Wines of August
Where has the month gone?
2009 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández El Vínculo La Mancha, Spain
Tasting Notes
In the 2009 El Vínculo (the name means the tie or the bond
in Spanish) Alejandro Fernández demonstrates La Mancha’s ability to make world
class wine. The recently released 2009 El Vínculo exudes an infectious charm in
its beautiful aromatic profile and plush flavors. For starters, deep blackberry
and currant scents mingle with hints of sandalwood and Asian spices to delight
the nose and prepare the palate for the wine’s soft succulent flavors that roll
across the tongue and fill the mouth. Happily, this old vine Tempranillo
combines tremendous flavor with subtle complexity, as El Vínculo’s velvety
texture is backed by fine grained tannins, which add lift and allow the wine to
exit with a graceful flourish.
Rated 90 by Stephen Tanzer
Opaque ruby. Smoky, oak-accented dark berry and cherry
aromas are brightened by a peppery nuance and a hint of clove. Sappy, sweet and
expansive, offering intense cherry-vanilla and blackberry preserve flavors and
a touch of mocha. Supple tannins give shape to the finish, where the spice and
cherry notes echo strongly. This wine was raised entirely in American oak; I'll
bet on it being even better after the lumber has had time to mesh with the
fruit.
Despite its bargain
price ($10), this is one hefty wine. The tannins are still evident but the
fruit does show up, after a little time in the glass. Best if decanted, great
with grilled and BBQ meats. Buy a couple bottles- would be great with roasts
and stews.
2015 GENTIL
"HUGEL" Alsace, France
The perfect introduction to Alsace wines as it combines the
qualities of all our white varietals.
This wine revives an ancient Alsace tradition that wines
assembled from noble grape varieties were called "Gentil". Gentil
"Hugel" allies the suave, spicy flavour of Gewurztraminer, the body
of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing
character of Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner. This wine has a wonderfully intense and
lively colour with a nice crystalline metallic sheen over a young, fresh and
alert pale green with hints of pale yellow. When rolled in the glass its legs
are structured and oily.
It has a magnificent pure and sophisticated aroma which
generously releases a sense of freshness, openness and perfumed, expressive,
fruity and floral spontaneity with delicate hints of muscat, white peach, lemon
balm, rose, hawthorn, jasmine, freesia, lime-tree and cherry blossom, lychee
and pear.
One is immediately impressed by its rare elegance and
aromatic charm.
On the palate it reveals all of its harmony and balance.
This is a fresh and refreshing dry wine, with a wonderful
heady and rounded generosity that is combined with a remarkable sapidity, it
has a full and delicious flavour that is filled with charm and sophistication.
This wine is under $15
and a great summer wine. The flavors are vibrant and well balanced. The wine
has acidity and charm to go with many foods – chicken, fish and other lighter
fare. I used to drink a lot of Alsatian wines years ago – Trimbach, Pierre
Sparr and Hugel. I had forgotten how enjoyable they were. Great way to try them
without breaking the bank.
2009 Tenuta Vitanza
Volare Toscano Rosso Montalcino, Italy
Appellation: IGT Toscana.
Varietal: 80% Sangiovese Grapes 20% Merlot Cabernet Grapes. Vineyard’s
age: 12 Years.
Wine-making: Pre-soaking at a cold temperature for three
days; pump-overs following the density and the
temperature under computer control.
Aging: 4 Months in still tanks and 4 Months in Slavonia Oak.
Bottle refinement: 4 Months.
Production: 10000 Bottles. Organoleptic
Characteristics: Color red ruby.
Perfume: Bouquet intense and complete
Taste: Full body, smooth and powerful with fresh fruit
taste.
OK, this was a $5
bottle I picked up on close out. Not awful, just not really memorable.
Drinkable, not bad with spaghetti or pizza. Bottle for your “not close” friends
that put ice cubes in their wine.
2015 Domaine
Dupreable Pere & Fils Gamay, Beaujolais, France
Rated 90 by Decanter
Vivid ruby-red. Powerful dark berry, cherry and violet
scents are lifted by a smoky mineral nuance and a hint of cracked pepper.
Concentrated and juicy on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors
and a touch of candied licorice. Much more serious and powerful than its
appellation would suggest, delivering strong closing thrust and lingering dark
berry and mineral notes. There’s no way I’d have guessed that this was a
straight Beaujolais. (Vinous)
From Kermit Lynch, the
famous West Coast importer/retailer, this was around $10 – an excellent price
for a nice bottle of vino. Probably not something to keep in the cellar, but
very juicy and vibrant for many types of meals or just for porch sipping.
Tastes good with a little chill – the review nailed it.
2013 Mastroberardino
“Redi More” Aglianico, Irpinia, Campania, Italy
Rated 91 by Robert Parker
The 2013 Irpinia Aglianico RediMore represents a special
selection of Aglianico biotypes from pre-phylloxera vines that are up to 140
years old. Two of these clones were registered as Antonio Mastroberardino VCR
418 and VCR 421 in honor of the late proprietor of this historic Campania winery.
The research project to identify these clones started in 2008 and the first
edition of RediMore was produced in 2012. The 2013 vintage presented this year
is a very special expression of Aglianico with an extremely floral character.
The bouquet shows pressed rose, spice, dried violets and moist chewing tobacco.
The wine is engineered for near-term consumption (with softer tannins) although
this vintage should continue to evolve over the next five years.
This is more of a
splurge over the $5 Rosso – although this is the “entry” level wine for this
producer. It will cost you around $25, but it is a real stand up wine with good
backbone for some aging and very good fruit flavors. Worth the money, serve to
your friends, especially those you like.
Well, I gotta fly - so keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines...
