7 Moons California 2015 Red blend, $9.99-$11.99, 86 points, poured an opaque purple/red with a broad clear wine ring and moderately draped bowl.
Aromas of toasty blueberry, soft floral notes, and black fruit were okay.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and a mellow underlayment of tannin pushed a cornucopia of a fruit-forward profile with licorice.
Finished well and slightly drying with flavors of plum, fig, violets, and the wine's comfortable 13.5% alcohol.
Varietals were Syrah, Malbec, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Grenache.
Paired fine with my chicken parmesan.
"Try To Remember"
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Renzo Masi 2014 Chianti Riserva, $11.04-$12.99, 88 points, poured an unusual impregnable ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and thick hanging tears.
The floral aroma was nuanced with Robusta, sandalwood, black olives, and cherry fruit.
Medium-bodied with bright acidity and fine-grain edgy tannins managed to restrain the translated floral notes and inspirited tasty red fruit and black tea flavors.
Finished long and dry on violets rising, easy pepper spices, black tea, a hint of menthol, and an appropriate 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with our Ollie's pepperoni pizza.
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Rodney Strong Sonoma County 2013 Merlot, $17.99-$21.99, 88 points, poured an opaque purple/red grading near garnet red toward the broad clear wine ring and fat stained legs.
Aromas were herbal with black fruit and hints of milk chocolate.
Near full-bodied with good acidity and woolly tannins managed to deliver flavors reflective of the aromas nuanced with red raspberry.
Finished long on the fading palate, drying tannins, wood notes, and an appropriate 14.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with our pedestrian cheeseburgers.
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Bonterra Mendocino County 2016 Zinfandel, $11.89-$16.99, 86 points, poured a deep purple/red with a broad transparent wine ring and light glass-wall draping.
Smells of wild mulberry and unripe blackberries were only okay for me.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and a thin plank of tannins translated the aromas onto a plain palate.
Finished well on the trailing palate with good pepper spices, and a balanced 14.9% alcohol.
Paired okay with our sausage and pepperoni Greek-styled pizza.
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Shafer Napa Valley 2014 Merlot, $47.59-$60.99, 92 points, poured a deep sienna color grading garnet red toward the clear wine ring and necklace of stained hanging tears.
Powerful aromas of herbs, dusty blueberry, lavender, and a spine of savory were outstanding if a bit overdone early on.
Full-bodied with good acidity with fine grain tannins delivered flavors of dark chocolate, violets, and plums.
Finished a bit hot (15.3% alcohol), spicy, and fruity, with cocoa.
Varietals were 78% Merlot, 14% Malbec, and 8$ Cabernet Sauvignon.
Shafer, why it's a "go to" winery.
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Robert Hall Paso Robles 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, $12.74-$19.99, 87 points, was a medium gold color grading clear toward the glass shallows.
Aromas of sweat hay and fresh-cut grass where okay and rather straight-forward.
Light-bodied, crisp, acidic, and with a predominately aroma driven flavor profile carried deep into the finish of nuanced spearmint and a balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my sautéed Canadian halibut in a cheddar cheese sauce.
Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (Cali)
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Domaine de Dionysos "Clementine" Vin e Pays De Vaucluse Principaute D'Orange 2017 Viognier, $13.99-$16.99, 90 points, appeared a medium brass color clearing toward the shallows.
Aromatic pear, apple, and Necco wafer were more than ample.
The light-plus body was dry and appropriately acidic.
Flavors reflected the aromas and carried deep into the long finish with developing restrained ginger notes, and displaying a spot-on 14% alcohol.
Paired fine with my Yellow-fin tuna roll.
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Dobbes Estate Sundown Vineyard, Rogue Valley, Oregon 2016 Viognier, $16.99-$19.99, 89 points, poured the lightest of brass colors with a faint green veneer and clearing at the glass edge.
Smells of pome blossoms and tropical fruit were soft and pleasant.
Light-plus body with good acidity showed a developing flavor profile of ginger, pear, and cilantro which accelerated (especially the ginger) deep into the long finish.
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Viberti Giovanni 'La Gemella' 2015 Barbera D'Alba, $9.99-$18.99, 88 points, poured a lovely lipstick red grading toward the pinkish side at the broad clear wine ring and leggy glass bowl.
Aromatic toasty cherry fruit, black tea, cocoa, and a whisper of red raspberry were pleasurable.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and tolerant tender tannins supported flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished fair on the fading palate, furtive spice notes, and a spot-on 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our spaghetti in a marinara sauce.
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Atalon Napa Valley Pauline's Cuvée 2012 Bordeaux-styled Red Wine, $25.49-$29.99, 89 points, poured an opaque candy-apple red with a bleeding meniscus and heavy stained legs.
Smells of underbrush, plums, and mulberry were okay.
Full-bodied with good acidity and firm fine tannins translated the aromas faithfully onto the palate, along with the flavor of black grape-skin.
Finished long on developing astringent tannins, subtle, even furtive, hints of tobacco and cocoa, easy pepper spices, and an appropriate 14.5% alcohol.
With a considerable amount of debris, I recommend decanting this Cuvée.
Varietals were Bordeaux-styled Merlot (75%), Cabernet Franc (20%), Cabernet Sauvignon (2.5%), and Malbec (2.5%).
Paired okay with our Texas burgers.
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Taken Napa Valley 2012 Red Wine Bordeaux-styled Red Wine, $29.74-$39.99, 90 points, poured widely black with a purple/red penumbra, showing a thin clear wine ring and heavy stained tears.
Aromatic earthy black currants with chocolate hints and herbal undertones were pleasant.
Full-bodied with good acidity and a mellow underlayment of tannin carried an intensifying cornucopia of flavors, dominated by plum, licorice, red/black fruits, and truffles.
Finished long on developing red cherry, easy pepper spice notes, and an appropriate 14.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.
Paired fine with our Texas burgers.
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Szigeti NV Grüner Veltliner Brut Methode Traditionnelle (Austria), $13.99-$17.99, 88 points, was a dark gold color with a deep head of foam formed by medium sized bubbles.
Aromas of hazel nuts, pome blossoms, and white bread were very light, but pleasant.
Light-bodied with good acidity and subtle flavors reflective of the aromas were satisfying.
Finished fair with hints of apple and ginger with a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my Japanese cuisine.
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Mount Veeder Winery Napa Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, $28.04-$32.99, 91 points, poured broadly with black and deep purple/red patches, a clear meniscus, and thick stained sheeting, and tearing precipitation.
Strong aromas of crème de cassis and sandalwood were pleasant.
Full-bodied with good acidity and developing firm drying tannins unfolded the aromas onto the palate with plum and cherry fruit.
Finished long on energizing pepper spices, lingering red fruit, and a congruous 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with Glendi's barbeque lamb.
Ben, thank you for the wine.
2013 California Cabernet Sauvignon wines tasted
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Fantini Farnese 2016 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Red Wine (D.O.C.), $8.49-$11.99, 88 points, poured an impregnable ruby red with a clear wine ring and light clinging drapes.
Aromas of black licorice, dusty plum, and a furtive floral note were soft, but quite good.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and a mild plank of tannins carried a red fruit profile with nuanced truffle and eucalyptus.
Finished well on the trailing palate, easy spice notes, mulberry, milk chocolate, and a balanced 13% alcohol.
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De Chanceny 'Brut Excellence' 2013 Vouvray (Chenin Blanc) France, $11.69-12.99, 86 points, poured a moderately dark brass color with a yellow sheen, and a fair amount of small bubbles which swelled larger as they ascended.
Smells of yeast, lemon, and white chocolate were just okay for me.
The light-plus body was indeed brut-dry, showed good acidity and failing flavors of yeast, caramel, and flat kiwi.
Finished okay on the trailing palate and a 12.5% alcohol.
Paired satisfactorily with my tuna salad.
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Domaine Petroni Corse Rouge 2015 Red Wine (Corsica, France), $15.29-$16.99. 87 points, poured core black radiating rosewood red toward the clear wine ring and moderately draped glass bowl.
A bouquet of roses, oak, boysenberry jam, dusty hay, and a hint of milk chocolate were just a tease from its deep well.
Medium-plus body with good acidity and a supportive underlayment of tannin managed to eke-out enough flavors reflective of the bouquet (mostly boysenberry) to complement the veggie burgers we had for lunch.
The finish was fair, but really anticlimactic on the trailing palate, subtle spice notes, and a balanced 13% alcohol.
Varietals were 50% Niellucciu, 35% Syrah, and 15% Grenache.
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Michele Chiarlo Le Orme 2014 Barbera D'Asti (DOCG), $8.49-$17.99, 87 points, poured a deep sienna color with a clear wine ring and light glass draping.
Aromas of dusty red fruit, mulberry, toast, and a hint of juniper were pleasant.
Medium-bodied, off-dry, with good acidity and a thin plank of tannins translated the aromas onto the palate.
Finished fair on easy pepper spices, red raspberry, truffle, and an innocuous 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with our spaghetti in a marinara sauce.
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Cantine Catena Campania IGT 2014 Aglianico (Italy's braille label), $14.02-$16.49, 90 points, poured broadly black with brightening garnet reds, a broad clear wine ring spotted with debris, and heavy clinging tears.
The unusual aromas of iodine, lingonberry jam, and white chocolate were amazing.
Near full-bodied with bright acidity showed delicious flavors of cherry cola, strawberry, citrus, and black tea, if only one patiently peered through the thicket of wooly tannins.
Finished bone-dry and forever on the trailing palate, a tad herbal, and a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.
Aglianico is not a common varietal found in New Hampshire, USA, but I loved this wine, and if the finish had carried through with the intensity of this wine, I think it would have scored remarkably high; already a great QPR wine with me, though I can see that many will be displeased with the intense tannins.
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Piattelli Cafayate Valley Salta, Argentina 2015 Cabernet Reserve, $7.64-$16.99, 88 points, poured patches of black and opaque purple/reds with a clear meniscus and heavy glass sheeting.
Smells of crème de cassis, earth, and black olives were rich.
Full-bodied with good acidity and moderately mellow tannins added to the relatively smooth texture.
Black fruits with plum and mulberry flavors were highlighted by black olives and cilantro.
Finished fair on the fading palate, quite dry, and appropriately complemented by the 14.5% alcohol.
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Santola NV Vinho Verde (Portugal), $8.99-$9.99, 87 points, was a light gold color with light effervescence.
Smells of apples, a soft floral note, and petrol were okay.
Light-plus body was off-dry with good acidity, a touch of fizz, and straight-forward pleasant flavors of Red dragon fruit and apple cider.
Finished uneventful on the fading palate and an appropriate 9% alcohol.
I bought this Portuguese white wine at the Whole Foods of Bedford.
Paired well with my broiled Icelandic haddock.
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Petroni Estate Sonoma 2010 Syrah, $16.99-$39.99, 90 points, poured broadly black with glimpses of dark purple, a clear wine ring, and big sticky lazy legs.
Tons of tertiary aromas stood tall with notes like toast, tobacco, juniper, licorice, and soft floral notes, all of which were pleasant and interesting.
Full-bodied with good acidity and mellow supportive tannins carried plum, mulberry, and earthy flavors.
Finished long and fairly dry on restrained pepper spices, mint, and a well-integrated 14.5% alcohol.
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Sean Minor Napa Valley 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.69-$26.99, 90 points, poured a deep ruby red brightening to a candy-apple red toward the broad meniscus and lightly draped bowl.
Aromas of cedar, red raspberry, a soft floral potpourri, and toasty black fruit were quite good.
Near full-bodied with good acidity and a supportive underlayment of tannin righteously delivered the aromas onto the palate.
Finished long, showing hints of eucalyptus, white pepper, boysenberry, and the trailing red raspberry with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
2014 California Cabernet Sauvignon wines tasted
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Waterbrook Vintner's Selection Columbia Valley 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, $16.99-$39.99, 89 points, poured an opaque purple/red with a broad clear wine ring spotted with bits of debris, and a glass bowl of moderate sheeting.
Profuse aromas of cassis and licorice shadowed by mulberry and oak were generous.
Full-bodied with fair-plus acidity with firm forgiving tannins delivered the aroma notes faithfully onto the palate.
Finished long with more noticeable tannins, continued fruitiness, developing herbaciousness, easy spices, and a potent 14.5% alcohol.
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