The Wines of December 2019

Happy Holidays - December 2019 Wines

The Holidays have come and gone - hope yours was fun. Time keeps moving faster and faster - can't believe it is already 2020! Here are a few of last months wines.

2017 Prieure Saint Come Chablis, France

Slight burnt bronze yellow on the pour, citrus fruit on the nose; pretty acidic and tarty in the mouth with more citrus fruit, green apple, apricot; very crisp and refreshing; clean, no oak influence so the flavor really powers through.

You can pair this wine with just about anything but seafood would be really ideal; scallops, halibut, oysters, anything along those lines would be amazing.  We enjoyed it on its own, outside on a warm August day, and really enjoyed it.

A nice unoaked Chablis with a nice acidic balance to go with many food choices (lighter style – fish, chicken, etc.). Pleasant as a sipping wine – was a gift but price seems to be around $15 – worth drinking at that price.

2016 Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington

This bold Cabernet opens with flavors of black cherries and blackberries with a touch of currants and vanilla, complemented by earth and mineral notes. Deep berry flavors lead to a soft tannin cocoa finish.

Food Pairings: Pasta Bolognese, Braised Lamb Shank, Beef Pot Roast, Strongly Flavored Cheeses

Critical Acclaim  WS90Wine Spectator

Supple and approachable, with lively black cherry and spiced herb flavors that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2022.

Was an email special at $11 – well worth the $$. Had some tannin in the backbone, so a couple years in bottle won’t hurt it. Drinking nicely now, good black fruits and a nice balance. Good with beef and red sauces. Buy some – it is a nice wine.

2016 Il Bruciato Tenuita Guadi Al Tasso, Bolgheri, Italy

The 2016 Bruciato offers an intense ruby red color. On the nose, the aromas of ripe red berry fruit, sweet spices, and a light and fresh minty note are the most prominent sensations. The palate is well structured, persistent, and very pleasurable in its fruity finish and aftertaste.

Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Syrah

Critical Acclaim

JS94       James Suckling

This second wine shows such a great balance of round tannins and juicy, creamy and chocolate character. Full, flavorful and joyful. Salty and juicy. Savory and even meaty. Drink now or hold.

RP93      Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This is absolutely one of the best value wines you will find in Italy and I suspect beyond. The 2016 Bolgheri Rosso Il Bruciato is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Syrah. This vintage comes together with seamless intensity and smoothness. You get so much dark fruit flavor, paired with soft tannins, spice, smoke and dried blackberry. Il Bruciato pulls off its magic effortlessly. It doesn't try to be anything other than it is: Delicious. Rating:93+

WS90     Wine Spectator

Cherry jam, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors prevail in this fruity red. Well-structured and balanced, if showing a youthful exuberance. Fine length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best from 2020 through 2028.

This was surprise wine I found at clearance for $20. Regular retail is only $27, but felt like a bargain. A super Tuscan from Antinori in my price range – very nice wine. Had the legs to hold for several years, but is drinking nicely now.  Mostly flavors of dark fruit with hints of chocolate, minerals and hints of earthiness. Moderate finish, a real meaty type wine. Worth the price – grab a bottle or two and hang on to one for a while.

2007 Hafner Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Ca

This red wine was produced by fermenting the juice with the skins to extract their color and flavor. CO2  gas (a by-product of fermentation) bubbled up through the skins causing them to float to the top and form the “cap”. To extract the grapes’ color and flavor, we pumped juice from the bottom of the tank and sprinkled it over the cap throughout fermentation.

Following the Bordeaux tradition of extended maceration, the wine stayed on the skins for another two weeks to soften the young tannins. We then moved the Cabernet into our caves where it was aged in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels. During its first Winter, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation which lowered its acidity and added richness. In its second year, this Cabernet was aged in both oak barrels and tanks. After many blending trials, we added 2% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec to this Cabernet to increase the wine’s depth and richness. It was bottled in August 2009.

At our Annual Vertical Tasting in January 2019, we tasted the 2007 and here are our notes: Lovely. Sweet berries, plums, black cherries, carpaccio and cassis aromas. Soft on the palate with a bright fruit middle. Niçoise olives, bittersweet chocolate, rose petals and sweet vanilla notes add richness and depth.

This was a gift from my brothers cellar – only problem was the cork crumbled while I tried to pull it. Even the Ah-So couldn’t save it so part of the cork went a-swimming. I strained it to drink and the wine is drinking very well. The fruit has held up well, the finish was moderate – most of the tannins have completely mellowed. This small Sonoma winery makes a good product and this is an excellent example of how well their cabernet stands up.

2016 Verdicchio de Castelli de Jesi, Marche, Italy

Bright straw. Lime and green apple on the nose. Then sneaky concentration to the pomaceous orchard fruit and almond flavors. The finish is long, bright and juicy. Lovely entry-level Verdicchio wine. Drinking window: 2018 - 2021."

A nice dry, medium body wine to have with a roasted turkey breast. Price was around $12, served the purpose well. Not overpowering, but nicely fruited with a good acidic balance. For when you need a nice inexpensive white that isn’t Chardonnay.

2017 Vina Cobos Felino Malbec, Mendoza Argentina

Violet red with black tones. An attractive nose with aromas of fresh black fruits and prunes. The palate displays good concentration, balance and sweet yet supple tannins.

Critical Acclaim

JS93       James Suckling

A vivid and linear wine with blackberry and blueberry character. Granite. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish.

RP90      Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

I also tasted the just-bottled 2017 Felino Malbec, of which a whopping 651,000 bottles have been produced. They increased the percentage of French oak and reduced the use of American oak a bit, and the wood seems better integrated, neatly folded into the fruit. It felt a little closed (it was just bottled), and I sensed the difference between the cooler 2016 and the riper 2017, but the wine didn't show any excess and felt very balanced and harmonious. At the same time, they are also changing the image, with a cleaner, easier to read label that also reflects the character of the wine. It has very fine tannins and a great mouthfeel. Amazing quality for the volume. It slowly opened up in the glass and didn't stop to grow. Rating: 90+

A South American wine from Paul Hobbs – I noted it had some tannins, bright red fruits and some spices; a nice lasting finish. A really balanced bottle with great fruit showing in the mouth, without being a fruit bomb.  Very enjoyable wine, retail is around $20, well worth the price.

Well, it's been fun, hope you enjoyed these wines. I've got some more items to post, but seem to be slow getting around. Meanwhile, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.