Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $50

Bittersweet occasion and went way above my budget to celebrate my birthday and also mourn Grandma Julie's passing. She loved CdP so thought I'd splurge on one. I've only had a couple but have loved every one I tried. This was a bit different, I'm used to bright fruit forward but this was very muted cooked dark fruit with a lot of emphasis on the baking spice and earthy tobacco notes. Incredibly complex - licorice, coffee, clove, tobacco with an underlying subtle dried/cooked dark fruit. Crazy smooth, but I'm comparing it to sub $20 wines that I'm used to, and you can barely tell that it's 15% alc. Nice tannins but I think it would benefit from a touch more acidity. I'm being picky since I paid so much for it but in summary it's one of the best made wines I've ever had, but not among my favorites. But it's still a great experience and I don't regret the purchase — 3 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $11

Nose of dark fruit, maybe plum, and what I can only describe as savory. Bright acidity is the first thing I notice, black cherry, salt, and a smokey minerality that goes with a savoriness that reminds me of fire roasted tomatoes. Has a slight sweetness on the finish but not like anise, more like maybe tobacco or balsamic. The savory notes are very prominent and make my mouth water on the finish, long lasting tannins. Very complex, there is so much going on, reminds me of a homemade tomato meat sauce which I suppose makes sense why Chianti is known as such a good food wine. Easily the best Chianti I've had and really opened my eyes to how good Chianti can be. — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $15

Cherry and pencil shavings on the nose. Lighter bodied and smooth with very mellow fruit. Kind of reminds me of Gamay with the fruit toned down. Good minerality mixed with what I can only describe as faintly "green" - this must be the bell pepper I learned to look out for in Cabernet Franc. Also getting an anise-like sweetness on the finish with long lasting tannins. Also the perfect amount of acid for me, which is probably less than most people like but it was refreshing compared to the acid bombs I've been drinking lately. My first Cab Franc and first Chinon, I very much enjoyed it! — 4 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.0

Cherry, raspberry, blackberry, currant, vanilla and oak. Light-bodied and soft tannins. — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.2

McCarthy & Schiering, $21

Floral and dark fruit on the nose. Super complex, getting all different kinds of tasting notes with each sip. Blackberry, black cherry, wet sand, and a savory note that reminds me of herbs and olives and a touch of smokiness. The fruit is ripe but it still has a very bright acidity, maybe a touch too much for my tastes, smooth tannins and lingers on the palate for awhile - medium bodied. It may not be the best tasting wine I've ever had, but it is definitely one of the most refined and complex and was very enjoyable to drink! — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.0

McCarthy & Schiering, $16

Typical Gamay fruit bomb so of course I love it. Quite dry, low acidity and tannins. It does have a cranberry-like bitterness in the finish that I'm not crazy about. Not my favorite Gamay but still really nice! — 4 years ago

Timmer McCarthy

9.6

WOTN... even with the coffee cups and front desk crock screw @Tim McCarthy ! — 4 years ago

with Tim

Benjamin Shirk

9.0

McCarthy & Schiering, $21

Translucent red in the glass, you could probably convince me it was a rosé it's so light. Surprisingly full bouquet of tart red berries, rubber, and a peppery bite. Very light and delicate, mainly tart cranberry with a touch of cream. At first I was underwhelmed, feeling like it just tasted of watered down cranberry juice, but the more I tasted the more I appreciated just how damn well balanced it is. Bright beautiful bouquet, just enough acidity, delicate secondary flavor notes dancing around the light cranberry/cherry, and just enough tannins to give texture and something to think about on the finish. Dangerously gulpable. If it was under $15 I'd completely stock up, but it is still a great experience at the $21 I paid — 3 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.1

McCarthy & Schiering, $13

Really nice textbook Beaujolais. Tart red fruit, slightly floral, and also an interesting earthiness that reminds me of slightly spiced soil. Not a funky bretty compost note but like a fresh soil, I quite like it. Some beauj can be a touch acidic but this was perfectly balanced, just enough acidity. Probably my favorite bang for the buck Beaujolais when I don't want to "splurge" on a cru. — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.4

McCarthy & Schiering, $19

Red fruits on the nose - strawberry and raspberry. Soft flavors of red berries as well with a mineral background. There's a fun sweet and sour note playing together - the sour from the slightly acidic berry notes and then the sweetness reminds me of Red Vines licorice. Nice smooth tannins, the acidity is just enough to brighten and balance, the fruit is very forward and delicious but there's other things there to keep it interesting. It's less floral and silky than the Fleurie I had before this, but still an excellent Beaujolais, my second favorite of all time so far — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.8

McCarthy & Schiering, $22

Wow. Very floral at the start followed up by bright red fruit. Beautiful acidity - it's prominent, but not harsh at all because the wine is so silky smooth that you taste acid but don't feel it. The silkiness persists and leaves sort of a creamy feeling in your mouth. The finish has a great minerality like you just drank water from a mountain spring. This is the 70th wine I've reviewed since I started learning about wine so I'm still new, but this is the best wine I've ever had in my life. — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.0

McCarthy & Schiering, $15

Dark ruby, fairly opaque. Nose is a total fruit bomb with a bit of astringency. My mom used to have a black plum tree in the front yard where the plums would have super sweet dark plum flesh with a very sour thick skin. If you add a touch of cherry that's exactly what this wine tastes like. Somehow both sweet and very tart, full flavor and pretty high tannins, also has a noticeable alcohol bite. Still very nice, if maybe a bit one dimensional. I'm going to have to check out more Nero D'avola — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $15

Tart concentrated red fruit on the nose. Intense red fruit, beyond jammy and more like prune/dried cranberry. Touch of sweetness, good acidity, any more and it would be too acidic. The thick fruitiness almost gives a cough syrup vibe but isn't unpleasant. Maybe a little one dimensional but I quite liked it very drinkable and it was very unique. — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.2

McCarthy & Schiering, $14

Slightly smokey and spiced dried cherry and raspberry on the nose. Dried fruit/prune with tons of anise and baking spice flavors that almost over power the fruit. Somehow with all these rich flavors it's still not heavy bodied and has plenty of fresh acidity with a silky finish like chocolate. Kind of reminds me of a lighter brighter Malbec. Tons of complexity, really well balanced, and a bit different than the CdR I've had experience with. Really great value. — 3 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $13

Juicy red fruit and a touch of mint on the nose. Strawberry and pomegranate with the perfect amount of acidity for me. Silky, but a little more tannic on the finish than I'm used to in Beaujolais. Not picking much else up but I don't mind, this is a super gulpable, balanced, and quality Beaujolais at a great price, I'm a fan! — 3 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $20

Slight smokiness and very sour cherry on the nose. Slightly tart cherry and touch of smoke with lots of spice. Finishes with a soft spring water minerality on the finish that I've come to recognize often in Beaujolais, along with both an anise-like sweetness and a harsh bitter note resembling citrus peel, kind of like how an amaro is both sweet and bitter. Also had much higher tannins and longer finish than I've seen in the couple Gamays I've had. Loved the complexity and had everything I love in a Beaujolais, but that bitter citrus peel was a little distracting for me, still excellent. Also random observation: This wine had the most sediment I've ever seen. — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.1

McCarthy & Schiering, $14

Nose hits you big juicy tart fruit and a little what I thought was spearmint at first but I think it's closer to cola. Taste is like sour cherry with a sweet dark fruit undertone and more of that mint/cola note. Fresh acidity, verging on too much, and lots of tannin that leaves a bitter finish. I know Dolcetto is known for the bitter almond finish but I felt it was more of a bitter olive note. This was a unique and enjoyable wine for me, refreshing in this summer heat, really good QPR too — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.2

McCarthy & Schiering, $17

Beautiful ruby red with a touch of purple. Very aromatic, red fruits, floral, licorice. Flavor profile is similar - cherry, floral notes, and a slight anise like sweetness with a peppery feeling on the tongue. Full of flavor, fairly strong tannins and very bright. Almost too acidic for my tastes, but was refreshing on a hot summer day and the unique (to me) flavor profile made this wine well worth it. Another gem from Vajra! — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.4

McCarthy & Schiering, $16

Full bodied and thick almost syrupy mouth feel. Lots of berry/cherry with an earthy vanilla sweetness. Long finish, good tannins balanced with slight acidity and not too dry at all. Really well balanced and changed my opinion of Cab Sav, it wasn't super oaky and dry at all, maybe because it was a blend. Paired excellent with my steak! — 4 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.5

McCarthy & Schiering, $12

Nose punches you with dark jammy fruits. Very smooth, light/medium on acidity and tannins. Ripe fruits and getting sort of black olive taste, maybe herbs and a slightly sweet spice finish. Blown away by the value on this, complex smooth and delicious for around $10! — 4 years ago