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!