February 2020

Another Chilly month of Wine

Hey! Someone added a day to the month. Happy Leap Day! Don't fall and break something...

Here are some wines I enjoyed in the month.

2014 Sextant Wheelhouse Zinfandel, Paso Robles, Ca

90 POINTS      Wine Enthusiast

Sextant 2014 Wheelhouse Zinfandel (Paso Robles)

Black-cherry fruit is decorated with crushed thyme, dried sage, roasted meat and cinnamon on the nose of this bottling. The palate offers more cherry fruit but also a bit of black-plum-skin tartness, as well as decent amounts of asphalt and turned earth.

Boysenberries, black pepper and sandalwood take center stage followed by plum and anise. The nose and palate work together flawlessly. The tannins are firm. Vibrant acidity contributes to a lively mouth feel followed by a long finish.

Pretty nice zinfandel from the south California wine region – nose was modest, but the flavors were red fruits with hints of spice. Modest tannins, but a moderate finish. Very good at under $15.

2014 Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Ca

Winemaker Notes

The Jack London Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in the warm morning sun and cooling afternoon breeze, in combination with the vineyard's red volcanic soil. Bold and luscious, this wine offers intense black cherry and currant aromas with notes of roasted cocoa bean and mint. The rich character and flavors come together in a strong, elegant finish.

WW92   Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: I have followed Kenwood's Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon for a long time, and I have been a fan of their efforts. The 2014 vintage is one of the winery's best efforts to date.

 TASTING NOTES: This wine shows excellent richness from beginning to end, and it stays well balanced and refined. Its taut berry flavors and crisp finish make it a fine choice with a ribeye. (Tasted: May 10, 2018, San Francisco, CA)

I’ve been a fan of Jack London vineyard for decades, but haven’t seen much in my market. This is a tasty Sonoma cabernet – red and black fruits with some cocoa and herbs. Moderate finish with light tannins, a wine that blends well with red meats and heavy sauces.  I think it was a close out at $20, a really good wine for the price.

2018 Aniello “006” Pinot Noir, Rio Negro, Patagonia Argentina

89 pts Wine Advocate Issue #237 June 2018

Named after the plot where the grapes were sourced, the 2017 006 Pinot Noir fermented in concrete vats with full clusters and indigenous yeasts. Fifty percent of the wine matured in used 225-liter oak barrels, with the rest kept in concrete, and it was bottled six months after the harvest. It's medium-bodied with fine tannins, varietal notes of red berries and a floral touch. Tasty, clean, balanced and pleasant, easy to drink.

Patagonia is pretty far south in Argentina, but using the coolness has made Pinot Noir a great grape to grow in this region. Nice nose of raspberry and cherry hints; the mouth feel is red fruits with a little touch of tannin. A little light in body but a nice Pinot for around $15.

2017 Pinot Envy Pinot Noir, Wllamette Valley, Oregon

Critical Acclaim

JS91 James Suckling

A very vibrant, fresh pinot that offers rich red cherries, as well as a spicy edge on the nose and palate. Crisp tannins deliver an upbeat, crunchy feel. Drink now.

Leading with a brooding dark ruby red color, 2017 Pinot Envy is a complex wine that has remarkable aromas of cigar box, ripe black cherries, graphite, clove and raspberry. There are dark fruit flavors

like blackberry and black cherry that are followed by subtle notes of black tea, graham cracker, toast and earth. This is round and silky on the palate with a mouth-coating, full texture. Enjoy now and through at least 2030.

This Pinot is classical Oregon – good body, red fruits with hints of herbs. Full mouthfeel – a wine that stands to food but is also good to sip. Picture of Freud on the front – neat packaging. Priced around $21, a nice Pinot to serve to your friends.

2018 Fess Parker Pinot Noir, Sta Hills, Ca

Winemaker Notes

Aromas of black cherry, sassafras, forest floor, baking spices, black tea, vanilla and sandalwood. Flavors of black cherry, red plum, milk chocolate, cranberry, wild strawberry, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.

Critical Acclaim

WW90 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2018 Fess Parker Pinot Noir is a well-made wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine has all its parts in the right place. Its aromas and flavors are spot-on, showing excellent racy, red fruits. Pair it with a pan-seared lamb chop. (Tasted: February 13, 2020, San Francisco, CA)

TASTING NOTES

COLOR: garnet AROMAS: black cherry, sassafras, forest floor, baking spices, black tea, vanilla, sandalwood FLAVORS: black cherry, red plum, milk chocolate, cranberry, wild strawberry, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg

This is a well made Pinot from Santa Rita Hills region. Modest nose, but the flavors are expressive – cherry, plum and some spice and herbs. Nice body, good for meals and for just sipping.  Decent finish, hints of tannin but very smooth. Generally, available around $25, another good example of California Pinot – not trying to be Burgundy, but a New World style.

2015 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir, Central Otago, NZ

Critical Acclaim

RP94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The medium to full-bodied 2015 Burn Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir offers up aromas of roses, ripe cherries, crushed stone and subtle hints of pencil shavings. Despite 31% whole clusters and 19% new oak, neither is readily apparent on the nose at this stage. On the palate, there's a sense of restrained fruit coupled with wiry, herbal, tea-like nuances that add complexity and texture, extending through a long, silky finish. This remarkable property remains at the forefront of Central Otago Pinot Noir producers.

JS94 James Suckling

A nice evolution is in play. This wine is gathering power and finesse simultaneously, becoming more and more defined. Super fragrant strawberry and red cherry fruits on the nose with some meaty, spicy elements adding interest. The palate is lacy and enticing, with a core of vibrant strawberry and red cherry flavor. Fne tannins sweep long and even. A wine that delivers both pleasure and a sense of purpose. Drink now.

WS92 Wine Spectator

Elegant and lithe, with peppery accents and an Earl Grey tea note to complement the core of juicy cherry and berry flavors, lingering on a toasted herb accent. Drink now through 2028.

This is a heavy, New Zealand style pinot that is really big. Not really a sipper, this cries out for food. Expressive nose of cherry and strawberry; flavors follow with those fruits and some earthiness and spice. Develops as it remains in the glass – a multi-textured wine that is fairly complex as you drink it. Fairly long aftertaste with integrated tannins. A real blockbuster – runs around $60. Impressive.

Another month has gone by. Until next month, Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.