Wine of January, 2019

Another month has flown by - here are some more wines to review

2017 Finca Bacara Time waits for No One Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

Aged 6 months in American oak barrels. Garnet red color with violet hues; clean and bright. Powerful and intense nose where a ripe fruit aroma dominates, with hints of new wood. In the mouth it is balanced, round, and savory, with a pure finish. Pairs well with all kinds of rice, red meat, cod, red tuna, blue cheeses, and cured cheeses.              Decanter: 95 Points

A very nice bottle of Monastrell – the oak aging adds a complexity to the dark richness of the wine. Very nice for a $12 price point and a very fun label – when else would you serve something with a skull and cross-bones!

NV Gloria Ferrer Sonoma, Brut, Sonoma, Ca

The Sonoma Brut has been carefully crafted entirely from hand-harvested Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. This brut is dominated by Pinot Noir, a stylistic decision enabling the complex aromatic and palate profile that this red-skinned grape contributes to brut cuvées.

On the nose, delicate pear and floral notes are backed by toasty almond. On the palate, one finds lively citrus, toast and apple flavors overlaid with persistent effervescence, a creamy mid-palate and a toasty finish.

Made from mostly Pinot Noir grapes, with an addition of 8.8% Chardonnay, this Méthode Champenoise wine is sultry in raspberry cream and crème brûlée, with enough acidity to keep it fresh in the glass. The finish offers a taste of toast with ginger jam.         Wine Enthusiast               92 Points

I usually don’t include sparkling wines, but…Our usual buy has been hard to find. The Chateau Ste Michelle Brut – priced from $10 to $15 seems to be hard to get anymore. My wife has not been very impressed with the Cava from Spain, so I went California to see if it would suffice. This runs around $20 and has a nice mouthfeel and a good flavor of brioche with decent acidity. May become the new “House Bubbly” but I am trying a few others, as well. 

2016 Besadien Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR

AGING: 12 months in 40% new French oak

TASTING NOTES: Aromas of dark cherry and red raspberry with vanilla, cedar and notes of black tea. The palate is bright, rich and highly textured with assertive black cherry, cola, cocoa and raspberry flavors that continue on the finish.

A pleasing bouquet of violets, cherries and cola introduces this wine. The fruit shines on the palate, with flavors of mixed red and blue berries. The balance is spot on and the wine is ready for near-term enjoyment.      Wine Enthusiast               90 Points

This is a very good pinot – light yet filled with berry fruit and hints of earthiness. Moderate finish with enough acidity to be a good food match. Priced around $20 and with a great label – the Beso is Spanish for kiss and the trees form what look like lips on the label. I recommend this wine.

2016 Joseph Drouhin HdB Morgon, Burgundy, France

In 2014 Maison Joseph Drouhin signed an exclusive partnership with the Hospices de Belleville, historical owner of 34 acres in the 3 crus of Fleurie, Brouilly and Morgon.

This partnership confirms the interest this Burgundy House has always shown towards her close neighbor, the Beaujolais, which is considered as a natural extension of the "Greater Burgundy" region. Convinced as we are of the great potential of these vineyards, we are committed to the renaissance and the development of the renown of the Beaujolais crus.

Frédéric Drouhin, president of the executive board of Maison Joseph Drouhin is convinced: "We have always been attracted to the exceptional terroirs of the crus du Beaujolais. This partnership will allow us access to prestigious vineyards of high quality.

A single plot : "Château Gaillard" of 12 acres.

CHARACTERISTICS:  "Château Gaillard" is situated in the north of the village of Villié-Morgon facing south-east. Its soil is comprised of very flaky cristalline rocks, iron oxide and manganese.

GRAPE VARIETY: Gamay

VINIFICATION: Depending on the plot and the quality of the grapes, part of the harvest is de-stemmed for a ‘Burgundy style’ vinification with punch downs and pump overs, whilst the rest is vinified as whole cluster with carbonic maceration. Slow fermentation lasts between 10 to 15 days.

AGEING: The wines which are vinified Burgundy style are aged in large ‘pieces’ (500 liters), stainless steel tanks are reserved for the wines issued from carbonic maceration. The wines are then assembled into one unique ‘cuvée’.

TASTING NOTES: The color is purple violet, this Morgon already unveils its temperament by aromas of very ripe red fruits, spices and liquorice. The palate confirms a tannic structure, a little firm as yet, covered by balanced and fruity flesh.

The Gamay grape is underestimated – when done in this style, with care taken to vinify the best – you end up with a very tasty wine with good balance of fruit with structure and decent acidity. This is a great food wine – probably not a long term ager, but very good with variety of food. Available under $25, maybe as low as $20, a good buy.

2012 Carmelo Patti Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina

Wine Advocate 94

“As traditional as it gets, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon was kept in the winery until Patti thought the wine was ready to drink. He's in search of an elegant, classical and polished wine that still keeps the varietal character but does not show the effect of the wood. The color, aromas and flavors are quite developed, nuanced and polished, with complexity and detail. It does have the herbal and spicy character of the grape (all the textbook descriptors are there: tobacco, forest floor, something herbal) and the warmth of the vintage and the place. It's harmonious, with moderate alcohol and good freshness. It's just delicious, like a trip to the past.“ ~ LG

This is a big Cabernet – lots of fruit, some complexity on the palate. A wine with some aging potential, it drinks wonderful now – went great with a slab of meat. Priced around $30, you could fool your friends with bottle – they would assume it was more expensive. Very nice…

2012 Gillmore “Vigno” Carignan, Maule, Chile

Gillmore is one of the Maule Valley's top producers of Carignan. This warm-vintage offering smells of cedar, balsamic notes, spice and dark fruits. In the mouth, it's a touch choppy, while salty plum, fresh tomato, herb and spice flavors end long, spicy and oaky. Drink through 2021.       91 Points WE

Two thoughts about this wine. First, every Chilean wine tends to have a small amount of briny earthiness ( I call it Funk)- it is not a defect, just the nature of the beast. This one has some. Second, Carignan has long been known as a filler grape, used with others to make a blend. As a stand- alone variatal, it can be good – not real age worthy, but pleasant. This is a pretty good red, does fairly well with different foods.  But, priced around $35, I can’t say I would search this out.

Well, it has been real – until next month – Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.