great example. This was served with a pass through an aerator, and the nose was...
by Winepisser | Nov 25, 2021 | Quick Review
Suicidal diabetic decides to end it all by bathing in maple syrup. Someone took a winery and drowned it in pure, liquid glucose, then fermented the wine in bottles of sugar glass. To be clear this is not the Viña Viejo Chenin Blanc that won a 5-star review previously....
by Winepisser | Nov 25, 2021 | Quick Review
“I get all my Riesling from Chile,” said no one ever. There’s a certain minerality that affects white wines coming from the country and this reez doesn’t escape it. There are hints of typical Riesling green apple but it’s overtart and...
by Winepisser | Oct 30, 2021 | Full Article
The only good thing I can say about the COVID-19 pandemic is that it didn’t kill me (yet, at least.) Other than that, it’s been a shitshow. But without getting off-topic, what does that mean for a street-level wine thug? It means more suck, that’s...
by Winepisser | Oct 29, 2021 | Quick Review
Low-rent housing district installs new fountain to attract tenants. Tacama is no great producer, so set your expectations accordingly. Grape up front, but settles down later and a vegetable hint emerges. Not bad for the price, which is dirt cheap. Should be packaged...
by Winepisser | Oct 29, 2021 | Quick Review
The latest sex toy proves popular with suburbanites. Peach for sure, some citrus behind it. Nice finish, very bright overall. Moderate sugar. A great example of New World viognier. Pair with light meats, fish, or your favorite softcore porno.
by Winepisser | Oct 29, 2021 | Quick Review
Your mysterious car park pal has a cousin. This was served without aeration and proved fine right out of the bottle. Would have likely improved with some time in the air. Nose is slight cherry, but once in the piehole it’s leather and much darker fruit. Nice...
by Winepisser | Oct 29, 2021 | Quick Review
Mysterious figure in a dark car park winds up being a great pal. Great Rioja with notes of slate, green apple, a tiny hint of spice. Comes off as part Sauvignon blanc, part Gewurztraminer, but all its own at the same time. Very different from typical Old World...
by Winepisser | Oct 29, 2021 | Full Article
Back in July, I announced that Winepisser was back (sort of), but it’s been a hard slog to get things running again. Thanks to Mr. Covid, getting reliable sources of wine without physically visiting places has been tough. I’ve since hooked up to a...
by Winepisser | Jul 4, 2021 | Full Article
I’m not sure if I should get a medallion or something, but it’s been over a year since I had my last glass of wine. Today I finally broke that streak, with a glass of my favorite Peruvian offering, the Viña Vieja Chenin Blanc. It’s literally the...
by Winepisser | Dec 29, 2020 | Full Article
Obviously — obviously — there won’t be any Winepisser awards for 2020. Sigh. In January, I reviewed one wine, a 2.5 star bottle of junk, and then prepped to review a lot more. By April, I was under national lockdown, and alcohol sales were...
by Winepisser | May 11, 2020 | Full Article
It doesn’t take an aerospace expert to notice the last Winepisser blog post was from February. That post announced, without the usual fanfare, the Winepisser 2019 Best Wine award. Since then, this site has been nearly dead. You can, of course, blame Ol’...
by Winepisser | Feb 25, 2020 | Full Article
The fifth annual Winepisser Best Wine award goes to California’s Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel 2015, a fantastic bottle of crafted from (according to the maker) “16 different vineyard blocks of old vine zinfandel vineyards with an average age of 87...
by Winepisser | Jan 15, 2020 | Quick Review
Noseless and tepid, a hint of strawberry but only if you squint.
by Winepisser | Dec 31, 2019 | Quick Review
Crisp and very clean Hungarian Tokaj, notes of melon and slight grass. Was served over chilled which probably hindered the tasting. Nice floral nose.
by Winepisser | Dec 24, 2019 | Quick Review
Just in time for Christmas I tried this Scrooge of a wine: bitter and unpleasant, and overdue for a visit from the Ghost of Cabs Past. Very disappointing. Nose is black cherry, palate is finely aged gasoline.
by Winepisser | Dec 15, 2019 | Quick Review
Dull reez with little zip and less character, like a beaten up Volkswagen that’s had its radio stolen.
by Winepisser | Nov 28, 2019 | Quick Review
Nose explodes, filling the room with great fruity notes after uncorking. On the palate it’s more refined and shy, a fairly typical new world cab that is fine for its pedigree but not up to California snuff. Basement must, nuts and black cherry. Paired well with...
by Winepisser | Nov 25, 2019 | Quick Review
Another incredible Tannat from Uruguay, with heavy notes of plum and other dark fruits. Lacking the smokiness and earth of other Uruguayan Tannats, but it’s still very good. A bit young. Improves with air.
by Winepisser | Nov 4, 2019 | Quick Review
Fantastic red from Portugal. Nose is complex, smacking your smoother with equal parts fruit and earth. Smooth tannins and notes of blackcurrant and leather. Finish is long but a bit bitter, robbing this of one half star. Otherwise very, very good.
by Winepisser | Oct 25, 2019 | Quick Review
Nose is grape jelly. Everything else isn’t, though. Medium dry, with some earthy notes that take it far away from jammy. Moderate but smooth tannins surprise. A bit of green olive hides beneath the fruit. Not bad, but was expecting more from this grape.
by Winepisser | Oct 15, 2019 | Quick Review
Milk chocolate and slight dark earth on the nose. Palate is smooth, silky plum. Tannins come around only at the end. Very good but so-so finish keeps this from a higher score.
by Winepisser | Oct 14, 2019 | Quick Review
Came recommended but fell short. Blackberry is the main note but it gets bitter quickly. Nice back end and finish but not enough to improve the score. Some weird fruit notes (peach in a red?) at the start but they burn away quickly. Meh
by Winepisser | Oct 3, 2019 | Quick Review
Grape jelly on the nose but this isn’t overly jammy… Probably just the right amount of fruit, given that most malbecs are tending towards dull, fruitless creations. Short finish means it’s not memorable though. Other notes are mild earth and black...
by Winepisser | Sep 25, 2019 | Quick Review
So-so grenache, representative of the more mediocre end of the breed. Drinks fine but also is entirely forgettable. Some interesting earthy notes but there’s a tiny hint of chemicals that I’m pretty sure doesn’t belong there.
