New Hampshire Wine-man (Exploring the world of wine in the tiny State of New Hampshire)
Did you know that Granite is a wine descriptor?
Ever wonder why these are called the White Mountains?
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Scagliola 'Casot dan Vian' Piemonte (Italy) Chardonnay,$15.29-$16.99,88 points, poured a bright brass color. Smells of toasty melon, vanilla, and soft citrus blossoms were good. Barely medium bodied with good acidity and flavors reflective of the aromas and minerality compared this Chardonnay favorably to many a Cali Chardonnay, more than other Italian Chardonnays I've tasted, but still very clean and pure. Finished on the trailing palate, alcohol notes (14%), citrus, ginger, and an almost Sauvignon Blanc fresh-cut grass. I bought this Chardonnay at the Harvest Market in Bedford.
Index-of-reviewed-wines Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
Michael David Earthquake/Lodi 2012 Zinfandel,$25.99-$28.99,90+ points,appeared black at the core trending Shiraz purple near the clear wine ring and leggy glass wall. Profuse aromas of cedar, clove, cinnamon, toasty blackberry, and violets were almost overwhelming. Full-bodied with fair acidity, round and easy, but escalating tannins which well supported a flavor profile reflective of the aromas plus plum notes. Finished long and hot (15.5% alcohol) with copious red pepper spices and a hint of eucalyptus. This was the best Michael David Zinfandel I've had!
Index-of-reviewed-wines Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
Donnafugata "Anthilia" 2012 Catarratto And White Wine blend (Sicily), $12.56-$13.95,84+ points, was a dark straw yellow trending gray at the glass shallows. Odd floral aroma with cantaloupe were just okay for me. Dry white wine with a light body and good acidity carried slightly sour grapefruit flavor notes and a touch of orange peel. Finished on the trailing palate and a slight gingery component with a bit of the 12.5% alcohol. I usually like my white wines on the cold to cool side, but I actually liked the "Anthilia" 2012 better warm. Index-of-reviewed-wines Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
Cesari Boscarel I.G.T. Rosso 2012 Red Wine,$8.49-$18.99,85 points, poured a deep ruby color with a clear wine ring. Smells of blueberry, brine, earth, and slightly sour black currant were just okay for me. Medium-bodied with good acidity, layered wild tannins, mirrored flavors of the aromas as well as licorice were just okay too. Finished okay on the trailing palate, a hint of sweet red cherry, and a well integrated 13.5% alcohol. Varietals were 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Sangiovese (made for a good red table wine, and paired well with a rare T-bone steak and asparagus).
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Save Me San Francisco Wine Co. 'Bulletproof Picasso' 2011 Sauvignon Blanc,$8.99,85points, was a light straw yellow color. The smell of grapefruit with light grass notes were simply good. The light crisp body carried good acidity with flavors of grapefruit, hints of tangerine, and gooseberry which were all okay. Finished on the trailing palate with a slightly noticeable 13.5% alcohol. I bought this SB at the Hannaford's Super Market in Derry.
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Marziano Abbona Terlo Ravera 2009 Barolo DOCG,$45.04-$52.99, 93+points, was what I call a sunburst orange/redwith a broad clear wine ring at the leggy glass wall. Aromatic cherry-wood, saline smells from the sea, and bourbon with a floral component were excellent. Medium-bodied with good acidity and still vibrantly tight tannins carried black and red cherry cordial notes with bourbon accents. Finished long on the trailing palate with some heat from the 15% alcohol, and a touch of mint. Tuscan Vines expresses the "feminine" ofBarbaresco, but this Barolo is the masculine expression of the Nebbiolo Grape, and with all those intense bourbon-like flavors, you've got to believe it's manly! Though rather unctuously textured in its own way, ironically there's sharp edges to this wine too. Paired perfectly with a rare porter-house (meat and potatoes).
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Château Haut-Robert Tertre De Fontenot 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine,$10.99,87 points, poured deep ruby with a maroon tint trending dark pomegranate red toward the clear wine ring and leggy glass bowl. The nose was a good black fruit aroma with cedar, coffee, and truffle notes. More a medium-bodied Bordeaux with good acidity and supportive tannin. Flavors of blueberry and tobacco were rather distinctive. Finished okay with hints of mint, a touch of cayenne spice, and the 13.5% alcohol. Varietals were 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Though the Château Haut-Robert Tertre De Fontenot 2010 Bordeaux won't wow anyone it is a good intro to Red Bordeaux for those uninitiated and those looking for a good red table wine.
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Round Pond Napa Valley Rutherford 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon,$44.99-$59.99,92+ points, poured core black trending nearly blood red at the leggy glass wall and clear wine ring. Swelling aromas of cedar, black currant, pine tar, and sweet red cherry were very good. The full body was early palate smooth transitioning slightly rough late palate with still vibrant, supportive, and accelerating tannin. Good acidity and complex flavors reflective of the aromas with what might be called "dusty" blackberry notes and hints of violets were excellent. Finished long with some heat (14.5% alcohol), just a touch of bell pepper, as well as spicy black and white pepper.
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Château Cantenac Brown Margaux 2011 Bordeaux Red Wine,$47.99-$63.99,90 points, poured deep ruby trending crushed black currant purple/red with a broad clear wine ring. Smells of tobacco, brine, anise, and black fruit were very good. The medium-plus body with good acidity was rather smooth considering the strident and escalating tannins (give this wine time in the cellar). Flavors reflected the aromas with plum notes. The finish was fair on the trailing palate, a well integrated 13% alcohol, and tart pomegranate notes. Varietals were 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot. Index-of-reviewed-wines Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
Federico Ferrero Volpini Langhe (Piedmont, Italy) 2013 Chardonnay,$12.99-$14.99,89 points, poured a light straw yellow trending gray toward the glass wall. The aromas were gentle honeydew melon and pine needles. I don't usually think of Chardonnay as light-bodied, but this Chardonnay wasn't quite medium-bodied. Federico Ferrero Volpini Langhe 2013 Chardonnay was another clean Italian white wine possessing fair-plus acidity and subtlety balanced flavors of lemon, pineapple, and limestone minerality. Finished long with mint, the trailing palate, white pepper, and a well integrated 12.5% alcohol.
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Avancia 2014 Cuvée De O Godello(Valdeorras, Spain),$15.99,90+ points, was the same color as the Fisheye Pinot Grigio (light brass color and gray to water clear). Aromatic Lychee, flowers, and pineapple were excellent! The light plus-body was dry and appropriately acidic with an early palate smooth texture complimenting its melon flavors, while transitioning late palate tart citrus with tangerine being most notable. Finished well with the 13.5% alcohol and the trailing palate. For my Vino-friend: Avancia 2014 Cuvée De O Godello was vinified with no malo-lactic fermentation, but aged for six months on the lees.
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Fish Eye 2013 Pinot Grigio (South Eastern Australia), $4.99-$7.99,86 points, showed between a light brass color and gray to water clear. Cold aromas of apple, vanilla, and pineapple were very good while as it warmed this PG added dusty floral notes. Light-bodied with good acidity, but early palate thin with developing flavors of pineapple, tart apple, and bland pear notes. Finished fair with a well integrated 12.5% alcohol, tart citrus, and hints of ginger.
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Château Langoa Barton Saint-Julien 2011 Bordeaux Red Wine,$54.39-$72.99,93 points, poured black trending deep purple toward the broadly clear wine ring. Interesting aromas of pine tar, black cherry cordial, blackberries, and subtle rose with coffee notes were very pleasant. Texturally unctuous and early palate smooth while sliding down a spicy slope with accelerating grainy tannins into the long finish. The near full-body carried fair to good acidity and the reflected flavor of the aromas complimented with anise, oak, pomegranate, sweet tobacco, and a well integrated 13% alcohol.
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High Valley Lake County California 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $13.99-$29.99,90 points, poured a very light brass color trending water clear toward the glass shallows. A lovely aromatically balanced lemon/pineapple was amazing. Light crisp body carried good acidity with melon, citrus, and mint flavors. Finished fair on a well integrated 13.8% alcohol, kiwi, hints of ginger with white and black pepper notes. I paired the High Valley Lake County California 2013 Sauvignon Blanc with a fresh Icelandic Cod filet.
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Château Valfontaine 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine,$9.99,86+ points, the color I saw was in conflict with the label which said "Deep Ruby", whereas I saw dark maroon trending deep cranberry red with a clear wine ring (wine changes over time is a taken). The aroma was a distinctive strawberry/rhubarb, not typical for a Bordeaux red wine with the varietals Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (30%), and Cabernet Franc (20%). Medium bodied with good acidity and tamed tannins for a young Bordeaux. Flavors of strawberry, red cherry, black currant, and tart pomegranate were okay, but I wasn't noticing any subtlety; a straight forward red table wine it is, and a good one at that for about ten dollars. Finished fair with some warm spices, slightly unripe black currant and a balanced 12.5% alcohol.
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Château La Croix De Beaucaillou Saint-Julien 2011 Bordeaux Red Wine,$39.99-$53.99,90 points, was black at the core transitioned into a deep red with a purple cast at the glass shallows, and terminated with a clear wine ring. Aromatic cedar, clove, earth, plum, and blackberry were pleasant. Nearly full-bodied with good acidity, strident, but manageable tannin, and flavors that reflected the aromas were good as well. Finished long on the trailing palate, tart pomegranate, accelerating tannin (a bit astringent), oak notes, a well integrated 13% alcohol, and red pepper.
True Myth Edna Valley 2013 Chardonnay,$18.89-$20.99,89 points, poured a lustrous straw yellow color. Aromas of apple, pineapple, and a hint of cantaloupe were pleasant, although the flavors were mostly an oaky melon and subtle tropical fruit. Medium-bodied with fair acidity supported a moderately smooth texture that transitioned toward edgy in the finish of spicy citrus and a noticeable 13.5% alcohol. I bought this Chardonnay at the Harvest Market in Bedford.
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Château Quinault L'Enclos Grand Cru de Saint-Émilion 2011Bordeaux RedWine,$34.39-$45.99,90 points, poured an opaque maroon trending crushed black currant purple/red with a clear wine ring. Upon opening, subtle perfume aromas of roses gave-way to black currant, spiced plum, and cedar. Full-bodied with good acidity, though texturally divided, this 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon displayed moderately supportive tannin marked by a slight astringency. The flavor profile was a dominant oaky plum with savory notes, but the long finish was an intensely spicy affair with mint and a well integrated 13% alcohol which managed a good balance.
Delish Cali 2013 Sauvignon Blanc,$15.00,84 points, poured a lustrous brass color. Smelled more like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with a dominant gooseberry aroma. Typically light-bodied, but with less noticeable acidity than I'm accustomed to. Flavors were gooseberry and lemon with a thin layer of other nondescript citrus. The finish was a bit weak with grassy notes, citrus, and a well integrated 13.5% alcohol. Paired okay with my sautéed fresh Atlantic Halibut. I bought this White Wine at the Derry Hannaford's Super Market.
Index-of-reviewed-wines Copyright 2010-2015 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
