The Wines of April 2020

I had a birthday and I got behind on posting this. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it...

2019 Domaine Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon Black Rock Mendoza, Argentina

100% Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve its varietal typicity and achieve a fruity and expressive character.

Tasting Notes:

Dark Ruby Color.  Intense red berry notes mixed with spice and mineral notes. The palate is packed with ripe concentrate red and black fruit flavors with hints of black pepper and mineral notes.

"Combines the know-how of French winemaking with Argentina's exceptional climate and terroir. The vineyard is located at the foothills of the Andes. Its thermal amplitude contributes to obtaining fully ripened grapes with an excellent acidity. The grapes are hand-picked and the vineyard is certified organic. The wine has an elegant style, with lots of mineral notes, cherry and currant. The palate is full of ripe fruit flavors with delicate tannins. Pair with pasta dishes, red meat and sauces." 

A decent Cabernet from Argentina, good fruit, little tannins, most upfront on the flavors. Not a long finish – good “School-night” wine available around $10.

2018 Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Cask Mendoza, Argentina

Dark red in color, this Cabernet Sauvignon displays aromas of cherries, plums and licorice. The palate is fresh and clean, with depth and ripe, slightly oaked flavors of cassis, blackberry, and chocolate. Easy to like, with toasty touches throughout.

Ideal to serve with roast beef, spicy roast chicken, duck, cheddar, and bleu cheese.

Critical Acclaim                  JS92 James Suckling

Blackcurrants and sweet tobacco with hints of black tea on the nose. Full-bodied, silky and polished with refined tannins and a smoky, lightly earthy and flavorful finish.

A better, inexpensive Cabernet from Argentina, this had good fruit and a better body with some tannins in the mouth. Very likable for a $10 Cabernet. (Picture says Malbec, didn't get a pic before sending the bottle to recycling)

2017 Chateau Graville-Lacoste Graves Blanc, Graves, France 

There could be no better way to enjoy this crisp, invigorating Graves than with a platter of fresh seafood. Raw oysters, fresh shrimp, clams, scallops, crab, langoustines...the more the merrier. If you want to try a Bordelais specialty, serve these ice-cold, briny creatures alongside smoky, hot-off-the-grill sausages and a crusty baguette. This Graves is distinguished by its high percentage of Sémillon, sourced from vineyards in the greatest white wine terroir in all of Bordeaux—the Haut-Barsac.

I was never a Sauvignon Blanc fan, but lately I have had two very good French ones. The one from Graves has a good amount of Semillon and it is a smooth white, with hints of peach and summer fruits. A brisk aftertaste completes the wine. Very good – available from $12 - $18, imported by Kermit Lynch. Great summer wine – get some.

2018 Le Dome du Grand Bois Cotes-du-Rhone, Rhone, France

"Made from a blend of 70% Grenache Noir, 20% Cinsault and 10% Carignan. Ruby red with aromas of red fruit and blackcurrant; fruity and slightly spicy in style with a well-balanced tannic structure. Pair with roast chicken, lamb and goat's cheese. Can be enjoyed young or kept for 2 or 3 years." 

Winemaker's Notes

An easy drinking wine with aromas of liquorice and blackcurrant. A fruity Côtes du Rhône, slightly spicy, with well balanced tannins. This wine is ready to drink, best enjoyed young and already very drinkable.

A nice little blend and a nice tasty CDR – hints of spice with red and black fruits. A little short on the finish with a little tannic structure. A tasty $10 bottle – nothing to cellar, but worth a pour on a weeknight.

2018 Fog Mountain Field Blend, California

Fog Mountain are wines that evoke the cooling fog of California's hillside vineyards, in a manner that embraces a modern approach to winemaking and care for the environment while delivering superior quality and value.

Staff Comments: An incredible 5 grape blend from California! Hints of huckleberries and black raspberries. This is a soft and loving romantic wine. Michigan cherries, pomegranates, fresh plums, a waft of tobacco and milk chocolate. Gorgeous! Pair this with Chicken Kiev, baked ravioli, or shrimp risotto.

Elegantly brings together 5 core varietals: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah for a wine that is layered and complex. Aromas of ripe red fruit and exotic spices lift from the glass and immediately capture your attention. Flavors of tangy raspberries, fresh-picked strawberries, and red currant coat the palate with a delightfully rich flavor profile. This wine is well balanced with smooth, juicy tannins that make it an approachable, food-friendly wine." Winemaker's Notes

A surprising inexpensive California bottle that has 5 different varietals. Each adds something – the darkness of Petite SIrah, some spice from the Zinfandel, body from the Merlot, texture from the Cabernet and brightness from the Syrah. Around $10, this might be a fun one to blind taste your friends – see if they guess the blend. Not much tannins, so not a cellar stash, but nice red fruit flavors and a balanced finish. Really nicely done for a every day bottle.

Another month gone by - hope you are all well and safe.  Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines (at a socially distant measure).