Dr. H
@dr.h.winesky.app
Wine drinker 🍷 Building @winesky.app
Gradually bringing my old reviews over to Bluesky, and will continue posting only here going forward.
Expect lots of #spanishwine reviews, plus some assorted stuff.
Gradually bringing my old reviews over to Bluesky, and will continue posting only here going forward.
Expect lots of #spanishwine reviews, plus some assorted stuff.
Pinned
Dr. H
@dr.h.winesky.app
· Oct 29
Dr. H's Wine Rating Scale
doctors-corner.leaflet.pub
I've been publishing lots of wine ratings lately, so what do they mean for me? What's the difference between 3 and 4 stars?
Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Quality Brut by Ployez-Jacquemart (2018) - 4 ⭐
Biscuit, brioche, and... is that lemon?
A nice acidity I don't remember from the last time I tried it.
It went great with smoked sardines and tuna gildas, which I didn't expect....
1/2
🍷 #winesky #frenchwine
Biscuit, brioche, and... is that lemon?
A nice acidity I don't remember from the last time I tried it.
It went great with smoked sardines and tuna gildas, which I didn't expect....
1/2
🍷 #winesky #frenchwine
January 1, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Quality Brut by Ployez-Jacquemart (2018) - 4 ⭐
Biscuit, brioche, and... is that lemon?
A nice acidity I don't remember from the last time I tried it.
It went great with smoked sardines and tuna gildas, which I didn't expect....
1/2
🍷 #winesky #frenchwine
Biscuit, brioche, and... is that lemon?
A nice acidity I don't remember from the last time I tried it.
It went great with smoked sardines and tuna gildas, which I didn't expect....
1/2
🍷 #winesky #frenchwine
Extra Quality Brut Champagne by Ployez-Jacquemart (N.V.) - 4½ ⭐
Bone, talcum, then apple, toasted almonds, bit of licorice as it warms up, along with a slight hint of mead. I'd have said it was too interesting to be a champagne - much less at this price range!
🍷 #winesky #frenchwine #champagne
Bone, talcum, then apple, toasted almonds, bit of licorice as it warms up, along with a slight hint of mead. I'd have said it was too interesting to be a champagne - much less at this price range!
🍷 #winesky #frenchwine #champagne
January 1, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Extra Quality Brut Champagne by Ployez-Jacquemart (N.V.) - 4½ ⭐
Bone, talcum, then apple, toasted almonds, bit of licorice as it warms up, along with a slight hint of mead. I'd have said it was too interesting to be a champagne - much less at this price range!
🍷 #winesky #frenchwine #champagne
Bone, talcum, then apple, toasted almonds, bit of licorice as it warms up, along with a slight hint of mead. I'd have said it was too interesting to be a champagne - much less at this price range!
🍷 #winesky #frenchwine #champagne
Gewürztraminer Somontano by Viñas del Vero (2021) - 3½ ⭐
Lychee, lemon, just slightly floral, not too sweet. Bit of pear, later. Works with mapo tofu although currently more inclined to the Rio Negro.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Lychee, lemon, just slightly floral, not too sweet. Bit of pear, later. Works with mapo tofu although currently more inclined to the Rio Negro.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 31, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Gewürztraminer Somontano by Viñas del Vero (2021) - 3½ ⭐
Lychee, lemon, just slightly floral, not too sweet. Bit of pear, later. Works with mapo tofu although currently more inclined to the Rio Negro.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Lychee, lemon, just slightly floral, not too sweet. Bit of pear, later. Works with mapo tofu although currently more inclined to the Rio Negro.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
BACANTA Reserva by Crama Gîrboiu (2020) - 4 ⭐
Cherry, pepper, black cherries, coffee, chocolate. Bold and then some.
At €30 - and in Romania, mind you, before shipping! - it's got tough competition, but it's a great effort...... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
Cherry, pepper, black cherries, coffee, chocolate. Bold and then some.
At €30 - and in Romania, mind you, before shipping! - it's got tough competition, but it's a great effort...... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
December 31, 2025 at 10:28 AM
BACANTA Reserva by Crama Gîrboiu (2020) - 4 ⭐
Cherry, pepper, black cherries, coffee, chocolate. Bold and then some.
At €30 - and in Romania, mind you, before shipping! - it's got tough competition, but it's a great effort...... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
Cherry, pepper, black cherries, coffee, chocolate. Bold and then some.
At €30 - and in Romania, mind you, before shipping! - it's got tough competition, but it's a great effort...... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
Tectonic by Crama Gîrboiu (N.V.) - 3 ⭐
Fresh melon, apricot, mead. Something herbal behind the apricot when it's colder.
Fresh but not much else. More of a "summer when already tipsy" kind of wine, than something to pair with food.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
Fresh melon, apricot, mead. Something herbal behind the apricot when it's colder.
Fresh but not much else. More of a "summer when already tipsy" kind of wine, than something to pair with food.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
December 31, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Tectonic by Crama Gîrboiu (N.V.) - 3 ⭐
Fresh melon, apricot, mead. Something herbal behind the apricot when it's colder.
Fresh but not much else. More of a "summer when already tipsy" kind of wine, than something to pair with food.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
Fresh melon, apricot, mead. Something herbal behind the apricot when it's colder.
Fresh but not much else. More of a "summer when already tipsy" kind of wine, than something to pair with food.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
Olt de Vie Negru de Drăgășani by Avincis (2019) - 4 ⭐
This Negru de Drǎgaşani was unexpected.
A flat, blunt instrument of licorice and something like cabbage at first had me wondering if we'd gotten a lemon.... 1/3
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
This Negru de Drǎgaşani was unexpected.
A flat, blunt instrument of licorice and something like cabbage at first had me wondering if we'd gotten a lemon.... 1/3
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
December 30, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Olt de Vie Negru de Drăgășani by Avincis (2019) - 4 ⭐
This Negru de Drǎgaşani was unexpected.
A flat, blunt instrument of licorice and something like cabbage at first had me wondering if we'd gotten a lemon.... 1/3
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
This Negru de Drǎgaşani was unexpected.
A flat, blunt instrument of licorice and something like cabbage at first had me wondering if we'd gotten a lemon.... 1/3
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine
Merlot by Bacanta (2009) - 4 ⭐
Plums and vanilla. Needs to breathe for a couple of hours or it is nothing but a blunt instrument. Once it’s breathed, you have chocolate, pepper, some blood.
Red Wine from Vrancea
(From Jul. 2014)
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine #vrancea #merlot
Plums and vanilla. Needs to breathe for a couple of hours or it is nothing but a blunt instrument. Once it’s breathed, you have chocolate, pepper, some blood.
Red Wine from Vrancea
(From Jul. 2014)
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine #vrancea #merlot
December 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Merlot by Bacanta (2009) - 4 ⭐
Plums and vanilla. Needs to breathe for a couple of hours or it is nothing but a blunt instrument. Once it’s breathed, you have chocolate, pepper, some blood.
Red Wine from Vrancea
(From Jul. 2014)
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine #vrancea #merlot
Plums and vanilla. Needs to breathe for a couple of hours or it is nothing but a blunt instrument. Once it’s breathed, you have chocolate, pepper, some blood.
Red Wine from Vrancea
(From Jul. 2014)
🍷 #winesky #romanianwine #vrancea #merlot
Cabezadas by Bodega Bideona (2023) - 3½ ⭐
Slight sweetness, almost like an almost ripe pineapple. Ripe peach, green quince.
I need to try it again, and I’m inclined to rate it a 4, but I don’t gush enough in my notes so giving it a 3.5 for now.
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #wine #riojaalavesa #viura
Slight sweetness, almost like an almost ripe pineapple. Ripe peach, green quince.
I need to try it again, and I’m inclined to rate it a 4, but I don’t gush enough in my notes so giving it a 3.5 for now.
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #wine #riojaalavesa #viura
December 29, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Cabezadas by Bodega Bideona (2023) - 3½ ⭐
Slight sweetness, almost like an almost ripe pineapple. Ripe peach, green quince.
I need to try it again, and I’m inclined to rate it a 4, but I don’t gush enough in my notes so giving it a 3.5 for now.
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #wine #riojaalavesa #viura
Slight sweetness, almost like an almost ripe pineapple. Ripe peach, green quince.
I need to try it again, and I’m inclined to rate it a 4, but I don’t gush enough in my notes so giving it a 3.5 for now.
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #wine #riojaalavesa #viura
Bigardo by Bodega Bigardo (N.V.) - 4 ⭐
First nose inpression, for half a second there, was almost like a nice Oloroso (might have been the place). Milk coffee, licorice, chocolate milk, hazelnut. Went great with braised beef cheeks.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
First nose inpression, for half a second there, was almost like a nice Oloroso (might have been the place). Milk coffee, licorice, chocolate milk, hazelnut. Went great with braised beef cheeks.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Bigardo by Bodega Bigardo (N.V.) - 4 ⭐
First nose inpression, for half a second there, was almost like a nice Oloroso (might have been the place). Milk coffee, licorice, chocolate milk, hazelnut. Went great with braised beef cheeks.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
First nose inpression, for half a second there, was almost like a nice Oloroso (might have been the place). Milk coffee, licorice, chocolate milk, hazelnut. Went great with braised beef cheeks.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Apóstata by Peninsula Vinicultores S.L. (2019) - 3½ ⭐
Sausages, chorizo, pepper, spices, before we even get to black cherries.
Trickled down. Went sensationally with some thick, syrupy pork belly Saam.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Sausages, chorizo, pepper, spices, before we even get to black cherries.
Trickled down. Went sensationally with some thick, syrupy pork belly Saam.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 29, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Apóstata by Peninsula Vinicultores S.L. (2019) - 3½ ⭐
Sausages, chorizo, pepper, spices, before we even get to black cherries.
Trickled down. Went sensationally with some thick, syrupy pork belly Saam.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Sausages, chorizo, pepper, spices, before we even get to black cherries.
Trickled down. Went sensationally with some thick, syrupy pork belly Saam.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Arrocal Gumiel de Mercado Village by Bodegas Arrocal (2024) - 2½ ⭐
Young and jammy - not much else to say. One of the most aggressively average house wines I’ve had recently, and sold by the glass at an outrageous price at a snobby joint.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Young and jammy - not much else to say. One of the most aggressively average house wines I’ve had recently, and sold by the glass at an outrageous price at a snobby joint.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Arrocal Gumiel de Mercado Village by Bodegas Arrocal (2024) - 2½ ⭐
Young and jammy - not much else to say. One of the most aggressively average house wines I’ve had recently, and sold by the glass at an outrageous price at a snobby joint.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Young and jammy - not much else to say. One of the most aggressively average house wines I’ve had recently, and sold by the glass at an outrageous price at a snobby joint.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Ok @bot-tan.suibari.com is funny but too much. 🤣
December 29, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Ok @bot-tan.suibari.com is funny but too much. 🤣
Not a bad piece, but if you are writing about the wine industry needing new blood, you could showcase bodegas that younger, and maybe feature more than (checks notes...) a single one.
‘Too important not to fight for’: Spain’s wine industry seeks infusion of new blood
‘Too important not to fight for’: Spain’s wine industry seeks infusion of new blood
Rural depopulation compounding challenges of climate emergency and changing technologies in drawing young people to sector
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Not a bad piece, but if you are writing about the wine industry needing new blood, you could showcase bodegas that younger, and maybe feature more than (checks notes...) a single one.
Reposted by Dr. H
I believe we've resolved the Safari issue - let us know if you still run into any issues!
Currently chasing an issue on winesky.app where, on iOS Safari, it seems to lock up when returning from your PDS during the OAuth process.
The current workaround is to install as a PWA before you sign in. Click on Share, pull up the sheet, then tap "Add to Home Screen".
#ATDev
The current workaround is to install as a PWA before you sign in. Click on Share, pull up the sheet, then tap "Add to Home Screen".
#ATDev
Winesky
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December 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I believe we've resolved the Safari issue - let us know if you still run into any issues!
Quinta del 67 by Bodegas Volver (2023) - 4 ⭐
Smells like licorice and chocolate, then more licorice, mint, aniseed. Coffee, too, on the palate, then chocolate milk, vanilla, black currant, tobacco, leather, black pepper.
Drips down the glass like the 15% it is.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Smells like licorice and chocolate, then more licorice, mint, aniseed. Coffee, too, on the palate, then chocolate milk, vanilla, black currant, tobacco, leather, black pepper.
Drips down the glass like the 15% it is.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Quinta del 67 by Bodegas Volver (2023) - 4 ⭐
Smells like licorice and chocolate, then more licorice, mint, aniseed. Coffee, too, on the palate, then chocolate milk, vanilla, black currant, tobacco, leather, black pepper.
Drips down the glass like the 15% it is.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Smells like licorice and chocolate, then more licorice, mint, aniseed. Coffee, too, on the palate, then chocolate milk, vanilla, black currant, tobacco, leather, black pepper.
Drips down the glass like the 15% it is.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Oh Komokabras was fun! I need to have it again, when the weather improves.
It’s #WineWednesday! 🥂 With Komokabras Verde Viño (VT Barbanza e Iria) by Adega Entre Os Ríos at Augurio #sevilla #wine #azaharwine #spain #winesky
🍇 Albariño
✨ lntense notes of peach and apricot with a subtle vegetal touch that adds complexity. Fresh with vibrant acidity and a lingering finish.
🍇 Albariño
✨ lntense notes of peach and apricot with a subtle vegetal touch that adds complexity. Fresh with vibrant acidity and a lingering finish.
December 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Oh Komokabras was fun! I need to have it again, when the weather improves.
Tercio de Elha by Bodegas Infante S.L. (N.V.) - 4 ⭐
Licorice, black currant, prunes, plums, wood, pepper, some cinnamon. Aniseed if you let it breathe, then coffee liqueur and dark chocolate later.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Licorice, black currant, prunes, plums, wood, pepper, some cinnamon. Aniseed if you let it breathe, then coffee liqueur and dark chocolate later.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 24, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Tercio de Elha by Bodegas Infante S.L. (N.V.) - 4 ⭐
Licorice, black currant, prunes, plums, wood, pepper, some cinnamon. Aniseed if you let it breathe, then coffee liqueur and dark chocolate later.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Licorice, black currant, prunes, plums, wood, pepper, some cinnamon. Aniseed if you let it breathe, then coffee liqueur and dark chocolate later.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Becquer by Familia Escudero (2022) - 3 ⭐
Unctuous nose - I did not expect shoe polish from a white Rioja, however light it was. Eggs, cream, pear, almost no peach, some flowers.
Rather rich when it's not as cold as it was when I initially got it.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Unctuous nose - I did not expect shoe polish from a white Rioja, however light it was. Eggs, cream, pear, almost no peach, some flowers.
Rather rich when it's not as cold as it was when I initially got it.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Becquer by Familia Escudero (2022) - 3 ⭐
Unctuous nose - I did not expect shoe polish from a white Rioja, however light it was. Eggs, cream, pear, almost no peach, some flowers.
Rather rich when it's not as cold as it was when I initially got it.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Unctuous nose - I did not expect shoe polish from a white Rioja, however light it was. Eggs, cream, pear, almost no peach, some flowers.
Rather rich when it's not as cold as it was when I initially got it.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Nubori Crianza by Nubori (2022) - 3 ⭐
Plums, vanilla, tobacco, almost no black currant, cherry. Bit jammy. Very middle of the road - neither offensive enough to rant not interested enough to get anything beyond a shrug.
Red Wine from Rioja
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #rioja #tempranillo
Plums, vanilla, tobacco, almost no black currant, cherry. Bit jammy. Very middle of the road - neither offensive enough to rant not interested enough to get anything beyond a shrug.
Red Wine from Rioja
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #rioja #tempranillo
December 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Nubori Crianza by Nubori (2022) - 3 ⭐
Plums, vanilla, tobacco, almost no black currant, cherry. Bit jammy. Very middle of the road - neither offensive enough to rant not interested enough to get anything beyond a shrug.
Red Wine from Rioja
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #rioja #tempranillo
Plums, vanilla, tobacco, almost no black currant, cherry. Bit jammy. Very middle of the road - neither offensive enough to rant not interested enough to get anything beyond a shrug.
Red Wine from Rioja
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #rioja #tempranillo
Gómez Cruzado Rioja Blanco by Gómez Cruzado S.L. (2024) - 3½ ⭐
Lemon cream, apricot, pear, lemon grass, white flowers.
Worked with marinated salmon although didn't particularly enhance it. Overpowered smoked sardines, kinda worked with some tuna gildas.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Lemon cream, apricot, pear, lemon grass, white flowers.
Worked with marinated salmon although didn't particularly enhance it. Overpowered smoked sardines, kinda worked with some tuna gildas.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 19, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Gómez Cruzado Rioja Blanco by Gómez Cruzado S.L. (2024) - 3½ ⭐
Lemon cream, apricot, pear, lemon grass, white flowers.
Worked with marinated salmon although didn't particularly enhance it. Overpowered smoked sardines, kinda worked with some tuna gildas.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Lemon cream, apricot, pear, lemon grass, white flowers.
Worked with marinated salmon although didn't particularly enhance it. Overpowered smoked sardines, kinda worked with some tuna gildas.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
😆
Marilyn Wines Marilyn Merlot 2017, Napa Valley, California
www.instagram.com/reel/DSa6inC...
#merlot #drinkmoreMerlot #NapaValley
www.instagram.com/reel/DSa6inC...
#merlot #drinkmoreMerlot #NapaValley
December 19, 2025 at 4:08 PM
😆
Aresan by Castillo Aresan S.L. (2021) - 3½ ⭐
Licorice, aniseed, little bit of black currant. I wouldn't have guessed it was a Cabernet Sauvignon - it feels like an almost-but-not-quite-there El Vigilante.
It's interesting, just not enough.
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #wine #cabernetsauvignon
Licorice, aniseed, little bit of black currant. I wouldn't have guessed it was a Cabernet Sauvignon - it feels like an almost-but-not-quite-there El Vigilante.
It's interesting, just not enough.
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #wine #cabernetsauvignon
December 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Aresan by Castillo Aresan S.L. (2021) - 3½ ⭐
Licorice, aniseed, little bit of black currant. I wouldn't have guessed it was a Cabernet Sauvignon - it feels like an almost-but-not-quite-there El Vigilante.
It's interesting, just not enough.
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #wine #cabernetsauvignon
Licorice, aniseed, little bit of black currant. I wouldn't have guessed it was a Cabernet Sauvignon - it feels like an almost-but-not-quite-there El Vigilante.
It's interesting, just not enough.
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #wine #cabernetsauvignon
Vendimia Infinita by AltoLandon (2023) - 3½ ⭐
Shoe polish, perfume, strong cherries, some black currant. Punchy, but with a zest on the tongue, and very drinkable - like a nice wine you'd get to walk around a market at 11am.
... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Shoe polish, perfume, strong cherries, some black currant. Punchy, but with a zest on the tongue, and very drinkable - like a nice wine you'd get to walk around a market at 11am.
... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Vendimia Infinita by AltoLandon (2023) - 3½ ⭐
Shoe polish, perfume, strong cherries, some black currant. Punchy, but with a zest on the tongue, and very drinkable - like a nice wine you'd get to walk around a market at 11am.
... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Shoe polish, perfume, strong cherries, some black currant. Punchy, but with a zest on the tongue, and very drinkable - like a nice wine you'd get to walk around a market at 11am.
... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Secua Viognier Crianza en Lias by Finca La Estacada, S.L. (2023) - 3½ ⭐
Hay, barn, and... what was the name of those white flowers? Not chamomile, but others I can't place. Honeysuckle?... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Hay, barn, and... what was the name of those white flowers? Not chamomile, but others I can't place. Honeysuckle?... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 17, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Secua Viognier Crianza en Lias by Finca La Estacada, S.L. (2023) - 3½ ⭐
Hay, barn, and... what was the name of those white flowers? Not chamomile, but others I can't place. Honeysuckle?... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Hay, barn, and... what was the name of those white flowers? Not chamomile, but others I can't place. Honeysuckle?... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Gago by Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez (2019) - 3½ ⭐
Plums, black cherries, some light chocolatey flavor first... then chocolate, later, deep and dark.
Smooth, drinkable. Got it by the glass and it was criminally cold at first - it deserves better.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Plums, black cherries, some light chocolatey flavor first... then chocolate, later, deep and dark.
Smooth, drinkable. Got it by the glass and it was criminally cold at first - it deserves better.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
December 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Gago by Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez (2019) - 3½ ⭐
Plums, black cherries, some light chocolatey flavor first... then chocolate, later, deep and dark.
Smooth, drinkable. Got it by the glass and it was criminally cold at first - it deserves better.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine
Plums, black cherries, some light chocolatey flavor first... then chocolate, later, deep and dark.
Smooth, drinkable. Got it by the glass and it was criminally cold at first - it deserves better.... 1/2
🍷 #winesky #spanishwine