June 2017 Wines
It's Gonna get hot!
Well, Summertime is upon us - here are some wines I've been drinking.
2013 Domaine d’Andezon
Cotes du Rhone, Rhone, France
Winemaker's Notes
Domaine d'Andezon Cotes du Rhone is violet in color. The
Syrah offers a lot of aromas on the nose including black fruit. The mouth is
prevalent with spices of licorice and black olive with minerality, especially
graphite and soot. This wine will continue to develop over time bringing more
complexity and power.
Pairs well with hearty meats, such as game.
Critical Acclaim
RP89
The Wine Advocate - "Solomon’s custom cuvee, the 2013
Cotes du Rhone Andezon, was aged totally in concrete vats. It reveals a dense ruby/purple
color as well as lots of smoky, frying lard-like notes intermixed with notions
of blackberries and cassis. Solomon calls it his “southern Cornas-based” wine.
That’s not hyperbole. This medium-bodied effort has been helped by the addition
of 10% Grenache, which provides additional flesh."
A very nice Cotes du Rhone with good fruit, nice acidity and
more complexity than expected for a bottle that was $10. The nose was nice, the
finish with a hint of tar in it. Buy by the case.
2013 Punto Final Cabernet
Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina
Spicy oak, clove and berry and black-plum aromas define the
nose on this woody number. The palate is tannic and clampy in feel, while
oak-driven flavors of spice overrun the wine's fruit. Clove and cinnamon notes
along with heat remain on the finish. WE
86 points
I found this wine decent – the tannins are beginning to let
up, although the fruit is diminished in the flavor. Moderate finish, worth
trying for $10, but not buy a case.
2011 Enamore Red Wine
Apassimento, Mendoza, Argentina
"Dark ruby red in color, Enamore offers supple aromas
of ripe berries, raisin, and plums. Sensual notes of exotic spices, charcoal
and chocolate are seamlessly layered with the fruit. Full bodied, rich and
complex, with a long finish beautifully framed by fine-grained tannins. This is
a very special wine that will surprise many wine lovers."
Technical Notes
"An exciting, innovative wine produced from a blend of
Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda and Cabernet Franc uniquely dried and vinified in the
Amarone style. A truly unique joint production between Allegrini (renowned
Italian producer of Amarone) and Bodega Renacer. The grapes that produce
Enamore are sourced from 50+ years old vines located in three distinct
high-altitude vineyards from the Mendoza region in Argentina. The grapes are
dried on the vines (appassimento), until they lose 1/3 of their weight. After a
prolonged fermentation (both alcoholic and malolactic) the wine is aged in new
French barriques for 12 months."
This wine was a special purchase at Auburn Spirits, reduced
to about $16. The nose hints at the wonderful flavors – red and black fruits
and some spice. The flavors fill your mouth – dark fruit, nice acid balance and
good, echoing finish. A splendid wine,
worth much more.
2011 Chalk Hill Botrytised
Semillion, Sonoma, California
The color of decades-aged Chardonnay, medium-to-dark straw,
this dessert wine is rich in toasted almonds and hazelnuts, with secondary
flavors of baked apple and stone fruit. Mouthfillingly rich, it remains
balanced and complex, lingering on the finish in baking spices. WE 90 points
This is a bit of a splurge - $30 for a 375-ml bottle. A very
good example of a dessert wine – sweet but not too cloying – excellent with
fruit dishes. The toasted nut flavors give way to baked fruits and the finish
lingers. A very nice wine – well worth the $$.
2016 Dry Creek Vineyard
Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, California
Winemaker's Notes
This beautiful wine is wonderfully consistent vintage after
vintage. At first swirl, aromatics of white pear, pineapple and banana spring
forward from the glass. On the palate, the wine is refreshing with flavors of
ripe tangerine and peaches. The mouthfeel is lively, but rich and has a subtle
creaminess.
This is the quintessential wine to pair with fresh oysters,
Asian cuisine or just about anything!
Critical Acclaim
WW92
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com - "A standout wine, 2016 Dry
Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc stands as one of the finest examples of this
grape variety in the New World. This wine shows dried citrus peel, lively
minerality, and tart melon flavors. Its crisp finish pairs it nicely with
yellowtail tuna sashimi. (Tasted: February 10, 2017, San Francisco, CA) "
I used to drink this wine all the time a few years ago. It
was a summer staple – fresh and snappy. The 2016 is the first vintage in 4
years for me and I was a little thrown by the touch of sweetness up front. I
hadn’t remembered that, but the nose was crisp with tropical fruit. The
flavors, after the first sips, mellowed and were uniquely Chenin Blanc – melon,
pineapple and some minerals – limestone. I would buy it again, it is under $15 –
very good for hot weather and lighter fare. To me, has better overall feel and textures
than sauvignon blanc.
Another month and a few more wines. Hope you enjoy! Remember, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!
