Wine in the Time of Covid-19

Time keeps Marching - March 2020 Wines

These have become unusual times, but the wine is still pouring.

2017 Bastide Miraflores Rouge Cotes du Roussillon

A custom cuvée for European Cellars and a joint project between Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage, Bastide Miraflors is a cuvée created from Grenache grown on rocky, alluvial clay soils resembling those of the Rhône Valley combined with Syrah grown on schist in the village of Maury. After a long maceration of six weeks the wine ages for 12 months in concrete (Grenache) and 600L French oak demi-muids (Syrah).

"A blend of 74% Syrah and 26% Grenache that was brought in a mix of tank and used barrels, the 2017 Bastide Miraflors has a fabulous minerality as well as terrific kirsch, black raspberry, wild fennel, white pepper, and hints of black licorice aromas and flavors. Pure, medium to full-bodied, silky, and seamless on the palate, it's perfectly balanced, and way over-delivers. Drink it over the coming 2-3 years."~J.D.

This wine had a different mid-palate taste. It was green, not dill from American oak or green pepper from unripe Cabernet, but more of a green olive hit. Turns out one review mentioned the breeze that flows through this area and that is what they figured that to be. Otherwise, it was not a great wine, although it went well with food. Good for the $12 price.

2016 Vidigal Reserva Red wine Cortes, Portugal

The Vidigal Reserve was one of the first Reserve wines in the region formerly known as Estremadura, now known as Lisbon. It is our belief that this region will have a key role in the future of Portuguese wines, while continuing to produce large quantities of the best wine at the lowest possible price. Vidigal Reserve is a sober wine, modern style, deep color, fruity, juicy, silky, medium-bodied and with a sensible alcohol.

This was a $8 bottle that pretty much drank like a $10 bottle. Decent fruit, modest nose, not much follow-thru on the end. Pizza wine.

2017 Drumheller Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, Washington

Drumheller has its roots in events that took place eons ago when Ice Age glacial dams broke loose and unleashed a series of epic floods. Imagine waters raging over eastern Washington at ten times the combined flow of every river in the world carving dramatic channels and sweeping vast volumes of sandy, loamy soil onto the Columbia Plateau. One of these, the Drumheller Channels, has achieved National Natural Landmark status for the stark beauty of its landscape and its rich geological significance.

This young, value brand by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, spearheaded by winemaker Tim Jones, is on the rise. Named for the Drumheller Channels created during the Ice Age Floods near Othello, Wash., it focuses on fruit from the Wahluke Slope. As a product of a record-hot growing year, this is redolent with aromas and flavors of black currant, black cherry and blackberry, backed by firm plum-skin tannins and bittersweet chocolate. Suggested food pairings include stuffed peppers, pork tenderloin, braised ribs or Death by Chocolate. Jones more than doubled his production from its debut vintage of 2014, and this bottling from the 2015 vintage won best of class at the 2017 Washington State Wine Competition. 

This is not a big upfront red wine like many Pacific Northwest Cabernets. Much more restrained with a wonderful flavor coming through from the backpalate and aftertaste. Red and black fruits but with essence of baked goods, maybe Brioche.Good finish that stays with the mouthfeel flavors. Around $10 – well worth that.

2018 Telmo & Ruth Cabernet Merlot Maule Valley, Chile

"Beautifully ripe Cabernet/Merlot blend, with a ruby deep color, showing blueberry and dark plum notes mixed with spice and roasted nut complexity. The palate delivers lovely fruit, medium bodied with silky texture and fine tannins. Pairs well with pasta, pizza, fish dishes or on its own." Winemaker's Notes

Cool artwork on the bottle this is a $10 bottle of Cabernet/Merlot that has bright fruits with a decent mouth fill – not much of herbs or spices; finish a little mild. Tannins fade into the taste. Another decent week-night wine.

The following wines were from the Gerard Bertrand collection:

Gerard Bertrand was born and raised in the South of France. Making wine with his father, Georges, since the age of 10, Gerard Bertrand offers the full range and diversity of wines from the region – red, white, rose, varietal, appellation, estate, still, sparkling, and dessert.

Every wine evokes the image and emotions from the South of France; "Art de Vivre" – the "art of life." Committed to producing quality wines of great value, Gerard is hands on in every facet which bears his name… and has been fortunate to receive great accolades from World Wide press reinforcing his dedication.

2016 Cuvee Thomas Jefferson Cremant de Limoux, France

Cremant Thomas Jefferson reveals a beautiful, golden yellow robe. Complex, aromatic nose revealing hints of white flower, with hints of honey, green apple and toast. Crisp, elegant structure on the palate, where the fine texture of the bubbles complements the wine naturally.

88 POINTS

Freshly dried straw, soft toast, lightly grilled yellow apple and a touch of dried lemon peel form the nose of this dry, attractive sparkler. The palate is bright and bubbly, with initially aggressive carbonation that mellows fast on the palate and yields a round, ripe yellow orchard-fruit flavor. Smooth and clean, the finish leaves you ready for more.

This sparkling wine made in the South of France is a wonderful example of Cremant (sparkling wine made in France outside the Champagne region) with very good flavor, sharp bubbles and a nice clean finish. Priced around $20, this is hard to beat, and like Pol Roger (Winston Churchill Cuvee) it is named after one of the more famous person that drank it. Think, this was kept at Monticello in the old days. Grab some and try it, it is really good.

2018 Perles de Sauvignon Blanc

The Sauvignon Blanc is characterized by its attractive citrus, and sometimes menthol, aromas and is nicely rounded on the palate. The aging of part of the wine in oak barrels gives structure and length in the mouth.

Wine Enthusiast - A new, fresh and vibrant wine from the powerhouse Languedoc producer, this boasts abundant aromas of green plum, gooseberry, orange rind and garrigue herbs. The lightweight palate is clean and refreshing, with a mouthwatering citrus verve to the close.

I have never been a giant fan of this grape, but this bottle was excellent. A pretty bottle with pearl shapes on it, the wine is aromatic, redolent with herbs and citrus finishing with a nice clean close. Also, not sealed with o cork, but a glass stopper. Priced around $22 (available at $20) this is a seafood wine that could go with other repasts.

2015 Tautavel , Cotes du Roussillon Villages, France

Intensely fruity on the nose, withred fruit and raspberry aromas underpinned by complex, spicy notes. A wonderful combination of supple tannins and delicate notes of scrubland and spices on the palate.

Blend: 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Carignan

Critical Acclaim

RP90 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Sporting a deep, saturated ruby color, the 2015 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel Grand Terroir checks in as a blend of 40% each of Grenache and Syrah, with the balance Carignan. Ripe black fruits, chocolate, licorice and smoked herbs give way to a ripe, sexy, concentrated and rounded effort that's a classic Old World fruit bomb. Drink this beauty over the coming 5-6 years.

This is a good, sturdy wine – moderate tannins and good red and black fruits with nuances of spices. Fruit forward for this area, but tasty. Priced around $18, good bottle for heavier meals.

2016 Gerard Bertrand Corbieres, France

Gerard Bertrand Corbieres is a deep, concentrated color. The complex aromas of black fruit come from the carefully controlled extraction during vinification and from the exceptional ripeness of the grapes. A wine of distinctive character with all the flavors of ripe fruit, with subtle hints of spices and licorice.

Critical Acclaim

W&S89                 Wine & Spirits

An over-the-top red, this sweetens its lush flavors of blueberries and purple plums with generous lashings of smoky, spicy oak. It’s clean and big-boned, built for steaks or beef barbecue.

Nicely made wine, smooth with red fruits, wet stones and slate with modest tannins. Not over the top, but a nice less intense wine than the other reds in this group. Priced around $18, good bottle to have on hand for grilling. 

2016 Chateau de Villemajou  Vin Rouge Corbieres, France

Villemajou is situated at Boutenac, well inside the Corbières appellation. The area supports ancient carignan vines (80 years) uniquely suited to the Mediterranean milieu of temperature, soil and light that are blended here with syrah, mourvèdre and grenache. The nose is an enticing mix of black and red fruits, and savoury, peppery, smoky, menthol, licorice notes that spill across the palate. Rich, long and balanced, this will age through 2026 with little problem. Best suited to more sumptuous meats like lamb or venison. Yields are 30 hl/ha, picking is by hand, and a small portion is a fermented whole bunch, to lift the fruit component before it's aged in 225-litre Bordeaux barrels for a year. It spends an additional 12 months in bottle before release.

This is a massive wine, with intense black and red fruit interwoven with peppercorns and dried herbs. Tannins are quite evident and lead to a long finish. Like chewing on a steak; this is drinking OK for now, but cellar it for 4 – 10 years to get the best out of it. Priced around $42, not an everyday wine, but inexpensive for a special wine.

Another month and more time inside. Hope you all stay safe and well. Until next time, Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you (socially distant) behind the grapevines.