New Hampshire Wine-man: October 2025

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Daniel Pollier Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2022 Pouilly Fuissé

Daniel Pollier Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2022 Pouilly Fuissé, $27.24-$36.99, 90 points, was a medium brass color with a broad graying meniscus.
The citrus based (I like) aromas were soft and nuanced with minerality and a lightly perfumed white grape.
This Pouilly Fuissé was light-bodied, dry, appropriately acidic, and showing good clean flavors of caramel, ginger, citrus notes, and white grape.
Finished long, a bit tart, a tad spicy, and with a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my rotisserie chicken in gravy.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Purple Hands, Haakon-Lenai Vineyard, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley 2022 Pinot Noir

Purple Hands, Haakon-Lenai Vineyard, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley 2022 Pinot Noir, $54.59-$67.99, 94 points, poured a bright cranberry red with a broad clear meniscus and light very sticky legs.
The lovey but soft aromas of toasty cherry fruit were nuanced by ripe mulberry and cinnamon.
This Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was light-medium-bodied, dry, supported fine grainy tannins, showed good acidity, and delivered a cerebrally delicate and persistent cherry and spice flavor profile.
Finished forever long on the fading palate with hints of fig, iron, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Care should be applied to pairing, as pungent or too powerfully flavored cuisine will drown-out the artistry of this wine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Saturday, October 25, 2025

Ghost Block Morgaenlee Vineyard, Yountville, Napa Valley 2024 Sauvignon Blanc

Ghost Block Morgaenlee Vineyard, Yountville, Napa Valley 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, $22.59-$28.99, 91 points, was a light brass color with a frosty palatium sheen and a modest graying penumbra.
The aromas reminded me of Marlborough, NZ SB with bright passion fruit, grassy notes, and a flinty minerality.
Morgaenlee (single) Vineyard gave us a complex light-bodied dry white wine showing good acidity, lean, and lovely flavors reflective of the nose nuanced with citrus notes, ginger, black and white pepper.
Finished long, tart and spicy with a balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with both my baked haddock and yellowfin tuna salad.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Thursday, October 23, 2025

Marques de Borba Colheita Alentejo 2023 Red Wine DOC

Marques de Borba Colheita Alentejo 2023 Red Wine DOC, $7.22-$18.99, 88 points, poured gem clear ruby red with a bleeding meniscus and a sheeted glass wall.
A panoply of fruit dominated the nose with hints of dried cooking herbs and smoke were rich and pleasant.
This Portuguese Red Wine was full-bodied, round, dry, mildly tannic, a bit tart, and showing good acidity and flavors of black grape, cranberry, hints of wood and white pepper.
Finished fairly long with notes of iron and a balanced 14% alcohol.
Paired well with our Mac and Cheese with hamburger.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Domaine Armelle et Jean-Michel Molin, Fixin Old Vines 2022 Grand Vin De Bourgogne Red Wine

Domaine Armelle et Jean-Michel Molin, Fixin Old Vines 2022 Grand Vin De Bourgogne Red Wine, $33.99-$41.99, 92 points, poured a dark red raspberry red with a broad clear meniscus and fat raining legs.
Aromas of cherry fruit, perfumed dried cooking herbs, and a lovely floral vibe were soft but pleasant.
This Bourgogne Red Wine was medium-bodied, dry, soft upfront palate with good acidity, tempered tannins, and delicious red cherry, chamomile tea, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper (late palate) flavors.
Finished long on the trailing palate with subtle hints of wood/iron and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with a number of red-meat cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Ramey Vineyard Napa Valley (Russian River-Sonoma County) 2022 Chardonnay

Ramey Vineyard Napa Valley (Russian River-Sonoma County) 2022 Chardonnay, $42.49-$52.99, 93 points, was a light yellow/gold color with a very broad graying penumbra.
The panoply of tropical fruit aromas was well nuanced with a balanced minerality and orange/lemon zest.
Ramey gave me an on-the-light side of a medium-bodied dry white wine which showed a wonderful acidity, crispness, and an extremely well-balanced Chardonnay delivering flavors true to the nose with a bright ginger accent.
Finished quite long on the trailing palate, a bit tart and lemony with a spot-on 13.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my chicken stew.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Il Borro 2020 Super Tuscan IGT

Il Borro 2020 Super Tuscan IGT, $64.99-$69.99, 93 points, poured core black grading to a deep ruby red with a clear meniscus and fat-stained legs.
Aromas were herbaceous with earthy peat notes and rich black fruit.
This Toscana was full-bodied, dry, showed good acidity, firm comfortable tannins, and flavors true to the nose.
Finished long with hints of warm pepper spices, iron, and a compatible 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spice-rubbed lamb rib-chops.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Shafer Napa Valley 'TD-9' 2019 Proprietary Red Wine

Shafer Napa Valley 'TD-9' 2019 Proprietary Red Wine, $94.99-$84.99, 92 points, poured a deep blood-red with a broad (ironic) bleeding meniscus and very dense, fat, and sticky legs.
The earthy aroma profile was accented with rich black fruit, perfumed sage, and a hint of Hot Tamale candy.
2019 "TD-9" was full-bodied, but I think much of that sensation was its high alcohol (15.3%). It was bone-dry, showed good acidity, a firmly supportive underlayment of tannin, and good flavors reflective of the nose, not as complex as I remember from 2018.
Finished long on the fading palate, a whisper of spearmint, and of course that high alcohol.
Paired fine with our grass-fed beef burgers.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Saturday, October 11, 2025

Ferrari Carano Middleridge Ranch Anderson Valley 2022 Pinot Noir

Ferrari Carano Middleridge Ranch Anderson Valley 2022 Pinot Noir, $25.49-$64.99, 89 points, poured a light cranberry red with a broad clear meniscus and sticky fat legs.
Aromas of strawberries, red cherries, cinnamon, and a hint of tarragon were pleasant.
This Middleridge Ranch Pinot Noir was medium-bodied, dry, showed fair acidity, soft sufficiently supportive tannin, and tasty, if a bit unembellished, reflection of the nose with a touch of cayenne.
Finished long on the pepper, cherry, and a big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my spaghetti and meatballs.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, October 10, 2025

Nikau Point Marlborough 2024 Sauvignon Blanc

Nikau Point Marlborough 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, $6.99 (Trader Joe's), 86 points, was a light brass color with palladium highlights and a graying penumbra.
Aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit, and lemongrass were robust and pleasant.
Nikau Point gave us a light-bodied, not quite dry white wine with an upfront explosion of acid-driven flavor reflective of the aromas but declined midterm; still it finished okay with a hint of lemon oil, ginger, and a well-balanced 12% alcohol.
Paired fine with my Atlantic lobster roll.
Once again, Trader Joe's delivers a Q/P/R wine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Outlot Oak Knoll, Napa Valley, 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Outlot Oak Knoll, Napa Valley, 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, $19.99 (Trader Joe's), 88 points, poured a light ruby red with soft pink highlights, a broad clear wine ring, and drippy fat legs.
Aromas of perfumed plums, warm wood notes, and a hint of cinnamon-cherry were pleasant.
This Oak Knoll cab was not quite full-bodied, showed a bit austere, appropriately acidic, delivered firm tannins and interesting flavors of alcohol (14.2%) infused spice, especially cinnamon, red fruit, oak, and a hint of eucalyptus.
Finished quite long of the trailing palate with hints of iron and spearmint.
Paired well with my beef nachos.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Sunday, October 5, 2025

Faust Napa Valley 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon

Faust Napa Valley 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, $46.74-$64.99, 93 points, poured core black grading to a slightly creamy ruby red with a clear meniscus and a dense necklace of stained legs.
Aromas of soft floral and wood notes were accent by a panoply of red and black fruit with a hint of shoe polish.
After five vintages of this wine, I feel safe to spend a little more for this Napa Cab than I would for your everyday red wine: this 2022 vintage showed tasty, sufficiently complex, a dry full body, appropriately acidic, and supported with soft upfront tannins leading to a rich round mouthfeel. The flavors were mostly reflective of the nose accompanied late palate with cayenne pepper, a more aggressive tannic presence, black plums, licorice, a hint of cocoa, and a balanced 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my spice-rubbed rib eye.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Friday, October 3, 2025

Domaine Thunevin-Calvet Côtes du Roussillon 2019 Red Wine

Domaine Thunevin-Calvet Côtes du Roussillon 2019 Red Wine, $20.99-$38.99, 88 points, poured core black grading to a ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and sticky stained legs.
Aromas of perfumed raisins, anise, unctuous black fruit, and Sambuca were accented with alcohol.
This Côtes du Roussillon was first and foremost an alcohol imbued raisin-rich black fruit bomb with its energized spiciness, bright acidity, and masked tannins.
Finished very long on this diet.
Paired okay with our provincial hamburger.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES