The Wines of October 2020

Another fine Fall month - we had hot temperatures as well as snow. Just what you would expect for this year. Now some wines...

2016 Eguren Ugarte Cosecha, Rioja, Spain

What a value in a modern take on Spain's most classic red. A blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha, this is loaded with deep, rich, black and red fruit with an attractive layer of toasty, spicy, oak. Will get better for a decade, but delicious now - a fabulous match for lamb!

James Suckling: 93 Points

"Ripe, brambly and juicy with very fresh, ripe berries. Composed palate with a tight core of fine, muscular tannins carrying plenty of flavor. Great composure. Drink or hold."

A nice Rioja wine for not a lot of money. There are great values among Spanish wines and this is an example. Could hang on a few more years but tasting drinking very well now. Nice mellow red fruits with hints of spice; little tannins but good structure for food. Around $10, a great every night bottle.

2016 Matayac Malbec, Cahors, France

"True to classic Malbec, this wine is a deep inky red in the glass with aromas of red licorice, and stewed plums. Smashed blackberry and ripe raspberry flavors leap across the palate, bolstered by a moderate acidity that is balanced by an earthy gravitas." 93 Points, Ultimate Wine Challenge

For some reason, this bottle just didn’t do much for me. A touch too earthy, I didn’t find any flavors “leaping” out of the glass. Wine seemed structurally sound, not corked, but just not all that tasty – didn’t seem any better with food. Avaialble around $11, but go for something else.

2015 Clos des Demoiselles, Listrac-Medoc, France

62 %Merlot, 38 % Cabernet Sauvignon                          

Clos des Demoiselles matures its 4 hectares of old Merlot and Cabernet

Sauvignon vines on the south slope of the Puy de Menjon, highest point of the Medoc.

 Pyrenean gravel on a limestone subsoil containing fossils.  A strict selection of the parcels and the grapes takes place during the harvest.  After a gentle crushing and destemming of the grapes, the must is put into small-thermoregulated vats ensuring that the fermentations are perfectly controlled, bringing out the expression, the richness and the nuances of each plot. The vatting period lasts 20 to 25 days depending on the vintage.

Maturing lasts around 14 months in merrian oak barrels, a 1/3 of which are replaced each year.

Clos des Demoiselles shows a deep garnet color. The nose is very elegant

with black currant and blueberry notes. This well balanced wine develops charm and richness early in the bottle, allowing it to be enjoyed young. Serve with a roasted duck breast or pork shops. Will also be perfect with cheese or with chocolate cake.

This was a good bottle at a great price. The nose was a little subdued, but the flavors of red fruits and oak hints are very good. Enough structure to age a few more years, but drinking excellent now. Priced under $20, a good bottle for ever night or special weekend meals.

2019 Domaine Bosquet Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

JS92  JamesSuckling.com

"Very fresh, plummy fruit with black cherries. There is also a faint mineral, tarry character to the wine, making it more seductive. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity and firm tannin. A linear mouth feel. No obesity here. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold. Screw cap." (92 pts.)

Rich, intense aromas of blackberry with notes of black pepper, blackcurrant and cassis. The palate reveals an elegant personality with layers of red and black fruits and silky tannins. Pairs well with roasted red meats.

A tasty little every day wine with good fruit in the nose followed with similar flavors on the palate. Enough structure to go with a variety of meats – I had it with a pork roast stuffed with dates; nice pairing. Priced around $10 most places, good go-to for weeknight meals.

2012 Easton Cabernet Sauvignon, Shenandoah Valley, Ca

Wine Enthusiast 92 POINTS         Cellar Selection

An enticing, spicy, cedary, toasty aroma leads to generous flavors of black cherry, wood smoke and dried plum. The body is full, the texture is bold, firmly tannic and buoyed by acidity that provides grip on the palate and makes it a great match for rich proteins. Best after 2019.

This wine is drinking great right now and the 2012 is the current release. The owner and winemaker (Mr Easton) ages his wine at the winery so it is ready to drink. He had a Syrah on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list, but he won’t release it until it is ready to drink. I noted this wine had a big fell, with some structured tannins, dark red fruit and good acidity to go with a wonderful short rib meal. The wine has enough tannin to last another 4 -5 years, but is so delicious I want to drink it now. Priced between $45 - $50, this is a really great buy – compare it to $100+ wines.

Another month has passed by, Daylight Savings time has elapsed and we look toward winter. Stay safe, stay healthy, keep your mask handy and keep well. Until next month, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

The Wines of August 2020

I guess I messed up and didn't post August. So here it is, late but available.

2015 Garnet Pinot Noir, Monterey County, California

Aromas: Blackberry cobbler, toasted hazelnuts, Chinese five spice powder, cloves and dried juniper berries.

Flavors: Red and black fruits and berries followed by notes of coffee and vanilla. To us, this wine brings to mind strawberry jam and butter slathered on freshly toasted home-made bread. The long finish is delicious and mouth-filling.

Our Monterey Pinot Noir is blended from a few acres in each of four vineyards scattered along benchlands near the Santa Lucia Highlands that are subject to the cool, foggy influence of Monterey Bay.

This was a pleasant Pinot, California style with nice fruit in the strawberry line. Finish was fair, not as long as described, no real tannins, decent backbone to fit to a meal.  Winery price is $20, generally available for $10. Decent school-nite wine.

2017 Jepson Syrah, Mendocino County, California

Middle weight, intensely fruited with wonderful earthen texture Brambly blackberry aromatics flow seamlessly into plum and berry fruit forward flavors on an impressive balanced tannin foundation.

Staff Comments: An intense Syrah from Mendocino, California! Rich ripened blackberries on the nose with a touch of peppercorns. This is full bodied and superb. Notes of caramel latte, smoked almonds, espresso, and baked boysenberry pie. Serve this with lasagna al forno, a skirt steak salad with Bleu cheese crumbles, or BBQ’s ribs.

Jepson was bought out about the time this wine was in barrels. The surprise for me was that this was a nicely rich, heavy style (Rhone-like) Syrah, not an Aussie fruit bomb. The black fruits were prevalent, but the body and backbone supported the weight. Needed a heavy type meal, but was good with that. Generally available around $12, a good bottle to have for those ribs.

2018 Natale Verga Primitivo, Salento, Italy

"Aromas of sun-dried prunes and pine syrup and good flavors of black cherries and fudge. Try it with veal and peppers, sausage grilled with onions, penne vodka and grilled sirloin medium rare." Winemaker's Notes

The perfect everyday pizza wine! Primitivo is Zinfandel's exotic Italian cousin. Fruit-forward but a bit more suave and probably rides a motorcycle. With notes of olive and black cherry it's one of our go-to's

Rarely do I find a wine that I really think I do not want to finish the bottle. This might be an exception; the general condition of the wine was fine, but the flavor components were all wrong. I didn’t get all the flavors from the winemaker notes, but I did get a big streak of green olive through the mid-palate. Made the aftertaste unappealing, as well. Even for $8, I can’t say I’d drink this again. (Yes, I have had some good primitivos, this wasn’t one.)

2014 Jarhead Red, California

Our mission is to make distinctively robust red wines in support of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, which provides educational assistance to children of U.S. Marines, with special consideration given to families of fallen and wounded Marines.

“The 2014 Jarhead Red offers generous aromas of plum, cherry and spice with a hint of smokiness. A rich, mouth filling texture unfolds with flavors of black cherry, blackberry and cassis. Notes of vanilla emerge on a broad, juicy finish. This boldly flavored wine is a perfect match for classic American fare, such as grilled steak, barbecued chicken and hamburgers.”

It helps to know that Marines call each other “Jarheads” (How did you get that round hat on such a square head?). My brother was a Marine, served in Vietnam, so I know a little about the Corps. This wine is made from the Firestone vineyard as well as other grapes from parts of California. A red blend, mostly merlot with a few other complimentary grapes. Not a bad wine, no tannic backbone to make it cellar worthy, but a pleasant, red fruit driven bottle for pasta and pizza. Priced from $9 to $13, pick up a bottle and feel patriotic.

2016 Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz, South Australia

Wakefield Jaraman is a zesty, full-bodied, Shiraz from Clare Valley wine region in South Australia. This Australian red wine is a regional blend of Shiraz grapes of about two-thirds Clare Valley and one-third McLaren Vale regions. The wine was partially cold-soaked for 4 days, then aged in 100% new American oak barrels for 11 months. Dark chocolate and sweet black fleshy plums on the nose with a pleasant zing of acidity mid-palate for lots of dishes from tangy meat sauces to grilled meats. More black fruit and mouth-filling roundness. A consistently good producer at fair prices for the quality. This Australian red wine is a regional blend of Shiraz grapes of about two-thirds Clare Valley and one-third McLaren Vale regions. The wine was partially cold-soaked for 4 days, then aged in 100% new American oak barrels for 11 months. Deeply concentrated and flavoured.

This is a typical fruit forward style of Aussie Shiraz; Nose comes off like black fruits and the flavor follows with more black fruits and some herbs added in. Good acidic backbone to go with heavy meat style dishes. Nice to have if you haven’t had a big Aussie in a while. Goes with BBQ and grilled meats. Priced around $20, available for about $15, nice bottle for that outdoor meal.

 

A touch short this month, will have more in September. Stay safe, wear a mask and social distance. Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.