Casa Lapostolle Rapel Valley Grand Selection 2013 Merlot (Chile), (Twist off closure) $12.99-$14.99, 87 points, poured centrally opaque grading purple/red toward the clear wine ring and moderately leggy glass bowl.
Aromas of shy mulberry and plum were 'universal', but some soft floral notes were good.
Medium-bodied with fair-plus acidity, mellow underlayment of tannin, and 'universal' flavors of plum, black licorice, and nondescript wine flavors
Finished fair on hints of tobacco, easy spices, herbal notes, and an easy 13% alcohol.
A yeomen's red table wine.
Paired well with our American Flatbread pizzas.
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Andrew Will Two Blondes Vineyard 2007 Red Wine, $50.99-$69.99, 0 points, was, after waiting six years to drink, spoiled. I hate it when that happens.
I'm wondering if a Groth 60mm cork could have saved the day; we don't see too many twist-offs on fifty dollar wines.
I must admit, it p!$$e$ me off!
I don't now care that it had 14.4% alcohol, or what color it was.
I don't care what varietals this wine had (40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot, and 7% Malbec).
Anyone think that the store I bought this wine six years ago will give a . . .?
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Château Nozières Ambroise de l'Her Cahors 2011 Malbec (France), $17.99-$19.99, 89 points, poured core black terminating with a rich purple/red color at the moderately broad clear wine ring.
Smelled earthy, toasty, a tad plumy, and accented with a subtle floral note.
Full-bodied with good acidity, an enveloping blanket of tannin, and interesting flavors of plum, coffee, tangy pomegranate, and nuanced molasses, licorice, and root beer.
Finished long on the root beer, tobacco, a mild spiciness, and the sneaky 15% alcohol.
Paired well with my mushroom ravioli in a beefy tomato sauce.
I bought this French Malbec at the Whole Foods of Bedford; not always easy to find French Malbec in NH.
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Jorge Ordonez And Co. No 2 Victoria 2012 Moscatel (Malaga, Spain), $19.99-$45.99 (375ml), 90 points, was a brass color trending clear at the glass shallows.
The interesting aroma of Chinese egg roll was dominant.
Full-bodied with good acidity carried intense flavors of semi-sweet apple cider, caramel, and dates into the long finish with a comfortable 10% alcohol.
Paired well with my warm pecan pie and baked fig pastry.
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Heidsieck and Co Monopole Gold Top Brut 2005 Champagne (France), $38.24-$49.99, 89 points, poured a brass color with a full head of foam and a continuous eruption of tiny bubbles.
Smells of apple pie and rising dough were straight forward and pleasant.
Light-bodied with bright acidity managed a caramel-apple flavor with brazen and enduring zesty hops.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a hint of ginger, and a brut 12% alcohol.
Paired fine with my 'bangers' and mash with au jus brown gravy.
Varietals were 70% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay.
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Stag's Leap Cellars Karia (Graceful character) Napa valley 2014 Chardonnay, $24.64-$32.99, 87+ points, was a deep glossy gold color fading toward the glass edge.
Aromatic pine resin, cantaloupe, honeysuckle, and a whisper of vanilla were lovely.
Power describes this not so graceful medium to medium-plus bodied Chardonnay wielding a too cumbersome 14.5% alcohol; and though the acidity was good, the more or less flavors reflective of the aromas were downed-out by that alcohol.
Finished long on caramel, ginger, and a delightful fig note.
Paired okay with our roasted chicken and mixed vegetables.
Wow, the same name and same price as the last Stag's Leap Cellars Karia I had six vintages ago, but not the wine I remember.
Commentary:
Though Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is listed as one of my "Go-to Wineries, if I taste another one of their wines and it disappoints like the last two, I'll be forced to remove them from that Go-to list.
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Grgich Hills Estate Grown Napa Valley 2014 Fumé Blanc, $25.49-$29.99, 90 points, poured a straw yellow color and clearing at the glass edge.
Smells of hay were accented with hints of honeysuckle, unripe cantaloupe, lime, and an unusual black pepper.
Light-bodied with good acidity and subtle flavors of tropical fruits, citrus, and gooseberry were well-balanced and tasty.
Finished fair on lemon zest, tangerine, a hint of ginger, and a spot-on 14.1% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my North Atlantic fried clams.
Grgich Hills Estates, why it's a "go to winery".
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Ramón Bilbao Rias Baixas 2015 Albariño (Spain), $10.39-$12.99, 89 points, was a light glossy gold color fading toward the glass edge.
Aromatic tangerine, flowers, and a hint of chipotle were 'sweet'.
Light and refreshing with good acidity carrying straight-forward flavors of quince and cumquat.
Finished well on hints of ginger, lime, lemon, and grapefruit.
the 12.5% alcohol was balanced and appropriate.
A delicate white wine, but not fragile; not quite the 'punch' of a Cali Sauvignon Blanc, but finessed and less obtrusive with my perfectly paired fried North Atlantic dry sea scallops and cauliflower/broccoli in cheddar cheese sauce.
I bought this white wine at the Whole Foods of Bedford.
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Provenance Vineyards Napa Valley 2012 Merlot, $17.99-$34.99, 90 points, was a purple/red color with a clear wine ring and moderate legs.
Earthy smells accented with cinnamon, cedar, and a less sustained blackberry aroma were good.
Full-bodied with moderate acidity and firm grainy tannins managed to deliver early palate tangy black cherry, evolving blackberry, plum, and chocolate flavors.
Finished long on intense warm spices, truffle, pomegranate, tobacco, the residual palate, and a potent 14.9% alcohol.
Paired fine with my spiced-rubbed rare Angus rib-eye.
I preferred the early pour over the let-stand and breathe pour.
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Januik Champoux Vineyard 2014 Muscat Canelli, $6.79-$19.99, 87 points, poured a light glossy gold color.
Aromatic orange peel, wet cement, whimsical honeysuckle, and stone fruits were lovely, but translated weakly onto the palate with a hint of caramel.
This light-bodied wine with fair acidity walked a thin line between sweet and dry (off dry).
Finished okay on apricot, Kahlúa, caramel, and a comfortable 11.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my blackberry crumpets and maple syrup.
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Ménage à Trois 2015 Rosé, $8.88-$12.99, 87 points, was an orange/rose color with a violet tint.
Smells of strawberries and peppermint candy-cane were a tad different.
Also a tad different for a Rosé was the flavor of blueberries, but traditional strawberry and floral notes were good.
Light-bodied with fair-plus acidity carried these flavors deep into the long finish marked by ginger notes and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Varietals were Merlot, Syrah, and an unusual Gewürztraminer.
Paired fine with my chili-mac.
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Castell Franken (Trocken) 2015 Silvaner White Wine, $19.79-$21.99, 91 points, poured a light glossy gold color clearing at the glass shallows.
Aromatic pome fruit, soft floral notes, and hints of citrus and bacon were superior.
The almost medium-body was dense with flavors of stone fruits and brine; acidity was fair or medium.
Finished long on persistent ginger and the dry 13% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with a Alsatian bacon and onion tarte flambée.
I bought this wine at the Whole Foods of Bedford.
This was the first Silvaner (Sylvaner) white wine I've had the pleasure of tasting, and I was impressed.
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Groth Oakville-Napa Valley 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, $97.74-$114.99, 96+ points, poured the same color, but darker than this purple/red young Cabernet, and with thick slow tearing into the clear wine ring.
The bouquet was outstanding potpourris focused upon flowers, black fruits, cedar, and herbs; to break down this wine's aroma gestalt would just be superfluous.
Full-bodied with mouthwatering acidity and layered fine supportive tannins carried a balanced flavor profile excelling with blackberry liqueur, black currants, cedar, dates, plums, French café, earth notes, and sandalwood.
Finished elegantly on the waning palate, supple subtleties, and a well-integrated 14.9% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my rare spice-rubbed Angus rib-eye.
One of the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines in my short list of Cabs.
Groth Vineyards, why it's a "go to" winery.
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Castello Del Poggio Delle Venezie NV Moscato (IGT), $9.99-$11.99, 89 points, opened with a puff of 'smoke' and displayed less effervescence than a frizzante wine, and with as light a brass color 'imaginable' without being water clear.
The aromas of cream soda and orange were excellent.
Light-plus body was sleek and soft exhibiting medium acidity and an expected reigned-in sweetness.
Flavors neatly reflected the aromas with a touch of rock-candy.
Finished long on the trailing palate, hints of citrus, and a nearly unnoticeable 7% alcohol.
A fine aperitif, but paired well with my warm pecan pie, maple-spice cake, and okay with baked fig squares.
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Trivento Mendoza 2015 Malbec Reserve (Argentina), $8.49-$11.99, 87 points, poured a deep purple/red color with a broad clear wine ring.
Aromas of blueberry and mulberry were only okay for me.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and round easy tannins carried excellent flavors which mirrored the aromas plus orange pekoe tea.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a tad green, intense warm spices, oak, a seemingly higher than the printed 13.5% alcohol, and persistent tobacco notes.
My take-away on this wine is totally different than the back label.
Paired fine with our Pepper burgers.
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Bernard Magrez Herència del Padrí 2014 Priorat Red Wine D.D.O.C. (Spain), $16.14-$18.99, 91 points, poured a deep red color with a broad clear wine ring and heavy tears.
The grapy aroma was accented with cedar, toast, and a hint of sandalwood.
Full-bodied with good acidity and fine grainy tannins managed excellent flavors of cherries, plums, truffles, tobacco, and hints of dry cooking herbs.
Finished long on the trailing palate, warm spices, and a potent 15% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my first attempt at Shepard's pie.
Varietals were 60% Grenache, 20% Carignan, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
These last two wines are why I love Priorat and Spanish red wines in general (QPR).
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Scala Dei Garnatxa 2013 Priorat Garnacha Red Wine D.O.Q. Denominació d'Origen Qualificada (Spain), $16.14-$18.88, 91 points, appeared the darkest of these reds with a thin clear wine ring and thinnest of glass sheeting.
The earthy aroma was accented with cinnamon and red raspberry.
Medium bodied with good acidity and solid seamless tannins carried delicious flavors of red fruit, black tea, hints of mulling spices, and citrus.
Finished long on warm spices and the invigorating 14.5% alcohol.
The varietal was 100% Garnacha.
Paired perfectly with my meatloaf and gravy dinner.
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Gérard Bertrand 2016 Cote des Roses (Languedoc), $13.99-$16.99, 91 points, poured a lovely crystalline peach-textured color.
Aromatic strawberry, pear, peach and a floral component were excellent.
Appropriately light and acidic.
Strawberry and chamomile flavors trailed deep into the long finish of white pepper, watermelon rind, jasmine, and a spot on 12.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Buffalo wings, blue-cheese, and celery.
The bottom of the bottle is supposed to be a rose, but I thought it looked more like lava.
Varietals were Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah.
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Folie à Deux (Madness of Two) Alexander Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, $14.44-$19.99, 88 points, poured opaque grading ruby red toward the clear wine ring and moderately leggy glass bowl.
'Bouquet' was rather prosaic floral, earth, and cedar with a whiff of alcohol.
Near full-bodied, with fair acidity, medium underlayment of tannins, and dominant flavors of plums and mushrooms which chameleon-ed well with our pepperoni pizza, black olive salad, mixed nuts, and chocolates (a yeomen's dinner Cabernet).
Finished with a hint of mint and a warm 14.5% alcohol inspirited spice.
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Rocca delle Macie Single Vineyard (Fizzano) 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva, $17.99-$29.99, 91 points, poured a deep copper/red/purple color with a clear wine ring and a leggy glass bowl.
Aromatic soft lavender, shy cedar, earth, and cherry notes were pleasant.
Medium-bodied with food friendly acidity and declining still supportive tannins defined this dry red wine.
Flavors of oak, cherries, black tea, and licorice were delicious.
Finished long on the trailing palate, lively warm spices, and a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot.
Paired perfectly with our Fileja pasta with a rich beef tomato sauce and toasted Italian garlic bread.
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Paolo Saracco 2016 Moscato Bianco (d'Asti DOCG), $15.99-$18.99, 89 points, poured less effervescent than a frizzante wine, and with a pale brass color.
Aromatic clementine peel, peach, pome blossoms, and a hint of juniper impressed.
The light body carried fair-plus acidity with the wine's inherent sweetness expressed in excellent flavors of orange soda, caramel, and a floral vibe.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a nearly unnoticeable 6% alcohol, whispers of ginger and sweet cinnamon.
I enjoyed this sweet wine as an aperitif and with my pecan pie alamode, but it was almost like drinking candy, and though it complemented my pie, I found the contrasting spicy crabmeat salad pairing more interesting.
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