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Carolyn Hetke

Carolyn Hetke

1806 days ago

Carolyn scored this wine: 97/100

Amazing! This wine is deep, deep purple in the glass. The nose has layers of complexity, starting with mint, white pepper and opening up to intense peppermint, violets and spices. The palate is silky, smooth with refined tannins. More layers of flavour here. Starts with plush dark fruit and layers in some cedar and mint. The finish is long and lingering.This is a joy to drink with everything going on and no harsh notes anywhere. Was perfect with seared lamb and pistachio cream. Tasted June 2018.

1943 days ago

Carolyn scored this wine: 96/100

I thought the Taylor Fladgate 30 year old Tawny was pretty close to perfection, if not perfect, until I tasted the 40 year old. Not to detract from the 30 year old in any way, but the 40 year old is rich and smooth and silky heaven in a glass. The nose and palate are full of hazelnut, vanilla and almond notes. There are no harsh notes, no heat on the nose or palate. The finish is long and warm. This and some salty smoked almonds were a match made in heaven! Tasted February 2018.

1465 days ago

Carolyn scored this wine: 96/100

Before I realized I was tasting one of Spain's most iconic wines of modern times my tasting notes were punctuated with asterisks, underlining and exclamation marks and the word Best? This truly is a haunting wine. It is 91% Grenache 8% Carignan, 1% Grenache Blanc, Macabeo and Pedro Ximenez from vines 75-104 years old. It is fragrant, has the freshness from the sea breezes that is difficult to put into words and has the hallmark damp clay/slate aroma. 2014 was a warm year in Priorat with the highest average temperature recorded up till then. Not because of the daytime temperatures but because of the nighttime temperatures. Then the rains came in September. Botrytis affected grapes were removed daily with tweezers. Ripe, individual grapes were hand picked daily with strict selection criteria, then hand sorted. After spontaneous fermentation with its indigenous yeast and spontaneous malolactic fermentation in wooden containers the wine was aged 15 months in Foudres. The wine is elegant, beautifully balanced. There are red fruits, hints of pepper, wet slate. No one thing stands out, they just come to the fore and then morph into the next sensation. Beautiful long finish. Tasted May 2019 www.thewineloverskitchen.com

Corte Giara Dedicato a Walter

Poggio Al Tesoro Corte Giara Dedicato a Walter 2015

Tuscany I.G.T., Italy
263 days ago

Carolyn scored this wine: 96/100

This 100% Cab Franc leads with a generous nose of beautiful dark fruit, spice, mint and violets. The layered palate is showing the same but add in some mild earthy notes, hints of chocolate and lovely round tannins. An impressive finish tops off a totally enjoyable wine that would be perfect with rack of lamb or pepper steak. Tasted Sept 2022 thewineloverskitchen.com

Big Bang Black Blanc de Noir

Big Head Wines Big Bang Black Blanc de Noir

St. David's Bench, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada
111 days ago

Carolyn scored this wine: 96/100

This beautiful, traditional method Blanc de Noir spent 60 months on the lees and was disgorged with a Chardonnay Recioto Dosage. End result shows off all its heritage with ginger, pear, ripe orchard apple notes and subtle floral tones. The tiniest touch of earthiness lends some interesting weight. Besides being delightfully tasteful with brioche and spice notes, this has a beautiful silky mouthfeel, fine mousse, fantastic tension and an outstanding gingery finish. It just tastes like more and more... Enjoy on its own, with anything puff pastry or chicken pot pie. Tasted February, 2023. thewineloverskitchen. com

Carolyn Hetke

Food BloggerVisit Carolyn's Website

Memorable Wine

A Châteauneuf-du-Pape we had with dinner at Château des Fines Roches. I admit the ambiance probably had a lot to do with the 'memorable' part!

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First Wine

Probably Baby Duck but in all fairness it would have been at the kid's table at Christmas!

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Unusual Wine Experience

Exploring an organic Tuscan winery where there was literally inches of mould on the bottles.

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Current Fav Wine

Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Bordeaux.....That is like asking a mother to choose their favourite child!

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Winner World's Best Drink Writer
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Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award