Sean Minor 4B California 2013 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Sean Minor 4B California 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $13.99, 89 points, poured near gray with a lime-green tint.

The lovely aroma was fresh 'after the storm' linen with sweet green melon, bright honeysuckle, tangerine, and a touch of peach.

Light-crisp-bodied with more than ample acidity carried the aroma onto the palate along with tart citrus.

Finished rather tart and with its noticeable 13.5% alcohol. Paired well with buttered sweet corn on the cobb and sautéed sea scallops.

I found this gem at Klemm's Mobil in Windham.

 

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Rodney Strong Alexander Valley 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Rodney Strong Alexander Valley 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, $45.99-$53.99, 93 points, appeared a rich crushed blackberry purple/red with a clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
Coffee, roses, sea breezes, blackberry, and mulberry with just a hint of cedar on the nose were very good.
Full-bodied with good acidity and layered grainy tannin carried flavors that reflected the nose with licorice and cardamom.
Finished long on an accelerating spice, anise, eucalyptus, and some warmth from the 14.5% alcohol.
Four of us loved this wine; some of today's wine tasters rating this wine 94 points.



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Three Interesting Cali Cabernets

ESO Central Coast 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $11.70-$13.00, 88 points, poured a crushed black currant Bordeaux red with a transparent ring at the mildly draping glass wall.
The nose was a pleasant bouquet of toasty red cherry and red licorice with a hint of bell pepper.
Medium bodied with good acidity and an already resolved tannin balanced favorably with flavors of strawberry, red cherry, and savory notes.
Finished fair on the trailing palate, damson plum, an easy 13.8% alcohol, and mild spice notes.
There was a bit of sediment in the bottle; you might want to let it stand for a while or decant.
I bought this at the Londonderry Hannaford's Super Market.

Sterling Napa Valley 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.99-$22.99, 89 points,  poured a lush purple/red, almost ruby, and finished with a broad clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
Red cherry and blueberry with cedar were aromatic.
Medium-plus bodied with good acidity, mellow to moderate tannin supported flavors of licorice, oak, mulberry, boysenberry with eucalyptus, gently persistent white pepper, and mint on the fair finish. The well integrated 14.6% alcohol was appropriate.

Foley Johnson Napa Valley 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, $24.74-$44.99, 92 points, appeared near black and trended a darker purple/red than most Shiraz wines I've looked at; a thin transparent ring greeted the leggy glass wall.
Hints of black cherry with bourbon notes were pleasant and enticing aromas.
Full-bodied with good acidity and firm tannin complimented this smooth red wine with some elegance.
Flavors mirrored the aromas, but cedar, blackberry, savory, and plum were excellent additions.
Finished on an escalating tannin, warmth from the 14.1% alcohol, mild spice, and a hint of mint.

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Truchard Vineyard's The Sheperd Napa Valley Carneros 2013 Sauvignon Blanc

Truchard Vineyard's The Sheperd Napa Valley Carneros 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $11.99-$15.99, 90 points, poured a light brass color trending gray to water-clear.
While cold the lovely aromas of flowers and lemon/lime impressed, but warmed to a dominant peach.
Light-bodied with mouth-puckering acidity carried a beautifully balanced flavor profile of citrus, green melon, peach, and ginger.
Finished long on the trailing palate, wet stone, and a noticeable 14.1% alcohol.
Paired well with a buttered baked potato and fried Atlantic clams.

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Tenuta Tignanello Marchese 2010 Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva

Tenuta Tignanello Marchese 2010 Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva, $27.99-$32.99, 91 points, presented me with a spectacular color array of deep crushed blackberries and a clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
Profuse violets on the nose settled down a bit with air, but remained almost perfume-like; olives, earth, black cherry, and cedar were aromatic.
Near full-bodied with bright acidity and comfortable supportive tannin carried flavors reflective of the aromas with an underlayment of plum, savory, and dry green cooking herbs.
Finished long on the trailing palate with an escalating red pepper, spice, and a well integrated 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with Debbie's lasagna.

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The Seeker Mosel 2012 Riesling

The Seeker Mosel 2012 Riesling, $12.60-$14.00, 85 points, appeared light brass in color.
The nose was a faint petrol and honeydew melon.
Light bodied with good acidity and rather uninspired or maybe just out of balanced flavors of sweet grapefruit, cantaloupe, and hints of petrol with tart Granny smith apple notes.
Finished on the trailing palate, a well integrated 10.5% alcohol, and a slight sour lemon which was only okay for me.

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Jacob's Creek Barossa 2012 Reserve Shiraz

Jacob's Creek Barossa 2012 Reserve Shiraz, $14.99, 89 points, poured an opaque purple/red trending ruby toward the clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
With some prodding the aromas wafted rich and complex with red fruit, blueberry, chocolate, leather, black olive, and flowers.
Near full-bodied with good acidity and layered mild-plus tannin, carried a dominant plum flavor, and mirrored much of the nose.
Finished fair on the trailing palate with mild spice notes, mint, and a hint of the 14.5% alcohol.
I had a hard time finding this wine in New Hampshire, so when I spotted a Jacob's Creek Barossa Reserve Shiraz at The Fresh Market in Bedford, I grabbed it; I was not disappointed.

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Willm 2012 Alsace Riesling Réserve

Willm 2012 Alsace Riesling Réserve, $17.00, 91 points, appeared straw yellow, smelled of flowers, sweet vanilla, and gentle pome.
Light, crisp, very dry, and acidic body carried lemon zest with pear, sweet apple, flowers, and wet flint flavors.
Finished long on a tart citrus, a trailing palate, and a well integrated 12% alcohol.
I've had few French Rieslings, but this is the best so far, and I'm optimistic!
I found this Riesling white wine at the Derry Hannaford's Super Market.

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Amalaya Salta 2012 Malbec Blend

Amalaya Salta 2012 Malbec Blend, $8.09-$16.99, 88 points, poured a beautiful ruby-red (redundant) with a broad clear rim.
The lovely aromas of earth and grape with hints of cedar and flowers were very good.
Medium-bodied with fair acidity and mild tannin carried well this fruit-forward, but not over-the-top, red wine's blackberry, plum, and coffee flavors.
Finished fair with mild spice, a touch of the 13.9% alcohol, eucalyptus, along with the trailing palate flavors.
Varietals were 85% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah.

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Kenwood Sonoma County 2013 Sauvgnon Blanc

Kenwood Sonoma County 2013 Sauvgnon Blanc, $10.99-$13.99, 85 points, poured a light brass color trending water-clear.
Cantaloupe and honeysuckle on the nose were pleasant.
The light crisp body carried mouth-watering acids and very tart citrus flavors, cantaloupe, unripe watermelon-rind, and a long finish of lemon meringue, the noticeable 13.5% alcohol, and a hint of ginger.



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Heras Cordón 2005 Rioja Reserva

 

Heras Cordón 2005 Rioja Reserva, $19.99-$39.99, 92+ points.
As soon as I began to inspect this Rioja Reserva it was apparent that the wine was unfiltered with a deep almost murky ruby trending brick red with a broad clear rim.
Strawberry, flowers, and bourbon on the nose were pleasant.
Medium-plus body carried good acidity with moderate grainy and persistent tannin.
If I had blind tasted this wine I would have thought (to my embarrassment) that this was a Brunello Montalcino, because of the flavors that mirrored the nose, and mint, savory, white pepper, with a well integrated 13% alcohol, all of which trailed nicely into the long finish.
Varietals were 90% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano 5% Mazuelo.
Just a bit pricy for some, but definitely a Rioja fan's wine, and at the "power-buy" price, not one to miss.

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Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Sonoma County 2012 Zinfandel

Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Sonoma County 2012 Zinfandel, $19.99-$22.99, 89 points, poured a deep ruby trending pomegranate red toward the broad clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
The nose was a pleasant though faint candied red cherry, cedar, clove, and cinnamon.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and layered moderate and escalating tannin.
Flavors reflected the nose with hints of eucalyptus, wood, and licorice.
Finished long with loads of hot spices and some heat (15%) alcohol.


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Ramon Cardova Rioja 2011 Garnacha

Ramon Cardova Rioja 2011 Garnacha, $15.99-$17.99, 89 points, appeared deep ruby with a hint of maroon, a broad clear rim, and a leggy glass wall.
Smells of caramel, coffee, toast, and a hint of strawberry.
A Kosher red wine with a medium body of fair acids and mild-plus tannin.
Flavors mirrored the aroma with a hint of red cherry, and bourbon.
Finished long on red and white pepper with some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

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Campo Viejo Rioja 2012 Garnacha

Campo Viejo Rioja 2012 Garnacha, $4.94-$10.99, 87 points, was the color of rubies with a very broad clear rim at the leggy glass wall, smelled like the Mediterranean sea and strawberries, tasted of red fruit, and was carried on a near medium body with fair acidity and mild tannin.

Finished on a trailing palate, spice, a hint of tobacco with the well integrated 14% alcohol.

 

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Kentia Galicia Rias Baixas 2013 Albarino (Spanish White Wine)

Kentia Galicia Rias Baixas 2013 Albarino (Spanish White Wine), $13.99-$15.99, 88 points, appeared with a bronze tint and a dominant light lemon/lime color.
The aromas were reminiscent of a good New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, with lemon-grass notes, grapefruit, gooseberry, and a floral component.
Light, vibrant, tangy, and crisp body carried mouth-watering acids, flavors that mirrored the aromas, cold-wet granite trending almost metallic, with tenacious citrus and lemon meringue.
Finished well on the trailing palate and a hint of the 13% alcohol.
I paired this with oysters on the half-shell with lemon and spicy tomato sauce, and with steamed clams dipped in melted butter.



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Château La Cardonne 2009 Red Bordeaux Wine

Château La Cardonne 2009 Red Bordeaux Wine, $17.09-$25.99, 90+ points, began black at the glass core and trended deep crushed blackberry purple/red with a clear rim.
Aromatic blackberry, tobacco, and earth were good.
Slightly weightier than medium bodied with good acidity and moderate tannin which gave a firm textural grip, but wasn't what I'd call edgy, just a hair rough.
Cola, mushrooms, and blueberries added depth to the flavors reflected from the aromas.
Finished with plum notes, accelerating spice, and the well integrated 13.5% alcohol.



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Château de Bellevue Lussac St. Émilion 2010 Bordeaux

Château de Bellevue Lussac St. Émilion 2010 Bordeaux, $19.79-$27.99, 92+ points, Poured nearly core black and trended a rich crushed black currant purple/red with a thin transparent rim.

Coffee, leather, cedar, with black and red cherry smells were very appealing.

The richly smooth medium-plus body carried good acidity with layered and escalating tannin.

Though this is a dry red wine, a red cherry flavor with an edge of sweetness dominated the flavor profile, but coffee, cedar, and blackberry flavors were rich and interesting.

Finished long on the trailing palate with spice notes and a well integrated 13.5% alcohol.

Commentary: Easily a $50-$70 Bordeaux red wine that has made the "Last chance" wine list of the NHLS. This wine properly cellared will age gracefully, and will make an excellent gift for that wine-lover in your family. Also, If you have wanted to taste a red Bordeaux, but have shied-away for one reason or another, then this is a proper way to go. Just my humble opinion. 

 

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Merriam Vineyards Simoneau Ranch Alexander Valley 2009 Chardonnay

 

Merriam Vineyards Simoneau Ranch Alexander Valley 2009 Chardonnay, $18.69-$24.99, 90+ points, appeared nearly goldenrod yellow; just in case that's confusing, here's a picture of goldenrod:
Smells of flowers, cantaloupe, and toasty vanilla were lovely.
Medium-plus bodied carried fair acidity with silky textures into the long light buttery finish of bright ginger and a hint of the 13.8% alcohol with the trailing palate flavors of ripe melons, a hint of citrus and that sweet vanilla.
Merriam Vineyards is quickly becoming a "go-to" winery for me!

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Easton Amador County 2011 Zinfandel

Easton Amador County 2011 Zinfandel, $12.23-$17.77 89 points, appeared rosewood red trending maroon with a thin clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
Subtle earth notes with grape and cedar aromas were good.
The medium body carried surprising good acidity and a moderately unfolding tannin. (this is NO fruit bomb).
Flavors-hints of coffee and tobacco complimented the black cherry and mulberry flavors.
Finished on an escalating tannin, tart cherry, a hint of bourbon, and subtle spice.



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Trentadue Alexander Valley Estate 2012 Zinfandel

Trentadue Alexander Valley Estate 2012 Zinfandel, $14.99-$18.99, 89 points, appeared a deep ruby with hints of maroon toward the broad transparent rim and leggy glass wall.
Toasty grape and Mulberry with a hint of the 14.8% alcohol on the nose were good.
Medium bodied with good acidity and accelerating tannin carried cola, mulberry, and eucalyptus flavors.
Finished long on spice, a bit of heat, and plum notes.
This is a lively, bright, and a varietal-true Zinfandel, and will pair well with barbecue spareribs, Mexican cuisine, and pepperoni pizza.

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Renwood Amador County Premire 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel

Renwood Amador County Premire 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel, $15.99-$19.99, 90 points, poured opaque transitioning to brick-red toward the broad clear rim-ring and leggy glass wall.
Smells of dusty blackberries, black licorice, coffee notes, and earth were propitious.
The medium-plus body with firm tannin carried unusual flavors of cola, bourbon, and those flavors reflective of the well defined aromas.
Finished fair on the trailing palate with some red pepper notes and warmth from the sweet-spot 14.8% alcohol.
It has been four years since I got over my displeasure with Renwood Zinfandel, and I'm glad I got over that displeasure and tasted the 2011 vintage; though I haven't tasted that many Zins of late, I'll bet that this is a best value. I think this wine is at its apex: drink now!


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Whitehaven Marlborough 2013 Sauvignon Blanc

Whitehaven Marlborough 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $14.49-$20.99, 92 points, appeared a light brass color trending almost clear at the glass wall.
Bright vanillas, grasses, and hints of grapefruit on the nose were very pleasant.
Light-bodied, crisp, clean, and appropriately acidic white wine which near perfectly carried the aromas onto the palate with just a hint of Gooseberries and a long finish of the diminishing palate with hints of the 13% alcohol, creamy lemon meringue, and citrus.

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Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Napa Valley 2012 Sauvignon Blanc (A toasting with my English friends)

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Napa Valley 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, $24.99-$26.99, 90 points, poured a light brass color and trended slightly gray at the shallow glass wall.
Cantaloupe with a floral note were okay on the nose.
The light/crisp body carried good acidity, hints of spearmint, honeysuckle, wet granite, and pineapple.
Finished long on the trailing palate with just a hint of ginger and the 13.5% alcohol.
This is an excellent SB, but the hefty price must be weighed against the wine's history and the "so many good Sauvignon Blanc white wines from California" available for much less.

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