New Hampshire Wine-man: June 2023

Friday, June 30, 2023

Domaines Brocard Sainte Céline Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2021 Chablis

Domaines Brocard Sainte Céline Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2021 Chablis, $14.99-$24.99, 89 points, was a dark straw yellow color with a broad clearing gray penumbra.
Aromas of lemon zest, melon rind, and a spring mountain-fed stream were pleasant.
This Chablis was more on the light-bodied side of white wine, showed good acidity, and crisp flavors reflective of the aromas with a hint of ginger, wet stones, and orange peel.
Finished long on ginger notes, lime squeeze, and a modest 12.5% alcohol.
Paired well with my spinach pie, fried chicken, and pearl onion au gratin.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Gruet NV Brut Sparkling Rosé

Gruet NV Brut Sparkling Rosé, $15.29-$19.99, 90 points, was a light peach-skin color and poured with a quick but briefly lived expanding head of foam.
Aromas were delightful watermelon notes, strawberries, and pome blossoms.
Gruet provides an outstanding sparkling wine (Rosé) with good acidity and flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished long on flavors of rose pedal, watermelon, watermelon rind, and a well-balanced 12% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my Mexican cuisine.
It's been six years since I've had this sparkling Rosé, and its QPR is better than six years ago. This is a BUY wine!

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Château Mongravey Margaux Cru Bourgeois Supérieur 2018 Bordeaux Red Wine

Château Mongravey Margaux Cru Bourgeois Supérieur 2018 Bordeaux Red Wine, $33.99-$41.99, 93 points, poured core black grading to an unfiltered rosewood red with a moderately broad clear meniscus and copious stained legs.
An outstanding array of aromas showed a cornucopia of red and black fruits, cinnamon, cedar, cloves, and floral notes.
This Bordeaux was just shy of full-bodied with good acidity, firm supportive tannins, and rich flavors of red raspberry, cherry fruit, red pepper, mulling spice, and a hint of Crème brûlée.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a bit of citrus, and a perfect 13.5% alcohol.
Varietals were 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
Paired well with our Sourdough cheddar grilled-cheese sandwiches.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2018

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Friday, June 23, 2023

Rombauer Vineyards Napa Valley 2021 Sauvignon Blanc

Rombauer Vineyards Napa Valley 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, $24.64-$30.99, 91 points, was a light yellow/gold color and clearing towards the rim.
Aromas of pome blossoms, lemon zest, dusty orange peel, kitten fur, and fresh-cut hay were lovely.
Rombauer delivers a light-bodied white wine with bright acidity and deep developing flavors of citrus, hints tropical fruits, and a lemon grassiness.
Finished long on the fading palate, a well-balanced 14.2% alcohol, and showed a hint of ginger.
Paired perfectly with my grilled cheddar-cheese sandwich, kalamata olives, and my healthy-choice fish (sardines in olive oil).
Rombauer Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc is always a great choice, but the price has increased substantially.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Viberti Giovannni Langhe 2020 Nebbiolo (DOC)

Viberti Giovannni Langhe 2020 Nebbiolo (DOC), $17.64-$23.99, 90 points, poured a deep cranberry red with quite a broad clear meniscus and many thin stained legs.
Aromas of red cherry, cinnamon, jasmine, and sweet loam were excellent.
Young Viberti Giovannni Nebbiolo wines tend to be a bit astringent, but a bit almost never bothers me, which is the case here. A medium-bodied red wine, somewhat like an edgy Beaujolais or a light-bodied Pinot Noir, this wine was brightly acidic, showed good flavors reflective of the aromas, and fine grainy tannins.
Finished long, showed a heightened spiciness, residual floral flavors, and a well-balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired fine with our peperoni pizza.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Monday, June 19, 2023

Girard Napa Valley 2021 Sauvignon Blanc

Girard Napa Valley 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, $16.99-$21.99, 89 points, was a light brass color with a lemon-yellow sheen and clearing midway towards the rim.
Aromas were dominated by grassy notes nuanced with lime essence, a hint of passion fruit, and an autumn-leafiness.
I think Girard has given us an archetypical Napa Sauvignon Blanc: good acidity, lean mouth feel, 14.1% alcohol, a grassy flavor profile, and garnished with ginger and citrus notes.
Finished well on the ginger and lime zest.
Paired fine with our Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Saturday, June 17, 2023

Morgan Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc

Morgan Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, $15.29-$19.99, 90 points, was a very light brass color with a thin clear meniscus.
Aromas of lemon zest, white chocolate, sweet hay, and a floral vibe were lovely.
This Arroyo Seco AVA Sauvignon Blanc showed good acidity, a mellow (for a SB) mouthfeel, and a grassy flavor profile nuanced with lemon juice, ginger ale, and lime peel.
Finished long on the fading palate and a well-balanced 13.2% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Castellare 2019 Chianti Classico (DOCG)

Castellare 2019 Chianti Classico (DOCG), $18.69-$24.99, 93 points, poured a deep ruby red with violet highlights, a broad clear meniscus, and moderately fat-stained legs.
Aromas of cranberries, black tea, cinnamon, clove. and red cherry were excellent.
Textually, this vintage Castellare Chianti Classico was the sleekest, most round, and rich I've had (this is my eighth vintage), and with a fruity rendition reflective of the aromas, was the tastiest as well, and that included lovely, nuanced cinnamon and cloves.
Acidity was good and the tannins were properly supportive.
Finished long on the trailing palate, spearmint, a bit of cayenne, and a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our meat-lovers pizza.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Sand Point, (Langetwins) California, 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

Sand Point, (Langetwins) California, 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, $12.74-$14.99, 87 points, was a medium brass color with a lemon-yellow sheen, and a broad graying penumbra.
Aromas of passion fruit, cured hay, and lemon/lime were a bit simple but refreshingly pleasant.
Sand Point was another wine I bought for the label which turned out to be a good choice as it was tasty, appropriately acidic, and quite pairable with dinner.
Good flavors of lemon squeeze, melon rind, and a bit of sour grass tied a fair bow of a value white wine.
Finished a bit weak, showed a touch of white grapefruit, and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired well with my fried jumbo shrimp.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Copyright 2010-2023, all rights reserved, Dennis Tsiorbas
Template provided by Google Blogger

Friday, June 9, 2023

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Sparking White Wine (NV)

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Sparking White Wine (NV), $22.09-$24.99, 90 points, was fully engulfed with small bubbles, a very light yellow/gold color, and a gray, almost clear penumbra.
Aromas of crisp apple, sourdough bread, and hops were pleasant.
It's been eight years since I've had this bubbly, but it was just as good as I remember, with bright acidity, crisp, tasty flavors reflective of the aromas and a well-balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Finished long with a bit of crème brûlée and ginger.
A remarkable pairing with my all beef loaded hotdogs and spinach pie.
The big difference from 2015 is the $5.30 increase in price.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Oakville 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Revisited

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Oakville 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Revisited, $39.99-$49.99, 93 points, poured broadly black grading to a deep rosewood red, a bleeding meniscus, and dense stained legs.
Aromas of cherry fruit, dusty blackberries, coffee, dried cooking herbs, and a hint of wood were deep, redolent, and rich.
It's been eleven years since I bought and tasted this wine: it's better than I remember, still young, still showing supportive grainy tannins, still nicely acidic, and even more fruity than when first tasted.
This is a true age-worthy wine and in direct completion with Bordeaux.
Finished long, spicy, delicious, and it was a well-balanced but big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my strip steak, Mac and Cheese, and baked red-skin potatoes.

2008 California Cabernet Sauvignon wines tasted

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Monday, June 5, 2023

Villa Molino 2021 Soave Classico (DOC)

Villa Molino 2021 Soave Classico (DOC), $11.99, 86 points, was a light brass color turning gray-like clear halfway towards the rim.
Aromas of lemon oil, dusty pome blossoms, and hints of lime were good.
This dry Soave Classico white wine showed good acidity and sleek flavors of the aromas.
Finished fair on a touch of ginger and a well-balanced 12% alcohol.
Paired fine with my baked white fish.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Viu Manent Estate Collection 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile)

Viu Manent Estate Collection 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile), $9.99-$13.99, 86 points, poured a bright ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and moderate fat legs.
Aromas were a bit sour with black fruit, weak violet notes, and plums.
This Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon was just shy of full-bodied, showed good acidity, supportive grainy tannins, and a rather lean mouthfeel with a straightforward red wine flavor profile of nondescript fruit and hints of cooking herbs.
Finished spicy, showed hints of iron, and a balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired fine with our tomato sauced veggie spaghetti.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Petite Sirah/Syrah

Petite Sirah/Syrah

Aristotle Monterey 2018 Petite Sarah, $9.89-$12.99, 89 points

Stags' Leap 2013 Petite Syrah (revisited II), $33.94-$46.99, 93 points

Remembering that cute Petite Sirah

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, June 2, 2023

Viñas Chilenas Rosario Estate Winemaker's Selection 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Reserva (Chile)

Viñas Chilenas Rosario Estate Winemaker's Selection 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Reserva (Chile), $4.91, 86 points, was a very light brass color with a lemon-yellow sheen and a broad graying penumbra.

Aromas of dusty lemon zest, fresh-cut grass, and a hint of lime juice were pleasant.
An inexpensive offering from Trader Joe's was light-bodied, showed good acidity, and up-front thin flavors reflective of the aromas, but intensified towards the fair finish of grapefruit, green melon rind, a good ginger note, and an underwhelming 12.5% alcohol.
Paired okay with my lentil chips, Kalamata olives, and sardines in olive oil.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES