Marquis de Chasse 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine

Marquis de Chasse 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine, $9.99-$11.99, 87 points, poured a deep blackberry purple/red with a transparent rim-ring.
Smells of semi-sweet red cherry with a slightly saline cedar, clove, and a hint of tobacco were pleasant.
Medium-plus body carried good acidity with strident tannins, and flavors of black tea, cola, oak, and very little discernable fruit.
Finished well with hot spice, oak, mouth-drying tannin, and a well integrated 13% alcohol.
Varietals were 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc.








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Château Floréal Laguens 2010 Bordeaux Supérieur

Château Floréal Laguens 2010 Bordeaux Supérieur, $12.59-$13.99, 90 points, poured opaque ruby trending crushed black currant purple/red with a flash of maroon and a clear rim at the leggy glass wall.
Smells of earth, mushrooms, clove, cinnamon, cedar, a hint of red cherry, and blackberry were quite nice.
This Bordeaux-young wine was still very tannic, and with good acidity quickened the medium-plus body with fullness, along with lively and pleasant flavors of anise, cola, and pomegranate all of which promised a prolonged future.
Finished well with black tea, spice, escalating tannins, and warmth from the 14.5% alcohol.
I'm guessing that this wine could rest for years to come, but if you're like me and enjoy strong tannins, then this is a big/pleasant surprise (hard to find very good red Bordeaux wines for this price).
Varietals were a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot (best information I could find).

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Round Pond Napa Valley "Kith & Kin" 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Round Pond Napa Valley "Kith and Kin" 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, $26.09-$28.99, 91+ points, poured core black trending a crushed black currant purple/red with a broad clear rim and a leggy glass wall.
Lush black fruit on the nose was accented by dried cardamom and a bit of toasty cedar.
Medium-plus bodied with good acidity, an underlayment of tannin, and flavors reflective of the nose were very good.
The texture was medium smooth with lots of room to mellow.
Finished strong on blackberry, escalating spice, spearmint, eucalyptus, and some warmth from the 14.5% alcohol.
Looking for a solid Cab at a reasonable price? Are you at the Wine Week event in Manchester? If you see this one: Please taste and tell me if you agree!




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Thumbprint Russian River 2012 Pinot Noir

Thumbprint Russian River 2012 Pinot Noir,

$15.99-$49.99, 89 points, appeared as an unfiltered cranberry red with a broad clear rim-ring.
Aromatic strawberry, blueberry, sweet spices, with hints of vanilla and bacon were excellent.
The medium body carried good acidity, mild-plus tannin, flavors reflective of the aromas as well as hints of tart pomegranate.
Finished long with the 13.9% alcohol, mild spice notes, and of all things, grape!

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First Press Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc

First Press Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $15.00, 88 points, appeared as a broad spectrum of yellow colors, but a very light gold dominated.
Cantaloupe and gooseberry were okay on the nose.
Crisp light bodied Sauvignon Blanc with good acidity and flavors of cantaloupe, lemon grass, and unripe honeydew melon were also okay.
Early palate texture was a bit rough, but mellowed-out late palate.
Finished long on the trailing palate, white pepper, a hint of ginger with the big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired well with sautéed sea scallops.







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Ridge Pagani Ranch 2012 Zinfandel

Ridge Pagani Ranch 2012 Zinfandel, $33.29-$36.99, 92 points, poured a deep purple red with a transparent rim-ring and a fair amount of draping.
The very interesting aromas of blackberry, chocolate, fresh-washed linen, cedar, and the barest hint of Patchouli was wonderful (Ridge wines always seem to have these alluring smells).
Medium-plus body had very bright acids and accelerating fine tannins with flavors of wild berries, mint, eucalyptus, and licorice which were wonderful too.
Finished fair with tart pomegranate, spice, and a hint of the 14.1% alcohol.
Not as round or as elegant a wine as the Ridge Lytton Springs 2012 Red Wine, rather more unabashedly primitive, edgy, and undomesticated, but not cranky.

Ridge, why it's a "go to" winery.
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Wine and three days of snow!

With 18-25 inches of snow and high winds, wine, red wine is in order; so, today I stocked up!

WMUR-TV reports blizzard to arrive Monday night!

Okay, okay, okay! Snow is beautiful! Saturday's 3-4 inches of the white stuff was just right for a beautiful January Sunday drive to pick-up some red wines for the long haul!

 

 

 

Three days later, and yup, it's still snowing; ouch! However, being stuck indoors I made my first video, rudimentary though it is: 

 

Thumbprint Russian River 2012 Pinot Noir

 

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Errazuriz Single Vineyard 2008 Carménère

Errazuriz Single Vineyard 2008 Carménère,  $15.99-$20.99, 90+ points, poured black throughout except deep purple near the transparent rim-ring and leggy glass wall.
Aromatic sea-salt, violets, cedar, coffee, and black fruits were excellent.
Near full-bodied, sleek and satiny, displayed good acidity, firm, but balanced tannin with oak, cola, blackberry, and floral flavors which were very good.
Finished long on eucalyptus, licorice, easy spice, and red cherry with some warmth from the 14.5% alcohol.






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Davis Bynum Virginia's Block~Jane's Vineyard Russian River Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc

Davis Bynum Virginia's Block~Jane's Vineyard Russian River Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $20.69-$22.99, 90 points, was a light brass color trending clear at the glass shallows.
Honeydew melon and lemon zest on the nose were quite good.
The light/crisp body carried typically good acidity and quintessentially Cali Sauvignon Blanc flavors of key lime, lemon, kiwi, and honeydew melon.
Finished long on cream-soda notes with hints of the 13.5% alcohol (very nice).
Paired perfectly with turbot and chips.


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Terre Rouge 2010 Syrah

Terre Rouge 2010 Syrah, $14.44-$18.99, 90 points, poured an opaque ruby with maroon flashes toward the clear rim-ring.
Aromatic smoky blackberry, sweet plum, and toasty black cherry with a hint of cedar were most pleasant.
The near full body carried good acidity, moderately supportive tannin, and flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long on plum notes with hints of oak, spice, tobacco, and the 14.5% alcohol.
Terre Rouge 2010 Syrah does plum well (not usually my favorite wine descriptor).
 
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Novy Santa Lucia Highlands 2010 Syrah

Novy Santa Lucia Highlands 2010 Syrah, $26.99-$15.99, 88 points, appeared inky-black throughout, except near the transparent rim ring where it was a deep purple/red.

The nose needed some time to open-up, but once it did hints of violets, cedar, coffee bean, earth, and slightly sour plum were okay.

Full-bodied with good acidity, and mostly resolved tannin mirrored the nose well, but a hint of sassafras added another interesting note.

Finished long on an accelerating spice, Cholula, and hints of the 13.9% alcohol and tobacco. 

 

 

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Concha y Toro Terrunyo (Block 27) 2006 Carménère

 

Concha y Toro Terrunyo (Block 27) 2006 Carménère, $27.74-$31.99, 92+ points, poured core black turning almost blood red near the clear rim.

Richly evocative aromas of morning fresh lake waters (think when you were fishing as a child), blueberry, plum, cedar, and earth notes leapt out of the glass.
Full-bodied with good acidity, layered supportive tannin, aromas reflected throughout the palate with black cherry, cola, licorice and savory notes all made for great balance and complexity.
Finished well on accelerating spice, oak, and a kiss of the 14% alcohol.
If you are going to the Wine Week tastings, and haven't tasted Carménère, and want to, I think you'll be amazed at the pristine quality of Concha y Toro Terrunyo (Block 27).
Oh, if you are like me, you'll ask: Howdoyousaythatword.com (carmenere).

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Carménère (think Chile)

Carménère {Wines Of Chile}

Howdoyousaythatword.com (carmenere).

Chilensis 2012 Carménère Reserva, $8.99-$9.99, 89 points

Concha y Toro Terrunyo (Block 27) 2006 Carménère, $27.74-$31.99, 92+ points

Errazuriz Single Vineyard 2008 Carménère, $15.99-$20.99, 90+ points

Root-1 Estate Vineyard Colchagua Valley, Chile 2018 Carménère, $9.34-$12.99, 86+ points

San Pedro 1865 Single Vineyard Maule Valley Chile 2007 Carménère, $18-$20, 90 points


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New Hampshire Wine Week 2015

American beech (Fagus grandifolia)

 

 

New Hampshire Wine Week 2015 begins January 26 and end February 1, 2015

 

Newbie wine-taster me and on-going vignettes of my journey.

 

 

 

 

  Even wine tasting is like a hike through the forest, sometimes it can get a bit crowded, and other times scarcely a soul is seen, but keep in mind that no matter how many people are around, the adventure is yours.

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Round Pond Rutherford~Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc

Round Pond Rutherford~Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $19.79-$21.99, a fantastic 93 points, does manage to equal two other Sauvignon Blanc wines I've had (cheers to Vinogirl), and that with a whopping well balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Poured mostly gray in color, but fringes of saffron were right out of a "SIN CITY" movie.
Blossomy aromas with hints of honeydew melon, jasmine, lemon, and cantaloupe were outstanding.
The light/crisp body mirrored the aromas well, and with mouth-watering acidity transported the palate into a long finish of kiwi, white pepper, some heat, and ginger notes.
This is indeed a treasure!


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Chateau d'Arcins Haut-Medoc 2010 Bordeaux Red Wines

Chateau d'Arcins Haut-Medoc 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine, $16.79-$22.99, 87 points, poured core black trending blood-red toward the clear rim-ring.
Earthy smells with hints of cedar and mint were okay.
Medium-plus bodied with good acidity and moderate though building tannins carried flavors of blueberry, pomegranate, and spearmint, and though a bit tart and thinner than I'm used to, still good.
Finished fair with oak notes, easy spice, and a touch of the 13.5% alcohol.




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Chalk Hill Estate 2010 Red Wine

Chalk Hill Estate 2010 Red Wine, $42.49-$49.99, 91+ points, was black from the core all the way to the burgundy-red glass shallows and the clear rim-ring.
The nose was black currant, cedar, and a hint of violets.
Full-bodied with good acidity and appropriately supportive tannin.
Flavors reflected the nose but blueberry, plum, and licorice were complimentary.
Finished long on whispers of black fruits, accelerating spice notes, and some warmth from the 14.8% alcohol.
Varietals were 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 10% Syrah and 1% Carménère.



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Ridge Lytton Springs Dry Creek 2012 Red Wine

 

 

Ridge Lytton Springs 2012 Red Wine, $33.29-$36.99, 93 points, poured opaque ruby trending black currant purple/red near the clear rim-ring and leggy glass wall.

Beautiful bouquet filled with the fragrance of roses, brambleberry, cedar, toasty damson plum, fresh-baked bread, and leather was amazing.

The rich silky texture embellished this near full-bodied red wine (predominately Zinfandel) blessed with good acidity and supportive/layered tannins.

Flavors were reflective of the bouquet, but the long finish brought-out complimentary notes of juicy black fruits, mild spice, a hint of anise, and some warmth from the 14.4% alcohol.

 

Ridge, why it's a "go to" winery.

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Chateau Julien Monterey County 2012 Merlot

Chateau Julien Monterey County 2012 Merlot, $7.99-$9.99, 86 points, poured deep ruby with flashes of maroon and a clear rim-ring.
The beautiful aromas of chocolate, toasty plum, and floral boysenberry were outstanding.
Medium-bodied with fair acidity and mild tannin carried flavors of blueberry, blackberry, tobacco, and a hint of that chocolate, but there was a slight undercurrent of green grape.
Finished fair with an astringent note, eucalyptus, the trailing palate, well integrated 13.5% alcohol, and gentle spice.
With a name like "Chateau Julien", which upsets some, you might think that this is a French wine (Bordeaux), but Monterey County is in California.
I bought these at the Londonderry Market Basket.

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Chilensis 2012 Carménère Reserva

Chilensis 2012 Carménère Reserva, $8.99-$9.99, 89 points, poured a deep purple/red with a transparent rim ring.
Profuse black fruit on the nose with subtle hints of clove and cedar were good.
The body was a medium-plus, and carried good acidity upon the back of mildly supportive tannin.
Flavors of tobacco, cola, and tart pomegranate accented the mulberry and blackberry base.
Finished fair with the trailing palate, a well integrated 13.5% alcohol, and an easy spiciness.
For me, Chilensis winery is becoming an ever-more trusted source for value wines.
Keep in mind that this is a rather controversial red wine, where Tastings.com scored this wine a big 91 points and a 'best buy', while others were not so generous (WS scored it 84 points).
I bought this at the Londonderry Market Basket.


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Hartford Russian River Valley Old Vine 2012 Zinfandel

Hartford Russian River Valley Old Vine 2012 Zinfandel, $28.79-$31.99, 90 points, was a bright ruby trending dark cranberry red with a broad clear rim ring.
The aromas were earthy grape notes with a briny fresh linen character.
Full-bodied with good acidity and unusually strident tannin, even a bit astringent, were characteristically Zinfandel-specific food friendly (e.g. peperoni pizza).
Flavors of plum, mulberry, and blackberry cordial made for a fruit-forward, but not an over-the-top red wine.
Finished well on the trailing palate, a touch of wintergreen, and some heat from the 15% alcohol.


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