New Hampshire Wine-man

Sunday, November 3, 2024

Rossino Provincia Di Pavia, 2022 Moscato (IGT)

Rossino Provincia Di Pavia, 2022 Moscato (IGT), $17.99-$19.99, 92 points, was a very light brass color infused with platinum effervescent bubbles (pretty).
Soft rock candy and white chocolate aromas were nuanced with a white blossom vibe.
Rossino delivered a light-bodied fizz tipple showing good acidity (not common in a sweet Moscato) and tasty flavors of lemon meringue pie with lasting creamy citrusy candy drops.
Finished with a good balance of sweetness and white grape, smooth and tart, and alcohol (7%).
Paired perfectly with my spicy cheddar nachos.
I hear over and over again "I don't like sweet wine". But my retort is: "try it, you'll like it!
I found this one at Angela's Pasta in Manchester.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Saturday, November 2, 2024

Ferrari-Carano Alexander Valley 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Ferrari-Carano Alexander Valley 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, $35.69-$44.99, 91 points, poured an opaque ruby red with a thin bleeding meniscus and hanging stained-legs.
My first whiff of this Cab was alcohol, but a lovely smoky black fruit aroma supplanted the alcohol, and more nuanced floral and herbal smells with a hint of anise tied a nice bow on this package.
Full-bodied, dry, round, rich, showing good acidity, supportive tannins, depth of flavor, and a full throttled alcohol-infused spiciness.
Finished very long with a blackberry cordial flavor, anise, and a big 15.3% alcohol.
Paired fine with our cheddar and onion cheeseburgers.

2018 California Cabernet Sauvignon Wines Tasted

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Gary Farrell Russian River 2021 Pinot Noir

Gary Farrell Russian River 2021 Pinot Noir, $39.85-$48.99, 92 points, poured a royal ruby red color with a broad clear meniscus and fat stained-legs.
The lovely aromas of floral perfume, cherry pie, and hints of warm chocolate brownies were outstanding.
It has been wrongly said that you can't find a great Pinot Noir for under fifty dollars: Gary Farrell is not an inexpensive Pinot, but for about forty dollars I trusted that this vineyard would not disappoint. In this case, I rarely taste a wine before I eat (usually I give attention to a wine during and after my meal), but I had so much anticipation for a great pre-Thanksgiving Pinot I couldn't wait.
Medium-plus dry-bodied red wine with good acidity, supportive grainy tannins, and delicious cherry fruit and herbal flavors which carried long into the fine finish of Kirsch, red pepper spice, and a well-balanced 13.9% alcohol didn't let me down.
Paired perfectly with our baked chicken dinner.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Magaddino Terre Siciliane 2022 Zibibbo IGP

Magaddino Terre Siciliane 2022 Zibibbo IGP, $13.01-$17.99, 88 points, the lightest of brass colors and was gray to clear midway towards the rim.
Dominate citrus aromas, best at lime juice with a hint of lemon oil, mint and white blossoms were gentle and lovely.
My first Zibibbo white wine reminded me of a crisp one dimensional Viognier, and this Zibibbo was dry, bright, tasty, citrusy, and quite pairable, having served me perfectly with my baked Haddock.
Finished fair on the bright acidity, a hint of white chocolate, the faintest marjoram, and a delicate 12% alcohol. Sometimes less alcohol is my preference (must be old age)!
Serving Thanksgiving dinner to elegant friends, want a white wine with decorative gravatas, looking for Q/P/R (quality/price/ratio), and want to keep those guests awake? Then I certainly would choose this one. Do a blind tasting and stump your local sommelier.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Monday, October 28, 2024

La Madrid Mendoza Single Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Franc

La Madrid Mendoza Single Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Franc, $10.19-$22.99, 88 points, poured a bright ruby red with cranberry red and rose-pink highlights, a broad clear meniscus, and sticky stained-legs.
The aromas were floral, herbaceous, red-fruity, and showed a hint of mint.
A full-bodied dry red wine with good acidity, supportive underlayment of soft tannins, and tasty anise flavor nuanced with red raspberry, plum, and crisply excited pepper notes.
Finished long on tannin, a bit tart, and with a well-balanced 13.9% alcohol.
Paired well with my T-bone steak.
If you're interested in a Cab-Franc, at this price I wouldn't pass this one up.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Clos Henri Marlborough Single Vineyard 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

Clos Henri Marlborough Single Vineyard 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, $25.49-$34.99, 93 points, was a light brass color with yellow/gold highlights.
Aromas of fresh-cut grass, gooseberry, faint dusty vanilla, a hint of grapefruit and pome blossom vibes were quite lovely.
As with many Kiwi SBs, this Clos Henri showed bright acidity flavors of citrus, but late palate and finish were intense lemon/lime with ginger and white pepper notes.
Alcohol content was a well-balanced 13.5%.
Paired perfectly with my baked haddock filet.
I've only spent this much money on a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc once before, but that wine couldn't hold a candle to this 2022 Clos Henri, and this was my highest scoring one at that.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Fontanafredda Serralunga d'Alba DOCG 2008 Barolo (Italy) Revisited Eight Years After

Fontanafredda Serralunga d'Alba DOCG 2008 Barolo (Italy) Revisited Eight Years After, $14.99-$25.99 (500ml), 93 points, poured a deep garnet red with an amber sheen, much micro-sediment, a remarkably clear meniscus, and fine glass sheeting.
Aromas of steamed sweet plums, subtle notes of mint, pine needles, and minerality with a floral vibe were quite good.
This sixteen-year-old Barolo was near full-bodied, showed good acidity, shadows of fine grainy tannin, a tasty reflection of the aromas with warm pepper spices and a hint of espresso.
Finished long on the fading palate with a hint of iron and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our spaghetti and meatballs.
Better now than when tasted in 2016.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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