New Hampshire Wine-man: August 2024

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Château De Langalerie Grand Vin De Bordeaux 2018 Côtes De Bordeaux Red Wine

Château De Langalerie Grand Vin De Bordeaux 2018 Côtes De Bordeaux Red Wine, $15.19-$36.99, 87 points, poured an opaque ruby red with sticky stained legs and a thin clear meniscus.
Aromas of plums, red currant, and a soft floral note were okay.
This Côtes De Bordeaux Red Wine (youngest Bordeaux appellation) was a dry full-bodied wine with soft tannins, medium acidity, and straight forward fruit flavors (basically a red table wine).
Finished long, spicy, a bit astringent, and showing a balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my spice-rubbed rib eye.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2018

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Balestri Valda 2022 Soave Classico (DOC)

Balestri Valda 2022 Soave Classico (DOC), $18.99-$20.99, 91 points, was a light yellow/gold color with a broad gray penumbra.
Aromas were light and lovely notes of peach, dusty tangerine zest, and cedar resin.
This Soave Classico was light-bodied, dry, showed a balanced acidity, and floral flavors nuanced with citrus, peach, and white pepper notes.
Finished long on the trailing palate, hint of lemon juice, and a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my fried Maritime lobster.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Monday, August 26, 2024

The Pledge Mendoza, Argentina, 2017 Malbec

The Pledge Mendoza, Argentina, 2017 Malbec, $15.99-$19.99, 89 points, poured an unfiltered ruby red with bourbon highlights, bleeding meniscus, and copious stained legs.
Aromas of Bordeaux lily, shoe polish, plums, black cherry, and another floral vibe were interesting.
As with most Argentine Malbecs this was a full-bodied dry red wine with fair acidity, but the flavor profile struggled to show fruit, and the weak nondescript tertiary notes were bolstered by easy pepper notes.
Finished a bit tight, showed some ripe mulberry, plum-to-prune, and a big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my spice-rubbed rib eye.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Ponzi Willamette Valley, Tavola 2021 Pinot Noir

Ponzi Willamette Valley, Tavola 2021 Pinot Noir, $22.79-$29.99, 89 points, poured a dark rose pedal red with a clear wine ring and light legs.
The aroma of soft perfumed and floral red cherry was lovely if a bit uncomplicated.
Ponzi 2021 was a soft medium-bodied dry red wine with good flavors of cherry fruit, cola, black pepper, and white bread toast.
Finish long on the trailing palate, a hint of citrus, and a well-balanced 13.3% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Spanakopita.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Rosa Dell 'Olmo 2020 Barolo (DOCG)

Rosa Dell 'Olmo 2020 Barolo (DOCG), $16.99, 89 points, poured a deep cranberry red with a broad clear meniscus and light clear legs.
Aromas of perfumed red fruit, citrus notes, and hints of vanilla and milk chocolate were subtle but pleasant.
The medium body was dry, brightly acidic, with an underlayment of grainy tannins, and a spicy/red fruit flavor profile.
Finished fair, a bit astringent (note that it's a young wine), and showing an intensifying pepper infused 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my chicken parmesan sub.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Trader Joe's-Time for another visit!

Every once and a while I visit Trader Joe's for a look at what new wines have arrived. This visit found four wines from a rather limited variety (more reds than whites) that interested me, but as usual almost always good examples of quality/price/ratio (Q/P/R).

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Loveblock, Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

Loveblock, Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, $17.24-$23.99, 88 points, was a light brass color with straw yellow highlights and a clear penumbra.
Smells of lemon juice, fresh-cut grass, and lime zest were refreshing.
A dry light-bodied white wine showed bright acidity and good citrus flavors nuanced with green melon, passion fruit, and hay notes.
Finished long on the fading palate and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my fried haddock.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Faust Napa Valley 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

Faust Napa Valley 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, $46.99-$64.99, 94 points, poured inky black with a deep purple/red penumbra, broad clear meniscus, and fat stained-legs.
The smokey black cherry aroma was nuanced with blackberry, lilac, and savory notes.
Faust gave us another typically full-bodied Napa dry red wine, but typical it's not, the acidity was good, the tannins refined and supportive, and the flavors addictively opulent.
The enduring flavors of fruit, herbs, and spice impressed, the 14.5% alcohol was spot-on.
Paired perfectly with my prosaic cheeseburger.
The best Faust Cab of the four vintages I've tasted.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Friday, August 16, 2024

Wine By Joe, Oregon 2021 Pinot Noir

Wine By Joe, Oregon 2021 Pinot Noir, $11.99-$17.99, 87 points, poured a cranberry red with pink highlights, a broad clear meniscus, and watery legs.
Perfumed red fruit, hints of citrus, and floral notes were pleasant.
Wine By Joe gave us a tasty Northwest Pinot Noir with a medium body, fair acidity, flavors reflective of the nose, and soft tannins for a remarkably low price point.
Finished fair on melon rind, perfumed flavors, good pepper notes, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my rib eye and salad.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Belhara Estate Mendoza 2021 Malbec

Belhara Estate Mendoza 2021 Malbec, $8.99, 90 points, poured an opaque purple/red color with a broad clear meniscus and compact neckless of legs.
Aromas of blueberries, perfumed blackberries, cinnamon, and pine resin were lovely.
As is true with most Malbec red wines, this was full-bodied, smooth with soft tannins, fair acidity, but the flavors which were reflective of the aromas were better than average and accented with ripe mulberry and red pepper.
Finished long on the trailing palate, licorice, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spice-rubbed rib eye.
Another Trader Joe's offering with an excellent QPR.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Monday, August 12, 2024

Peter Yealands Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

Peter Yealands Marlborough 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, $9.99-$15.99, 87 points, was almost clear with brass highlights.
Aromas of lemon/lime with hints of grapefruit and passion fruit were lovely.
PY gave us a light-bodied dry white wine with bright acidity, good flavors reflective of the aromas with hints of ginger, while midpalate suffered a bit the finish was quite long and delicious.
Alcohol was a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired remarkably well with my Thanksgiving styled dinner.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Saturday, August 10, 2024

Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg, Kamptal, 2020 Grüner Veltliner

Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg, Kamptal, 2020 Grüner Veltliner, $16.99-$19.99, 89 points, was a light yellow/gold color and graying midway towards the rim.
Aromas of fresh lemon/lime with other citrus notes with a whisper of perfumed floral notes were delightful.
This Grüner Veltliner was light to medium-bodied with good acidity and complex flavors of citrus, melon, and white pepper.
Finished long on the pepper and a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, August 9, 2024

Honig Napa Valley/Lake County 2023 Sauvignon Blanc

Honig Napa Valley/Lake County 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, $15.21-$21.99, 89 points, was a very light brass color and water clear towards the rim.
Aromas of bright passion fruit, lime juice, pome blossoms, and fresh-cut grass were lovely.
This Honig was a close balance of grapes from Napa Valley and Lake County, it was quite robust, showed good acidity and intense flavors of ginger, Necco wafers, dried hay notes, melon rind, and passion fruit.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a slightly sour note, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my batter-fried haddock sandwich.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Monday, August 5, 2024

Castello Del Poggio, Veneto NV Moscato (IGT)

Castello Del Poggio, Veneto NV Moscato (IGT), $10.36-$13.99, 87 points, was a light brass color with straw yellow highlights, clear penumbra, and a touch of fizz.
Smells of sweet apple, Grava, Necco wafer, and lime juice were refreshing.
Castello Del Poggio delivered a medium-bodied, sweet white wine, showed fair acidity and good flavors reflective of the aromas plus a hint pf peach.
Finished long, slightly tart, and with an appropriate 7% alcohol.
Paired well with my Mexican cuisine.

Friday, August 2, 2024

Fonseca Adega Jose De Sousa 2020 Artisanal Reserva Red Wine

Fonseca Adega Jose De Sousa 2020 Artisanal Reserva Red Wine, $11.99-$18.99, 88 points, poured a deep ruby red with pink highlights, a broad clear wine ring, and modest legs.
Aromas of coffee, cinnamon, red cherry, rose pedal, and loam were quite good.
This Portuguese red wine (32% Aragonez, 28% Trincaderia, 25% Syrah, and 15% Alicante Bouschet) was dry and full-bodied, smooth as a baby's bottom (soft tannins), modestly acidic, and showed good flavors of loam, warm spices, cherry fruit, and sage notes.
Finished long on a spice infused earthy character with a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spinach/ricotta cheese stuffed shells.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES