Well let’s just say many of these did not get to day 3 since they were so bad up front. No hope for improvement. Here we go.
Number 1 Worst Wine from France.
- NV Toad Hollow Limoux Risqué – France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Limoux (9/5/2021)
Worst wine of the year candidate in all categories. Welch’s grape juice with bubbles. Lacks acidity and short finish. My wife got this in your Christmas stocking last year. Hopefully she is better this year. Note: Served in a perrier-jouet Champagne Flute. Will not be a second day on this one. (61 points)
- Number 2 from Austalia.
- 2018 19 Crimes Pinot Noir The Punishment – Australia, South Eastern (3/4/2021)
Normally I would never review a wine like this but my wife got a gift from a colleague. Not sure I would be thrilled with a gift of this caliber but I guess it is the thought that counts. Burnt earth, Easter egg dye and muted fruit. There is no acidity to speak of. I was just ranting on people who score wines low but this wine I will make an exception. There is no quality in this wine that merits anymore than a solid D.
By drinking this without hitting any taste buds it is still terrible. This might be the worst wine I have tasted in a very long time. Hard to believe the popularity of this wine.
Day 2: Let’s put it this way there was a lot left in the bottle. Scorched earth in the worst way, water, yes I said water, muted fruit. When I say there is no acidity I mean it. I can’t figure out where they got the grapes for this wine but this tastes like one of the jug wines from the Central Valley in California only worse. 62 points (65 points)
Number 3: Tie from California & California
- 2020 River Road Family Vineyards and Winery Chardonnay Un-Oaked – USA, California, Sonoma County (6/13/2021)
This is some seriously bad Chardonnay. I have never liked un-oaked Chardonnay and this one is no exception. Can’t really get a fruit profile and thin wine with an easter egg dye feel. One of those wines they have out at Total Wine hoping you buy it. Can’t believe this costs more the Columbia Crest H3. (70 points)
- 2017 Michael-David Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Freakshow – USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi (5/8/2021)
Day 1: Got this in my Santa sack and let me tell you I must have really been bad in 2020! Easter egg dye, water, some spice and diluted red currants. To say this has a short finish would be an understatement. This wine is totally made for the consumer that slams their wine and looks for fun labels. 65 points
Day 2: Sweeter. Now we are talking. Spice and sweet fruits. Cardboard after taste. Big improvement as it is now! 68 points
Day 4: Wow is this sweet now! Candied fruits in the house. Acidity almost non existent. Had to drink a cup of coffee to kill the taste. 67 points
Day 5: A little better. Fruit not as canided and some nice smoke notes. Never give up on a wine. 70 points
Recommendation: If you are a label shopper go for it. If you want something about the same price range that is good then buy Substance Cabernet from Washington. (70 points)
Number 5 from Italy
- 2018 Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva – Italy, Sardinia, Cannonau di Sardegna (12/4/2021)
Day 1: Manufactured wine with no sole. Tastes cheap. Dust, muted fruit and spices. Horrible finish, disjointed finish with little to offer. One of the worst wines I have tasted this year.
Day 2: Even worse on day 2. Thin, cheap, manufactured, candied and muted finish. This is not a flawed bottle but a poorly made wine. Avoid! 70 points
Day 2.5: This wine is terrible and I can’t believe the scores on this wine. Again this is not flawed and I have tasted well over 10,000 wines. The fact a pro critic gave this 90 and 91 points is concerning. I would rather press Sunkist raisins into liquid form and drink. 65 points
Day 3: Raisins, water and earth. A bit better but not much. This is aweful. 71 points
Day 4: Paint thinner, water and damp earth. 62 points
Recommendation: NO!!!!! Won’t give up on Cannonau (Grenache) but this is not a good start to Italian Grenache. (71 points)
Number 6: From Hungry
- 2018 Donausonne Blaufränkisch – Hungary, Duna, Kunsag (12/11/2021)
Tried this at Haskell’s and funny someone on Cellar Tracker bought a bottle of this. Sweet with floral and candied fruit. Simple wine. House party wine. (76 points)
Number 7: From California
- 2019 Bogle Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel – USA, California (12/23/2021)
MN Valley Fine Wine Tasting Group Ugly Sweater Event (Edina, MN): Terrible stuff. Sweet and fruit forward. Little in the way of complexity. (78 points)
Number 8: From California
- 2017 Marietta Cellars Christo – USA, California, Sonoma County (7/18/2021)
Day 1: A bit sweet for my tastes. Liked other vintages better. Red hots, spice and chalk. As others have noted not a good wine. Really disappointing 14 and 15 were solid but this is a complete bust. Will of course try over the course of 3 or 4 days to see if it improves. 80 points
Day 2: This will be a worst wine of the year candidate. HOT, red hots you ate as a child. Spice, ripe fruit and no balance to the wine. Not sure if it is the whole vintage of this wine or a bad batch. 75 points
Day 3: Heat has died down but quality is still low. Dirt, spices and some fruit. Better than day 1 and 2 due to the lack of heat but still a poorly made wine. 81 points
Recommendation: Don’t buy! (80 points)
Number 9: From California
- 2017 Blackbird Vineyards Arise – USA, California, Napa Valley (10/14/2021)
Day 1: First bottle was slightly corked. I will say I like another vintage of this wine but this 2017 is awful. Hot wine with oak, vanilla, spices, ripe fruits and no balance. This is a huge disappointment. The fact Vinous Media gave this 90 points only should be alarming. 84 points
Day 2: A little better but not much. So much oak/vanilla even worse than a Rioja aged in new American oak. Some fruit there but so heavy. Dark chocolate on the finish. 84.5 points
Day 3: The worst of the days. What a mess of a wine with over the top oak with little else showing through. 80 points
Recommendation: Unless you like big oak wines this one is not for you and I don’t see this aging well but if you have some drink 2028 and beyond. (84 points)
Number 10: From California
Not very good. Not a fan of Paso Robles Cabernet lately and this is no expectation. Muted fruit, earth and some floral notes. Short finish and a bit sweet. (80 points)
Toad Hollow makes a really bad Chradonnay.
Matt everything they make is bad! Cheers my friend.