Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Sequin Delicately Bubbled 2011 Pinot Grigio



Sequin Delicately Bubbled 2011 Pinot Grigio, $10.99$12.99, 87 points, appeared a light brass color, but trended gray from the core.
Pear and green melon aroma dominated.
The near medium body carried good acidity and a bit of sweetness with a touch of effervescence, while the palate mirrored the nose.
Finished on the trailing palate with almost no hint of the 9.5% alcohol and an enduring mint.
I'm not saying that this is my style of Pinot Grigio, but I certainly wasn't put out in any way, and this white wine did pair well with my sautéed Sea scallops and green salad.



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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

IL Poggione 2006 Brunello Di Montalcino


IL Poggione 2006 Brunello Di Montalcino, $67.99-$79.99, 93+ points, began an almost opaque ruby, trended garnet toward the broad clear rim and leggy glass wall.
A very pleasant bouquet of roses, toasty apple-wood, red cherry, and sea breezes harbored great promise.
The medium-plus body carried good-plus acidity with very lively, yet drinkable tannins (Will cellar for sometime to come).
Black and red cherry were early palate rich, but the transition was to a more bourbon and woody flavor with subtle savory and coriander notes.
Finished tight and long on cayenne and white pepper spice with some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.
Paired wonderfully with a rare and spiced grass-fed rib-eyed steak!




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Monday, April 28, 2014

Fattoria di Magliano Heba Morellino di Scansano DOCG 2010 Sangiovese Red Wine



Fattoria di Magliano Heba Morellino di Scansano DOCG 2010 Sangiovese Red Wine, $14.44-$19.99, 91 points, poured a bright crushed blackberry trending pomegranate red toward the thin circumferential clear rim.
Earth, cedar, tobacco, and red cherry on the nose were very good.
The medium body carried mouth-watering acidity, exciting tannin, bright red fruit flavors with nuanced tobacco, a well integrated 13% alcohol, mint, and spice notes that trailed into the very long finish.
This is another wonderful food-friendly red wine from Italy, but the value is very high! If you like Chianti, you'll love this, and if you drink a substantial amount, you'll want to buy a case (I bought this in January).





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Sunday, April 27, 2014

Due Torri Grave Friuli D.O.C. 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon




Due Torri Grave Friuli D.O.C. 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon,  $10.80-$14.40, 86 points, appeared deep ruby with a thin clear rim and a bright orange/red between.
Toasty plum with hints of black currant on the nose were pleasant.
The soft medium-plus bodied carried fair acidity with an undercurrent of tannin.
Flavors faithfully follow the nose with some intense black grape notes.
Finished without noticing the 12% alcohol, and gentle spice notes.
I bought this wine at the Londonderry Hannaford's Supermarket.




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Saturday, April 26, 2014

Ruffino Modus Toscana I.G.T. 2009 Red Wine





Ruffino Modus Toscana I.G.T. 2009 Red Wine, $19.88-$25.99, 91 points, poured an opaque purple, but transitioned sun-burst red toward the clear rim.
Aromas of sea-breezes, black cherry, and roses were quite good.
The medium-plus body carried excellent acidity with moderately grainy tannin and flavors rich in cherry fruit and tangy pomegranate.
Finished long with spearmint, roses, tobacco, and some warmth from the 13.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Merlot.




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Friday, April 25, 2014

Maso Canali D.O.C. 2011 Pinot Grigio




Maso Canali D.O.C. 2011 Pinot Grigio, $13.76-$23.99, 89 points, appeared a bright brass color with a green tint and trending slightly gray toward the glass wall.
Presented a pleasantly strong apple aroma with gentle flower notes.
The near medium body carried good acidity with gentle pome and green melon flavors.
Finish fair with alcohol notes (13%) and hints of ginger.
Paired nicely with a garden salad and sautéed North Atlantic cod.







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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Tabarrini Montefalco Sagrantino 2007 Campo Alla Cerqua



Tabarrini Montefalco Sagrantino 2007 Campo Alla Cerqua, approximately $50, and bought through the mail.
Scored 92 points.
Appeared similar to a Tannat black, but trended sunburst orange red toward the transparent rim.
The aroma was mostly leather and earth with a floral note.
Full bodied with high acidity and strident tannin that carried deep into the long finish.
Flavors of black fruit were verdant and potent while anise, dried bay leaf, and tobacco added complexity.
Long on a mightily spicy finish with mint, eucalyptus, and considerable heat (15% alcohol) climaxed this rather intense bone dry red wine.



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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Campaccio Terrabianca Toscana IGT 2008 Red Wine



 


Campaccio Terrabianca Toscana IGT 2008 Red Wine, $21.41-$34.99, 91 points, began in the glass as a black cherry red with a thin circle of bricking at the clear rim.
Cedar and coffee notes on the nose were very good, but though the alcohol is 13.5%, upon first opening I got a good whiff of it!
The medium body carried good acidity with pleasantly grainy and persistent tannin.
Tart black cherry and crisp strawberry with coffee and caramel notes were quite good.
Finished long on a trailing palate with tart pomegranate, spice, eucalyptus, and some heat. 
Varietals were 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Maso Canali Trentino D.O.C. 2012 Pinot Grigio


Maso Canali Trentino D.O.C. 2012 Pinot Grigio, $17.99-$23.99, 91+ points, appeared a bright brass color trending slightly gray toward the glass wall.
A noticeable pome with hints of honey, tangerine, and flowers on the nose were lovely.
More heavily bodied than most other Italian Pinot Grigio wines I've tasted, almost chewy, very creamy, and smooth (this was not the crisp white wine I had expected), with good acidity.
Early palate ginger was a bit unusual as well, but very nice; other flavors were tangerine, pear, sesame seed, and apple-butter.
Finished strong on a trailing palate with an escalating ginger and 12.5% alcohol.
This wine was sourced from a 500 year old estate, was considerably more expensive than recently tasted Pinot Grigio wines from Italy, and was worth the extra expense.



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Monday, April 21, 2014

Sartori Villa Mura I.G.T. 2012 Pinot Grigio





Sartori Villa Mura I.G.T. 2012 Pinot Grigio, $6.54-$13.99, 85 points, appeared a light brass/copper color trending gray at the glass wall.
Pomelo, vanilla, and pome notes on the nose were subtle and pleasant.
With its light body and fair-plus acidity, the flavors mirrored the aroma, but were a bit thin and spilled into the finish without much fanfare, and just a hint of the 12% alcohol.
Paired okay with a green salad and fried haddock.

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Italy! Salute!


Italy: Approx. 2X the population of CA. with 47,349 miles less landmass and one million Wineries!
With so many friends from Italy visiting, I thought a little "LOVE" expressed in this older post might be appropriate. I'm not sure how well Goggle Translate will serve our languages, but the intent is: Salute!
Casanova di Neri 2007 Brunello Di Montalcino, $40.99-$48.99, 94 punti, davvero un Bejeweled rubino di un vino, con un luccichio di ambra verso l'orlo ampio trasparente.
Aromatico, con profumato rosso ciliegia piccante e cedro, con note di catrame di pino e lilla. E 'stato più di quattro mesi da quando ho sperimentato un Brunello, ma profumato che bouquet mi ha ricordato quanto sia univoco meraviglioso Brunello inizia nel bicchiere.
-Medium più corpo, buona acidità, moderata e tannino persistente, con una sensazione in bocca succoso e rotondo, ha una qualità quasi fondere-in-vostro-bocca (lo so, liquido non scioglie-ma!).
Aromi floreali sono dominanti, con note di catrame, erbe e speziato rosso ciliegia.
Finitura eccezionalmente lungo con spezie bocca formicolio ed eucalipti, questo vino mi ricorda il Mate 2006 Brunello di Montalcino, e sarà altrettanto memorabile.


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Sunday, April 20, 2014

Port/Sherry and other Fortified Wines





Keep in mind that Port-styled wine (Portugal) are made elsewhere, such as California and Australia, but the heart of Port will always be Portugal!
My short list begins with:
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WARRE"S Otima 10 year old 2004 Tawny Port




WARRE"S Otima 10 year old 2004 Tawny Port, $19.99-$25.9991 points, began a deep amber color, with a bright rich aroma of caramel and bourbon. Full-bodied compared with unfortified wines, but as I'm new to Port, I'm told this is a lighter port.
Flavors of raisins, apricots, and caramel were pleasing, and carried long into the finish with some spice, wood, and a typical 20% alcohol.
Paired well with my favorite pie (pecan).
This is my first Port, but hopefully I'll get a chance to taste many more. 




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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Mollydooker Velvet Glove 2009 McLaren Vale Shiraz




Mollydooker Velvet Glove 2009 McLaren Vale Shiraz, $109.34-$169.99, 95 points, poured an inky black with just a hint of Shiraz purple toward the edge of the leggy glass wall and its sliver of a transparent rim.
Smells of dried green herbs, lilacs, celery-salt, black cherry, thick rich notes of blackberry and boysenberry with chocolate and coffee notes were profusely pleasant.
The color and the aroma were indicative of a massive full-bodied red wine, and to tell the truth, I don't think I've ever had a "Bigger" red wine, excepting the totally out of balance M.D. Lust Zinfandel which I didn't like; this wine is different: it has good acidity, supplely layered and silky tannin, with a balanced flavor profile consisting of its mirrored aroma, a totally integrated 15.5% alcohol, and finished remarkably long on a trailing palate with adequate cayenne pepper and other spices.
I paired this with a big bone-in rib-eyed steak, butternut squash and French fries (provincial, I know).

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Friday, April 18, 2014

Masquerade 2012 Pinot Grigio


Masquerade 2012 Pinot Grigio, $5.99-$9.99, 83 points, poured a light lemon/lime color, but trended gray toward the rim.
The nose was seriously quiet, and that nondescript character carried over onto the palate.
A light body displayed mild acidity with little intensity, but a hint of limestone minerality was not enough to carry the day; however, as a quaffing white wine, Masquerade 2012 Pinot Grigio was okay, and paired satisfactorily with fried haddock.
Finished fair with light spice notes, easy 12% alcohol, and hints of citrus. There was nothing offensive about this wine, but not much more than spiked mineral-water.



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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva 2006 Red Wine



Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva 2006 Red Wine, $9.99-$13.99, 89 points, poured a deep pomegranate red with an infringing orange hue up to the clear rim.
Strong fragrance of chocolate, toast, and sweet red cherry on the nose dominated and paralleled the flavor profile.
A near smooth full body of good acidity and moderate tannin with other flavors of licorice and strawberry carried deep into a good finish with coffee notes, spice, and a well integrated 13.5% alcohol.
Varietals are 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo.

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Tommasi Vigneto Le Rosse 2011 Pinot Grigio





Tommasi Vigneto Le Rosse 2011 Pinot Grigio, $11.47-$16.99, 91 points, appeared a bright brass color trending slightly gray.
The delicate aroma of subtle flowers, honeydew melon, and citrus made for a lovely bouquet.
Subtle flavors gently followed suit with almost indistinguishable characteristics, but the taste was lovely, though nearly neutral (which is very typical for this varietal), very pair-able, and the texture was crisp, yet slightly creamy on a light body with good acidity.
Finished with hints of citrus, a touch of the 12% alcohol, and just the slightest ginger note.
With this vintage, the Tommasi Vineyards celebrated their 110th year of making great wines, and I can't say that I ever had a wine from them that I didn't like! Salute!

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April Snow!

 
 Déjà vu




   Three days ago I was overly optimistic; I was thinking of barbecues and Zinfandel wine! Now the tulips I photographed with this Cline Zin now look like what's below!




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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera 2005 Red Wine



Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera 2005 Tempranillo Red Wine, $25.49-$29.99, 91+ points, was somewhere between Tannat black and Bordeaux purple/red with a broad clear rim.
Plum, cedar, and tobacco smells dominated the nose.
A lush full body carried excellent acidity, persistent and pleasant tannin, complex flavors of roses, tobacco, plum, blackberries, and red cherry liqueur, all of which trailed into a long finish of spice, well integrated alcohol (14%), and eucalyptus.






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Monday, April 14, 2014

Nebel Rheinhessen 2012 Riesling






Nebel Rheinhessen 2012 Riesling, $15.99, 88 points,
pours near water-clear with hints of lemon/lime hues.
Stone, lime, and grapefruit on the nose were pleasant.
The light crisp body carried the aroma onto the palate richly with good acidity and balance while following through into a finish of semi-tart citrus and just a hint of the 10.5% alcohol.
Paired nicely with North Atlantic cod sautéed in olive oil, and a garden salad.
I bought this wine (I'd buy it again :-) at the Harvest Market in Bedford New Hampshire.

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Cline Contra Costa County 2011 Big Break Zinfandel






Cline Contra Costa County 2011 Big Break Zinfandel, $15.99-$29.99, 90 points, poured a deep rich purple with considerable draping into the transparent rim-ring.
Had a lovely toasty blackberry/cherry aroma.
The near full body had good acidity and moderate tannin which carried more than a Big Break, but Big Bold flavors of Red and Black cherry, blackberries, loads of alcohol (16%), licorice, charcoal, and blackberry cordial.
Finished long on spice, heat, and a touch of eucalyptus.
I don't usually like big alcohol wines, but this Zinfandel works, and will blow minds at the barbecue!

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Saturday, April 12, 2014

Château d'Arche La Perle D'Arche 2005 Sauternes



Château d'Arche La Perle D'Arche 2005 Sauternes, $22.99-$25.99 (375ml), 90 points, appeared a deep polished gold color.
The aroma was predominately honey and hazels nuts, both of which translated onto the palate with apricot notes on a full body, round and rich, with good acidity.
Finished very long on the trailing palate with ginger notes and some warmth from the 13.5% alcohol.
I paired this Sauternes satisfactorily as a dessert wine with Pecan pie, but excellent as an aperitif.





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Friday, April 11, 2014

Podere Salicutti 2006 Brunello Di Montalcino "Piaggione"




Podere Salicutti 2006 Brunello di Montalcino "Piaggione":


$69.99-$79.99, 93 points, poured opaque ruby, but trended a bright sunburst orange/red with a very broad transparent rim.

The outstanding aroma was rich with roses, licorice, wild blackberry, and cedar.

With a medium to medium-plus body of good acidity and mild to moderate tannin which was a persistent presence; a backbone as it were.

Though the flavor profile followed the aroma, roses dominated, but nuanced coffee, tobacco, and dried herbs added to a great complexity of flavors that led into a long finish of spice with considerable, but pleasant heat from the 15% alcohol.

I'm guessing that this wine is quite ready to be had, but without doubt it will cellar for some time to come.








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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Segal's 2011 Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Israel)





Segal's 2011 Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.99-$20.99, 89 points, had a bright ruby appearance with two thin rings around the glass rim: an orange purple transitional ring and a customary clear one at the glass wall.
Earthy perfume, candied red cherry, and blueberry on the nose were very good.
The medium-plus body with fair to good acidity and mild-plus tannin (textually a bit rough) carried the aroma onto the palate perfectly, but black currant and pomegranate flavors arrived late palate and trailed deep into the fair finish of gentle spice notes and a hint of the 13.5% alcohol.





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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Barkan 2011 Classic Cabernet Sauvignon (Israel)



Barkan 2011 Classic Cabernet Sauvignon, $11.99-$13.99, 86 points, appeared chameleon in color, turning first ruby red then pinkish purple, and finally a bland rosewood red with a thin clear rim, depending how you looked at it.
The subtle toasty black currant/plum aroma was pleasant.
Almost full bodied with good acidity and medium tannin.
Flavors were a bit green and overpowering, almost too much tart grape-skin, but the minty eucalyptus was interesting.
Finished fair with tart pomegranate, spice, plum notes, and almost no notice of the 13% alcohol.



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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Lady of the Lake 2012 White Wine (Greece)


Lady of the Lake 2012--White Wine (Greece),
 $14.99, 88 points, appeared as a bright almost luminescent polished gold color.
A most unusual aroma reminiscent of the petrol and minerals notes found in a German Riesling with the full spectrum of smells (flowers, Lychee, and melon) found in some Gewurztraminers.
Almost a medium bodied white wine with fair acidity, off dry, with flavors of hibiscus, jasmine, granite minerality, and unripe honeydew melon which cascaded into a complex finish of black pepper, ginger, green olives, and a hint of the 12.5% alcohol.
Varietals are 60% Roditis and 40% Batiki.
Sadly, I did not find Lady of the Lake in New Hampshire, but over the Massachusetts line in Somerville at a lovely wine boutique (Ball Square Finewines) noted for its variety of Greek Wines, though there were plenty of interesting Italian, Zinfandel, and other wines to choose from.

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Monday, April 7, 2014

Tenute Silvio Nardi 2008 Brunello Di Montalcino



Tenute Silvio Nardi 2008 Brunello Di Montalcino, $35.99-$49.99, 93 points, poured deep pomegranate red trending sunburst orange toward the transparent rim.
Red and black cherry with roses and toasty caramel on the nose were lovely.
The medium-plus body carried mouth watering acidity with firm grainy tannin on a moderately smooth texture.
Flavors faithfully mirrored the aroma, but finished long with a touch of bourbon (14% alcohol) and red pepper.

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Sunday, April 6, 2014

Jacob's Creek Sparkling Moscato Rosé





Jacob's Creek Sparkling Moscato Rosé, $11.99-$14.99, 88 points, appeared a lovely apricot/peach color with early vigorous tiny bubbles, aroma of flowers and grapefruit, light crisp body that sweetly translated the aroma onto the palate with good acidity, and finished with sweetly tart citrus and a hint of the 9% alcohol.
I'm guessing this wine will pair well with almost anything (maybe not scrabbled eggs), but add some chopped-up fruit and mix with this sparkler as you would a sangria, and I'll bet it will be a barbecue or party favorite.
(See Sparkling wines)

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Saturday, April 5, 2014

Château Giscours Margaux 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine





Château Giscours Margaux 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine, $96.04-$112.99, (Inflation! Ouch!!!!) 95 points, welled black at the core, and trended a royal purple color near the clear glass rim.
On the nose lovely cedar and roses were subtle, but the not so subtle toasty blueberry and black fruit were equally lovely!
The near full body carried a crisp acidity and ripe drinkable tannin. Had a silky smooth texture with a bounty of unfolding flavors beginning from those of the aroma and layered with coffee, mint, and developing plum notes.
Finished with the power of cola, warmth from the 13.5% alcohol, and mouth-tingling spices.
Varietals were 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.
This 2010 vintage of the Château Giscours Margaux was vastly divergent and better (in my humble opinion) than was the Chateau Giscours Margaux 2009 Bordeaux. Here you will see that I probably wasn't going to buy this wine again, but what a treat. Incroyablement beau!

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Friday, April 4, 2014

Salmon & Trout 2011 Bordeaux White Wine



Salmon And Trout 2011
Bordeaux White Wine (80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon), $7.99, 84 points, began a bright burnished brass color, smelled mostly like cantaloupe with a gentle floral note, was light-plus bodied with good acidity and off grassy flavors with a wash of citrus.
Finished with tart citrus, a touch of the 12% alcohol, and a hint of ginger.
Paired okay with sautéed sea scallops.
I bought this wine at the Londonderry Market Basket.
Of course, this just might not be enough for some of you, so here's my answer to that: Just The Facts Ma' am :-)





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