The Wines of September

First of October and it is 90 degrees in the Heartland. Never fear, it will cool off soon.

How about some recent wines?

2014 Aptus, Ribero del Douro, Spain

This wine is made from fruit grown on vines between 15 and 25 years old, planted in sandy soils with a layer of clay at the surface. The vineyards are based around Aranda de Duero in the villages of Castrillo de la Vega, Aranda de Duero, and Hoyales de Roa. The vines are farmed organically, but are not certified. Grapes from these vineyards were among the last harvested in Ribera del Duero. The grapes were lightly crushed and destemmed prior to alcoholic fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine saw malolactic fermentation half in stainless steel and half in oak barrels. The different lots were aged in French and central European oak barrels for 6 months prior to assemblage.

Wine Advocate: 89 Points

The 2014 Aptus is a young and fruit-driven Tempranillo with 5% Garnacha from ten-year-old, organically farmed vines. The grapes fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts and the wine matured in French and American oak barrels for six months. It's clean, fresh and feels alive, the nose has an herbal touch and something wild/balsamic that makes it feel quite young. The palate is juicy, pleasant and easy, with fine tannins and moderate acidity.

I enjoyed this wine, bought on special for around $12. Has nice fruit flavor and bracing acidity – wouldn’t hold up to long aging, but good now.

2015 Altos De La Hoya Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

90 points Wine Advocate:

 “The 2015 Monastrell Altos de la Hoya is dry-farmed, ungrafted, old Monastrell with some 5% Garnacha fermented in 10,000-liter stainless steel vats with indigenous yeasts and aged in used barriques and larger oak vats for six to eight months. This is more serious and has more depth and concentration, with black fruit and the oak nicely integrated into the wine. There are mineral notes of graphite and earth and a medium-bodied palate with fine-grained tannins and a tasty finish. Olivares is one of the most reliable producers in Jumilla. Very good value for money. They have recently changed the design of all their labels." (12/2017)

Very nice Monastrell – dark wine with serious flavor profile. Holds up well to beef and grilled food items. A little tannin but not a long aging wine. Drink now and over the next year. Priced around $10 – a good buy.

2015 Chateau Lamothe Saint Germain, Bordeaux, France

Varieties 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot

Alcohol 14.5%

Nose     The nose displays intense, almost jammy, red and dark fruit notes.

Palate   The wine is fruit-forward due to no time in oak. It's rounded and full on the palate, and underpinned with soft, refined tannins. A very well-structured Bordeaux wine, and absolutely delicious.

When you buy a $10 bottle of Bordeaux, you don’t expect a lot. This was a decent little wine, pairing adequately with food; mostly a light sipping wine to enjoy on a nice day. Nice to drink while fixing the meal, just OK with a meal.

2017 Lo-Fi Gamay Noir, Santa Barbara, Ca

Lo-Fi Gamay Noir, Santa Barbara County 2017, 70 % from Rancho Real Vineyard (clone 358) just north of Los Alamos & 30 % from his own unrooted Clos Mullet vineyard. Now Rancho Real was sold to Gallo so they can't get the grapes anymore. Gamay Noir is the legal name in the US, like for Côt, you can only use the name Malbec here. Gamay is the first grape they bring in at the harvest season. Vinified in concrete tank and aged in demi-muids. Semi-carbonic, whole clusters, no crushing, no pigeage. Stomped over once a day during about 10 days. 12 % alcohol.

Very nice nose, although Mike feels some reduction; Aromas of flowers, dry leaves, rather delicate wine. there's very little sulfur here, maybe 25 ppm total. They tried some with no sulfur before but for this vintage they did a bit. He adds that people say they like without sulfur but the bottles don't sell fast, the problem is that domestic retailers will rather sell French no-so2 wines, kind of looking for the originators of the thing.

This wine has bright fruit – lots of raspberry and a modest finish. Closest thing to Beaujolais Nouveau you can get from the United States of California. Little pricey at $21.

2017 Delinquente Wine Co. “Bullet Dodger” Montepulciano, SE Australia

Winemaker Notes

2017 was the perfect vintage for these late ripening Southern Italian varieties. Dry conditions throughout vintage, moderate day time temperatures and most importantly cool, clear nights meant the fruit maintained natural acidity and allowed for steady, even ripening. Harvesting of the Montepulciano occurred mid-March, allowing the fruit to develop those smooth, juicy flavors Monte is known for.

Medium bodied with bright berry fruits and smooth, even tannins, this is an easy drinking, fruit forward wine, perfect with a wide variety of foods.

Critical Acclaim  JH           89           Australian Wine Companion

An easy-drinking red, full of vigour. Fresh, crunchy, light, energetic, fun; all these descriptors apply. Cherry, anise and herb flavours. Refreshing. More suited to summer than to winter; would even chill well.

I know, an Italian grape in Australia – an all “natural” wine, to boot. Pretty nice mulberry flavors with hints of earthiness, modest finish. Not my favorite at $20, but interesting.

2016 Broc Cellars Nero d’Avola, North Coast, Ca

Not a grape associated with California, but it seems to work and is definitely worth trying. The nose is packed with vibrant red and black fruit flavours combined with a refreshing acidity and nice grippy tannins. The wine has seen no oak, but 10% of the grapes were fermented by carbonic maceration in terracotta vessels for added complexity. The delicious bright fruit intensity will pair nicely with simple Italian pasta dishes.                Decanter,  Tasting score 90 points.

I have enjoyed wines from the grape from Sicily – this one started out very sharp, unbalanced. Over a little time, it became better, with a lingering aftertaste. Some plum and spice on the palate but not great overall. Priced around $30, I’d go back to Sicily.

2015 Tarapaca PlusRed Blend Grand Reserve, Maipo, Chile

Winemaker Notes

This Gran Reserva is a wine made exclusively from organically certified grapes from Maipo Valley, Chile. The final blend is a barrel selection made by the oenologist, which was aged for 12 months in American and French oak barrels. Concentrated and fruity, this wine presents red fruit aromas such as raspberry and cherry as well as black fruit such as plum, blackberry and cassis, combine with tobacco aromas and subtle vegetal and mineral notes. Seductive on the palate, with exquisitely smooth tannins that bring on a pleasurable finish.

Blend: 36% Cabernet Franc, 29% Carmenere, 22% Syrah, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon

This was a pleasant blend – not too deep, but good with a meal. The fruit flavors were subdued but nice; the finish lingered some with hints of earthiness (vegetal and mineral notes).  Worth trying – can be found for under $20.

2012 Mr Riggs X Truant Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia

Fragrant and vibrant with generous notes of chocolate and cocoa powder over a green, leafy character. Lively and clean palate with fresh fruit and a cool pepper character. A very attractive and easy drinking wine.

Despite the age on this Shiraz, the deep black and blue fruit still shine through the palate. Modest finish, but drinking very well. On close out for around $11, well worth picking up.

I hope you had a good month and until next time, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.