New Hampshire Wine-man

Friday, January 13, 2023

Baileyana Grand Firepeak Cuvee 2018 Chardonnay

Baileyana Grand Firepeak Edna Valley 2018 Chardonnay, $16.99-$22.99, 88 points, was a medium straw yellow color with a broad gray to clear penumbra.
Aromas of white oven-fresh bread, lemon zest, white pepper, and a whisper of green apple were good.
This Baileyana Chardonnay was medium-bodied, dry, and with rather unobtrusive flavors reflective of
the aromas which were good also; acidity was fair, texture a bit weak up front, but with developing white pepper and ginger notes graded more on the edgy side and with a 13.9% alcohol reinforcement finished well.
Paired perfectly with my baked Porterhouse pork chops.
Oak was at a respected nuance.
A good table white wine, especially for the price.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Chateau Du Courlat Cuvee Jean-Baptiste Lussac-Saint-Emilion 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine, (Merlot) Revisited

Chateau Du Courlat Cuvee Jean-Baptiste Lussac-Saint-Emilion 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine, (Merlot) Revisited, $15.29-$17.99 (current price averages $22), 90 points, poured core black grading to an unfiltered rosewood red, a thin clear meniscus, and dense stained legs.
Aromas of mulling spices, cassis, plums, and a hint of java were quite good.
This cuvee was a full-bodied bone-dry red wine with good acidity, firm grainy tannins (still a young wine), and rich flavors of coffee, plums, and dried herbs.
Finished very long on white pepper, fennel, iron, and a well-balanced but big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired devastatingly well with my beefy and veggie stew.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2016

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Domaine De La Creuze Noire Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2020 Pouilly Fuissé

Domaine De La Creuze Noire Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2020 Pouilly Fuissé, $27.19-$31.99, 91 points, was a deep yellow gold color with a greenish sheen and a broad gray penumbra.
Aromas of dusty tangerine peel, green apple, and a hint of lemon zest were quite lovely.
In the glass the wine seemed a bit viscus, and the body was a bit heavier than usual, the acidity was fair (a bit less than I am used to), and the flavors mirrored the aromas with a keen developing ginger.
Up front texture was lush, but towards the late palate a tart rendition with that developing ginger gave a complementary edge to the wine.
Finished fair on the trailing palate and a well-balanced 13% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my smoked oysters.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Chalk Hill Estate 2020 Sauvignon Blanc

Chalk Hill Estate 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, $19.99-$23.99, 93 points, was a medium brass color with a broad gray penumbra, and though I don't usually mention legs with white wines (they do have legs), the legs on this wine were fat and obvious.
Though the body of this Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc was light, the wine was so intense that one might actually classify it as full-bodied. Acidity was bright, it was bone-dry, and the flavors of white and black pepper, hay notes, passion fruit, and green melon rind were rich and building.
Finished quite long on the trailing palate, intense ginger notes, and a super big but well integrated 14.6% alcohol.
Paired amazingly well with our Asian cuisine which I usually reserve for Reisling.
The best Sauvignon Blanc I've had all year! ;) Not for the gentle palate of light-like Viognier white wine drinkers, or even the Gavi aficionados, and probably not for palates that dislike a bit of austerity, lean and grippy.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Template provided by Google Blogger

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Château les Graves de Lavaud Cuvée Tradition Lalande-de-Pomerol 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine

Château les Graves de Lavaud Cuvée Tradition Lalande-de-Pomerol 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine, $14.99-$32.99, 89+ points, showed a somewhat unfiltered deep ruby red grading garnet red towards the clear wine ring and glass rim, the legs were weak and transparent.
Aromas were a bit funky, a tad perfumed floral, slightly oaky, and plums nearly prunes, but all-in-all pleasant.
This Cuvée (vat or something else) Bordeaux Red Wine was not quite the full-bodied expression I most often get from Bordeaux, but then again it appears that Pomerol red wines often buck the common Right-Bank trend of high alcohol (this one was 13.5%).
The Château les Graves de Lavaud Cuvée Tradition Lalande-de-Pomerol 2016 Bordeaux Red Wine was showing just a hint of age with flavors of coffee and tobacco notes with a lovely cherry cola along with an underlayment of softened but supportive tannins, good acidity, and an edgy tart Damson plum.
Finished well with a touch of cayenne and cranberry.
Paired fine with my Spanakopita.

Bordeaux Red Wine Vintage 2016

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Dry Creek Vineyard, Clarksburg, 2021 Chenin Blanc

Dry Creek Vineyard, Clarksburg, 2021 Chenin Blanc, $12.59-$13.99, 86 points, was a light brass color and clearing long before the rim.
Aromas were strong Necco wafer candy up front but developed light peach skin and dusty citrus notes.
Flavors of this light-bodied off-dry white wine with fair acidity mimicked the aromas and seemed to tail-off into a somewhat weak finish marked by good tart citrus and the unobtrusive 12% alcohol.
Paired fine as a light white table wine and served the Asian cuisine and chicken smorgasbord admirably for a big QPR (Quality/Price/Ratio) wine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Fontella 2019 Chianti (DOCG)

Fontella 2019 Chianti (DOCG), $10.99-$14.99, 86 points, poured a rich cranberry red with a broad clear wine ring and light clear legs.
Aromas of black tea, red raspberry, and rose pedal were soft and sweet.
Just reaching medium-bodied, this Chianti was a bit thin but tasty, showed good acidity, easy but supportive tannins, and recessed flavors reflective of the aromas with hints of watermelon, ginger, and white pepper.
Finished fair and consistent with the overall palate, a bit tart, and a remarkably balanced 12.5% alcohol.
Paired quite well with our pepperoni pizza.
As a red wine for the party or Italian cuisine meals, this is a good low budget wine that won't offend any but the wine snob.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES