New Hampshire Wine-man: January 2025

Friday, January 31, 2025

il fauno DI ARCANUM 2018 Toscana IGT

il fauno DI ARCANUM 2018 Toscana IGT, $34.85-$42.99, 94 points, poured an opaque ruby red with a broad pomegranate penumbra, clear wine ring, and sticky sheeting on the glass bowl.
A panoply of perfumed fruit, herbs, and tertiary notes were lovely.
This Toscana was full-bodied, showed good acidity, supportive underlayment of tannin with an accompaniment of lush roundness, and delicious flavors reflective of the bouquet with sweet fennel and gentle Kirsch notes.
Finished very long on the fading palate, mint, plum, and warm spice-infused alcohol (14.5%)
Paired perfectly with my spice-rubbed rib eye.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Tuesday, January 28, 2025

L'Ecole No 41 Columbia Valley 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon

L'Ecole No 41 Columbia Valley 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, $28.90-$33.99, 91 points, poured an opaque ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and fat stained legs.
Aromas of coffee, ripe blackberry, and hints of wood were excellent.
L'Ecole gave me a near full-bodied red wine with good acidity, a supportive underlayment of tannin, rich round mouthfeel, and tasty fruit-driven palate nuanced with herbal subliminal tertiary notes.
Finished long on the fading palate, gentle spiciness, and a balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my hamburger and jalapeno nachos.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Scenic Valley Farms, Willamette Valley, 2023 Chardonnay

Scenic Valley Farms, Willamette Valley, 2023 Chardonnay, $16.26-$22.99, 89 points, was a medium straw yellow color with a broad clear wine ring.
Smells that were Chardonnay grape specific with lemon zest and a dusty slightly sour melon note were just okay for me.
Scenic Valley Farms delivered a medium-bodied white wine with good acidity and delicious flavors of Necco wafers, tart apple, a hint of wood, and stone fruit notes.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a hint of ginger, and a remarkably comfortable 12.3% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my roasted chicken.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2024, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas

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Sunday, January 19, 2025

Maison Lispaul Shirley-David Maudry 2023 Sancerre

Maison Lispaul Shirley-David Maudry 2023 Sancerre, $29.74-$38.99, 90 points, was a medium yellow/gold color with a broad clear meniscus.
Dominant aromas of sweet apples were nuanced with hints of dusty orange peel and minerality.
This Sancerre was close to being medium-bodied with good acidity and delicious flavors of lemongrass, minerality, melon rind, apricot, and a hint of lime juice.
Finished long on the fading palate, ginger notes, and a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with our baked haddock filets.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Friday, January 17, 2025

Greenwing Columbia Valley 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Greenwing Columbia Valley 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, $24.99-$32.99, 88 points, poured a deep ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and sticky, fat, and stained legs.
The muffled aromas of sour wood, perfumed mulberry, and red currant were just okay for me.
This Columbia Valley Cab was full-bodied, showed good acidity, a supportive underlayment of tannin, quite angular, and delivered rich flavors of anise, red currants, and warm spices.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a hint of iron, and a well-balanced 14.2% alcohol.
Paired nicely with my Chicken Cacciatore.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (DOCG)

Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (DOCG), $33.99-$44.99, 93 points, poured a light pomegranate red with a very broad clear meniscus and fat stained-legs.
The nose began with a hint of funk which vanished and was replaced by lovely red fruit, perfumed rose pedal, and hints of black tea and loam notes.
Unusually full-bodied for a Chianti (mouthfeel was upfront smooth), but more typically acidic, tannic with fine grainy tannins, and delivering great flavors of spiced strawberry, black tea, cayenne pepper, and a hint of eucalyptus.
Finished very long, tart, spicy, and with a big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Margherita pizza.
Of the four vintages of this Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro I've had, this was among the best, and at under $35, a good Gran Selezione (Selection) to try.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Monday, January 13, 2025

Col Dei Venti, Tùfoblu, 2019 Barbaresco DOCG Revisited

Col Dei Venti, Tùfoblu, 2019 Barbaresco DOCG Revisited, (New Hampshire Wine-man: Col Dei Venti, Tùfoblu, 2019 Barbaresco), was just fabulous, as it was in May when I last had this wine, this vintage.
94 points! At less than $40 is a steal!
Paired perfectly with my grass-fed rare rib eye and asparagus.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Thursday, January 9, 2025

Palazzo Vecchio 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Palazzo Vecchio 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, $16.99-$39.99, 91 points, poured a light cranberry red with orange highlights, with clear sticky narrow legs, and a bright wine ring.
Very aromatic mulling spices were nuanced with floral herbal tea, black tea, and brandy, but I couldn't sense any fruit (not a negative for me).
This Chianti Classico Riserva was typically medium-bodied, showed good acidity, fine grainy tannins, and warm spiciness, however the dominant flavor was brandy-like with just a hint of funk.
Finished long on citrus, pepper spice, and a eucalyptus note with a balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired fine with Amy's Margherita pizza.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Fess Parker Sanford and Benedick Sta. Rita Hills 2020 Chardonnay

Fess Parker Sanford and Benedick Sta. Rita Hills 2020 Chardonnay, $30.09-$56.99, 95 points, was a medium burnished yellow/gold color with a broad clear meniscus.
Lovely aromas of mixed pome, citrus, and melon nuanced with floral vibes were outstanding.
Near full-bodied, this Cali Chardonnay show good acidity and rich flavors reflective of the aromas with white pepper, wood, and ginger notes.
Finished very long on the trailing palate with an emphasis on ginger, pepper, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spiced roasted chicken.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Cancer and alcohol

I'm not an oncologist/researcher, but I am a wine drinker and don't want to do harm to myself by drinking wine, so, a few reflections on cancer and alcohol.
I don't drink wine to get drunk.
I drink wine to enhance my dinner and because wine can be magnificent.
I have heard VERY reliable studies that point to a correlation between alcohol and cancer.
Italy, France, and Luxemburg are counties with the longest lifespans in the world and incidentally have the highest wine consumption of all other countries, Portugal and Spain are among the largest wine producers and yet have something like a 5–8-year higher lifespan than the United States.
My musing is that something is out of whack here, and I am suspicious that broadbrush studies maybe throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Any comments on this subject would be appreciated.
Just a note on the wine I drink: $1,000 bottles of wine are fine for the right application and or magazine, but I've moved into more parochial parameters of $10-$50 wines with exceptions, like my stored wines and an occasional splurge.
I don't normally do commentary posts, and my wine consumption has changed considerably with my three major surgeries and just the weight of nearly fifteen years of wine reviewing. I do use my own reviews in buying wine and am confident that past experiences are helpful in my present purchases. If the quality/price/ ratio (Q/P/R) is out of whack or if a wine fails me, I'm not likely to buy it again.

Cheers and Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Dennis Tsiorbas
All rights reserved

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Brancaia 2021 Chianti Classic Riserva DOCG

Brancaia 2021 Chianti Classic Riserva DOCG, $36.54-$47.99, 95 points, poured a broad spectrum of cranberry red grading to a tinted amber towards the clear meniscus and slightly stained legs.
Warm aromas of red fruit, rose pedal, perfumed dried cooking spice, and a hint of wood were outstanding.
My first Brancaia Chianti was medium-bodied, showed bright food friendly acidity, was a bit tannic (to be expected with such a young Sangiovese), and delivered complex flavors of herbs, tea, fruit, flowers, and warm spices.
Finished very long on the trailing palate, iron notes, cherry cola, citrus, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my not-so prosaic cheeseburgers and chocolate ganache dessert.
Looking like Vintage 2021 in Tuscany was remarkable.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Friday, January 3, 2025

Domaine Du Colombier 2022 Chablis

Domaine Du Colombier 2022 Chablis, $22.09-$28.99, 88 points, was a medium yellow/gold color with a broad clearing meniscus.
The aroma of sour lemon dominated soft orange blossoms and lime peel.
This Chablis was near medium-bodied with bright acidity and flavors reflective of the aromas with good minerality, a hint of apple, and developing ginger notes.
Finished lean and with a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Didn't pair well with my spiced baked chicken but was excellent with my Latvian sardines and Swiss cheese.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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