Kenefick Ranch Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Franc, $25.99-$51.99, 91+ points, poured opaque ruby trending deep crush black currant red with a broad clear rim.
Aromatic flowers with warm earth notes and the barest hint of bell pepper were delightful.
Medium-plus body was juicy without being over the top, not "hollow or flabby", but balanced with good acidity, mild-plus tannin, black currant, boysenberry, eucalyptus, and orange blossoms.
Finished With some power from loads of black pepper and some heat (15.2% alcohol).
Right now, this is the best Cabernet Franc I've had in my short history of wine tasting!
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Boekenhoutskloof-Franschhoek Valley-South Africa 2009 The Wolftrap Syrah-Mourvèdre-Viognier, $11.04-$12.99, 84+ points, appeared opaque ruby at the core trending a bit cloudy pomegranate toward the broad clear rim.
Wolftrap red wine had a profuse aroma of funky leather, prune, and a hint of shoe polish.
The medium-plus body carried fair acidity with mild-plus tannin onto the palate with flavors that mostly mirrored the aroma, but added some woody blackberry with a hint of peach.
Finished okay with considerable bourbon-like alcohol (14.5%) and some spiciness.
I can't say that I've been smitten or bitten by Wolftrap, but it is an "out-of-the-box" red wine, and that often makes it a wine to taste.
Sadly, David Boyer was right when he intimated that the better the wines tasted, the more spoiled one becomes. So, this red table wine, though okay would remain just another companion for the nightly meal.
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Château Filia De Grand Mayne Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2009 Bordeaux Red Wine, $25.49-$29.99, 91+ points, presented itself clear about the glass rim with a brief appearance of crushed black currant purple/red, but a deep black wine dominated most of the glass.
Subtle aromas of cedar and earth with a floral hint were pleasant.
This was an easy-drinking nearly full bodied red wine with good acidity and lovely round tannin.
Black currant, rose, plum, and coffee flavors were near perfectly meshed into a moderately smooth textured Merlot (80%), with 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Finished fair with some heat (14% alcohol), an intensifying tannin, a touch of mint, and white pepper.
After yesterday's "Sideways" Merlot, this was a pleasant supplanter.
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Arabella South Africa 2010 Merlot, $12.52-$13.91, 83 points, appeared bright ruby, but met the glass wall a bit cloudy with pomegranate red and a clear rim.
The aroma began with an offensive barnyard smell (screw-cap), but that didn't carry completely over into the flavor profile, which was primarily plum with some not quite ripe mulberry.
Texturally mildly smooth on a medium body with good acidity and mild tannin.
Finished on its one dimensional characteristics and a bit jammy with just a hint of heat (14% alcohol).
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Seghesio Old Vine Sonoma County 2011 Zinfandel, $29.74-$42.99, 93+ points, poured with considerable sediment (time to decant) with bright ruby, and toward the clear rim, briefly refracted prism purples, pinks, and red hues.
A beautiful aroma of cedar, wild blackberry, subtle flowers, toast, and damson plum impressed!
The medium-plus body, lush with mouth-watering acids and moderate tannin carried the aroma lusciously throughout the palate; this red wine is nearly elegant, it is a restrained Zinfandel (plenty of wild black fruit without being jam-like), but its pedigree is all Zinfandel as it finished long with a bounty of white and cayenne pepper, hints of tobacco, coffee, and black licorice.
Managed that perfect sweet-spot 14.8% alcohol!
If you have never had a Zinfandel red wine, or if you've been stuck in a Deadly Sin-Zin rut, then this is the one for you! Thirty bucks for a great wine? This caliber of a wine for $30 is a steal! Seriously, I'm not trying to persuade you, I'm trying to bless you! If I'm leading you astray, please give me a piece of your mind, and I'll be duly chastised!
Pair with pepperoni pizza, Mexican cuisine, or just drink alone.
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Château Citran Haut-Médoc Grand Vin 2009 Bordeaux Red Wine, $24.66-$28.99, 92 points, appeared near black at the core, and trended bright crushed black fruit while the color transitioned pomegranate red toward a broad clear rim.
Orange-zest, a touch of toasty cedar, and blackberry were pleasant on the nose.
The medium-plus body carried good acidity, firm tannin with coffee, mulberry, blackberry, hints of cardamom, and bay leaf flavors.
Finished fair on a trailing palate, accelerating tannin, black pepper, and cayenne.
Varietals are 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, with an unusual importers alcohol rating of 11%-14%.
Bordeaux Red Wine vintage 2009
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Kris Dellle Venezie 2010 Pinot Grigio, $10.19-$14.99, 86 points, poured polished gold trending gray toward the glass wall.
Lemon, lime, and green melon on the nose was pleasant enough.
The light-plus body carried good acidity with mirrored flavors of the nose.
Finished fair with tart citrus and a hint of the 12.5% alcohol, but was a bit thin.
Paired well with Buffalo-wings, French fries, and blue-cheese with celery.
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Château Les Hauts De Smith Pessac-Léognan 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine, $30.59-$35.99, 91+ points (varietals are 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon), began near black at the core trending deep ruby with a brief appearance of sunburst orange before the transparent rim.
Rose and cedar with a whiff of alcohol (14.5%) on the nose was okay for me.
Medium-plus body with loads of tannin and good acidity carried licorice, black grape, blackberry/currant, and cola notes toward a long finish of spice, plum, and grape skin with some heat.
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Barone Fini Valdadige 2011 Pinot Grigio, $9.90-$13.75, 90 points, began in the glass as a polished light gold/gray color.
Aromatic honeysuckle with a hint of lemon on the nose was pleasant, and carried nicely onto the palate.
I'm not going to tell you that this is a complex wine, but its crisp light body beguiles with assets of acidity, gulp-ability, pair-ability, and like cool spring fresh water, was pure refreshment!
Finished nicely with a hint of pear, the 12.5% alcohol, and ginger.
I bought this white wine at the Hannaford's Supermarket in Londonderry, NH.
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José Maria da Fonseca Periquita Original 2010 Red Wine, $8.49-$11.99, 88 points, poured deep ruby trending a rainbow of red hues before the broadest clear rim I've seen in a red wine.
Red fruit on the nose with a hint of leather and cotton candy were very pleasant.
Light-plus body carried bright acidity with energetically moderate tannin.
Though one dimensional, red fruit with flavorful strawberry leading the way were refreshing and quite good.
Finished long on an accelerating tannin and white pepper with a well integrated 13% alcohol.
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Quinta do Crasto D.O.C. 2011 Douro Red Wine, $12.74-$15.99, 87 points, appeared a shiraz purple/red (opaque at the core) with a broad clear circumferential rim.
First whiff was sweet red cherry, with developing toast, earth, and petrol notes.
Barely medium bodied with bright acidity and mild to moderate tannin carried will-o-wisp strawberry and pomegranate flavors into a long finish of spice, heat (14.5% alcohol), and eucalyptus.
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Portuguese Wines by Wikipedia will have to suffice when it comes to an explanation of Red wines from Portugal, as regions, sub-regions, varietal blending (obscure grapes for most Americans) and "rules" of official designation will be subservient to "laws" of diminishing-returns in this post, because I've found so few Portuguese red wines available in New Hampshire (subject to revision).
However, I have bought seven bottles of Portuguese red wines (excludes common Port wines), some of which I've hinted at in another post.
Examples of varietals may have the average wine lover (except for Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon) scratching their heads:
Aragonez
Baga
Cabernet Sauvignon
Castelão
Syrah
Tinta Barroca
Tinta Roriz
Touriga Franca
Tourig Nacional
Trincadeira
List of reviewed wines: Guarda Rios 2020 Tinto Red Blend, $7.64-$17.99, 90 points
Herdade Do Esporão Monte Velho VNHO Regional Alentejano 2012 Red Wine, $9.99-$11.99, 84 points
José Maria da Fonseca Periquita Original 2010 Red Wine, $8.49-$11.99, 88 points
Júlio Bastos Dona Maria Vinho Regional (Alentejano) 2014 Red Wine, $8.29-$14.99, 87 points
Passadouro 2012 Tinto Douro (Portugal), $11.89-$15.99, 89 points
Paxis Vinho Regional 2013 Red Table Wine (Portugal), $11.69-$12.99, 87 points
Porta 6 Lisboa 2012 Vinho Tinto (Red Wine), $9.86-$10.95, 88 points
Quinta do Crasto D.O.C. 2011 Douro Red Wine, $12.74-$15.99, 87 points
Quinta Do Crasto D.O.C. 2011 Douro Reserva Red Wine, $36.99, 92+ points
Quinta Do Crasto D.O.C. 2012 Douro Reserva Red Wine, $31.14-$36.99, 91 points
Quinta De Foz De Arouce Vinho Regional Beira Atlântico 2012 Red Wine (Portugal), $16.99-$19.99, 89 points
Why red wine? Well ask the red-breasted American robins looking for a bath this winter! I've talked about robins getting a bit tipsy on fermented berries before, and some of these winter robins just might think that a bird-bath this beautiful just might be heated!
As for me, after "breaking" my back on chipping and shoveling snow and ice again, I'm now looking to hunker-down with a real hot red wine! Coping with a classic New Hampshire winter just might call for a classic Bordeaux and some great French music too: Claude Debussy - The Girl With the Flaxen Hair
Château Bourgneuf-Vayron Pomerol 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine, $55.24-$64.99, 92 points, appeared near black at the core, trended dark ruby toward the leggy glass wall, and was broadly clear at the rim.
Poured aromatic black grape transitioning to a more soft toasty oak with hints of evergreen.
Nearly full bodied with bright acidity and surprisingly moderate tannin.
Anise with black fruit on oak were balanced flavors, but this Bordeaux's complexity relied more on its hints of coffee and strawberry.
Finished fair to long on the trailing palate with the warmth of 14.5% alcohol, accentuated tannin, tar notes, and white pepper.
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Tenute Niccolai Podere Bellarina-Palagetto 2007 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, $47.59-$55.99, 94 points, poured nearly black at the core, and spread crushed black currant fading into a narrow band of sunburst orange with thick drapes into a broad clear rim (spectacular color for a wine).
Aromatic mushrooms, cedar, and pine resin were pleasant.
Medium-plus body carried glorious acidity with layered sweet and persistent tannin (maybe a bit overwhelming for soft Merlot fans).
The flavors of earth, chocolate, blueberry, and strawberry were nicely balanced with dried herbs, but finished quite long and explosively on an intensifying tannic presence, mushrooms, mint, warmth from the 15% alcohol, and a multifaceted spiciness.
In my lexicon of wine tasting, this is a notable and desirable red wine, one of which I'd like to have many bottles in my cellar.
For such a great wine, the price makes this a high quality value!
I know there are those out there which only buy wine for four or five bucks, they will almost certainly drink inferior wines at the whim of circumstance, but generally you get what you pay for.
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M.A.N. Ou Kalant South African 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, $8.10-$12.00, 89 points, began in the glass a bright pomegranate red up to the broadly clear rim.
Strawberry, red cherry, and a hint of cotton candy on the nose were now typical of these young and relatively light Cabernet wines.
Medium bodied with good acidity and mild tannin carried very pleasant flavors that mirrored the aroma, but also added cola and tobacco notes.
Finished fair on some warmth (14% alcohol) and spiciness.
This just maybe the best of this genre of Cabernets I've tasted.
I bought the M.A.N. Cabernet at the Londonderry Hannaford's Super Market.
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Sadly, this wine review has taken a somewhat neurotic turn dictated by a number of friends which have requested Greek spinach Pita from "your" pretend chef. So, though I will not explain the process of making this "in high demand" pie, I will provide some photos of that process, and finish with the first picture above and a wine review below, but the ingredients were (eggs, leeks, chives, spinach, black pepper Feta cheese, flaky filo dough, and lightly salted butter)..JPG)
Château Greysac Médoc 2009 Bordeaux Red Wine, $13.29-$18.99, 88 points, began in the glass opaque at the core trending deep ruby, and finally a youthful black currant red with a transparent rim.
Earthy and floral, the aroma was pleasant enough.
The medium-plus body carried bright acidity with nicely layered moderate-plus tannin.
Flavors of violets and tanned leather were early palate dominant, and were followed by more subtle boysenberry, blackberry, and coffee notes.
Finished long with an accelerating tannin, 14% alcohol, and white pepper.
Varietals are Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Cabernet Franc (3%), and Petit Verdot.
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blüfeld Mosel 2012 Riesling, $7.64-$10.99, 86 points, poured nearly clear with just a shade of brassy-gray, smelled like pine needles and honeysuckle, presented a medium body with mouth-watering acidity, and carried pleasantly sweet but nuanced flavors of grapefruit, tangerine, kiwi, and slate.
Finished fair on a trailing palate with just a hint of ginger and the 10% alcohol.
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Château Rol Valentin Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine, $54.39-$63.99, 93 points, appeared core black and trended deep blackberry-red at the edge of the transparent rim.
Cedar, rose, mushrooms, and damson plum on the nose were pleasant and gentle.
Amazing how Bordeaux produces a Merlot (90% with 10% Cabernet Franc), so rich, acidic, tannic, round, floral, and complex with an expectation that ten years from now this wine will only be better!
This wine is tight and promising, but a bit rough, yet full of athletics and energy. Flavors beyond the aroma were tangy mulberry, soft boysenberry, and savory.
Finished very long on a trailing palate, a touch of the 14% alcohol, and cayenne.
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Goose Bump Red Wine, $9.00-$12.50, 88 points appeared deep ruby trending burgundy to the transparent rim.
The aroma was toasty with roasted coffee notes.
Medium bodied with good acidity and moderate tannin.
Though the flavor profile was a bit one dimensional (mirrored the aroma) with blackberry and cola notes, all of which trailed nicely into the fair finish of a well integrated 13% alcohol, red cherry, and mild spice, this was a rather tasty red wine.
I bought Goose Bump Red at the Londonderry Hannaford's Supermarket.
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