by Winepisser | Oct 2, 2018 | Quick Review
A nose that hinted at cupcake suggested this might be interesting (or weird), but the taste is neither. Fairly tepid generic white, you’d be forgiven if you thought this was a routine pinot grigio. The pairing was unfair: put up against a bold soy glazed scallop...
by Winepisser | Oct 2, 2018 | Quick Review
Slightly tart and medium sweet, this drink well by itself but the sugar might make it tough to pair. Apricot is the main note here with a very faint touch of spice. Vivino members rated this lower than I did, but this may be due to my preference for German Riesling. I...
by Winepisser | Oct 2, 2018 | Quick Review
A bit understated to the point of mumbling, this blend lacks any oomph to distinguish it from a million competitors. Notes of blackberry and smoke are subdued, but fans of subtle wine may find this acceptable. For me, it was just too timid. Paired with steak, it...
by Winepisser | Oct 1, 2018 | Quick Review
Subtle sauvignon blanc that gets close to a French offering but falls slightly short. Nose is asparagus but this doesn’t show up in the glass. Instead it very subdued hues of lemongrass and white raisin, but still adequately dry. It’s a fine glass but just...
by Winepisser | Oct 1, 2018 | Quick Review
Charming if understated, has some tannins but not too much, some fruit but not too much, and some slight spice but not too much. Paired very nice with a Ruth’s Chris ribeye.
by Winepisser | Sep 30, 2018 | Quick Review
[No year noted.] A bit too smooth and it loses edge as a result. Certainly silky but also lacking in potent flavors. If you like your cabs subtle this is fine, but this disappeared when paired with a simple steak. Nose is mighty powerful but that doesn’t make up...
by Winepisser | Sep 27, 2018 | Quick Review
[No year noted.] Robust with oodles of fruit but enough other characteristics to prevent it from being called fruit forward. Some cellar must and black pepper and powerful tannins that screw up your puss. Put together and it’s pretty damn good. Lack of a back...
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
This is a smooth cab and evidence that sometimes if you smooth something enough, you remove all the interesting details. Yes, there’s fruit and, yes, there’s some spice, but it’s covered over by a dense velvet blanket that hinders the final product....
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Agree with other reviewers who said this is a tad bit sweet to pair with food but nevertheless is really fantastic. This is fruity but not overly so, with a spicy apple kick that gives it a gewurtztraminer tilt. Long spicy finish. Recommended. Who new Maryland made...
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
The opposite of a fat cab, this one may have a slight eating disorder as it’s way too skinny. Brief finish and underwhelming depth, you’d be excused for thinking this was a blend. Fruit is a bit overripe and I caught none of the leather or tobacco promised...
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Tart apple slams home hard but it’s very drinkable if you’re OK with that. Acidic bite differentiates this from its New World brethren. Pleasant finish that reveals some flowers at the end, but it’s that tartness that you’ll remember.
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
After a string of disappointing Shirazes (shirazae? shirii? shirazeses?) I was starting to think I had moved on. This incredible wine brings me back! This has all the best elements of a best in class Aussie ‘Raz: ample fruit, spicy notes and an earthy base....
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Chenin blanc is reliably great and this South African offering just proves it again. Lime, flowers and hint of spice come together nicely. A bit too much acid keeps this from a higher score.
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
An example of a red blend so understated by itself it needs a pairing to come alive. In this case, the wine is timid when alone, with subtle notes of wood and meats being barely discernible. But paired with a bold gorgonzola charcuterie plate, the pairing absolutely...
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Had high hopes for this, and it came recommended by a sommelier, and lived up to the hype. Slightly less characteristic than other chenin blancs, and that’s saying something since CB is typically understated as is. This one lacks the usual perfume, but has...
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Interesting take on SB, this lacks the minerals of New Zealand or Old World offerings but makes up for it with some near chenin blanc levels of perfume and bright fizz. Possibly a tiny bit too sweet for most SB enthusiasts, but I enjoyed it. Pair with white fish only,...
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Fairly flat and dull Malbec probably made by equally flat and dull people. So, basically, wine made by accountants.
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Flavorful white blend spoiled by a funky nose probably brought on by the sauvignon blanc, or some weird processing of the chardonnay. Would have ranked higher otherwise. Blend is of chardonnay, chenin blanc and sauvignon blanc.
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Very fine Chileno Carmenere, with oak and leather like that of a cab. Perfectly balanced tannins and acid, with oodles of black fruit, but only a slightly off aftertaste keeps this from five stars. Recommended. The Lapostolle mark is really hitting things home.
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Light and airy SB is finitely drinkable, but watch that 12.5% alcohol. Very smooth with light fruity notes and the slightest hints of minerals as only the French do. Very nice by itself or paired.
by Winepisser | Aug 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Smooth but with some vanilla overtones that invoke chardonnay, not SB. Mild tang, but needs more character: maybe more fruit, more sugar or more mineral, but what’s in the glass now is just okay, not great. Paired poorly with salmon dish. Watch out for that...
by Winepisser | Jul 28, 2018 | Quick Review
If Inca Kola and Chateau St. Michelle had a baby: way too sweet to the point it could pass for an ice wine. Too bad because there’s probably some good fruit notes under there, but it’s buried under a dumpload of aspertame.
by Winepisser | Jul 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Leathery nose yields to moderate tannins and somewhat complex crescendo of blackberry and a dozen other notes. A slightly bitter finish keeps it from a higher score. I wouldn’t have placed the grapes (Syrah, Grenache and Carignan) without reading the brew...
by Winepisser | Jul 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Smooth, low tannin silk bomb that you would swear comes from those Cally labs, which makes sense given its handlers, which includes the designer of the popular Prisoner blend. Fig and subtle dark cherry dominate. Tasted this paired not with food but a pipe of vanilla...
by Winepisser | Jul 27, 2018 | Quick Review
Apricot and more apricot, with slightly syrupy texture and total lack of earthy elements. Did I mention the apricot? For a Mosel reez, this didn’t rank as high as it should have. Too much apricot!
