Another month of wines
Just a few wines to look at this month. But first, a wine question.
Which of the following important rivers run through the Rioja Region of Spain?
a. The Duero River
b. The Rio Oja
c. The Ebro River
d. The Guadalquivir River
Answer at the bottom of the post.
2016 Castello Trebbio
Chianti Superiore, Tuscany,Italy
89 Points Wine Enthusiast
This opens with nutmeg, ripe berry and earthy underbrush
aromas. The savory, accessible palate offers dried black cherry and white
pepper flavors alongside polished tannins. Drink through 2021.
Imported to the U.S. by Sonoma’s Cline family, Castello
Trebbio is the center of a 350-hectare, organic winemaking operation that
includes this Chianti Superiore. Soft for Chianti, the wine offers a
significant graphite note, atop a dark but quite dry cherry base. Slightly
tart, with notes of black pepper and some vague, dried spice notes, it’s a
perfectly approachable table wine for pizza night.
85% sangiovese and 15% a blend of canaiolo and cliegiolo.
A special from Matt –
around $10, this Chianti was good with a number of dishes. Modest nose,
somewhat soft but decent fruit carried through to a modest finish. Great
“School-nite” wine.
2016 Patton Valley
Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
2016 was a warm and steady year, with even and predictable
ripening. The growing season started early without any hiccoughs and skipped
along to the finish line like a champ. The third of three warm and easy
vintages in a row, expect balanced wines with finesse at a young age. A small
amount of the wine was allowed to ferment whole cluster to balance the wine
with a degree of wildness and structure.
Bright and lively on the nose, the wine has a driving,
broad, and pleasant structure with red fruit for days such as Rainier cherry,
strawberry, and goji berry. Spice and tannin are understated but present
throughout, and the wine has a dynamic, lush, and inviting mouth feel.
A close out available
for around $15, this is a nice smooth Pinot, perfect for fall weather. Nice red fruit nose with cherry and red fruit
overtones. Full mouthfeel with a modest
finish; tannins are very light. Great for a lot of dishes, worth this price.
2018 Fulcrum Dry
Rose, Napa Valley, California
Vineyard Notes Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot from St. Helena
Production Notes Stainless
steel and neutral oak aging
Deep pink color.
Aromas of strawberry jam, melon, honeysuckle, and stone fruit. Rich flavors of ripe watermelon, strawberries
and cream. Complemented by a silky
texture.
This is priced around
$15 – a slightly deeper Rose with a strawberry nose and a berry, melon
mouthfeel.
2013 Anatomy No. 1
(Hesparian) Caberenet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Ca
Since purchasing a vineyard on Atlas Peak in 2010 I can now
farm the vineyard entirely to my discretion which means that I farm for quality
and not for quantity. Anatomy No 1 stared because I wanted to make a more
affordable Napa Cabernet Sauvignon so that more people could taste the good
wines we make.
Aging: French oak barrels M+ and Medium long toast 15 months
in barrel. Unfined but sterile filtered.
Varietal Blend: 89% cabernet Sauvignon + 7% Merlot + 4%
Syrah
Sub AVAs: 44% Rutherford, 21% Coombsville, 11% Atlas Peak,
8.6% Sonoma county, 7.1% Yountville, 4.1% Sonoma Mountain, 4.2% Saint Helena
French winemaker Philippe Langner brings a touch of Bordeaux
to Napa for a more restrained though still very engaging style of Cabernet. The
nose opens with nicely ripe black fruits – think blackcurrant, blackberry, and
black cherry – plus a subtly oaky nose of smoke, black pepper, and cloves.
Bright, refreshing acidity on the palate adds to the overall approachability.
Great everyday drinking Napa Cab.
This cab can be gotten
for around $20 to $25 – this winery
suffered some damage from the Napa fires. Normally, they sell for almost
double. I noted the wine was fairlysoft for a Napa Cab – had some tannins and
modest red and black fruit. The finish was medium length; a wine worth drinking
at this price.
2015 Ashes &
Diamonds Cabernet Franc No. 2, Napa Valley, Ca
Founded by Kashy Khaledi, Ashes & Diamond is a project
build on collaboration, highlighting the region’s most influential voices. This
savory and balanced Cabernet Franc was made by Steve Matthiasson, with fruit
sourced from select growing sites in the southern part of Napa Valley. Powerful
yet sophisticated, the wine shows flavors of juicy plums, blackberries, and red
fruit marked by graphite and mocha undertones. Aged 20 months in oak.
Kashy Khaledi is the
son of the owner of Darioush Winery- he set off to make a Milliniels paradise.
This wine is a very good example of Cabernet Franc with a dark berry nose, dark
fruit and hints of floral followed by pencil lead and cigar box undertones. Had
a very long finish with integrated tannins. Very nice wine, but it sells for
$75, a bit out of my normal price range. Buy it if you get a good deal…
2014 Blackbird
Vineyards Arise Red, Napa Valley, Ca
92 points Wine Enthusiast
This blends 38%
Merlot with 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc. Together these find
a healthy companionship of wood, cedar, currant and dried herb, allowing the
two Cabernets to speak loudest. Lightly spicy nutmeg and clove linger around
well-defined layers of cherry and vanilla. (VB) (3/2017)
91 points James Suckling
Aromas of plums,
earth and spices follow through to a full body and tight and firm tannins.
Structured and powerful. Needs a few years to soften. Better in 2020. (1/2017)
38% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc.
Winemaker's Notes: "The 2014 Arise entices with aromas of black currant,
freshly-picked summer blackberries, cedar stick, and roasted clove. With
flavors of licorice, pipe tobacco, Bing cherry, and nutty fig, this wine has a
richly layered mid-palate that is complimented by soft texture, good density,
and a long, lingering finish. Each wine in the portfolio is a true example of
Blackbird’s ongoing commitment to quality by partnering with a selection of
Napa Valley’s most prestigious vineyards. Fruit comes from: Blackbird Vineyard,
Hudson Vineyard, Stagecoach Vineyard and Crocker & Starr Vineyard."
A really nice
blendwith a nose of dark fruits and spices. Red fruits come out on the palate,
along with spices and dried herbs, tobacco and mocha. This wine still has a
fairly tannic grip, but is drinkable now. The finish as long and stays with you
– a really well made wine. Normally found for $50 – look around and you might
find it for $40. Great wine.
That’s all this month
– I spent a weekend in Napa that I will tell you about later. Until next time,
keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.
Answer to Question: c. The Ebro river - Rioja spreads out for 75 miles along this river in northeastern Spain.
