Bearboat Russian River 2009 Pinot Noir

Bearboat Russian River 2009 Pinot Noir, $16.99-$19.99, 88 points, began in the glass medium ruby trending a light black currant color with a transparent rim.
A uniquely aromatic sweet cooking spice with a touch of red cherry wafted out of the glass.
Having a somewhat rough medium body with fair acidity, mild tannin, worked well with a bounty of red fruit, dominated by tart pomegranate and strawberry.
Finished on a pronounced 13.5% alcohol with spice notes and buffered with a smooth vanilla.
Bearboat has always been a value Pinot Noir.

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J Nicole's Vineyard Russian River Valley 2008 Pinot Noir

J Nicole's Vineyard Russian River Valley 2008 Pinot Noir, $34.19-$52.99, 93 points, appeared deep ruby trending dark pomegranate red toward the leggy clear glass wall.
This most stridently red/black grape-scented Pinot Noir added subtle cooking spice, earth, chocolate, and  red cherry to its profuse aroma.
The flavor profile followed the aroma diligently with a touch of wood and licorice.
Medium-plus and rich bodied with good acidity mild-plus tannin, surged elegant and almost "cerebral" (a descriptor I shy away from)!
Finished long with hints of red cherry, plum, spice, and some heat (14.2% alcohol).

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Ghost Pines 2011 Merlot, my last spooky wine for Halloween!

Ghost Pines 2011 Merlot, $16.99-$22.99, 89 points, shows black at the core trending beet-red toward the broadly clear rim at the glass wall.
Lots of subtle smells of beet, loam, and clove, that as a whole are substantial.
Nearly full bodied with fair acidity, moderate tannin which kicks-in more toward the late palate.
Floral flavors, not over-done, complement a rich black fruit bounty with just a hint licorice.
Finishes on a lush trailing palate with some spice and the 14.2% alcohol.
My choice for a ghostly Halloween motif red table wine.

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Duckhorn Napa Valley 2012 Sauvignon Blanc

Duckhorn Napa Valley 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, $28.99-$31.99, 92 points, a price higher than most California Sauvignon Blanc wines, but a price I'd easily pay again after the last two disappointing Pinot Noir wines I just had! (apples and oranges?)
Gray with a brass-tone color shimmers almost silver.
An immaculate aroma of lime, tangerine, a hint of Lychee nut and honeysuckle wafts as pleasantly as it sounds.
The near medium body carries good acidity with its citrus flavors.
Finishes beautifully with honeydew melon, ginger, and white pepper.
Varietals were 83% Sauvignon Blanc 17% Sémillon.

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Erath Oregon 2011 Pinot Noir

Erath Oregon 2011 Pinot Noir, $13.99-$18.99, 90 points, appears very clear with a bright pomegranate red color and a clear rim.
The nose hints at sweaty socks, clove, and black cherry.
Having a medium body with lively acidity, mild tannin, tart red and black cherry with pomegranate and softer strawberry, reveals a young invigorating red wine.
Finishes very long on the trailing palate, just a hint of the 13% alcohol, with red and white pepper.

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Erath Estate Selection Willamette Valley 2010 Pinot Noir

Erath Estate Selection Willamette Valley 2010 Pinot Noir, $19.99-$23.99, 93 points, appeared a clear very light pomegranate red with a broad clear rim.
Toast, red raspberry, red cherry, and a hint of bourbon with a light floral note gently wafted out of the glass in a rather complex aroma.
The medium body carried good acidity and surprisingly tight tannin along with a touch of the aroma, black cherry and tart pomegranate flavors.
Finished on a delicate eucalyptus, white pepper, toasty vanilla, and a touch of tabasco. The 13% alcohol was well integrated.
Oddly enough, this Pinot Noir reminds me of the CAPANNA Brunello Di Montalcino wines, though not as edgy or robust.
I hope to soon find other Erath Pinot Noir wines.

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Cupcake Central Coast 2010 Pinot Noir

Cupcake Central Coast 2010 Pinot Noir, $6.99-$11.99, 86 points, will not wow most wine drinkers, but it will satisfy a large gathering!
This everyday/workman Pinot Noir red wine appears a typical pomegranate red with a clear rim.
The red-grape-like aroma is okay, while the medium body carries good acidity, mild tannin, flavors of red raspberry, black cherry, and red grape.
Finishes fair on a trailing palate, a hint of alcohol (13.5%), tart pomegranate, and a touch of spice.
Cupcake wines almost always seems to be just a thin line better than the average "plonk" wine I buy at the Supermarket, and it's no wonder their huge displays empty-out so fast.
Once again, yesterday I asked another woman why her choice of wine? "(Laughter) It is $3.99!" In the case of Cupcake wines, others would say: "It taste good and is inexpensive!" So, to all the purists: this review isn't for you, but to the hoi polloi, begin you holiday not with plonk, but step-up! 



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Régis Bouvier Marsannay Les Longeroies Vieilles Vignes 2009 Pinot Noir

Régis Bouvier Marsannay Les Longeroies Vieilles Vignes 2009 Pinot, $18.27-$29.99, 91 points, appears deep pomegranate red trending ruby right up to the broad transparent rim.
Aromas are subtle red grape, marzipan, and light red fruit with black cherry.
The near medium body carries good acidity, mildly persistent tannin, and deliciously crisp red fruit flavors that are straight forward.
Finishes long on the trailing palate with a hint of tart pomegranate, a whisper of eucalyptus, white pepper, and a well integrated alcohol (13%).

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Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve 2007 Pinot Noir

Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve 2007 Pinot Noir,  $38.24-$59.99, 92+ points, appears dark pomegranate trending ruby with a broad clear rim.
The very toasty aroma has a bounty of sweet cooking spice and black cherry notes.
With a medium-plus body and good acidity, persistently mild tannin, this Pinot Noir balances its structure with pleasant black cherry, licorice, mint, and a meaty richness.
Closes nicely with black pepper, a touch of cranberry, plum, warmth (13.9% alcohol), and eucalyptus.

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Talbott Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 2011 Pinot Noir

Talbott Logan Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 2011 Pinot Noir, $18.69-$24.99, 88 points, begins as a deep ruby trending almost a black currant purple red.
The aroma is black currant too, more Cabernet Sauvignon than Pinot Noir, though other varietal notes of clove, cinnamon, and cedar are rather profuse.
The near full body with an almost "fruit-bomb" character is more like a Mendocino California Zinfandel with the palate mirroring the aroma, but some warm earth notes with mild tannin and only fair acidity hint at its true identity.
finishes long on a hint of spice, licorice, and some heat (14.3% alcohol).



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La Crema Monterey 2009 Pinot Noir

La Crema Monterey 2009 Pinot Noir, $13.50-$18.23, 87 points, is a workman-like Pinot Noir wine, but in this case we drank this La Crema alongside the Corton Grancey Grand Cru, unfair as that may be.
Pomegranate red in color, but trending near opaque at the core and clear at the rim.
Plum, black cherry, and earth on the nose carried over to the palate with a medium-plus body of fair acidity and mild tannin.
The moderately smooth texture was good and lead into a nice finish of white and black pepper.
I bought this Pinot Noir at Hannaford's Supermarket in Londonderry. Todd, the assistant manager, tries very hard to maintain a good selection of more unusual wines, nicely displayed for a Supermarket. Cheers to Todd!




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Domaine Louis Latour Château Corton Grancey Grand Cru 2009 Red Burgundy Wine

Louis Latour Château Corton Grancey Grand Cru 2009 Red Burgundy Wine, $93.49-$109.49, 94 points, appears as a bright candy-apple red with a broad transparent rim at the leggy glass wall.
Aromatic sea-breeze, warm earth, and light red cherry, on the nose was splendid.
The near medium body of good acidity and light, but persistent tannin carried clean flavors of fresh strawberries, floral notes, red and black cherries.
Finishes quite long on a trailing palate, a touch of heat (14% alcohol), and an exciting red pepper spice.
Sadly, the five of us had to share the one bottle, but all of us agreed this was a special wine.

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Anton Bauer Wagram/Österreich (Austrian) 2008 Pinot Noir

 

 

Anton Bauer Wagram/Österreich (Austrian) 2008 Pinot Noir, $8.29-$19.99, 89 points, appears as a brilliant ruby trending near burgundy red toward a somewhat leggy broad clear rim.
Maybe the most unusual toasty clove/cinnamon spice nose of all the Pinot Noir wines in this series.
Near medium bodied with moderate acidity and tannin counter intuitively suggest a more lively red wine, almost like a light floral Chianti rather than a smooth delicate cherry nuanced Pinot Noir, but with a borderline spritz-strawberry flavor and loads of violets throughout the palate; I doubt I'd identify this one in a blind tasting.
Finishing with a lively spice and light 13% alcohol completes a surprising good wine.

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Carneros Creek 2007 Pinot Noir Reserve

Carneros Creek 2007 Pinot Noir Reserve, $21.99-$24.99, 88 points, has a deep pomegranate red color with a thin clear rim.
The nose of plum, black cherry, cinnamon, and caramel was just okay for me.
These smells carried onto the palate throughout, but the moderately smooth medium body of good acidity and mild-plus tannin finishes very good with mint, eucalyptus, a bit of heat (14.5% alcohol) and spice.

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New Hampshire Liquor Store #33 has some very good instore sales. . .

Certainly the NHLS doesn't need any help from me, but to the readers of NHWM blog, and wine lovers in general, it is my duty to let you know some of the fantastic buys now going on at store #33 in North Manchester.
I'll list four of them in particular, all Italian, all very good wines, and all remarkably priced!
2007 Summus is regularly $62.99, now $38.49, and this, like the other three wines I'll mention, are excellent wines. Need a review?
See Tuscan Vines!


Poggio Antico 2009 Rosso di Montalcino is regularly $36.99, now $26.49. I think I loved this one more than anyone else!








Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino is regularly $49.99, now $35.99.
Make no mistake, this is a very good wine, and if I had the money, I'd bought every last one!
 








Banfi Castello Poggio Alle Mura, regularly $74.99, now $48.99.
I understand that these wines are not cheap ones (Think Christmas), but for the money they are great values, and this is a rare deal.
Also there are many other wines with equally good discounts, but these are wines (not necessarily the same vintage) which received great reviews from me.

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Domaine Carneros 2010 Pinot Noir

Domaine Carneros 2010 Pinot Noir,  $17.84-$23.99, 85 points, begins unusually deep purple/red with a clear rim.
Not a particularly pleasant aroma of sweaty socks and a hint of cherry fruit.
The medium-plus body carries fair acidity, mild tannin, and an overwhelming caramel flavor. Non-varietal-like meaty and smoky notes (often good in a big Zinfandel) were unpleasant, while fruit flavors were hard to find, though plum notes are present.
The trailing palate finish was just okay for me, but spice and heat (14.2% alcohol) notes were climatic.
This PN just maybe the worst QPR wine in this series of reviewed wines, and my biggest disappointment. It might be noted that using "French" like names rankles some, and it is a bit confusing, but of course anyone who knows California wines knows the Carneros AVA.

Lake Massabesic

Great beauty and history in New Hampshire



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Sauternes

Sauternes (French Food In The US)
When it comes to exploring wine, at some point Bordeaux red wines metaphorically translate into white wines, especially sweet botrytis enhanced Sémillon/Sauvignon Blanc, and less often Muscadelle, wines.
"True" wine-lovers tend to wait for years to open these long-lived white wines so as to allow for the mature development of “tertiary” flavors. I'm not sure I can wait, but between now and sometime in the near future, if I don't find a reasonably priced 2001 or 2005 vintage, I'll have to open one of these!
Just another wine event to look forward to!
"Anticipation,
anticipation
Is making me late
Is keeping me waiting. . ."

Pairing Sauternes with food: The Surprise of Sauternes By Marcia Kiesel

Château d'Arche La Perle D'Arche 2005 Sauternes, $22.99-$25.99 (375ml), 90 points
Château Doisy-Daëne 2010 Grand Vin De Barsac, $62.89-$73.99, 93 points
1 er Château Guiraud Grand Cru Classé 2009 Sauternes, average price $70, 95 points
Château Suduiraut Lions de Suduiraut 2010 Sauternes, $16.14-$18.99, 91 points







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Rosemount Estate Australia 2007 Pinot Noir

Rosemount Estate Australia 2007 Pinot Noir, $7.99-$11.99, 83 points, is the most dense purple/red color of any Pinot Noir I've seen, and is more of a black currant red than pomegranate red, with the obligatory clear rim.
Chocolate-covered cherries on the nose struck me as unusual, but interesting.
Medium-plus body shows mild acidity and very light tannin, but pale plum and coffee notes reveal a "past its peak" wine.
The finish of spice and heat (13.5% alcohol) is what is left of the life of this wine.
The aphorism to drink most Pinot Noir wines young is a good one.





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Erath Oregon 2008 Pinot Noir

Erath Oregon 2008 Pinot Noir, $12.60-$18.00, 91 points, has a fine stained-glass (crystal-clear) ruby red with an orange hued appearance, and touches the glass wall clear. Red cherry, warm earth, and a floral hint, waft a very pleasant aroma.
A moderately smooth near medium body with bright acidity, a mild and trailing tannin, cola and copious red fruit flavors, near dry, deliciously balanced and refined, this is a sleeper, a keeper, as there will be life in this one for some time to come.
Finishes long on its juicy diminishing palate with a touch of its 13% alcohol and a hint of spice.
This Pinot Noir very well could be the star of the day; a best buy for The Thanksgiving Celebration. Time will tell, as I have another four weeks to explore the wonderful world of PN in New Hampshire.
I bought Erath Oregon 2008 Pinot Noir at the Londonderry Hannaford's Supermarket.

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Ghost Pines 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Ghost Pines 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, $17.99-$20.99, 86, points, appears almost opaque with a dense black currant purple/red color and a clear rim.
Aromatic clove, cinnamon, and cedar with hints of blackberry is very good though tame,
Full bodied with fair acidity and tannin carries an over whelming black currant and bell pepper flavor.
A moderately smooth texture toward the long finish of spice, blackberry, boysenberry, and just a hint of alcohol (13.9%) is quite good.

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Ghost Pines 2010 Chardonnay, A Brief Return To Halloween Motif Wines

 

Ghost Pines 2010 Chardonnay, $14.44-$22.99, 87 points, appears quintessential straw yellow, having a typical California Chardonnay nose with toasty vanilla and earth notes, a near full body with fair acidity and a mild buttery viscosity.
Butter and oak flavors dominate, and with more subtle sweet melon plainly completing this unobtrusive white table wine of 13.5% alcohol.
Finished fair on white and black pepper.
You will find that this white wine will be well received for Halloween or Thanksgiving, and the $14.44 I paid, makes this a good QPR wine. So get-a-spookin with some class.

Two years ago I had considerable fun doing Halloween Wines, but this year I just could not find enough different appropriate wines in NH to make for a major post. So I have just the two, this Chardonnay today, and a Cabernet tomorrow.

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Decoy Sonoma County 2011 Pinot Noir

Decoy Sonoma County 2011 Pinot Noir, $22.09-$25.99, 88 points, begins in the glass as a bright pomegranate red with a transparent rim.
Has a very toasty aroma with red cherry and plum notes.
The medium body has good acidity, mild tannin, and carries the aroma onto the palate (plum dominates) with tobacco notes.
Finishes fair with some spiciness and a touch of heat (13.9% alcohol).

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KRIS IGT 2011 Pinot Noir

KRIS IGT 2011 Pinot Noir, $13.99, 83 points, appears as a ruby trending cranberry red with a clear rim.
The aroma amalgamates subtle notes of sea and fresh lake smells with red cherry, cranberry, and apple blossom, but a faint odor of petrol can be made.
A light-plus body carries bright acidity, mild tannin, and tart uncomfortable (astringent) cranberry with petrol notes.
A reconciling finish of lively spice and easy 13% alcohol save this wine from disaster.
I bought KRIS at the Fresh Market in Bedford.

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Maison Louis Latour Grand Vin De Bourgogne Vosne-Romanée 2009 Red Burgundy

Louis Latour Vosne-Romanée Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2009 Red Burgundy, $59.49-$69.99, 93 points, begins in the glass as a pure transparent pomegranate red with a broad clear rim.
Gentle floral notes with red cherry complement warm earth smells.
Medium bodied with clean Burgundy mineral notes, mouth-watering acidity, persistently light tannin, predominately strawberry and pomegranate fruit with hints of cola, are purely delicious.
A long lively finish carries the trailing palate of this quite dry red wine, and transitions into a climax of mouth-tingling white pepper. 


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CanalettO IGT 2009 Pinot Noir

CanalettO IGT 2009 Pinot Noir, $8.99-$10.99, 84 points, appears with a light coppery/ruby red color with a clear rim.
Aromatic sweet red cherry with a hint of bourbon, even though the alcohol is only 12%, is pleasant.
Light to medium body carries fair acidity but sharp tannin, mouth puckering, tart, and astringent, which is unlike any other Pinot Noir I've tasted.
Unusually strong oak and bourbon flavors remind me of some other Italian wines, but fruit flavors are wanting, yet red and black cherry with hints of black olive are subtle and okay.
The finish deepens the wine complexity a bit with spice and persistent tannin.
I bought this Pinot Noir at the Londonderry Hannaford's Supermarket.

Just a note about what I'm finding in "Supermarket" wine being offered in the greater Manchester area: Some Hannaford's stores are doing a great job with their variety and still providing a fair price. Fresh Market and Harvest Market in Bedford also has a good variety. Angela's Pasta and Cheese in Manchester makes it their "mission" to provide more unusual wines at fair prices as well. Though there are many other stores, boutiques, wine shops (feel free to add yours in the comments), the stores listed are the ones I most frequent; the State Liquor Stores being the largest, and once again, when I don't mention which store I bought a wine, it is assumed that I bought the wine at the NH State Liquor (Outlets) stores.
There is a store which I didn't mention that has a good selection, but when I brought one of their wines to the check-out, it was determined that the price on the bottle was incorrect and was not offered to me at that price, so sorry, I don't shop there anymore.

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Estancia Pinnacles Ranches Monterey County 2008 Pinot Noir

Estancia Pinnacles Ranches Monterey County 2008 Pinot Noir, $13,59-$18.99, 86 points, has an unusually dark ruby trending rosewood red toward the clear rim.
A dominant black currant aroma, more like a Cabernet Sauvignon, and black cherry notes with just a hint of ocean smells continue the "unusual" trend.
Pinot Noir is typically light to medium bodied, but Estancia has produced a near full bodied red wine with this 2008 Pinnacles Ranches PN, though fair acidity and tannin come through, tastes okay with plum, licorice, and black cherry, this Pinot Noir is a bit overwhelmed by its weight.
Finishes fair on a trailing palate, alcohol (13.5%), and spice.
Just a thought: when it comes to your wine-party, and everyone is supposed to bring that brown-bagged mystery wine, this one will likely baffle and surprise many of your friends.

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Neipperger Schlossberg 2010 Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)

 

 

 

Neipperger Schlossberg 2010 Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), $28.04-$32.99, 90+ points, begins in the glass as a beautiful orange/red with a relatively thin transparent rim.

On the nose I smelled plum, black cherry, and earthy cooking spice, all of which carried faithfully onto the palate with a hint of alcohol (13.5%) and a moderately smooth medium-plus body of good acidity and fine tannin, but just a bit astringent.

Juicy strawberry, pomegranate, with white pepper and an unusual eucalyptus on the finish was very good, and quite dry.

 

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Flowers Sea View Ridge Sonoma Coast 2010 Pinot Noir

Flowers Sea View Ridge Sonoma Coast 2010 Pinot Noir, $58.64-$68.99, 95 points, poured a beautiful sunburst pomegranate red against a leggy clear glass wall, even as it poured with a wafting and striking strawberry aroma, but settled-down with warm earth tones and an unusual toasty black currant.
A creamy-smooth texture complimented the medium body with both substantial and supple strawberry/rhubarb, red cherry, and tart pomegranate flavors, well balanced with good acidity and fine-grained mild-plus tannin to make this an excellent dry red wine.
Finishing on a long trailing palate with a climatic cayenne spice, a hint of heartwood, and a touch of heat (14% alcohol).



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Tortoise Creek Wines 2011 Pinot Noir

Tortoise Creek Wines 2011 Pinot Noir,  $13.50-$15.00, 85 points, appears as a clear bright ruby trending pomegranate red in color with a transparent rim.
The mysterious aroma of cocoa-powder, sea breeze, and black cherry delights.
Just shy of a medium body, there's good acidity and moderate tannin.
Flavors of black cherry, plum, and a hint of petrol are blemished with an astringent aftertaste.
The finish is the redemption of this wine, with good spice and a touch of heat (13% alcohol), pleasantly lasting for some time.
I bought this wine at the Londonderry Hannaford's Supermarket.



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R. Stuart Autograph Willamette Valley 2007 Pinot Noir

R. Stuart Autograph Willamette Valley 2007 Pinot Noir, $25.49-$29.99, 91 points, is a slightly cloudy light pomegranate color with a clear rim.
Black cherry and coffee notes on the nose are good with a hint of early wet newspaper dissipating.
The moderately smooth medium body carries good acidity and mild tannin with tart pomegranate, sweet strawberry, red and black cherry flavors.
Finishes long on a trailing palate, just a hint of spice, and strawberry cordial (14% alcohol).
I've had this wine stashed in my cellar for three years, and I didn't have any confidence that the fruit and backbone of this wine would hold-up to the time and average temperature of 68 degrees, but the Autograph Pinot Noir is still very vibrant, and I think there is still some time left in it.

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Gruet Blanc De Noirs (Pinot Noir)



Gruet Blanc De Noirs (Pinot Noir), $12.23-$18.99, 88 points, is core golden trending near edge clear with explosive effervescence that persists.
When my son was about three years old he had his first taste of Ginger-ale which promptly came fizzing out his nose; something like that happened to me when I took my first whiff of this sparkling Pinot Noir (75%)! The rest of the nose was hints of tangerine and toasty vanilla with Chardonnay grape (25%) breaking on through "the other side."
A light-plus body with mouth-watering acidity and clean mineral flavors quickly won me over, but as this wine warmed, some of the initial luster tamed toward a more common-place white wine having a chalky apple with hints of watermelon and cantaloupe flavor notes that carried over into the long finish.

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