Kenwood Sonoma County 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Kenwood Sonoma County 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, $12.09-$16.99, 88+ points, appeared black currant purple/red and near black at the core with a broad clear circumferential rim.
Red and black fruit dominated the aroma with hints of cedar, earth, and clove.
This is a medium bodied Cabernet displaying good acidity and rather firm tannin, but it was juicy with blackberry and boysenberry, coffee, tobacco, and oak notes added complexity.
Finished fair on the trailing palate with accelerating tannin and hints of spice and the 13.5% alcohol.


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Wine Reviews, a New Hampshire perspective!

Wine Reviews, a New Hampshire perspective,

up front and personal!

 

  I've talked about getting a NH perspective on wine before; my major problem is that the broad view of wine reviews is quantity on every side where the "broadways" often take the wine seeker to frustration-alley, because wines that often intrigue and interest us in NH are not available, unless you want to get on the unwieldy mailing lists.

  This is not intended to be a diatribe against the "Big Boy's" critiques or mailing lists, they have a place, but just as we advertise "buy local", so too we can reference reviews locally, even as we listen to local radio verses national radio.

  Okay, I'm about an audience, I don't want to just talk to myself, do you? Understanding the limits of what one does is important, I'm about taking friends and family on those figurative walks through the woods on a personally made path surrounded by Hemlocks and Hornbeams, erratics (Glacial rocks), songs of Winter wrens and the hoots of Barred owls.

  Below I have two pictures for you, one is the big highway of international wine reviews, the other is a walk where we can sit and really taste what's in that there bottle.

  Christmas is upon us, and some of us have wine lovers on their Christmas lists; what to buy? I hope you'll be pleased with my index of wines and their availability in NH. Though I'm completing my reviews of Cabernet Sauvignon, wine gifting is personal even as is each palate, but make no mistake, there is a general agreement about what is a good or great wine.

   I think what concerns many of us is the cost! This is one reason that a numerical score is helpful (many hate them). You compare Waterstone Napa Cab. that costs about $20 and scored 92 points juxtaposed to Whitehall Lane's Reserve Cab. that costs about $60 and also scored 92 points: what stands out is the cost. Those looking to please a wine lover on their Christmas list can easily make a choice between cost and name.

Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year!

Don't Drink and Drive, but  feel free to come for a walk with me on a path which I and the dogs have made through the NH woods.

 

 

 

 

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Duckhorn Napa Valley 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Duckhorn Napa Valley 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, $57.79-$72.99, 93 points, began in the glass a fresh purple/red with a broad clear rim.
Aromatic with cinnamon, clove, cedar, violets, licorice, and blueberry.
The near full body was juicy and lush with good acidity and an accelerating, but pleasant tannin.
Flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, just a touch of tart pomegranate with hints of  tobacco and eucalyptus were clean and lovely.
Finished long on the trailing palate with white pepper and a touch of heat (14.5% alcohol).
Merlot lovers may just be surprised just how much they'll love this wine; if you love Merlot, but shy away from Cabernet Sauvignon, then get out of that box with this one; you'll thank me.


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Shafer Hillside Select 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

  I think we all know that wine lovers need no special occasion to drink a "great" wine, but posting a celebratory cause to the drinking is always a good thing. With that said, I decided to celebrate my one thousandth post with, for some, a one hundred point (98 RP) Cabernet Sauvignon. Only in opening, breathing-in, and slowly, methodically tasting such a special wine will tell-the-tale of how I judge the Shafer Hillside Select.
 Now, I'm not saying I'm any more qualified than my neighbor or my aunt to judge, but unlike them, I'm willing to spill my "brains" about it. Hopefully, that's all I spill!

Shafer Hillside Select 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $186.99-$219.99 (current prices start at $244.99), 97 points, certainly sets the standard for excellent Cabernet Sauvignon.
The appearance of crushed black currant and blackberry is black at the core and lends itself to a rich purple/red toward the quite leggy glass wall with a transparent rim.
The spectacular bouquet of cedar, violets, sweet cooking spice, pine resin, and warm toasty loam is absolutely beautiful.
Near full bodied, the Hillside Select carried good acidity with persistently fine tannin (This wine is ready to drink now!).
Flavors perfectly mirrored the bouquet, translating onto the palate in a waltz of harmony with a velvet texture and a perfectly balanced 15.5% alcohol.
Finished very long on the trailing palate with white pepper, Cholula, thyme, and spearmint.
As I tasted this wine upon opening, it's important to note that hours after opening, The Hillside Select gained a developing panoply of aroma (perfume notes) and recess flavors of tobacco and anise. Though this development added to this Cabernet Sauvignon's complexity, it also (for me) slightly detracted from the cleanly pristine nature of my first impression.

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Oberon Napa Valley 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Oberon Napa Valley 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, $16.99-$21.99, 86 points, appeared more a rosewood red with just a hint of black-berry purple and a clear circumferential rim.
The aroma was a weak plum, mint, and cedar.
Good acidity with mild-plus tannin carried on a medium body with good flavors that mirrored the aroma, managed an overall satisfactory drinking experience.
Finished fair with spice, a hint of the 13% alcohol, and tobacco.

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Jacob's Creek 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Jacob's Creek 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $6.99-$8.99, 86 points, appeared pomegranate red to bright ruby toward a broad clear rim.
The interesting aroma reminded me of the smell of my own true love's hair warmed by the sun with a hint of strawberry 8-)
Less than medium bodied with fair acidity and mild tannin, Jacob's Creek is another Cabernet in the genre of light to medium bodied wines with good strawberry and watermelon flavors which were carried deep into the tart finish of spice and just a hint of the 13% alcohol.

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Unique Christmas Music: Capella Carol Bells

Tommasi Poggio AL Tufo Maremma Toscana 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon

Tommasi Poggio AL Tufo Maremma Toscana 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, 89 points, $13.50-$18.75, points, appeared deep black currant purple/red trending rosewood red toward the transparent rim.
Floral/cedar aroma was subtle, and hints of red fruit, though weak were not offensive.
The near full body carried good acidity and nicely layered tannin.
Flavors of blackberry and boysenberry were good, and with coffee notes riding a juicy texture set the stage for a fair finish of mild alcohol (13%) and gentle spice.
I bought this Cabernet sauvignon at the Londonderry Hannafords supermarket.

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