New Hampshire Wine-man: June 2021

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Roberto Sarotto Riserva 2014 Barbaresco (DOCG)

Roberto Sarotto Riserva 2014 Barbaresco (DOCG), $21.24-$49.99, 93 points, poured a deep garnet red with a broad clear wine ring and thick sticky stained legs.
Aromas were floral, herbal, and red-fruity.
A medium-bodied dry red wine with good acidity, supportive tannins, and flavors that mocked the aromas with hints of black tea, citrus notes, red raspberry, and cayenne.
Finished long and dry with the trailing palate and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spice-rubbed Porterhouse steak and dark chocolate dessert.
At this close-out price this is a must buy.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Trader Moon co., Honey Moon 2020 Viognier

Trader Moon co., Honey Moon 2020 Viognier,
$4.99, 86 points, was a very light brass color grading water clear towards the rim.
Aromas of peach, orange zest, and wet stones were good.
Light-plus body (dry white wine) with fair acidity and flavors of Necco wafer candy, peach, and black pepper were good also.
Finished long on the trailing palate, slightly sour green melon rind, and a spot-on 13% alcohol.
Paired well with my steamed Gulf of Maine lobster roll and chef salad.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Sunday, June 27, 2021

Rodney Strong Sonoma County 2017 Merlot

Rodney Strong Sonoma County 2017 Merlot, $17.10-$18.99, 89 points, poured a dark pomegranate red with a broad clear meniscus and lazy fat legs.
A full-bodied soft/round extracted red wine with fair acidity and mellow/easy tannins was surrounded by rich flavors of cocoa, plum, rose, and dried cooking herbs.
Finished pretty much as it began, soft, fruity, and with an expected BIG 14.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my spicy lasagna.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Friday, June 25, 2021

Stuhlmuller Estate Grown, Alexander Valley 2016 Chardonnay

Stuhlmuller Estate Grown, Alexander Valley 2016 Chardonnay, $12.49-$29.99, 86 points, was a medium straw-yellow color and clear only at the rim.
Aromas of cantaloupe, vanilla, oak, a floral vibe, and hints of pine dust were good.
A medium-bodied white wine with fair acidity and a stark flavor profile of oak, vanilla, melon rind, and a hint of stale lemon were just okay for me.
Finished on the fading palate and a balanced 14.1% alcohol.
Paired appropriately with my Thanksgiving-styled dinner.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Twomey Napa Valley 2019 Sauvignon Blanc

Twomey Napa Valley 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, $21.24-$26.99, 89 points, was the lightest of platinum gold colors.
Aromas of lemon peel and fresh-cut grass with unusual, but lovely hints of strawberry and red raspberry were outstanding.
A light-bodied dry white wine with fair to good acidity and flinty flavors of lemon oil, lemongrass, and a hint of tart lime made for a good, but not quite in the twenty dollar bracket that past Twomey Sauvignon Blanc wines have been.
Finished fair on the fading palate, whispers of tropical fruit, a bit chalky, and what seemed to be a slightly over-estimated 14.1% alcohol.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Aristotle Monterey 2018 Petite Sarah

Aristotle Monterey 2018 Petite Sarah, $9.89-$12.99, 89 points, poured an impenetrable Shiraz-purple/red with sticky stained sheeting and a broad clear wine ring.
Aromas were soft but lovely hints of chocolate, dried herbs, ripe mulberry (the best kind), and grapey smoke.
A full-bodied, round (upfront), and dry red wine with good acidity and firm mouth-puckering tannins maybe a austere for some, but for those who love/like young Cabernet Sauvignon, red Bordeaux, or Barolo it will be fine or even welcome.
Rich flavors of Damson plum, ripe mulberry, and a hint of smoked cocoa were herbal tinged.
Finished quite austere, but I like it's addition to the structure of this wine, and with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our meaty pizza and chef salad.
This estate grown/produced and bottled red wine has a high QPR (quality/price/ratio), and I would call it a "buy"!

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Saturday, June 19, 2021

Banfi Castello 2018 Rosso di Montalcino (DOC)

Banfi Castello 2018 Rosso di Montalcino (DOC), $16.99-$21.99, 92 points, poured a light garnet red grading almost amber towards the rim, a broad clear meniscus, and copious legs.
A profuse bouquet of caramel, black tea, and weak Kirsch notes was excellent.
A medium-bodied bone-dry red wine with bright acidity, delayed tannins, and an upfront soft approach trending tight and lean with flavors favorable of the bouquet.
Finished long on easy spice, bourbon notes, and a typically well-balanced 14% alcohol.
It's been three years since I've had one of these, but I'm thinking this has to be my favorite vintage.
Paired perfectly with my pepperoni pizza.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Château Martin Saint Estèphe 2015 Red Bordeaux Red Wine Cuvée

Château Martin Saint Estèphe 2015 Red Bordeaux Red Wine Cuvée, $26.99-$32.99, 89 points, poured an opaque garnet red with copper highlights, a thin clear meniscus, and light hanging legs.
Aromas of savory, sage, and prune were okay.
A full-bodied dry red wine with soft round tannins, good acidity, and warm easy flavors of limestone minerality, dried cooking herbs, and tart plum was cerebral.
Finished long on iron, white pepper, and an apparently under-estimated 12.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my grass-fed strip steak.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2015

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Monday, June 14, 2021

Domaine Delaporte 2019 Chavignol Sancerre

Domaine Delaporte 2019 Chavignol Sancerre, $20.39-$23.99, 90 points, was a light straw-yellow color clearing towards the rim.
Aromas of pome blossoms, stone fruit, white chocolate, and lemon oil were light and pleasant.
A light-bodied dry white wine with good acidity and subtle flavors reflective of the aromas with melon rind carried deep into the finish with citrus notes and moderate zest encouraged by the 14.1% alcohol.
Paired fine with my fried Ipswich clams.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Saturday, June 12, 2021

URLAR Wairarapa, NZ, 2018 Sauvignon Blanc

URLAR Wairarapa, NZ, 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, $20.69-$22.99, 92 points, showed a core of very light brass transitioning midway to a platinum silvery-white color.
Aromas were richly floral with honeydew melon, and dusty orange peel.
A very light, almost Gavi-like white wine, and not anything I've tasted from New Zealand in a Sauvignon Blanc; good acidity and floral flavors with complex citrus and kiwi notes were lovely and supple.
Finished very long on the trailing palate, lemon oil, a whisper of ginger, and a spot-on 12.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my fried haddock.

New Zealand 2018 Sauvignon Blanc White Wines Tasted

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Sun + Moon Vino De La Tierra De Castilla 2017 Chardonnay (Spain)

Sun + Moon Vino De La Tierra De Castilla 2017 Chardonnay (Spain), $9.34-$12.99, 88 points, was a dark straw-yellow color with a grey penumbra.
Aromas of apple pie, cantaloupe, and a hint of oak were good.
A medium-bodied dry white wine with fair acidity and pleasant flavors reflective of the aromas was pure and nicely Chardonnay specific.
Finished fair on the fading palate and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my brined chicken.
My only Spanish Chardonnay, and highly recommended.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Monday, June 7, 2021

Dry Creek Vineyard 2019 Chenin Blanc

Dry Creek Vineyard 2019 Chenin Blanc, first year I do not see the single vineyard "Wilson's ranch" on the label, but still produced and bottled by Dry Creek Vineyards: $12.74-$14.99, 88 points, was a light yellow gold color throughout.
Aromas of peach skin, citrus, and warmed mandarin peel were excellent!
A light-bodied barely dry white wine with fair acidity and an earthy and slightly sour citrus flavor profile.
Finished okay with hints of peach, ginger, and a modest 13% alcohol.
Paired well with our Asian cuisine.

Dry Creek Vineyard, why it's a "go to" winery.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, June 4, 2021

Fattorie Melini Terrarossa 2017 Chianti Classico (DOCG)

Fattorie Melini Terrarossa 2017 Chianti Classico (DOCG), $10.19-$14.99, 89 points, poured a reddish maroon with a copper/red penumbra, thin clear meniscus, and moderate stained legs.
Aromas of black tea, ripe mulberry, and red cherry were pleasant.
A medium-bodied bone-dry red wine, with good acidity, supportive tannins, and a rather one dimensional caramel/tea flavor profile, but done well.
Finished with a long caramel alcohol (14%) burn and a bit "green" aftertaste.
Paired fine with my cheese tortellini in a beef marinara sauce.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Thursday, June 3, 2021

Frog's Leap Napa Valley 2019 Sauvignon Blanc

Frog's Leap Napa Valley 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, $22.09-$25.99, 91 points, was a light brass color and terminated quite clear.
Smells of lemon curd, fresh-cut grass, running-stream minerality, and a hint of gooseberry were excellent.
A light to medium-bodied white wine with good acidity and flavors of white pepper, melon rind, and lime zest was carried more smoothly than most Cali Sauvignon blanc wines I've tasted.
Finished long on the fading palate, a touch sour, a hint tart, and with a well-balanced 13.4% alcohol.
Paired fine with my deep fried Atlantic haddock.

Frog's Leap Napa Valley, Why it's a "Go to Winery."