New Hampshire Wine-man

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Finca la Anita Luna Single Vineyard Mendoza, Argentina 2019 Malbec

Finca la Anita Luna Single Vineyard Mendoza, Argentina 2019 Malbec, $11.89-$15.99, 87 points, poured a deep pretty ruby red with a broad clear meniscus and thin copious stained-legs.
Aromas were earthy, plumy, a hint of eucalyptus, black cherry, and black pepper were okay and interesting.
Luna was a full-bodied fruity (plumy) red wine with fair acidity, soft tannins, and flavors reflective of the aromas with a growing taste of plum, pepper, and eucalyptus, and finished long with the late palate, iron notes, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Drank as an aperitif.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Wednesday, August 30, 2023

RAIA Willamette Valley 2020 Pinot Noir

RAIA Willamette Valley 2020 Pinot Noir, $13.69-$15.99, 85 points, poured a light cranberry red with a very broad clear wine ring and copious stained legs.
Aromas of blueberry, black plum, hints of shoe polish, and a weird floral vibe were just okay for me.
RAIA was a medium-bodied red wine with fair acidity, a slightly glycerin mouthfeel, and flavors reflective of the aromas with a slightly woody/bark-like note.
Finished quite long, a bit sour, hints of cayenne pepper, that mouthfeel texture, and a 14.3% alcohol content.
Paired okay with our batter-fried chicken liver.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Monday, August 28, 2023

Lange Estate Winery and Vineyards Willamette Valley 2019 Chardonnay (Oregon)

Lange Estate Winery and Vineyards Willamette Valley 2019 Chardonnay (Oregon), $21.24-$24.99, 89 points, was a light burnished brass color and graying midway towards the glass rim.
Aromas of dusty Clementine peel, hints of pine needles, and Chardonnay specific grape were okay.
Lange began very much a Dr. Jeckel/Mr. Hyde Chardonnay: (cold) aromas began strongly Chardonnay specific grape, and the flavor was just off for me, but as this wine warmed, in tandem so did the flavors which were as stated in the aroma descriptors, but late palate blossomed with lemon notes and a lovely ginger in the finish along with a well-balanced 13.2% alcohol.
Acidity was good and the texture was typical for a Northwest medium-bodied Chardonnay.
Paired fine with my baked pork loin.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Ridge Geyserville (50th Vintage) 2015 Red Wine Revisited

Ridge Geyserville (50th Vintage) 2015 Red Wine Revisited, $33.14-$38.99, 94 points, poured quite different than it did five years ago, as it now shows an unfiltered ruby red with a clear moderately wide meniscus and fat-stained legs.
Aromas were still fruit driven with briar fruit, bright red cherry, cinnamon, a hint of milk chocolate, and a lovely floral vibe.
Full-bodied red wine with good acidity, soft supportive tannins (silky smooth), and delicious flavors that reflects the aromas plus cherry cola and cayenne pepper.
Finished very long on the fading palate, a touch of iron, accenting dried herbs, and the 14.5% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with our Pepperoni pizza.
Comments: I don't usually like "old" Zinfandel wines (70% doesn't quite make it legit), but Ridge has proven over and over again that they are quality different, and in fact I've scored this revisited wine higher than five years ago.

Ridge, why it's a "go to" winery.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Thursday, August 24, 2023

Juggernaut, Sonoma Coast, 2021 Chardonnay

Juggernaut, Sonoma Coast, 2021 Chardonnay, $20.69-$22.99, 88 points, was a medium straw-yellow color and graying towards the rim.
Aromas of honeysuckle, oak, and dusty orange peel were okay.
Juggernaut was a near full-bodied white wine with fair acidity, a rather sleek mouthfeel, and an oak driven flavor profile, but nicely nuanced with lemon oil and ginger ale.
Finished long on the fading palate, melon rind, a tangy orange zest, and a big 14.5% alcohol.
Paired okay with our Asian cuisine.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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Wednesday, August 23, 2023

A to Z Oregon 2018 Pinot Noir

A to Z Oregon 2018 Pinot Noir, $17.95-$24.99, 89 points, poured sienna purple/red color with a broad clear meniscus and copious stained legs.
Aromas of black cherries, sweet marjoram, and a floral vibe with the barest hint of milk chocolate were rather straight forward and lovely.
A to Z delivered a red wine of medium weight with good acidity, supportive light tannins, and good flavors of cherry cola, Pinot Noir specific grape, and citrus notes.
Finished long on the trailing palate, a keener sense of citrus, and a well-balanced 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with our Buffalo-wings and tostadas.
I haven't had this PN in some time, but it has a high QPR.

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

Sunday, August 20, 2023

Darioush Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Revisited

Darioush Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Revisited, $74.69-$82.99, spoiled (points): though I bought this wine many years ago, it's been kept at 55 degrees on its side, and the cork was sound.

A slightly brown color and a funky prune-like aroma was a bad omen, but on first taste the aromas overwhelmed the flavor profile, and though maybe not technically spoiled, I wouldn't drink this, and this wine in 2013 was a 95+ point wine.
So, recent "old" wines from Italy (Brunello), France (Bordeaux), and the USA (Cali-Cab) finds Bordeaux superior. Not scientific, but interesting.
The latest vintage is $119,99.

2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon wines tasted

INDEX of REVIEWED WINES

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