April 2018 Wines

April's Wind brings May Showers?

Just a few wines to think about

I open with the fact that Heitz wine cellars is being sold. Too bad, was one of my favorites. Hope nothing changes too much...

2014 Chat Fou, Cotes-du-Rhone, France

85% Grenache/15% Clairette/Viognier/Chasselas. Most of the Grenache and all of the white come from the granite soils of Texier's St.Julien-en-St.Alban vineyard; some of the Grenache comes from his holdings in Vaison-La-Romaine in the Vaucluse. The whites and red are co-harvested and co-fermented mainly as whole clusters with native yeasts in concrete tanks with a short 5-day maceration and without any punchdowns. The wine is aged for around a year in concrete tank and bottled with a very small dose (15g/liter) of sulfur. The intention is a fresh, light style of Côtes-du-Rhône.

This is a light style of CDR – flavors are a little muted, with earth tones and a raspberry rhubarb taste. Very little aftertaste. Not awful, alright for a $10 bottle, but not any higher.

2013 Blackbird ‘Arise”, Napa Valley, Ca

This is a Merlot-dominant blend, with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc blended in. It offers cooler-climate elements of dried herb, cedar and currant, with the tannins sleek and polished. The finish flirts with a taste of coconut. Drink now through 2021.              91 Pts Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection

"Arise is the most aspiring wine in the Blackbird Vineyards repertoire. Every vintage is hand-tuned to express the luscious flavor profiles and lithe structure that only comes from exceptional fruit." Aaron Pott,Winemaker

Wine Notes:

The 2013 Arise exudes aromas of black currant, iris, and nutmeg. With flavors of licorice, cherry and fig, this wine has a richly layered mid palate with soft texture, good density and a long, lingering finish. Aaron Pott describes the 2013 Arise as the best vintage of Arise yet.

This is a well structured wine, with lush flavors that linger on a long finish. Drinking nicely, would hold for several more years and still be very good.  A splurge, but a very nice one. Price around $48.

2014 Buoncristiani OPC Napa Valley, Ca

Varietal Proprietary Red               - 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Syrah, 20% Malbec, 12% Merlot

Appellation         Napa Valley

Aging     Twenty months in 100% French oak barrels, 60% new oak

Robert Parker    95

The Wine Advocate said “the 2014 Proprietary Red O.P.C. is a blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Syrah, 20% Malbec and 12% Merlot. A brilliant nose of blue, red and black fruits, licorice, graphite, background spice and roasted meats jumps from the glass of this complex proprietary red. This is an intriguing blend that Buoncristiani has pulled off flawlessly. The color is a dense ruby/purple, the wine full-bodied and rich with sweet tannin, a burgeoning, broad suppleness and a rich, long, lusty finish. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.”

Another big wine with layers of flavor – the Syrah really makes a difference in this wine. Supple tannins carry a very long finish – this bad boy could age for a decade and not miss a beat. Price is around $50 – so a splurge, but very good.

2014 Robert Mondavi ‘BDX’ Cabernet Blend Napa Valley, Ca

With the 2014 vintage, BDX expresses its special Bordeaux blend through the legendary To Kalon site. Black plum and blackberry fruits weave seamlessly with sweet baking spices, a touch of tobacco and a thread of unsweetened cocoa in this richly textured, supple-tannin wine expressing the depth and complexity of our To Kalon fruit. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc.

Vineyard Notes

The prime benchland on the western side of the Oakville AVA is known for its well-draining soils, optimal sun exposure and relatively low fertility. Grapes grown here yield rich complex flavors and great fruit maturity. The To Kalon Vineyard is located in the heart of this prime area of Oakville and surrounds the Robert Mondavi Winery. It was named Vineyard of the Year in 2011 by the California State Farm Bureau. Appellation: Oakville District AVA Grape Sourcing: 100% Napa Valley - 100% Oakville District - 100% To Kalon Vineyard.

A very nice red blend from the Mondavi winery – nice layers of flavors and a healthy finish. Probably would hold for 5 to 7 years, not as deep as the other wines on this list. Price is around $45 – wouldn’t turn it down, but might be better ones at that price.

2014 Trefethen Merlot, Napa Valley, Ca

Combining Napa Valley intensity with Pomerol-like plushness, the quality of Trefethen's beautifully crafted Oak Knoll District Merlot remains one of Napa Valley's best-kept secrets. Made from 95% Merlot, 4% Malbec, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon from Trefethen's Oak Knoll estate, the wine spent 18 months in a combination of new and used oak barrels, 50% French, 36% American, and 14% Hungarian. It surges with ripe, vibrant cherry, currant, herb, and spice flavors, which lead to a smooth, long and elegant finish. Class all the way. Drink now and over the next 7–8 years.

A very elegant Merlot – one that Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers can enjoy. Lush flavorswith silky tannins on a nice long finish. This is what Merlot should taste like! Price is under $35 – well worth that price.

2010 D’Arenberg “D’arry’s Original” Shiraz Grenache McLaren Vale, Australia

Opaque black dark red colour with dark red crimson hue. The nose shows good intensity with liquorice and blackberry top notes intermingling with some meatiness, spice and earth. Rich generous flavours of ripe blackberry and liquorice fill the palate followed by some earth, spice and pepper. Soft beautifully integrated tannin structure. Long spicy blackberry, liquorice and earth aftertaste. A classic example of this iconic McLaren Vale blend.

Drink over the next 4-5 years.

91           POINTS                 Wine Enthusiast

A terrific value, this 50-50 blend displays gentle oaking and a hint of warm asphalt, just enough to highlight the wine's plum and black cherry fruit. It's full bodied and features a long finish, outlined by wonderfully fine, dusty tannins. Drink now–2018.

PRICE $20,  Buy Now

DESIGNATION d'Arry's Original

VARIETY Shiraz-Grenache, Rhône-style Red Blend

APPELLATION McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

A very nice wine – getting a little long in the tooth, but still drinking nicely. Great sipping wine, still has some acidity to matchup with many foods. I got mine at $10 – buy what they have left or move up a few vintage years.

Well, it's been fun - hope you are getting ready for Spring and then Summer. Remember, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.