Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Lunatic, American Canyon, California, 2014 Red Wine




Lunatic, American Canyon, California, 2014 Red Wine, $7.99-$17.99, 86 points, launched with a deep blood-red color trending ruby with a clear wine noose and hanging sheets and tears on the glass wall.
Smells of red raspberry, blueberry, and a hint of funk moaned in whispers in the nose.
Full-bodied with indecent, but legal acidity unfairly paired with tannin below heavy flavors of prune and red cherry syrup.
The Lunatic terminated with a bit of leather, tobacco, red pepper, a hint of anise, and an unwholesome 14.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 32% Sangiovese, 24% Malbec, 20% Alicante Bouschet, 18% Petit Verdot, and 6% Petite Sirah.
As a pizza time wine for the ravenous, at the $7.99 toll, and a bonded finish, the Schizophrenic Lunatic was a hilarious value .

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Monday, October 30, 2017

Frog's Leap Rutherford-Napa Valley 2014 Merlot





Frog's Leap Rutherford-Napa Valley 2014 Merlot, $26.99-$39.99, 91 points, poured a dark sienna color with a clear wine ring and thick heavy legs.
Aromatic sweet cherry fruit, plum, blueberry, and cedar were outstanding.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and grainy firm tannins managed excellent flavors reflective of the aromas plus a touch of tobacco and white pepper which carried deep into the long finish.
The 13.4% alcohol was restrained, complementary, and attractive.
Paired perfectly with our pepperoni pizza.
Varietals are 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon.
I bought this at the Whole Foods of Bedford.

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

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Sunday, October 29, 2017

Merriam Vineyards Windacre Russian River Valley 2012 Merlot


Merriam Vineyards Windacre Russian River Valley 2012 Merlot, $11.89-$27.99, 91 points, poured opaque purple/red grading bright toward the broad clear wine ring and heavily draped glass bowl.
Herbaceous cedar, blackberry, and plum aromas were good and faded with time toward a fresh washed linen smell.
Medium-plus body with mouthwatering acidity and a satin tannin support carried a complex array of nuanced flavors: coffee, plum, blackberry, and mulling spices lingered seamlessly into the long finish with a bit of bitter dark chocolate and a potent 14.7% alcohol.
My anemic month of Merlots needed this Merriam to be just what the wine 'doctor' ordered to pair with my Angus spiced-rubbed strip steak.
Varietals were 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
This NHLS outlet close-out should not be ignored by the Merlot lovers in earshot of this post. 
A JMO commentary: Beringer Merlot Founder's Estate Merlot is a good wine, but why other reviewers consistently square it with Merriam Merlot is beyond me.
Merriam Vineyards, why its "go-to" winery.
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Saturday, October 28, 2017

William Hill Napa Valley 2014 Chardonnay






William Hill Napa Valley 2014 Chardonnay, $18.69-$25.99, 88 points, appeared as a yellow/gold color.
Aromas of wintergreen, quince, and a spring rushing stream were subtle, but quite lovely.
Medium-bodied with fair acidity was the conduit for the straight-forward pome flavors with a whisper vanilla and a touch of that wintergreen; oak was nicely nuanced.
Finished a bit thin, but a hint of ginger and lemon zest with the trailing palate and a potent 13.9% alcohol were okay.
Paired fine with my baked North Atlantic halibut in a rich cheddar cheese sauce.

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Friday, October 27, 2017

Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley 2006 Merlot Revisited




Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley 2006 Merlot, $46.74-$54.99, 91 points, poured a bright purple/red with a thin clear wine ring and medium sized legs.
Aromas of earthy cedar, ripe blackberry, and a hint of candy cane were quite good.
Full-bodied with good acidity and mellow tannins carried flavors of loam, herbs, violets and a hint of prune which were complex and tasty.
Finished long on easy persistent warm spices, the trailing palate, and a well-integrated 14.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 96% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petite Verdot.
Paired perfectly with my Swedish meat balls and fettuccini.
Review from two years ago: Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley 2006 Merlot, $94.99-$125.00 (1.5L), 90 points

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Thursday, October 26, 2017

Wind Gap Sonoma Coast 2014 Pinot Noir







Wind Gap Sonoma Coast 2014 Pinot Noir, $28.04-$32.99, 93 points, poured a light candy-apple red with a broad fuzzy-clear wine ring and glass bowl of thin 'tears'.
Aromatic Red delicious apple, red cherry, and shy mulling spice potpourri were excellent.
Lighter than medium-bodied with good acidity and a gentle underlayment of tannin carried scrumptious flavors of dragon fruit, red cherry, and a hint of cinnamon.
Finished long on fetching red fruit notes, a dash of white pepper, and a winsome 12.5% alcohol.
Paired beautifully with my honey-fried chicken and broccoli/carrots in a cheddar cheese sauce.
This Pinot Noir is so delicate and delectable you'll have a hard time not to drink the whole bottle.

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Wednesday, October 25, 2017

True Myth Edna Valley 2015 Chardonnay





True Myth Edna Valley 2015 Chardonnay, $11.04-$14.99, 89 points, poured a bright yellow gold color clearing at the glass edge.
Light caramel/vanilla aromas with apple and floral vibes covered the grapy goodness.
Medium-bodied with fair-plus acidity deftly managed the oak notes with a juicy backdrop of pome fruit, a hint of citrus, and mandarin orange.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a well-balanced 13.8% alcohol, and a touch of honeydew melon.
Paired interestingly well with my buttered bran muffins.

Wine Pairing; exempli gratia (e.g.) PB-and-J

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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Dry Creek Vineyard 2014 Merlot





Dry Creek Vineyard 2014 Merlot, $15.29-$22.99, 91 points, appeared broadly black with a clear wine ring and a glass bowl laden with dense loads of legs.
Rich aromas of black fruit with nuanced notes of cedar and coffee impressed.
Near full-bodied with good acidity and an easy underlayment of tannin opulently unfurled flavors of plums, subliminal blackberry, and licorice.
Finished long on spicy pepper infused plum, cherry cola, a potent 14.5% alcohol, and a trace of zinc.
Paired perfectly with our Mexican cuisine.
I bought this wine at the Whole Foods of Bedford (Kyle's pick).
I have to agree with Kyle, this is an outstanding Merlot; the QPR is high, and in an environment of Merlot disparagement, Dry Creek shines bright.

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

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Monday, October 23, 2017

Joseph Phelps Freestone Vineyards Sonoma Coast 2013 Pinot Noir





Joseph Phelps Freestone Vineyards Sonoma Coast 2013 Pinot Noir, $38.24-$49.99, 92 points, poured a bright candy-apple-red with a broad transparent wine ring.
Aromatic earthy red cherry with a floral vibe were quite good.
Medium-bodied with good acidity and grainy mild tannins carried cherry cola and truffle flavors.
Finished long on the trailing palate, varietal-specific grape notes, white pepper, and a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.
Besides being one of my favorite autumnal wines, Pinot Noir seemed the right choice to pair with my Boston-baked beans, and indeed the Joseph Phelps paired perfectly.
As an interesting side note, this Pinot Noir reminded me of the best Morgon Beaujolais red wines I've tasted.

Wine Pairing; exempli gratia (e.g.) PB-and-J
 
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Sunday, October 22, 2017

NHWM's First Post Revisited


Always interesting to reflect on the path behind you so as to judge the one before you.
This post has a utilitarian purpose, as it is no longer available to me by my blog provider for editing purposes.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Newbie Me & Zin

Zinfandel wine began as the major focus of this blog (Eureka explains why I ventured into other wines). There are those who just want to enjoy the adventure of a great Varietal they've not tasted, or venture into wines more daringly; like tasting French Bordeaux, Spanish Rioja, or Italian Brunello Montalcino wines for example (Something will be learned on this path).
To begin with, I'm going to the future to bring an aphorism from Claire "Uncorked": "Having said the newbie thing...when you really think about it, I think most of us wine drinkers that lean to the serious side are going to be newbies for a long time. There's just so much, and; we - and; the wine - are always changing." http://claireuncorked.blogspot.com/
In this sentence is the encapsulation of much of my journey.
Since you probably are a wine drinker, but may not have ventured into Zinfandel wines, (Varietal, in some sense, makes up more than 90% of why we buy one wine over another) sometimes referred to as America's grape, then you are in for a great surprise.
A few facts are in order and to give some perspective: Croatia appears to be the home of the Zinfandel Grape, but it is most abundant in California, A few Zinfandel wines are made in Australia, for example Cape Mentelle Zinfandel, St. Peter's (Kangarilla Road Black), and Hentley Farm. In Italy, Zinfandel is most often called Primitivo, but seems to have a lower alcohol content (The warmer the temperature and the longer the growing season the more sugar in the grape, and consequently the potential for a higher % of alcohol).
Zinfandel may be a name given to an Austrian Grape known as Zierfandler, but I like to think it was given for the Zinger Zip of the wild, gamy quality of this wine, which is usually 14% to 15.5% alcohol.
In California and Australia, some Zinfandels were planted over a hundred years ago, some of these vines are labeled "Old Vines" or "Ancient Vines", which often means a more interesting wine-making adventure with intense results; the roots of some grape vines can be longer than thirty feet and that fact too has an effect on on the wine. However, too often "Old Vines" is a meaningless phrase; the best thing to do is to is to check the fact sheets provided by the winery. Some wineries have agreed on 35 to 80 years.
For more historical and technical information click on the link provided and away you go.



For my first review, I would like to compare: 2007 Green and Red Zinfandel (Napa Valley) $18.99 vs. 2007 Frog's Leap (Napa Valley) $20.39


Green and Red 2007 Zinfandel was the first Zinfandel that I liked; not only did I like it, I loved it: Smooth with a LONG finish, not overpowering with odd flavors (CLEAN), but structured with rich berry and grape that goes well with tortillas or baby-back ribs, having a nearly perfect black pepper finish. The most famous wine taster said: "I've never had a Green and Red that I did not like." This wine is from Chiles canyon, and should be very drinkable now through 2015. This is a definite value, and would be at $30. I scored it 92 Points.

Frog's Leap Napa valley 2007 Zinfandel, $20.39, 91 points, has an almost strawberry color, sweet aroma with cinnamon and spice, having an excellent finish of spice, it is vibrant and lively, but it is soooo smooth, soooo drinkable that it is fortunate that its alcohol content is 13.4%. I loved this Zin and as The Wine Week (No longer posting) guys would say: "it is a Ripper". This too is a value even at $30. I scored it 91 Points. I tasted this wine again on April 2, 2011 and had the same pleasure as the first time.

The edge goes to Green and Red, but ever so slightly.

This is my first post on this blog site, and I hope to refine it as I go along.
What I have found is that most people don't give much thought to any system of drinking and tasting wine, but since I started taste testing wine, I've been writing notes and keeping score, and thought that others, especially neighbors in NH might like some suggestions.
Keep in mind that I buy all the wines I review (some are gifts from family members for birthdays or Christmas, or are provided at a dinner by others. I seldom do blind tastings, but they are noted. The danger of "confirmation bias" (Knowing a wine's reputation has an influence) is always a possibility, however, that tendency is reduced as I plunk dollars-down on a wine I don't like. Also, watch for wines I repeatedly BUY and review, as they will most likely reflect a good wine at a good price (QPR-Quality, Price, Ratio), at least as I see it.
Other thoughts on wine reviews: I have, in my limited experience, come to resent "Know it all-ism." I don't know what wine will be best for you, but I'll taste wines available in New Hampshire, and I'll compare, for example, a Zinfandel to a Brunello (Arguably not possible), and if a Zinfandel that is maybe taste-worthy for 5 years goes toe-to-toe with a 20 year Brunello that out-shines that Zinfandel by a considerable margin, then my score should reflect that; I was recently reading a magazine which likes to vaunt itself as the alpha and omega of wine reviews, whereupon I see just such a discrepancy; the why of it is not important, but if you are referring to the magazine's scores on deciding what wine to buy, and you see 90 points for this Zinfandel that costs less than $20 and a Brunello that costs more than $30 and yet scores 90 points as well, chances are, if you are like me, the Zinfandel will be the wine you purchase. Is this a mountain in a molehill? Not at all, because when different people are scoring exclusively a class of wine, they are judging say Zinfandel against Zinfandel, Brunello against Brunello, but you are there in the store and what you want is a good wine at a good price, and your wine app says that this Zinfandel is as good as this Brunello, but in reality that's just not so (There are Zinfandels just as good, but this case just isn't one of them, I've tasted both and there's NO comparison!) So when referring to wine scores, blind or not, let me recommend that you find real people with a broad wine tasting perspective germane to your wine tasting needs, and see how they line-up. You may find that your taste in Zinfandel wines line-up, but not your taste in Brunello wines.
The fact is that no two palates are the same, and more than anything concerning wine, is that you discover the joy of exploring responsible wine drinking; I'm going to try and make that as much fun for you as it has been for me. Keep in mind that scoring wine is often a subjective issue. I use the 100 point scale and my scoring takes into account wine that can stand alone; a wine that is desirable and enjoyed by itself  is usually a better wine; in Europe, wine is naturally another food at the table, and is intended to compliment the local cuisine (That table wine can be as good as any other wine), but when I refer to a "table wine" I mean a wine that goes well with food, but may not be a "stand-alone-wine."
Price is almost always an issue, and does not always guaranty a quality wine.
There are quality wines for under $10.00, and if you are like me, a bottle of 750 ml is good for two or three days, making it no more expensive than going to the coffee shop (sorry, but not so true three years later).
Though Zinfandel wines can be found for under $10.00, they do mostly sell for more than your bargain-basement Merlot, because, though 10%,  (approx.) of grapes grown in California, (only 3% in Napa Valley) are Zinfandel, that is still a relatively small amount, and supply and demand rule.
However, you just might find that a great Zinfandel wine can be found for much less than a great Cabernet Sauvignon or a Pinot Noir, and at about the same price as a great Merlot.

Now, to find a good wine in New Hampshire can be a problem for us Newbie wine drinkers, and for those looking to buy wine for others; there is a simple answer: find someone who knows wine. I want this blog to help, but also I want to recommend where you can go. In the forth-coming posts I will make reference to wine shops, but keep in mind that most markets will not be able to wisely advise you with what wines best fit your circumstances. The New Hampshire Liquor Stores do have some knowledgeable people, but it can be hit or miss.
So, check your local listings for a wine boutique near you and begin the exploration, but remember that the adventure begins and ultimately ends in the tasting, not here or in a wine-shop.

For a more in-depth look at "Newbie Me"
Checkout my post here:





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Avalon Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon






Avalon Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $15.29-$19.99, 86 points, was an opaque ruby color with a thin clear wine ring and moderate draping.
Light aromas of cedar, fennel, and black plum were okay.
Full-bodied with fair acidity and mellow tannins managed to deliver where it counted: paired with my beefy lasagna.
Flavors reflected the aromas with a bit of tobacco in the mist of black currant and a moderate 13.8% alcohol on the fair finish.
It appears that tobacco maybe a tertiary influence of aging Cabernet Sauvignon in oak. Duh!





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Saturday, October 21, 2017

LADERA Howell Mountain Napa Valley 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon






LADERA Howell Mountain Napa Valley 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, $48.49, 92 points, poured black, transitioning purple/red near the bleeding thin clear wine ring and leggy glass bowl.
Aromas of ripe blackberries with hints of coffee and marjoram were excellent.
Nearly full-bodied, very smooth, with good acidity and a soft underlayment of tannin delivered flavors of black licorice, Kalamata olives, currants, and plums; not often do I get coffee bean and tobacco notes from Cali Cabernet Sauvignon wines, but here it be!
Finished long on a warm 14.7% alcohol inspirited spiciness, fig, and damson plum.
Decant this wine, if you are fortunate enough to find the 2005 Ladera Cab.
Paired perfectly with my rare spiced-rubbed Angus strip steak.

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Friday, October 20, 2017

Long Barn Napa Valley 2015 Chardonnay






Long Barn Napa Valley 2015 Chardonnay, $9.34-$13.99, 87 points, was a deep brass/gold color.
Oak and pome fruit on the nose were pleasant.
This medium-plus bodied straight forward Chardonnay showed itself juicy and oaky with fair acidity.
Finished on the trailing palate and a hint of cantaloupe.
Alcohol was a reasonable 13.5%.
Paired fine with my fish chowder.
If a Cali-typical Chardonnay is what you're looking for, you can't miss with this one.

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Thursday, October 19, 2017

Seghesio Sonoma County 2014 Zinfandel





Seghesio Sonoma County 2014 Zinfandel,
$18.95-$25.99, 91 points, poured core black with deep maroon colors, a broad clear wine ring, and modest legs.
Aromas were rather shy bramble blackberries and juniper.
Medium-bodied with bright acidity and mild sufficient tannin carried rich flavors of black licorice, cherry cola, plum, and a very spicy medley of pepper.
Finished long on the trailing palate, hints of marzipan and eucalyptus with a spot-on 14.8% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our burgers.
Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel always exceeds expectations, and the 2014 is no different. 
 

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Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Rodney Strong Sonoma County 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon







Rodney Strong Sonoma County 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, $14.49-$21.99, 88 points, poured an opaque sienna color with a broad clear wine ring and moderate glass sheeting.
Aromatic cedar, blueberry, cocoa, and lavender were pleasant.
Medium-plus body showed good acidity, supportive underlayment of tannin, and flavors of mulberry, blueberry, plum, licorice, and a hint of fennel.
Finished fair on the trailing palate, a touch of pomegranate, easy warm spices, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my Mexican cuisine.

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Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Sbragia Dry Creek Valley 'Andolsen Vineyard' 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon







Sbragia Andolsen Vineyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, $22.99-$42.99, 91 points, poured core black grading burgundy purple/red at the clear wine ring and glass bowl of significant and sweating drapes.
The aromas needed some time with swirling and swishing to tease-out the lovely cedar potpourri and black currant jam bouquet.
Full-bodied with good acidity and firm grainy tannins managed flavors reflective of the bouquet.
Finished long and spicy with plum, a bit of wild black bramble fruit, and mint notes.
Alcohol was a potent 14.7%.
Paired perfectly with my roast beef dinner and hazelnut milk chocolate dessert; there are those that snidely sneer at this pairing, but not me.

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Monday, October 16, 2017

Fess Parker Santa Barbara County 2013 Riesling








Fess Parker Santa Barbara County 2013 Riesling, $14.99 (bought at the Fresh Market of Bedford), 85 points, poured a glossy gold color.
A petrol dominant aroma crowded out all other aromas for me.
The light-plus body with good acidity managed to overcome the petrol notes to show glimpses of melon rind, peach, and over ripe pear flavors.
Finished by pulling itself up by its boot straps with a lovely hint of guava and peach praline pie; finished long, off dry, a spot-on 12% alcohol, and with a saving grace.

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Sunday, October 15, 2017

Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Fires Burn Within Our Chests


With prayers in our hearts for friends and associates in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino, we all embrace, with hope, an outlook toward the end of another trial. As of Sunday morning October 15, at least forty people, mostly senior souls, have lost their lives, four hundred people are unaccounted for. I for one, can hardly stop looking for information and hard to come-by updates. The city of Santa Rosa (population: 175,000) appears from the sky-views to be a 'war zone'. The fires still rage, and unconfirmed reports of burned-out wineries pour in.




Some might remember that in the summer of 2014 there was a terrible earthquake in Napa; many tried to find ways to help; mine was to buy Napa wines.
So it was with the terrible earthquakes of the summer of 2016 in Italy when I bought Italian everything and began with this post: "All right, I'm praying for the people of central Italy, but I wanted to show support in another way, here is my purchase of olives, olive oil and wine (A great wine at that). God be with the good people of Italy (Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2013 Rosso di Montalcino)."
 As with these two past and terrible events: "This too shall pass." In the meantime, some are looking for ways to help: donations are being collected almost everywhere; my venue of choice is to once again buy wines appropriate to the areas affected.
Here, for a proper personal perspective, is a post from the warzone by Vinsanity blogger.

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Hoopes Napa Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon






Hoopes Napa Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, $39.09-$45.99, 92+ points, poured black right up to the purple/red glass edge, thin clear wine ring, and leggy glass bowl.
Aromatic sandalwood, cedar, cocoa, and black currants were excellent.

Medium-plus body with good acidity and firm grainy tannins carried delicious flavors of cola, licorice, plum, mulberry, a hint of mint, ripe black raspberry, and a subtle white truffle.
Finished long on the trailing palate, easy white pepper, and their interestingly designated 14.75% alcohol.

Paired perfectly with our pepperoni pizza.

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Saturday, October 14, 2017

Petroni Estate Rosso Di Sonoma 2011 Red Wine







Petroni Estate Rosso Di Sonoma 2011 Red Wine, $13.59-$35.99, 90 points, poured black grading purple/red at the clear wine ring and moderately big legs.
Aromas were floral with a red fruit medley, clove, and black cherry.
Full-bodied, silky smooth, with good acidity and round, easy, and sufficiently supportive tannins which carried delicious flavors of plum, black cherry, and dried mulling spices.
Finished long on spicy black fruit and a well-balanced 14.1% alcohol.
Varietals were Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese.
Paired fine with my meatball sub.

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Friday, October 13, 2017

Black Stallion Napa Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon




Black Stallion Napa Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, $21.24-$29.99, 89 points, poured black right up to the purple/red glass edge, clear wine ring, and bowl of fat legs.
Aromatic earth, black currants, cedar, and a hint of brine were consummate.
Full-bodied with good acidity and layered moderate tannins managed black licorice, Kalamata olive, and black fruit flavors.
Finished fair on the trailing palate, a hint of pomegranate, plum, and a warm 14.5% alcohol inspirited spiciness.
Paired perfectly with our loaded pizza.

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Thursday, October 12, 2017

Dry Creek Vineyard Wilson Ranch 2015 Chenin Blanc






Dry Creek Vineyard Wilson Ranch 2015 Chenin Blanc, $10.19-$13.99, 91 points, poured a light gold color clearing at the glass edge.
Aromas of lemon, tangerine, lychee, pome blossoms, and a hint of pine resin were excellent.
The delicate wine body with good acidity and an unsuspected depth in citrus and nuanced melon flavors impressed.
Finished long, a bit earthy, embracing its palate flavors with a hint of ginger and a restrained 13% alcohol.

On the first night paired perfectly with my North Atlantic sea scallops, and on the second night paired perfectly with my chicken salad (versatile white wine).

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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Keenan Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, 2015 Chardonnay






Keenan Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, 2015 Chardonnay, $30.59-$35.99, 88 points, was a straw yellow color.
Lovely sweet apple smells were tempered with a bit of oak.
Medium-bodied, maybe slightly heavier, with fair to good acidity carried flavors reflective of the nose plus an almost spritz-like ginger which managed to overcome an otherwise too oaky Chardonnay for my taste.
Finished nicely on that ginger, hints of tropical fruit, and a potent 14.2% alcohol.
Paired okay with our roast chicken dinner, but as before, our apple crisp was a perfect dessert pairing.

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Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Meerlust Estate Stellenbosch 2012 Chardonnay (South Africa)








Meerlust Estate Stellenbosch 2012 Chardonnay (South Africa), $14.99-$26.99, 84 points, poured a dark straw yellow color.
Medium-plus body with fair acidity carried a bland apple pie flavor and an (for my taste) over-oaked caramel quality.
Finished consistent with the overall palate and a modest 13% alcohol.
Paired okay with my roast chicken. 

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