Well more misses than hits at the free tasting this past Saturday. Who drinks this crap? I have been trying to push the wine drinkers forward for over 20 years and these types of tastings are setting us back.
CellarTracker! Haskell’s Spring Tasting (Lots of low ratings including Veuve Clicquot)
I am not sure who buys some of these wines as many are barely drinkable. Life it too short to drink most of this garbage.
Haskell’s Table
Pretty good and glad not to have to buy a Veuve to see how bad it really is. Best wine Beausejour at the tasting.
- N.V. Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut – France, Champagne
The new NV is terrible. Chalk, chalk and more chalk dominate this. Light on the fruit and some floral notes. I can’t believe this costs $60. (78 pts.)
- 2024 Matanzas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc – USA, California, Sonoma County
Grass, grapefruit, lemon and dust. Very light wine and not much going on. (81 pts.) - 2020 Charles Vienot Chablis – France, Burgundy, Chablis
Hard to believe how many bad Chablis and Burgundy in general are on the market. Insane this is $25 a bottle. Dust, wood, light fruits and floral notes. Short finish and not much going on here. (80 pts.) - 2023 NW Wine Company Pinot Noir Second Growth Eola – Amity Hills – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills
Wow hard to believe this is $29.99 with cranberry, spices, light floral and dust. Short finish and so many better for less or a few more dollars. Not a good project. (82 pts.) - 2023 Podere Roseto Bolgheri Principe – Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri
Very good wine for $25. Raspberries, earth, minerals, blue currants and a touch of smoke. Medium finish. Like it. (90 pts.) - 2019 Jean-Philippe Marchand Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Herbues – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges
Very good and the 2nd best wine at this tasting. Minerals, mushrooms, funk, raspberries, sour cherries, earth and rose petals. Very nice drinking right now. (91 pts.)
- 2021 Château Laffitte-Carcasset The Corsair – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe
Told the manager it was corked and he was going to try it out of plastic but then a customer questioned me. That was too entertaining. No one liked it. (FLAWED) - 2018 Château Haut-Beauséjour – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe
Very good and the best wine at the tasting. Classic Left Bankers with gravel, cigar, raspberries, cherry, floral and earth. Very good wine and drinking well now. (92 pts.) - 2023 Château Tour Leognan – France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Garbage wine and no one liked it. Sweet and lacks balance. Earth and some floral notes. A mess of a wine. (76 pts.) - 2017 Sling & Spear Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
My local wine shop loves finding these Napa Valley wines that disruptors need to dump. This is no exception. Sweeter fruit, dirt and floral notes. Thin overall and not much going on. Easy pass and no wonder $27 a bottle. (75 pts.)
Haskell’s Table
A few good one’s but Saint Clair that Ben guy gave 91 and it is garbage.
- N.V. Schramsberg Vineyards Mirabelle Brut Rose – USA, California, North Coast
Ok this was very nice with strawberries, rose petals, spice, minerals and chalk. Very good offering and way better than the Veuve. (89 pts.) - 2024 Saint Clair Family Estate Sauvignon Blanc Dillons Point – New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
What a terrible offering from New Zealand. Pepper? Never had that on a NZ SB. Grass overload with some chemicals and spice. Not sure what they are trying to do here. Well for sure did not use AI on this note. (60 pts.)
- 2021 Andre Goichot Saint-Véran – France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Saint-Véran
Another ordinary Burgundy wine. At $22 a complete overpriced offering. Spice, lemon and floral notes. Shorter finish. Nothing special here. (83 pts.) - 2021 Andre Goichot Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge – France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune
Very thin and boring. Water chestnuts, earth, light fruit and dried flowers. Very short finish. (78 pts.) - 2023 Greetings Wine Company Pinot Noir – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
If you greeted me with this junk in Willamette Valley I would never go back. While drinkable not what I would want to drink. Sweeter style with ripe strawberries, spices and raspberries. Thin and shorter finish. Acidity is lacking. Easy pass. Clearly buying bulk grapes no one wanted. At least better than the 22. (72 pts.) - 2023 NW Wine Company Pinot Noir Second Growth Eola – Amity Hills – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills
Mass produced Pinot will never be good and this is no exception. Plastic taste along with ripe fruit and floral notes. Some pepper on the short finish. NO. (67 pts.) - 2021 Andre Goichot Santenay – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Santenay
Not sure how this producer is still in business. All of their wines are below levels of quality for the money. Earth, spice, floral and mushrooms. Drinkable but for $30 I can get a great Pinot from Oregon. (82 pts.) - 2019 Jean-Philippe Marchand Pinot Noir Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Le Parc De Faye – Kosher – France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits
Can we get a longer name for such a mediocre wine? Mushrooms, raspberries, floral and earth. Medium finish. For $25 overpriced. (83 pts.) - 2016 Château Lamothe Bergeron – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Not bad with cherry, cigar, minerals, earth and wood. Still going strong and one of the better wines at this tasting. (90 pts.) - 2021 Podere Roseto Bolgheri Superiore – Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore
Solid effort with cherry, blue currants, spices, floral, minerals and stone. Medium finish and very nice wine. (91 pts.)
Vinocopia
Nothing good.
- N.V. Piattelli Vineyards Méthode Champenoise Brut Nature – Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
Stick to Malbec. This was terrible with chalk, light fruit and some spice. Short finish and acidity is lacking. Not good. (70 pts.) - 2024 Kono Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Drinkable for sure. Grass, white flowers, grapefruit, minerals and orange peel. Clean and easy drinking wine. (87 pts.) - 2025 Piattelli Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve – Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Tupungato
Not bad and clean wine. Spice, lemon, floral and minerals. Solid effort for $14. (84 pts.)
- 2023 Piattelli Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
Fine but nothing special. Dust, floral, earth, cherry and plum. A bit hot. (83 pts.) - 2024 Piattelli Vineyards Malbec Rosé of Malbec – Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
Another Rose that should have never been made. That would be the majority. Boring wine with sweet cherry, plastic and floral notes. Short finish. (70 pts.) - 2024 Piattelli Vineyards Malbec Premium – Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
Good overall with cherry, plum, spices and rose petals. Clean finish and crowd pleaser. (85 pts.)
Wine Bow
And they have good wine but didn’t pour any.
- 2025 Broadbent Vinho Verde – Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde
Light and clean with lemon, dust, floral and apple. Refreshing. (83 pts.) - 2024 De Loach Chardonnay Heritage Reserve – USA, California
Nothing to see here. Another poorly made, cheap Chardonnay. Melon, spice, artificial taste and water. Pass. (70 pts.) - 2020 Domaine Lafage Tessellae Old Vines – France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon
Ok stuff with raspberries, floral, earth, light pepper and minerals. Not bad. (84 pts.)
- 2021 One Stone Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Ok I am a broken record. No good Cabs exist in Paso and another bad one. Sweet strawberries, floral and sugar. Too sweet. (71 pts.)
- 2023 The Vice Pinot Noir – USA, California, Napa Valley
Easy pass. Why is Napa doing Pinot? Anyway sweet with ripe fruits, floral and some heavy spice. A bit hot. (75 pts.)
Paustis
Should have poured the Gravel Bar and they would have sold six cases.
- 2023 Lismore Wines Sauvignon Blanc The Retreat – New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Might not want to retreat immediately but it is not very good and look elsewhere. Grapefruit, spice, tropical fruit but then too much grass. Short finish that the flavors fade away quickly. (80 pts.) - 2023 Wente Vineyards Chardonnay Morning Fog – USA, California, Central Coast
One of the better inexpensive Chardonnays on the market. Lemon, white flowers, spice, Carmel and minerals. Recommended. (87 pts.) - 2023 Bread & Butter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – USA, California, Napa Valley
Napa really does make a lot of bad Cabs. You don’t see that from Red Mountain in Washington. Very boring with riper fruits, wood and dark chocolate. Simple stuff. (80 pts.)
- 2022 Vinhos Sogrape Silk & Spice – Portugal
Never liked these wines and earth, dust, light fruits and floral notes. Simple stuff and lacks any excitement. (81 pts.) - 2022 Bodegas El Coto Rioja Crianza – Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
Well Rioja does make some bad wines and this is one of them. Light with cherry, spices, floral and dirt. Short finish. (75 pts.)
Phillips
All corporate garbage.
- 2024 The Hess Collection Chardonnay Hess Select California – USA, California
Hess makes mainly low quality wines. Thin with a chemical taste. Some fruit and artificial flavors. One of the worst wines tasted this year. (52 pts.) - 2024 Juggernaut Wine Company Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Tastes like Kool Aid. Who drinks this junk? Sweet and artificial fruits. Short finish and headache awaits you with a few glasses. (56 pts.) - 2021 Juggernaut Wine Company Pinot Noir – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Garbage. How did the Russian River Valley allow this wine to be produced here? Sweet and artificial chemical tastes. Spices and sugar taste. Boo! (55 pts.)
- 2021 Juggernaut Wine Company Hillside Cabernet – USA, California
When we say less people are drinking wine hopefully they are introduced to these. We need to educate the younger generation and get them some good stuff. Sweet like all their offerings and offers little pleasure. (63 pts.)
- 2022 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon California – USA, California
Another poorly made Gott. Sweeter fruit, spice and floral notes. Short finish. (70 pts.) - 2023 Joel Gott Unoaked Chardonnay – USA, California
Not a fan of unoaked Chardonnay. Neutral or a few year old barrels are best. Simple wine with light fruits, water, light floral and mild spice. Just a boring wine. (75 pts.)
Maverick
They have good wine and forget to bring any.
- N.V. C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Cava Brut – Spain, Cava
Better than the Veuve with some energy. Minerals, chalk, spices, lemon and floral notes. Good value. (88 pts.) - 2024 Sea Pearl Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough – New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Pretty good overall and better than all the other SB’s at this tasting. Tropical fruit, lime, spice and floral. (87 pts.)
Johnson Brothers
That is what you brought?
- 2022 Chemistry Pinot Noir – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
How does Haskell’s justify carrying this and more important who would actually drink this? Chemical, candied fruit and some spice. The finish needs immediate food to get the taste out of your mouth. One point higher than the 50 given last time. (51 pts.) - 2023 Chemistry Sauvignon Blanc – USA, Oregon, Columbia Valley
These Chemistry wines should be shut down immediately. Some of the worst wines in Oregon if not the worst. Chemical taste with very little fruit and chalk. Not sure what I just tasted. (53 pts.) - 2023 La Crema Chardonnay Monterey – USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey
Decent wine and they can make Chardonnay that is drinkable. Lemon, spice, floral and pear. Clean wine. (85 pts.) - 2022 La Crema Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Sonoma County
Stick to Chardonnay. (65 pts.) - 2023 Francis Ford Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Collection Black Label Claret – USA, California
Not good with sweet fruit, spice and floral notes. Short finish. (76 pts.)
Just to show how many crap wines are in the market.