Wines of March, 2019
Another Month has flown by!
Is it just me, or did March seem as short as February? Here's a few wines to pass the time
2017 Les Combes de St
Sauveur, Plan de dieu, Cotes-du-Rhone, France
Red intense ruby. Complex with spicy notes, dominant aromas
of cocoa, kirsch cherries and ripe black fruits. Sharp and concentrated, the
mouth is round and smooth with delicate flavours of black fruits and a spicy
finish that brings freshness.
Grape Variety Grenache,
Mourvèdre , Shiraz
A really nice little
CDR – good fruit flavors and a decent finish. Very good food wine, priced
around $10-12, a very good buy.
2015 Cuvee Constance,
Cote du Roussillon villages, France
"The entry-level red from this estate is the 2015 Côtes
du Roussillon Villages Cuvee Constance, and it’s a beauty to buy by the case.
Black raspberry, cassis, pepper and wood smoke all emerge from this total
charmer that has ample fruit and texture, and a great finish. The blend is 50%
Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Carignan aged all in concrete tanks." —JebDunnuck.com
Another well -made,
inexpensive red from France. Very nice fruit with a moderate finish; sufficient
acidity to be a good food wine. Priced
under $12, worth buying several bottles.
2014 Fatum Bobal-Tempranillo LaMancha,
Spain
Grapes:
50% Tempranillo 50% Bobal
“Bright
violet color. Lively redcurrant and cherry on the nose and palate, with a
mineral nuance emerging as the wine opens in the glass. Conveys good depth and
focus without any excess fat; a spicy note contributes back-end cut. Notes of
fresh red berries and spices carry through a zesty, gently tannic finish that’s
sharpened by juicy acidity.” 89 points Vinous
Back to Spain – a $10 bottle I’ve enjoyed
several times. The blending of the Tempranillo and Bobal makes this a very
satisfying wine; good flavors and balance and made to be a good food wine. Probably
need to be drunk over the next few years, but very good right now.
2014 Vega Moragona La Duna Tempranillo,
Ribera del Jucar, Spain
This is a
fruit driven and complex Tempranillo from the Ribera del Jucar appellation. The
best quality grapes from a single vineyard go into this wine. After
fermentation the wine rests for three months in new oak barrels. It is ruby red
in the glass with aromas of red fruit, toast and spice. The palate is broad
with flavours of ripe fruit and sweet baking spice. Enjoy this with grilled
meat and cool weather dishes.
A single vineyard bottle
for around $12 – this is drinking very well, with good fruit and hints of
spice. Goes well with red meats, heavy sauces. Really nice for the price.
NV Cavicchioli 1928 Prosecco, Campegine,
Italy
Cavicchioli 1928 Prosecco DOC Spumante Extra Dry
is made from 100% Glera grapes. In the province of Treviso, the vines are grown
mostly on a flat fertile terrain of medium texture.
In the winery, under-ripe” grapes (in order to
preserve well the acidity), hand picked, are vinified in white with the skins
at a temperature of 8-10°C (cryomaceration) for about 12 hours; the alcoholic
fermentation at controlled temperature of 16-18°C is followed by the second
fermentation using the Charmat method at a temperature of 12-14 °C for about
15-24 days.
Cavicchioli 1928 Prosecco DOC Spumante Extra Dry
features, when poured and tasted, white foam; lively, fine and persistent
perlage; pale straw yellow color; an intense aroma of candied fruits and sweet
flowers; and a fresh and delicate taste with an aromatic finish; its alcohol is
11%.
"Bright and balanced, this is a textbook
Prosecco, with a lively bead carrying the flavors of white peach, sliced almond
and candied lemon zest. Floral. Drink now." Wine Spectator
Not a big
hit at my house, seemed a little thin on the flavors with hints of wet paper in
the mouth. Even at $13, I’ll try something else…
Hope you
enjoyed these wines – until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet
you out behind the grape vines.
