JOSH Reserve Zinfandel 2021 (Bourbon Barrel Aged)

Dark magenta hue with aromas of tightly wound rich dark berry fruit with gentle spice on the edge.

Palate--Silky first impression with supple structure and big rich dark berry flavor with a candy touch on the end. 

This is my first experience with a "Josh" (Joseph Carr Cellar) Zinfandel and it is a solid Zin but....while I paid $12 for it, the "list price" if you will is $27. This is not a $27 Zin... It is rich, it is juicy, it is lovely but it is pretty straightforward and unremarkable.

At $12, I love it!  At $27 I would be very disappointed!  Raise a glass. and Happy New Year to you and yours!

New Year's Eve Celebration!

 

What to serve for New Year's Eve?   It depends on whether you are going for the "pop the cork explosion" or an actual Champagne you want to DRINK and not waste it with a big show of expensive sparkly shooting all over the room. 

A "Champagne" is so called because it is a wine made from grapes from the geographical region of the world called Champagne, France!  All other wine is just "bubbly." So.....

Don't waste your money shooting pricey Champagne all over the room. Buy cheaper sparkling wine and have your fun! 

One of my favorite inexpensive bubblies is Mumm Napa Brut Prestige. It will run you around $18 and it is delicious! 

Sallier De La Tour Nero D' Avola 2020

 

Opaqueish garnet hue with aromas of cherry berry above the rim with a touch of leather, maybe a hint of blueberry

Palate--Tart first impression with vibrant acidity--too much?-- rough structure lip smacking foundation and short lived berry finish.

This is NOT what I was expecting!  Nero D'Avola (pronounced Nero-DA voh-la) is the signature grape of Sicily with a nice fruity profile, unassuming with no confrontative aspects to it. This one is like a street brawler with something to prove, and fails... 

I love Nero D'Avola as they are general value wines with a broad profile making them easy to drink solo or with food. This one has attitude, like it has something to prove and fails at it. *This may open up and relax but I am not optimistic. If it does it will be noted below.

Pairing it with oven baked chicken and all the sides.   

Bought this on a special buy at a favorite wine store marked down from $27 to $10 which always makes me suspicious.  The jury is out.

NIGHTHAWK (bourbon barrel aged) Cabernet Sauvignon by Bota [Mini]

Purple and ruby hue with aromas of cranberry and hint of coca and light savory spice. 

Palate--  Sour first impression with acidic foundation, thin texture, thin flavors, essentially no finish.

OK I would never have spent a dime on this but it was given to us for Christmas along with some nice gifts. I am being objective when I say this is total crap BUT...that being said, my wife was making beef stew tonight and I told her to *use this wine. It will be fine for that purpose but that's about all.

I am aware that the Wine Enthusiast rates this wine 87 points out of 100 which is absurd. But in their defense, Since it is non-vintage, there is no way of knowing which production of the wine I am tasting vs. what they reviewed.

*Rule of thumb when cooking with wine, if you wouldn't drink the wine, do NOT use it in your cooking. What this means is that if you have a wine that has gone by throw it out. Don't use it for your cooking.  You wouldn't use a rotten egg in your souffle would you?  

Belharra Single Vineyard Malbec

Rather intense garnet hue with spicy aromas of spiced apple rings like you see at Thanksgiving time, ripe plum, dark berry and a hint of blueberry. 

Palate--Mouth watering first impression with nice structure and balanced fruit forward goodness of spicy dark berry with a touch of wood in the finish that lingers.

A previously reviewed Trader Joe's value wine at $10 is a bargain you shouldn't pass up. Raise a glass!

Chateau Piney 2016 St. Emilion Grand Cru

Brick red to the rim  with aromas of gentle blackberry and plum with savory gentle spice on a lovely texture.

Palate--Mouth filling flavors licorice note, relaxed tannins with food friendly acidity.  Will improve for another 8 years plus. 

This was a guest's offering at a Christmas day dinner with friends. The dinner was ham with sundry side dishes and sauces. While not the ideal paring it was none-the-less a well done St Emilion blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot.  

The veritable smorgasbord of lamb "lollipop" appetizers with various cheeses, smoked trout, and an array of interesting palate pleasers required a plethora of cocktail, liquer, and wine offerings. After all, a person likes what they like whether "convention" approves or not.

At $23 it was a decent approach and enhanced both the dinner and conviviality of the occasion!  Raise a glass.

Merry Christmas from the Wine Cask Blog!

Christmas celebration without Jesus the Christ, is like hosting a great feast and serving up a bottle Chateau Lafite......... that is empty.  As a guest you would wonder, "What is the point?" Exactly!

Over 700 years before the birth of the Savior Jesus, Isaiah foretold the coming of God's Redeemer.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Jesus is born miraculously to Mary, a child herself, to come as God Almighty for no other reason than to secure the salvation of all who will come to Him.

“"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."” (Acts 4:12)  

Have a VERY Merry Christmas this year!

Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2023

 

Very pale straw hue with aromas of big ripe pineapple, green apple, and sweet summer melon.

Palate-- Lovely balance of acidity and overall structure, vibrant flavors of luscious summer fruits, ripe pineapple and crispy green apples with a subtle touch of cinnamon! The acidity is nicely balanced. Although finishes quickly this is a well done Sauvignon Blanc. 

At the $12 price point this is a well made and well offered profile of the S. Blanc grape. I paired it tonight with a lobster and "steamer clams" dinner.  It is one of the benefits of living in Maine. The acid cleanses your palate nicely after each bit removing any coating of butter that may obscure all the wondrous flavors of the sea.  This is a definite "Raise a glass!"

Grady Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2019

A more ruby hue with aromas of rich black berry, savory spice, 

Palate--Silky foundation with flavors of bold, ripe blackberry, rigid acidity, with finish of dark unsweetened chocolate, and more brighter dark cherry and strawberry on the end.

I paid $12 for this Zin wishing I had bought more. It's a solid Zin worthy of pairing of all manner of bold cuts of meat, italian cuisine, or all by itself. I am grilling venison burgers on charcoal!   Raise a glass!

Terra Starkenburg Riesling 2023

Gentle straw hie with aromas of subtle, apple, baby powder and tropical fruit.

Palate--Lively "spritzig" in the mouth with gentle spicing of apples and a fleeting finish.

This is a marginal example of how glorious Riseling can be. It is fresh, fruity, drinks easily, and with a chill on it is an all purpose kind of wine sticking with appetizers, of a milder sort and would also do OK with Asian cuisine.  

BUT--Riseling can be a big, wonderful memorable quaff with palate cleansing acidity. This is not that wine. I think I paid under $10 for this "Qualitatswein" Riesling which  is the lowest "title" on a German label.  There are better ones out there at the same price point so use your discreation.

Big Churn Chardonnay 2023

 

Straw hue with aromas of fresh lively fruity bouquet hints of lime, sweet baby powder, but the temperature is too cold to appreciate all what's there.

Palate--Flabby first impression, with clove suggestion, tepid fruit, (again perhaps due to the temp.) overall weak in all characteristics...

The label over states the assessment of the wine. It is a very light, refreshing kind of chilled down Chard but is pretty much devoid of any real character. The fact of being a NAPA company I thought there might be a value here but meah... nothing offensive and nothing notable.  About $10 so...........

A day later I had left overs with sauerkraut and pork chops and this Chard was quite good with it!

Hidden Hills Estate 2021 Shiraz

 

Nearly opaque dark purple hue with aromas of a tightly wound bouquet of dark plum, sweet/savory spice gently on the end.

Palate--Silky first impression with loads of ripe dark berry and plum fruit right out of the gate.

This McLaren Vale Aussie wine comes with a good pedigree but this wine is just opened and needs to breath not to mention a couple more years to be really ready to enjoy.  It needs to breathe, and air out for a couple hours. At the price point of $10 it is a drinkable Shiraz (known as Syrah) in other parts of the world but not a good representation of the grape.

I am grilling on my (charcoal) Weber grill and end cut ribeye. It is winter in Maine but I grill through the winter.  This will be a good enough pairing for an "economy" meal...  Raise a glass!

Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano Riserva 2016

 

Brick red with slight notes of age at the rim.  Aromas of cherry, spiced apple rings, violet, and grape.

Palate--Acidic foreground as expected with puckerey tannins, mature dark fruit (plum) with intense savory spice. 

I would have expected this Tuscan "Riserva" to be a touch more integrated and classy at this stage of its age. It drinks atypical for Sangiovese but for the $10 Trader Joe's price point it is a nice wine at this price point.

I will pair it with my own creation of shrimp in a tomato base with italian spices served over pasta and it will be grand.  Raise a glass!

Vignobles Lacheteau Muscadet Sévre et Maine Sur Lie 2022

 

Straw hue with aromas of lime, summer melon, sweet spice

Palate--Slightly effervescent with lively structure giving a foundation for a tropical fruit melange, and green apple which begins well and ends quickly.

Normally a regular "summer" quaffing wine pool side but can't resist the $8 price point for spicy food accompaniments. My wife is making baked spiced pork loin with some hot spices so we'll see how this does. 

A Trader Joe's offering at $8 and always a bargain so raise a glass!

The connection between wine and price...

 

It has been frustrating to me over the years to have reviewed thousands of wines and such a small percentage of them are remarkable.  That is they stand out from all the others. This evening I reviewed anb $8 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles California. It was drinkable, it was worth the $8 but if I had to identify this wine in a blind tasting I would not be able to tell you what I was drinking.

I suppose you could assert, "You have a bad palate..."  I am getting up there in years I admit but the issue is really that when all you ever drink are the $10 price point wines, while there are a handful of standouts here and there, for the most part they all rather taste the same broadly speaking.

Sure you can tell a Pinot Noir from a Zinfandel, a Chardonnay from a Sauvignon Blanc but that is about as far as you can go. The price point of the wine is where you separate the exquisite from the mundane; the distinctive from the ho hum everyday varietal.  

Since I stopped monetizing my blog (many years ago) I have to be realistic about how much I pay for a wine. I am after all retired... And the point here is that inexpensive wines are inexpensive precisely because they are mundane, ho hum, and predictable. 

Meaning "these" are NOT the kind of wines you sit down to with the bottle hidden from you and you try and guess the grape, the vintage, the part of the world they came from and the maker. 

So all this is to say, with rare exception, pay more attention to my final judgement on every wine.  Basically, "Would I buy it again?" Is it worth what I paid for it? Which is to say pay attention to the "Raise a glass" tag on put on the wines I taste if they are worth the money and and worth buying again.

Stay tuned for Christmas wine suggestions!

Four Vines "The Kinker" Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) 2021

Deep aubergine hue with aromas of dark berry with a hint of strawberry and spice. 

Palate--Interesting first impression and not sure what to make of it. Fruit is more subtle than I expected and the structure more sedate than anticipated. Flavor is confusing and non descript. 

I would not be able to ID this wine for the grape that it is supposed to be.  It's not that it is a bad wine; just nondescript which is not a surprise for an $8 Cabernet. 

The grapes are sourced from Paso Robles which is a wide open consideration regarding the quality of the grapes. It is drinkable but unremarkable with a fleeting finish which is to say no finish and yet I want to take another sip.  It will go well with my wife's pan seared chicken legs with tomato sauce and noodles etc. 

Bogle Essential Red 2021

Deep dark garnet/purple hue with aromas of lovely even perfumy red berry fruit with with intense black berry and a hint of blueberry with savory spices and after breathing a touch of cola.

Palate-Rather gentle first impression with a plush structure and loads of dark rich berries mid palate, with big bold finish and lingering spices with blackberry edges.

This is a California sourced blend of Petite Sirah and Syrah with Zinfandel in the mix. The inky dark color is classic of the Sirah varietals and the spicy Zin is a nice complement to the other grapes. 

Bogle is one of the growing, reliable California vintners that know how to make popularly structured wines at a value price.  For $10 you cannot go wrong so raise a glass!

Aglianico Sannio 2019

 

Beautiful Rich, dark magenta hue with musty aromas of spicy red berry and spiced plum with notes of cocoa cream.

Palate--Tart, mouth watering acidity, nearly overpowering the fruit that is trying to break out. Spicy mid palate with bitter cranberry rescues this structurally BIG wine.

This is a BIG wine, that needs to come into its own which could take a few more years. The acidity is overpowering at this time.  I will  be pairing it with dinner which is oven roasted, salted chicken thighs with roasted root vegetables.  It will handle everything quite well but is certainly not backing down. 

I would love to try this wine in another 5 years.  I paid $14 for it which is a nice price point. Raise a glass!

Butter Pinot Noir 2022

Lighter garnet hue with aromas of faint strawberry with fresh cherry near the rim.

Palate--*Chewy lump of something in my mouth with unremarkable sort of Pinot flavor but basically plonk.  

I really didn't want to buy this but I did and I should have listened to that inner voice. This is throw away worthy and the "chewy lump was a fly that was still alive.  (We heat with wood and flies tend to come alive with the heat so.....)  At any rate don't bother with this $8 crap.

Four Vines "The Maverick" Pinot Noir 2019

 

Cherry hue with a cola kind of suggestion emitting notes of chocolate covered strawberry, and tantalizing sweet/savory spices on the edge.

Palate--Mouth watering acidity with those savory spices pushing right to the top. Puckery tannins and a fleeting finish but is rather impressive.

I drink a lot of Four Vines Zinfandel but this is the first Pinot (Monterey) I have seen from them. It is quite different and I like it. *I found it for $10 at a fave liquor store we frequent about once every couple months as it is a bit of a travel. I also grabbed a Cabernet from Four Vines as well which I will review in the near future.

I am making a spur of the moment tomato based shrimp dish to serve over rice. We'll see what happens. Raise a glass!

*I see this online for around $20....