HandCraft 2010 California Cabernet Sauvignon

HandCraft 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), 21% Petite Sirah, 2% Sangiovese add compleity,$9.90-$13.75, 87 points, should have some air before drinking. This is a deep red colored wine, with spice, red and black fruit on the nose that carries nicely onto the near full bodied red wine, with fair acidity and mild tannin. The finish is fair with some spice.

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Henry Beston and John M.Kelly

 

Outermost House

Winemaker's Notes

Henry Beston The Outermost house Copy right Henry Holt and; co. begins with a glimpse into the nature's East with: "It is the privilege of the naturalist to concern himself with a world whose greater manifestations remain above and beyond the violences of men. Whatever comes to pass in our human world there is no shadow of us cast upon the rising sun, no pause in the flowing of the winds or halt in the long rhythms of the breakers hastening ashore."

John M. Kelley gives a glimpse into nature's West: "Walked the vineyard a couple hours on Monday in balmy spring weather; again—nothing. No budbreak, no woolly buds, barely any budswell out on the ends of the canes of the precocious clone 943 Pinot. I was happy to see wet soil down to 3″-4″ digging under the vines, but we still need to irrigate. The canes in the young vines are still too brittle to tie down."

Wine connects us to nature in special ways, even as good writing, good humanity can. Though I love philosophy and nature, I believe the two are inseparably intertwined, and that's not to say the "Faith" isn't woven in there, but the faith I'm talking about says the same thing as science: Thermal dynamics has an irrevocable end even to our sun, but this part transcends science: "Love abides." I hope you'll see the love that Herny Beston and John M. Kelley had and have for nature, the vine, and the family.

No wine pictures today, no score, just the people, places, and maybe a little faith today.

 

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Cupcake Marlborough 2011 Sauvignon Blanc

Cupcake Marlborough 2011 Sauvignon Blanc,
 $9.34-$10.99, 88 points is transparent lemon in color, with a bright awakening aroma of grapefruit, lemon and lime zest.
The aroma is passed down to the palate with a sharp white grapefruit dominating hints of lemon/lime. A light bodied wine that is bright and lively though at times is too tart, though that didn't bother me, because of how refreshing this wine is. There is little or no grassiness or spice to speak of.
I think the issue here is whether one likes a tangy white wine, and the answer will be found in those who like a nearly bitter grapefruit.
The 13% alcohol is unnoticeable.


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Neal Napa valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

Neal Napa valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $38.24-$48.99, 93 points, has a very nice aroma of cinnamon, clove, and cedar with hints of black currant.

The color is deepest of ruby red and opaque at the core.

Having a medium plus body that carries good acidity and nicely blended tannin ushering well a current of juicy blackberry, black currant, and hints of blueberry with hints of black licorice and bacon fat. The finish is a bit herbal with some heat (14.5% alcohol) and menthol.

Having been disappointed by their Petite Syrah, tasting a few Cabernet Sauvignon wines, and also being a bit disappointed with the 2008 Robert Mondavi Oakville, I thought by opening this Cab. I might like to get my disappointments out of the way, but low-and-behold this is an excellent wine, not that the Oakville is not an excellent wine, but from all the hype I was expecting Elvis. Just goes to show you (me) that each wine, each vintage, even in the same winery can open up a whole new wine experience.


Níl stair sa bhuidéal!


For a more comprehensive review, check out bill's: Ugawino .

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DIOGENES Bartlett Ranch Vineyard Lake County 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Diogenes 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, $11.70-$16.25, 87 points, and bought at Hannaford's super market. Once again, if you know the wine shops and markets and you wait and buy a few bottles when they are on sale, you will save green-backs; in this case I saved $4.55. Right now the NHLS will discount 15% the purchase of twelve bottles or more of "Down-under" wines, and when you buy wines with an additional sale, like my purchase of the 2010 Penfolds Thomas Hyland Shiraz for $10.19, regularly priced $14.99, you save even more. Keep in mind that I'm buying my own wines and I'm not paid by anyone to mention these New Hampshire outlets, but I just want to share with you my efforts to save money on wine purchases, and if you have suggestions, then lets hear them. Canadian shoppers often tell me that these kinds of prices are much better than they can find in Canada.
Well, to the wine: Diogenes has a beautiful crystal-clear transparent golden color.
It has a lemon-grass, toasty wood, vanilla, and hints of caramel aroma.
While cold the texture seemed a bit thin, but became creamier as it warmed.
The aroma nicely carried over onto my palate, but there was a sour note almost bitter which was a bother. This was overall a nice wine which grew on me with a long ginger-pepper finish. I did not find any overdone grassiness, and would at $11.70 recommend this Sauv-Blanc.
For those who care about the décor, I found this bottle and the label to be very attractive and thought how nice it appeared on the dinner table.

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Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Oakville 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

 

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Oakville 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, $39.99-$49.99, 92 points, had a balanced complexity with good acidity, tannin, texture, and flavorful qualities tied nicely with a bourbon-bow burn finish (15.5% alcohol), but it did lack a depth of fruit, having only hints of plum, black olive, and licorice. Others had noticed blackberry, but I couldn't, and that doesn't mean you won't. The drinkability was very good, and paired well with my Porterhouse steak and as a stand-alone wine; I could have drunk every drop. However, I'm not going overboard on this wine, and though I bought more than one bottle, I'm not going to be a big advocate either, since there are wines of equal quality for much less; for example the Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon which I just reviewed this week, is not quite as rich and lacks the bourbon-burn, but for my money it is more interesting and at half the cost.

The color is a very dense ruby, and the aroma is a complex delight of cooking spices and floral notes (Very nice).

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Philippe Raimbault 2010 Sancerre Apud Sariacum, Loire, France

Philippe Raimbault 2010 Sancerre Apud Sariacum, Loire, France, average price $22.00, I paid $18.90, 90 points, has a transparent lemon yellow color, a beautiful pink grapefruit aroma which carries (cold 39 degrees) over to early palate with just hints of  piña colada, wet stone, and lemon grass. With crisp acidity cold and a smooth texture warm, I enjoyed this with spiced Haddock and alone. 
This wine reminded me of some New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, and if you like one, I think you'll like the other.
Bought at Hannaford's super market.



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