New Hampshire Wine-man: March 2024

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Tolaini Estate "Legit" Toscana Roso 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

Tolaini Estate "Legit" Toscana Roso 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, $31.99-$39.99, 93 points, poured a deep ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and sticky stained legs.
Aromas of coffee, loam, ripe blackberry, and hints of chocolate and cinnamon were lovely.
This Italian Cabernet Sauvignon was near full-bodied, showed good acidity, a supportive underlayment of tannin, was tart with a slightly angular mouthfeel, and delivered tasty red and black juice flavors.
Finished long on iron and citrus notes, cayenne, lingonberry, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my beefy Mexican cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, March 29, 2024

Fantinel Tenuta Sant Helena Collio D.O.C. 2022 Pinot Grigio

Fantinel Tenuta Sant Helena Collio D.O.C. 2022 Pinot Grigio, $11.19-$24.99, 88 points, was a very light brass color with a coppery sheen and graying towards the rim.
Aromas of apricot, lemon oil, pomelo, and orchard blossom were gentle but lovely.
Flavors were a tart rendition of the aromas, acidity was good, and the mouthfeel was soft.
Eureka! A light just went off and it seems to me that Pinot Grigio is to Sauvignon Blanc what Merlot is to Cabernet Sauvignon.
Not surprisingly, in GENERAL I prefer Cab over Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc over Pinot Grigio, but it's the subtlety of PG that pleases so much.
Finished long on the tartness, a bit lemony, showed hints of ginger, and was well-balanced with 13% alcohol.
Paired fine with my fisherman's plater.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Faust Napa Valley 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon

Faust Napa Valley 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, $43.99-$64.99, 92 points, pour a high-clarity ruby red with a violet sheen, moderately broad meniscus, and sticky stained legs.
Aromas showed a bit of cedar and cinnamon but were predominately herbal, fruity, earthy, and floral, quite lovely!
Faust produced another full-bodied dry red wine with all the good earmarks of a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon; flavors echoed the aromas but were a bit overwhelmed with mulberry, yet with good acidity, round supportive tannins, a lovely hint of cayenne, and rich black fruit nuances, still a very impressive offering.
Finished long with hints of black plums, fig, chocolate, more warm spice, and a well-balanced 14.9% alcohol.
Paired fine with spice-rubbed rib eye.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Friday, March 22, 2024

Familia Barberis Mendoza, Argentina 2020 Malbec

Familia Barberis Mendoza, Argentina 2020 Malbec, $12.74-$16.99, 88 points, poured a pristine pomegranate red with a broad clear meniscus and faintly tinted legs.
Plums, blackberry, mulberry led a fruit driven bouquet nuanced with herbs, cinnamon, and a floral hint.
This Malbec was round, full-bodied, showed fair acidity, tangy fruit flavors with a whisper of warm spice and a cloying Kirsch.
Finished long on the fading palate and a well-balanced 13.8% alcohol.
Paired fine with my spice-rubbed rib eye.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Castello Di Bossi Berardo 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva

Castello Di Bossi Berardo 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva, $25.59-$33.99, 92 points, poured a deep cranberry red with a very broad clear meniscus and copious fat legs.
The smokey aroma was nuanced with black tea, cinnamon, red currant, and lovely earth notes.
This, Chianti Classico Riserva, my third vintage of this wine, was as usual a wonderful vino experience. It was full-bodied, showed good acidity, rich indulgent flavors of plums, cherry fruit, mushrooms, oak, dried cooking herbs, and warm red pepper.
Finished long on the trailing palate and a robust 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my pepperoni pizza and feta cheese.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Sunday, March 17, 2024

Neyers Carneros District, Sonoma County 2020 Chardonnay

Neyers Carneros District, Sonoma County 2020 Chardonnay, $27.99-$38.99, 90 points, was a medium yellow/gold trending straw yellow with a broad gray penumbra.
Aromas were strongly Chardonnay specific with hints of wood, lemon oil, and cantaloupe.
Neyers produced a nearly full-bodied intense white wine with fair acidity, an angular mouthfeel, and rich flavors that mirrored the aromas plus a hint of pine resin.
Finished long, tart, citrusy, and with a spot-on 13.6% alcohol.
Paired nicely with my Greek Spanakopita.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, March 15, 2024

Penfold's Bin 407 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Revisited # II)

Penfold's Bin 407 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Revisited # II), $25.49, current price is approx. $85, 93 points, poured an unfiltered rosewood red with a thin bleeding meniscus and sticky fat legs.
Aromas were floral and earthy with a touch of prune and cedar chest.
Full-bodied, round and soft but wonderfully spicy, showed fair acidity, resolved tannins, and rich flavors of anise, plums, cayenne pepper, and black truffe.
Finished long on the trailing palate and a well-balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my spiced-rubbed rib eye.
I'm so glad I bought several bottles of this wine in 2010!

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Domaine Herbert Meyer Alsace 2021 Sylvaner

Domaine Herbert Meyer Alsace 2021 Sylvaner, $5.59-$19.99, 90 points, was a very light brass color and turning water clear midway towards the rim.
Aromas were dusty lime notes with a lovely floral vibe and a mountain lake minerality.
This Alsace dry white wine was light-bodied with good acidity and strong flavors of lemon oil, lime juice, white pepper, and just a hint of jasmine.
Finished long on the trailing palate and a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired great with my baked Dijon Porterhouse pork chops.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Monday, March 11, 2024

Bedrock Old Vines 2021 Zinfandel

Bedrock Old Vines 2021 Zinfandel, $18.39-$25.99, 91points, poured core black grading to a deep pomegranate red with a broad clear meniscus and fat sticky legs.
Aromas of bright red raspberry, cinnamon, mulberry, and a floral note were quite nice.
My first Bedrock Zin was full-bodied, showed good acidity, a supportive underlayment of tannin, and rich flavors reflective of the aromas with a dollop of warm spices.
Finished long on the trailing palate with hints of citrus, red grape, and a big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my nacho supreme.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Coats and Seely NV Brut Reserve Sparkling white wine (England)

Coats and Seely NV Brut Reserve Sparkling white wine, $39.99-$52.99, 94 points, was a light brass color with a broad clear penumbra and a small bubble eruption.
The aromas were lovely floral warm fresh French bread, wood notes, and just hints of hops.
This, my first English wine (sparkling) was intense, rich, showed bright acidity, flavors that complemented the bouquet, and was quite quaffable.
Finished long, bone dry, citrusy, showed just a touch of ginger.
Varietals were 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier.
Paired perfectly with our Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Thursday, March 7, 2024

ConQuista Mendoza, Argentina 2021 Malbec

ConQuista Mendoza, Argentina 2021 Malbec, $8.49-$12.99, 88 points, poured an opaque rosewood red with a moderately broad meniscus and copious tinted legs.
Aromas of smokey fruit, hints of vanilla, chocolate, and dried cooking herbs were pleasant.
Like most Malbec red wines, this was full-bodied, soft with easy (early) tannins, showed flavors reflective of the aromas with hints of blueberry, a bit astringent green stem and citrus notes.
Finished very long, slightly spicy and metallic, and with a very comfortable 13% alcohol.
Paired well with my spice-rubbed rib eye.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

J. L. Quinson La Larme d'Or 2022 Chablis

J. L. Quinson La Larme d'Or 2022 Chablis, $16.99, 88 points, was a light yellow/gold color clearing towards the glass rim.
The aromas were dominated by a spring stream minerality nuanced with fresh hay notes, a hint of white chocolate, and just light whiffs of lemon zest and Chardonnay specific grape.
This Chablis was typically lean, clean, acidic, and driven by its minerality, but the flavors were a bit thin and short, though one thing was NOT typical, the price; bought at Trader Joe's, it was typically good for the price.
Finished fair on the fading palate, a bit of ginger, and a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with Spanakopita.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Rocca delle Macie 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva (DOCG)

Rocca delle Macie 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva (DOCG), $15.99-$19.99, 90+ points, poured a deep cranberry red with a very broad clear meniscus and fat sticky legs.
Aromas of cloves, blackberries, tarragon with hints of cedar and loam were deep and pleasant.
This Chianti was full-bodied, showed good acidity, firm grainy tannins, and good flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long on the fading palate, a hint of cayenne pepper, citrus notes, and a balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my soft-spiced cheese enchiladas with sour cream and guacamole.
Another high QPR red wine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES