New Hampshire Wine-man: March 2021

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Antinori Pain Delle Vigne 2018 Rosso di Montalcino

Antinori Pain Delle Vigne 2018 Rosso di Montalcino, $19.54-$26.99, 90 points, poured a medium ruby red color with a broad clear wine ring and sticky stained legs.
Aromas of sourdough toast, a floral vibe, red raspberry with hints of citrus and black tea were quite good.
A medium-bodied dry red wine with bright acidity, a fine grainy underlayment of tannin, and flavors of red fruit, blueberry, spearmint, and a hint of tar were complex, tight, and tasty.
Finished long on the fading palate and a 14% alcohol infused red pepper spiciness.
Pair as you would any Chianti red wine.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Camille Cayran Le Chêne Noir 2017 Côtes du Rhône Villages

Camille Cayran Le Chêne Noir 2017 Côtes du Rhône Villages, $14.44-$18.99, 90 points, poured a deep sienna color with dense sticky legs and a clear meniscus.
Aromas of plums, soft floral perfume, a hint of shoe polish, and a bit of the barnyard were okay.
A full-bodied dry red wine, sleek up front and a bit austere late palate, with fair acidity, a grainy underlayment of tannin, and a complex fruit-flavor profile, a bit herbal, and with a touch of oak was really impressive.
Finished long on the austere, but juicy with an intense moment of spice-infused 14.5% alcohol.
Paired well with our buffet.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, March 26, 2021

Wild Ridge Sonoma Coast 2013 Pinot Noir

Wild Ridge Sonoma Coast 2013 Pinot Noir, $25.49-$54.99, 88 points, poured a deep garnet red grading to a cranberry red toward the rim of moderate clear legs and a thin clear wine ring.
Smells of cherry pie and a hint of the barn with cinnamon and clove were good.
Unusual for me to drink a relatively old Cali Pinot, but this one was still unusually good, though the cork was on the weak side.
Unusual as well was the heavier-body than is typical of Cali Pinots; this one showed mostly resolved tannins and fair acidity, but the cherry-cola, anise, and loamy flavors followed by an never ending finish of Kirsch and warm spices with a well balanced, but rather high 14.5% alcohol were outstanding.
Paired with great versatility; I enjoyed it with Santa Fe egg rolls, pan herb-fried potatoes, and a roast beef with provolone sandwich, but think Thanksgiving dinner.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Oyster Bay, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand 2019 Pinot Gris

Oyster Bay, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand 2019 Pinot Gris, $10.19-$11.99, 88 points, was a light yellow/gold color grading clear long before the rim.
Aromas of orange zest, wet stones, white pepper, a floral vibe, and hints of cantaloupe were robust and and unusual for a Pinot Gris/Grigio.
A light-bodied off-dry white wine with fair acidity and sour flavors reminiscent of the aromas were again quite robust.
Finished fair on the fading palate with a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my chicken/vegetable pie.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Château Marquis De Terme Grand Cru Classé 1855 Margaux 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine

Château Marquis De Terme Grand Cru Classé 1855 Margaux 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine, $48.44-$56.99, 93 points, poured a deep purple/red with a broad clear meniscus, and thick stained legs.
The pleasant aromas of lavender, cinnamon, a touch of vanilla, saline, and savory were cerebral.
A full-bodied dry red wine with bright acidity, fine grainy tannins, and righteous flavors that reflected the aromas.
Finished fine on red raspberry, pepper spices, and a balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired well with my baby-back ribs with asparagus and and mashed potatoes.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2016

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Template provided by Google Blogger

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Golan Heights "Gilgal" 2018 Pinot Noir

Golan Heights "Gilgal" 2018 Pinot Noir, $14.44-$18.99, 88 points, poured a medium ruby color with violet highlights, a clear meniscus, and a surprising ring of copious legs.

Aromas of blueberries, cinnamon cherries, and petrichor were good.
A not even medium-bodied off-dry and fruity red wine that reminded me more of an excellent Beaujolais than a Pinot Noir; showed good acidity and mellow tannins; flavors of slightly carbonated Welch's grape juice, red cherry, and turkey gravy (a first for me) were quite tasty.
Finished fair on the fading palate, cinnamon, watermelon rind, and a surprisingly low 12.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with our chicken-wing buffet.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, March 19, 2021

Lunadoro 2015 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Lunadoro 2015 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, $16.14-$44.99, 90 points, poured what I call a sunburst red which is sort of a cranberry/ruby red, but trended a copper-red toward the modest stained legs and a cloudy meniscus (showing its six years of age).
Smells of black tea, candy-cane, and a floral note were good.
A medium-bodied dry red wine with fair acidity and mostly resolved tannins managed to deliver the bouquet as smoothed-out flavors with hints of cherry fruit.
Finished on easy spice notes, a bit of sour Kirsch, that black tea, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired nicely with my provolone puttanesca burger.

Index-of-reviewed wines

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Domaine Le Montoire 2018 Sancerre

Domaine Le Montoire 2018 Sancerre, $16.14-$18.99, 88 points, was a medium yellow/gold color and clear towards the rim.
Smells of lemon oil, pear, wet stones, and apricot were subtle, but pleasant.
A light-bodied dry white wine with good acidity failed to impress, though was completely competent.
While the early-palate was sleek, the late palate and the finish were energetic with ginger, black pepper, and the 13.5% alcohol.
Overall, the flavor profile struggled to match the finish, but was okay, and paired well with my English fish and chips.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Match Book Estate 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon

Match Book Estate 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, $10.15-$11.99, 87.5 points, poured an opaque ruby red with light legs and a broad clear wine ring.
Smells of a cornucopia of fruit with plum on the ascent nuanced by chocolate and sea-breeze as a nice garnish were okay.
A full-bodied dry red wine with fair acidity, round/soft tannins, and flavors reasonably reflected abundant fruit notes and good barrel flavors of tobacco, coffee, and a slight touch of chocolate.
Finished fair on easy spice, iron, and a seemingly under-rated 13.9% alcohol.
Paired well with our deep-dish pepperoni pizza.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Château Coufran Haut-Médoc 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine

Château Coufran Haut-Médoc 2010 Bordeaux Red Wine, $18.27-$21,49, 89 points, poured a deep garnet red with a copper/orange penumbra, a thin clear rim, and a neckless of stained legs.
An unusual and rather dumb bouquet that reminded me of lake water, hints of coffee grinds, and a bit of shoe polish were pleasant enough.
Near full-bodied dry red wine with fair acidity, soft easy tannins, and savory flavors excited by a crisp pepper spiciness was quite good.
Finished strongly on the pepper spices and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my steak tostadas.

Bordeaux Red Wine vintage 2010

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, March 12, 2021

Château Dillon Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine

Château Dillon Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2016 Bordeaux Red, $24.49-$59.99, 93 points, poured a deep sienna red, heavy hanging legs, and a broad clear meniscus.
The aromas of cedar, red and black fruit, flower perfume, and clove were outstanding.
A near full-bodied bone-dry red wine with good acidity, firm grainy tannins, and rich flavors reflective of the aromas with spearmint and cherry cola was delicious though maybe a bit austere for some at this age.
Finished long on the trailing palate, iron, a hint of graphite, and a well-balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with beef dumplings dipped in a bistro au jus, and a cheese steak wrap, but pair this even with your favorite pizzas, burgers, and all things Cabernet or Merlot compatible.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2016

Index of reviewed wines

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Domaine Specht Mandelberg Alsace Grand Cru 2017 Riesling

Domaine Specht Mandelberg Alsace Grand Cru 2017 Riesling, $21.24-$26.99, 90 points, was a medium brass color clearing towards the rim.
Aromas of peach skin, cement, Clementine zest, wet cardboard, and a subtle petrol note worked for me.
A light-bodied medium-dry white wine with good acidity and a thinned-downed flavor profile of the aromas.
Finished long on the fading palate with a well-balanced 12% alcohol and a touch of white pepper.
Paired well with our Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Monday, March 8, 2021

Famille Perrin 2019 Côtes du Rhône Réserve White Wine

Famille Perrin 2019 Côtes du Rhône Réserve White Wine, $11.99 (Trader Joe's), 90 points, poured a medium yellow/gold color and clearing only at the rim.
Aromatic Macintosh apple, tangerine zest, and pome blossoms were lovely.
A light-bodied dry white wine with good acidity and flavors reminiscent of the aromas with a touch of sour lemon was quite good.
Finished fair on the fading palate, a whisper of ginger and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my English fish and chips.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Saturday, March 6, 2021

Poggio Vicino 2015 Brunello Montalcino

Poggio Vicino 2015 Brunello Montalcino, $16.99 (Trader Joe's), 91 points, poured a deep mineral-red grading to a cranberry red with a broad clear meniscus and a torrent of legs.
Very aromatic with a lovely burnt crème brulee, fragrant roses, and a bit herbal.
A medium-bodied dry red wine with bright acidity, fine grainy tannins, and flavors of violets, black tea, Bordeaux lily, and cherry fruit.
Finished long on the trailing palate, citrus, iron, sour Kirsch, easy spice notes, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired nicely with my rare spice-rubbed filet mignon.
Good QPR!

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, March 5, 2021

Santa Margherita 2019 Pinot Grigio (DOC)

Santa Margherita 2019 Pinot Grigio (DOC), $11.89-$13.99 (375 ML), 87 points, was a light brass color grading clear long before the rim.
Smells were a bit vegetative with hints of citrus, and nothing to write home about.
A light-plus white wine with fair acidity and flavors that were a bit flat, but melon rind, lime, and apricot were okay.
The finish of ginger and a tart minerality with a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol was the highlight of this vintage.
Paired okay with my fried bay scallops.
This was the only vintage that I've tasted that I would not recommend.

Index of reviewed wines

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Gilgal Golan Heights Winery Galilee 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon

Gilgal Golan Heights Winery Galilee 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, $14.44-$18.99, 90 points, poured a deep ruby red with purple highlights, a broad clear wine ring, and dense stained legs.
Floral aromas were amazing while rose was dominant, but mulberry and vanilla excelled.
A medium-bodied dry red wine with good acidity, comfortable fine-grainy tannins, and complex flavors of graphite, iron, mulberry, earth, and red fruit made for a cerebral tipple.
Finished nicely on warm spices and a potent 14.5% alcohol.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Monday, March 1, 2021

Saint-Véran Les Flerres Grises 2018 Grand Vin Bourgogne

Saint-Véran Les Flerres Grises 2018 Grand Vin Bourgogne, $16.99-$18.99, 88 points, was a medium yellow/gold color and clearing towards the rim.
Aromas were soft wet stone, lemon oil, and Key-lime pie.
The body was light-plus, acidity was fair, and the flavors were a muted cream-soda with ginger, melon rind, and lime-stoniness.
Finished fair on a fading palate and a balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired well with my vegetables in a cheddar cheese sauce and a ginger dessert.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES