The Wines of November 2021

Made it through November with hotter than usual weather. Never know what that means for December.

Here are the wines from November:

2017 Chateau L’Hospitalet Grand Vin Rouge, LaClape, France

syrah grenache mourvedre  Rouge

The colour is a brilliant ruby. The intense nose is dominated by spicy and red fruit (strawberry) aromas. The mouth presents silky and fine tannins underlining the fruity freshness of this wine.

Highly expressive southern French nose of incense, liquorice, cassis and black plum with a floral hint. Strong flavoursome attack of red, ripe fruit and fresh leather with a hint of cocoa powder. Bold, hedonistic and modern.

A very good southern French wine – good fruit nose and good flavors of red fruits and hints of earth and cocoa. Got this on close out at about $20, a really good buy. Good at a higher price.

2015 Altamente Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

Color: Intense and deep red color with a fuchsia purple hue and beautiful blue rim. It is alive!

Nose: highly ripe, fresh, tempting fruits with aroma of eldelberries, herb, thicket, carob tree and blackberries. Very Mediterranean! Intense, balsamic, highly scented.

Mouth: strong personality, complex, nice texture, fresh, greasy, acid and balanced. It is very opened, quickly recognizable, enjoyable. Again ripe black fruits, redcurrants, thicket.

A good Monastrell from Spain – dark wine with good dark fruits and brush. Nice acidity to go with food – a steal at $10 a bottle. Keep some on hand.

NV Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Fay Golden Rectangle , Napa Valley, CA

A limited edition, multi-vintage bottling of Stag's Leap's FAY vineyard, this wine sees extended barrel aging and is a Cabernet Sauvignon/Petite Verdot blend. Bottled in 2015

Really delicious, typical Fay. Being NV rounds out the edges of a wine that I already think of as being approachable young. Actually a good thing tonight. A bit floral nose, good amount of fruit, but not over extracted. Plum and blueberries. Some cedar. An expressive cab that still quite elegant.

The Fay vineyard was shortened by the new visitor facility at Stag’s Leap. They made a few bottling including this and Fay’s apology from grapes that grew on the site. The wine is drinking superbly at this time – pleasant nose that becomes a good fruit balance in the mouth and has a very nice finish. Don’t know the price, but this is one good bottle of juice.

2018 Far Niente Chardonnay, Napa Valley, CA

Classic Far Niente style with aromas of grilled citrus, melon and honeysuckle with hints of white fig, gardenia and toasted hazelnuts, background of mild toasted oak that adds supportive warmth and richness. A silky entry builds on the palate with a rich texture that continues to evolve. Possessing great structure and length, a sweet core of melon and citrus is supported by white floral and toasted vanilla and baking spice notes. The broad mid palate comes back together with a long bright finish.

WW92Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2018 Far Niente Chardonnay shows class and balanced. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits excellent richness and stays elegant to the end. Pair its aromas and flavors of ripe, core fruits, peach skin, and oak with shellfish in a generous cream sauce.

WS90Wine Spectator

Rich and juicy, with oaky accents to the dried apple and glazed apricot flavors. The well-structured finish is filled with savory and buttery notes. Drink now through 2023.

This is a sturdy Chardonnay from Napa – good nose of fruits with a good texture in the mouth and flavors of melon and citrus, with some vanilla at the finish. Nice long finish, strong enough to have with many meals. I had it for Thanksgiving and it went very well with my meal. Priced around $60, I think.

2017 Maison Louis Latour Marsannay Rouge, Cote d’Or, France

This Marsannay is sturdy and robust due to the rich iron-based soil. The wine has an intense bouquet of red fruit and a silky palate with a distinct gamey character and great tannic appeal. 100% Pinot Noir

Pair with roasted duck, "coq au vin", lamb stew, and mature cheeses.

JS91James Suckling  Aromas of strawberries, toffee, smoke and earth. Medium body, fresh and bright acidity, medium chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Linear and bright for the vintage. Drink after 2020, but already approachable.

WS90Wine Spectator   A touch earthy on the nose initially but this blows off, revealing ripe black cherry, plum, earth and stone flavors. Rich and balanced, with firm tannins and a mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2023.

This is one great Burgundy for those that usually can’t afford good burgundy. Bright red fruits in the mouth, with some tannin and leather. Juicy finish, nice acidity, this is a real food wine. I got it for around $20 on a close out. Should get some more – this is a real pinot made in a great style

That's another month - hope everyone is staying healthy. Until next month, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 Wines of October 2021

Finally beginning to feel like Fall at the end of the month. Here are a few wines from the past month.

2011 Balthus Tempranillo Reserva, Rioja, Spain

No press on this wine – well past its prime. Not much fruit, just hints of what was once a decent wine. Not worth the $10 spent.

2016 Rock Horse ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, WA

Tasting Notes:  Currants and spice with a hint of blackberries on a lingering finish

Very good Washington Cabernet from Natalie’s Estate Winery. Good buy – I got it for about $15 and bought a bottle to give my daughter Natalie.

2011 Silvio Grasso Barolo,  Lamorra, Italy

On the nose, very intense, elegant, fruity. Flavors include dry, austere, warm, tannic, fresh, intense, good persistence. Pair with red meat, cheese, game.

Blend: 100% Nebbiolo

JS92James Suckling

A dense and decadent wine with dried meat, ripe berry and walnut character plus hints of leaf. Full-bodied, round and chewy yet savory and beautiful. Tannic and powerful. Try in 2018.

WS90Wine Spectator

Menthol and licorice accents complement the core of cherry and strawberry fruit. Balanced, but needs a few years to integrate. Fine length. Best from 2018 through 2032. 850 cases made.

This was a special occasion wine – poured at the restaurant Napoli. The wine was just hitting its stride with red fruits and hints of earth and spices. Threw a lot of sediment, but that was expected. Priced in the $30 range. A real treat and very good wine.

2012 Prunotto Mompertone, Monferrato, Italy

Deep ruby red in color with purple highlights, this wine has rich fruity aromas of plums and cherries with hints of violets, coffee and spices. The palate is ample, dense and full with soft tannins that are elegant and long on the finish. It is an excellent match with roasted meat dishes, pot-au-feu and fresh cheeses.

JS92James Suckling

A red with dense and silky tannins plus ripe strawberry, spice and almonds. Full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. I like this solid blend of barbera and syrah. Drink now.

The 2012 vintage of this Italian red wine is an unusual blend of Barbera and Syrah grapes. The wine was matured for 10 months in both oak barrels and (smaller) barriques.

Very pleasant wine – bright red fruit flavors with a touch of tannins. Good acidity for food matches, a real nice find. Priced under $20, worth getting several bottles.

2018 Dominio de Eguren Codice , DeCastilla, Spain

Ruby red with light violet in the edges of the glass. Red fruits (raspberries, blackberries) of nice intensity, coffee, toasted notes and vanilla. Well structured, balanced tannins-alcohol-acidity, fresh mature fruit in perfect conjunction with the characteristics of aging (spices, toasted coffee and noble wood). The finish leaves a pleasant memory of lightly toasted notes.

V90Vinous

Vivid ruby. Ripe red and blue fruits and a suggestion of pungent flowers on the highly perfumed nose. Silky, seamless and focused on the palate, showing energetic lift and solid punch to the gently sweet blueberry and raspberry flavors. Supple, even tannin's build slowly on the finish, which hangs on with strong, spice-tinged persistence.

I used to buy earlier vintages of this wine but haven’t seen it again until now. Nice ripe fruits with light tannins and pleasant acidity to make it very food friendly. Priced around $10, hard to beat at that price.

2016 Royal Princess Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, California

The Chardonnay comes all from the Sonoma Coast and was brought up in a mix of French oak (30% new) and stainless steel. Rocking notes of buttered peach, honeysuckle, white flowers, and a kiss of toasted almonds give way to a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay offering beautiful fruit, a solid spine of acidity, and a great finish. It shows more salinity and citrus fruits with time in the glass and has classic Sonoma Coast style. It could be twice the cost and still be a good value. Drink this beauty over the coming 2-3 years.

I call this a vibrant white wine, with a solid body and white peach, floral notes and a hint of oak. Nice finish, well worth the price – around $25.

Another month flew by - hope you all are safe and comfy. Until next time, Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 

 Month of September, 2020

It officially become fall, and maybe the temperatures will act like it. Ready to do a little less grilling and more cooking inside. Here are the wines from last month.

2016 Grgich Hills Petite Sirah Miljenko selection, Calistoga, CA                               

Aromas of ripe dark fruit with tones of sweet cherry and raspberry are carried by undertones of vanilla bean and rose petals. Dense red fruit on the palate is followed by silky tannins that uphold the complex aromas of the Petite Sirah. This wine envelopes every taste bud with its deeply rich aromatics, creating a lush and lingering aftertaste. Match its generous flavors with substantial flavors, such as lamb stew, grilled steak and barbecued pork ribs. This Petite Sirah will benefit from decanting an hour before serving.

Black violet color. Fruity aromas and flavors of pomegranate, violet, cocoa butter, compressed watermelon, vanilla, and basil with a lightly tannic, lively, dry-yet-fruity full body and a warming, intricate, medium-long finish that exhibits notes of rosemary with light oak flavor. A dense and tannic wine with lifted and lively aromatics the balance and satisfy; a stylish pairing for grilled meats.

This is an outstanding wine – the flavors last on a long finish. Very well made and opens wide after pouring in not too long a time. Gift to me, but priced around $65 online.

2018 Bodegas Volver Paso a Paso Tempranillo, La Tiera de Castilla, Spain

Intense cherry color and hints of garnet. On the nose, mature fruit stands out and we find creamy hints of toasted oak. On the palate, it is fruity with a long, silky finish.

Pretty tasty little Spanish wine – enough acidity to make food matches easy, yet very pleasant as a sip alone. Red fruits on the palate, not a long finish, but a good wine for around $10. Organic wine

2014 Angle Vineyards Pinot Noir Sonoma County, CA

Nothing online about this – after drinking it I know why. Made from surplus juice, it is drinkable, although the fruit gets overtaken by an earthy overtone. What  you get for about $7 – I’ll stick with my cheap Spanish wines.

NV Folk Machine BYOB Red, California

This new boxed red blend falls under his Folk Machine label (used for his more eclectic wine endeavors) and is 42% Carignane, 18% Petite Sirah, 15% Zinfandel, 15% Syrah, and 10% Tempranillo. The fruit was grown in Mendocino and Suisun Valley. Each lot was fermented separately, aged in combination of stainless steel tanks and oak barrels, and blended in the Spring. The end result is a mid-weight easy drinking, fun red that is juicy, fresh, and all-purpose.

This was a wine in a mystery tasting – fooled most of the people. A bright, young wine – the fruit was upfront and juicy. No tannins, some acidity for food – a great wine for a party where you have people that drink wine like water. The 3 Liter runs under $30 – good for what it is.

2020 Castillo de Olite Tempranillo, Navarra, Spain

Produced from grapes grown in the hillsides of Navarre in the north of Spain, this light and fruity red wine is aromatic and easy drinking. For more than 20 years it has been a great favourite of our clientele. Perfect for every day drinking.

Another nice Spanish wine with red fruits and little tannins. Enough backbone to go with various foods – another good buy at around $12 or less.

2017 Poggio Landi Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

From a great vintage, Poggio Landi’s gulpable, ruby-colored Rosso is a concentrated, cherry-scented way to enjoy young-vine Brunello while your 2017 Brunello wines mature in your cellar. Dusty black cherry, minerals, and almond would make this so enticing with a roast rack of pork studded with garlic and rosemary.

Aging a Brunello for decades brings these components into a glorious harmony. Some of us may have cellars that are provisioned with gloriously harmonious ’81 Brunello but most of us need something to drink tonight.  So when Landi is selecting her Rosso, she thinks of us, and chooses Brunello with more fruit, less acid and less tannin – and that is how she chooses the 32 barrels to “declassify” and label Sangiovese Rosso.

This wine almost seemed to need a little more time in the bottle.  Nice red fruits on the palate, not much backbone. Went pretty well with the food, but still was a little off in balance.  May reserve judgement on this, could be my mood and other wines that threw mw off. Priced around $21 -25.

2015 Conn Creek Anthology, Napa Valley, CA

In The Blend - Cabernet Sauvignon 93%, Cabernet Franc 3%, Merlot 3%, Petit Verdot 1%

Aromas - The nose is slightly fresh and yet a little jammy. Black currant, cherry, licorice, and blackberry notes are intertwined with smoke and dusty ones. Red flowers and cotton candy were a bit unexpected for California Cabernet sauvignon.

Palate - On the palate, Conn Creek Anthology expressed itself as juicy, yet elegant wine. The structure built more on acidity than tannins. Although the tannins seemed to be more pleasing.

Black currant, caramelized plum, and blueberry mixed in equal amounts and topped with cocoa make it hard to find the accent. Exactly what we like about good wine.

Finish - The finish is luxurious, lingering, and jammy.

Conclusion - This full-bodied and high alcohol cabernet sauvignon might spend some time in our cellar before we taste it again. Well incorporated tannins make it a good wine ready to drink now. Moderate acidity suggests it would pair well not only with meat but also with cheese dishes.

This is an excellent wine – I think I had this at the winery a few years back. Jammy, with black and red fruits over the palate with hints of dust. Good acid backbone, but still holding some tannin to create a long finish. Originally, only $59, but I got on close-out for $35. If you see this (or other vintages) at a good price – buy it. You won’t regret it.

I hope all is well – until next month, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The wines of August 2021

Another month has blown by - included some right hot days. I've got some Rose' wines, but I won't tell you how they are made (again). 

2017 Chateau St. Jean Reserve Syrah, Sonoma County, CA

This exemplary expression of Syrah entices with deeply saturated violet hues, evoking the Sonoma landscape with vivid aromas of lavender and iris, wild blueberries and plum jam, followed by subtle, intriguing notes of white pepper and game. Compact on entry, the wine is generous in black cherry and crushed berry fruit tinged with vanilla and cardamom, unfolding on the palate with luxurious texture, effortless harmony and long finish.

This was a gift – an excellent California syrah with deep red fruit flavors and nuanced overtones of spice. Finish was moderately long, with a little tannin. Nicely developed, good drinking and fine with meat for a meal. Estimated Price around $35 - $60.

2019 Cantine Paradiso Sant’ Andrea Primitivo, Puglia, Italy

Cantine Paradiso is located is the South of Italy, in the region of Puglia. Angelo Paradiso, the third generation of winemakers in the family, manages the vineyards and the winery.

Southern Italian wine is all about fun. This week’s special is a fantastic 90 Point Primitivo from the “heel of the boot” in Puglia. Primitivo shares a lot of genetic material with Zinfandel and that comparison feels quite apt when you get a big glass of the 2019 Sant’ Andrea from Cantine Paradiso. The nose requires no coaxing to give up fabulous scents of cherry hard candies, fresh plucked rose petals, cedar, and cinnamon. Swirl it all around and it just keeps on going, delivering more and more engaging aromatics with each passing moment. Sip it and delight in the exuberantly ripe fruit that you only get in a warm climate like Puglia. Bountiful flavors of cherry pie filling, raspberry preserves, and kirsch liqueur are neatly accented by stylish hints of cracked pepper, Ceylon cinnamon, dry cedar, and warm graham cracker pie crust. The palate has big volume and plenty of intensity of ripe fruit but it’s still a really classic Old World Red. The finish is dry and shows nice earth and spice. It’s fruity, that’s for sure, but it’s not that sneaky sweet junk that you all too often see coming out of California. This is the real stuff! Pair this beauty up with a piece of homemade pizza and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven!

Even though Primitivo and Zinfandel are genetically the same, wines from Puglia are not Cali Zin.  That being said, there are some good Primitivos – this one was a good example.  Bright red fruits, good acidity to match foods – a real good wine for any Italian foods. This was a $10 buy and well worth the money.

2017 Regina Viarum Godello, Ribeira Sacra, Spain

View: Golden yellow clean and shiny.

Nose: ripe fruit (apple, pear), floral notes.

Mouth: pleasantly sweet entrance, fresh, warm, gentle acidity, harmonious, spacious, well structured and balanced, persistent.

APPELLATION: Ribeira Sacra.

GRAPES: Godello.

ALCOHOL CONTENT: 13%

Pretty fair white wine from Spain – has a lot of aroma (it was noticed by others in the room, not drinking wine). The fruit is a little nuanced on the palate, mostly on the aftertaste. Good wine for the heat of summer, at $9 or so.

2020 Esterhazy ‘The Kiss’ Rose, Burgenland, Austria

Tasting-notes: Medium salmon rose. In the nose dominates a red fruit cocktail of rose hips, red ribs and raspberries. In addition there are hints of rhubarb and a fine herbal spice. The acidity is elegantly integrated, the train in the exit ensures a nice drinking flow.

The red berries and herbal notes are perfect for light, summery cuisine as well as for a terrace or pool party. Also known as “after work” drink.

This wine seems a little light – even for a pink one. Flavors are pretty good – strawberry and red raspberry with some herbal tones. Acidity good for lighter food matches. Little pricy for a pink at $20 that doesn’t really wow me.

2020 Stolpman Para Maria Rose, Santa Barbara, California

Blend : 60% Mourvedre / 20% Syrah / 20% Grenache

The nose pops with berry spice, tropical fruit perfume, and taught tiny strawberries.  In the mouth, deeper red fruit flirts with crisp acidity and firm crunch.  Cherry juice lingers on the finish with zesty freshness.  The wine calls for a frolic through a sheltered alpine meadow capped off with a schmoopy love scene.

This is a very good Pink wine, good pronounced red berry fruits and firm acidity. Seems much deeper than the previous bottle (above).  Very good and worth the $18 average price.

2018 Eyrie Vineyards  Trousseau,  Willamette Valley, Oregon

Eyrie’s Jason Lett and crew planted the Willamette Valley’s first Trousseau noir in 2012. The vividly red wine has aromas of dark berries, loam, and baking spices. Acidity and smoothness are perfectly balanced on the palate, with evolving flavors of herbs and fruits such as blackberry, pomegranate, and rhubarb. Light tannins combine with a precise, long finish to suggest promising ageability.

Trousseau is an ancient variety, originating in France’s Jura region and centered in the hillside village of Montingy-les-Arsures. In 2012, inspired by these wines, Jason Lett planted the Willamette Valley’s first Trousseau.

Our Trousseau is made from estate-grown, certified-organic grapes and transformed to juice by wild yeast. We strive to make a Trousseau that’s the truest expression of the fruit. That’s why we’ve chosen to not fine or filter this wine. Likewise, no sulfur is added during bottling.

The bright yellow, red and purple clusters produce a vibrantly colored wine. On the nose, there are distinct berry notes with a hint of baking spices. All of this continues on the palate with rich, crisp fruit and nice acid balance, and then light tannin on the finish.

I was surprised at how much O enjoyed this wine. Kind of like a “revved” up gamay with more character and better acidity. There are dark berries in the mouth and some spices nuanced into the palate. Not a long finish, but tasty.  A little pricy at $33, but worth trying.

2018 Birichino ‘St. Georges’ Zinfandel, Central Coast, California

This bottling, mostly from 1922-planted vines, is a uniquely intellectual spin on Zinfandel, proving unlike most other takes on the grape and somewhat simple, yet constantly calling out for attention. Aromas of red plum, cranberry and light herbs lead into light strawberry, dried meat and more herb tones, as well as a hint of blood. These elements all grow more ethereal with time. WE 91 Points

Vivid ruby-red. Lively cherry and boysenberry aromas are complemented by suggestions of cola and candied flowers. Allspice and licorice notes emerge with air and carry onto the palate, which features gently sweet red/blue fruit flavors that show fine definition and spicy lift. Displays strong, fruity thrust on the gently tannic finish, which echoes the spicy note.

This is not one of those over-the-top Zins that takes a bit to get used to. This is a thinking man’s Zin, restrained, with good fruit flavors, herbs and some earthiness. Nice acid to match a meal, the tannins are barely noticeable. Almost “airy” in a way; nice drinking right now. Priced around $26, worth trying.

I hope all is well - until next month, Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

The Wines of July 2021

 

South African wine has a history dating back to 1659, with the first bottle produced in Cape Town by its founder Jan van Riebeeck. Access to international markets led to new investment in the South African wine market. Production is concentrated around Cape Town, with major vineyard and production centres at Constantia, Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester. There are about 60 appellations within the Wine of Origin (WO) system, which was implemented in 1973 with a hierarchy of designated production regions, districts and wards.

Other South Africa WIne terms

Steen – Chenin Blanc

Pinotage – cross of Pinot Noir & Cinsault

Cap Classique – Sparkling wine

Now for the Wines of the Month

2015 Via Nova Mencia, Valdeorras, Spain

Red wine fruit of the best grapes from the vineyards with more hours of sunshine in Galicia .

It emphasizes its freshness in which it is perceived the traditional elaboration combined with the use of the last technological advances and the outstanding processes of quality of the warehouse.

I enjoy Mencia – it has red ripe fruits and usually a good acid backbone to go with many foods. This wine is no exception – not a long finish or much tannin, but a nice food wine. Priced around $10, what’s not to like?

2017 Rosewood Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, CA

In this Cabernet Sauvignon you will find, red berry fruit notes and flavors, delicate tannins and subtle oak spice tones that lend to a layered complexity with intriguing finesse.

TASTING PANEL

90 points // Exhibiting ripeness, balanced fruit, tannins, and acidity, this fine specimen from the Maggio family is sweet and opulent. Dark cherry, mocha, and currants go big alongside appetizing notes of boysenberry pie.

A rather understated cabernet with some red fruits but not really doing much after sipping. Average as a food wine, average as a sipping wine. Only $10, but I have had much better for the price.

2019 Annick Bachelet Beaujolais Villages Reserve de Bel Air, France

An open and fruity wine, this has developed well. It brings out ripe red fruits and ripe tannins in a rounded offering of freshness and accessible richness. Drink the wine now. RATING 88

A well made wine from Beaujolais – nice ripe red fruits with some intertwined tannins. Decent acid to make it a good food wine, although it drinks by itself very nicely. I got this for $10, well worth the price.

2020 Starborough Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand

Marlborough, New Zealand- Crisp and refreshing, characterized by ripe tropical fruit accents and some herbal notes. The wine shows flavors of passion fruit, kiwi and guava over a citrus background.

Bright, approachable and refreshing, Starborough Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand is like wind-whipped seagrass on a warm summer day. It’s the perfect pairing for a casual catch-up and a quick bite.

This is a moderate little wine – I got a slap of lemon verbena through the flavors. Not bad with food, a summer sipper for sure. Priced around $8, it is what it is. (Never been a big Sauv. Blanc fan)- Hey, it was HOT outside!

2017 Famiglia Castellani Chianti Pontedera, Italy

Deep ruby in the glass, the wine is at once effusive with notes of crushed berries, Tuscan underbrush, fresh pipe tobacco and freshly roasted mushroom.  I love the harmony of the aromas here.  On the palate, the wine is elegant and refined.  Forward and juicy, with ripe notes of crushed wild berry, cypress needle, tobacco and earth it is complex and generous.  Medium to full bodied with well integrated tannins that only assert themselves on the finish, this drinks incredibly well with and without food.  Although it is drinking very well now, it is so well balanced that 3-5 years cellaring should not be out of the question.

I think the quote above is for reserve wine – this one is a little more simple and rustic. Red berries with some tobacco and earth – not many tannins. Decent acidity to make a food wine. Another $10 bottle that isn’t awful, but not something to seek out.

2019 Bouchard Aine & Fils Pinot Noir Rose, France

This rosé is incredibly light in aromas, with hints of white cranberry and underripe strawberry on the nose and mouth. There's pleasant acidic lift to the palate, and it's otherwise a short and breezy quaff. RATING83

This rose did not have as much fruit on the palate as others I’ve enjoyed. There is some acid to help it pair with foods, but not the best back porch wine I’ve had. About $10.

2020 Mother Rock ‘Force Celeste’ Semillon, Swartland, South Africa

A stunning example of what a little bit of skin contact can bring to a wine. Though not pouring or acting like a heavily 'orange' wine this skin-contact white has amazing notes of citrus, pears and whitecurrants with a touch of rind-like pith and tea white tannins. Incredibly impressive at any price and a steal for what it's being sold for.

Old bush vines of Semillon, farmed organically and fermented naturally with wild yeasts. The fruit source is a single vineyard on Paardeberg Mountain in the Swartland region. During the fermentation with wild yeast 20% is done whole bunch on skins for two weeks. Aged 90% in steel and 10% in neutral oak. Not fined or filtered and nothing is added save a very tiny dose of sulfites at bottling.

I don’t have many Semillons, but this is a really good one.  The flavors are bright – some citrus and melon with a darker undertone. Good acidity making it go well with lighter fare. Well worth trying – priced around $15 – 16.

2019 Craven ‘Karibib’ Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa

It's one of their best cuveés now. A razor sharp, electric Chenin with real energy. It's a wine that twists through the finish and finishes squeaky and dry. It's a first rate Chennin Blanc from this part of the world.

"Scents of lemon soap, faint cashew, some sandalwood notes, a touch of flint. Smells real good. Palate is flinty too, vibrant, alive, energetic and chock full of zingy acidity with good flavour and freshness on show. Tart, citrus-driven flavours and that lick of nuttiness is the deal. Excellent, tightly found finish for those seeking longevity from their white wines too. Super stuff." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

I like Chenin Blan and have for a long time. I noted that this wine had a good sharpness – almost flintlike.  Citrus with hints of floral and other essences with nice acidity and a bright finish. Very enjoyable – Priced around $27.

2020 Blackwater ‘Lazy Lucy’ Rose, Swartland, South Africa

The blend consists of Cinsault, Grenache and Chenin Blanc. The Cinsault grapes are picked from a 25 year old dryland bushvine vineyard in Paarl and the Grenache is from a 10 year old block in Botriver. 50% of the Cinsault and all the Grenache is whole bunch pressed. The remaining Cinsault gets destemmed and pressed. The juice is co-fermented in stainless steel, racked off the lees after 4 weeks and then color adjusted with Grenache to get the desired color. Light fining and cold stabilization is performed prior to bottling.

I call this Rose very ‘user-friendly’ . The fruits pop out – mostly red ones with a brace of minerals and some acidity. OK with lighter foods and very ‘gulpable’ on a hot day.  Around $18.

2018 Blackwater ‘Cuvee Terra Lux’ Pinot Noir, Elgin, South Africa

Rockstar Pinot Noir. Winemaker Francois Haasbroek’s surname may translate in Afrikaans as “rabbit pants”, but his Pinot Noir is no laughing matter. Serious stuff, crafted using grapes sourced from three young sites in the über-trendy Elgin area, fermented roughly one-third whole bunch and spending three weeks on skins. It is aged in seasoned oak, unfiltered and ridiculously rare as he made less than 2,000 bottles. This is such a rockstar Pinot Noir that if you left it on its own in a hotel room, you’d come back to find it in bed with six Chardonnays, the TV out the window, the sprinklers going off and an empty minibar.

Most of the press on the web is about the 2013 vintage. This was a tasty Pinot nor that I consider more Cali style than Burgundy. Fairly bright red fruit flavors, some acid for food. Not tannic, and with a short finish. Tasty – priced around $25.

2018 Waterkloof ‘Circumstance’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, South Africa

They harvest according to taste and spend a lot of time in the vineyards to see how the flavors develop. The grapes are destemmed, sorted by hand and poured into wooden fermenters by gravity. The natural fermentation started spontaneously using the wild yeasts present on the fruit.

Punch downs (twice a day) were used during the fermentation to ensure a gentle and slow color and tannin extraction. The wines remain on the skin for 30 days to help integrate the tannins and stabilize the color. The peels are separated from the juice by gravity flow. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel and was then aged for 21 months in new (9%), second and third year French oak.

This Circumstance is a decidedly cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon (Bordeaux!) With prominent notes of red berries, balanced by a hint of cumin. The taste shows great focus with exceptionally refined tannins and great length. This Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect companion for a variety of dishes, such as T-bone steak on the braai (barbecue) or slow-cooked lamb shank.

This is a surprisingly good Cabernet – old world style but nice length on the red and black fruit with tannins and acidity under the flavors. Showing nicely now and priced under $30, a good buy.

Another month gone and just a few wines. Stay well and safe - Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of June 2021

June has been an unusual month - Hot, then cool and rainy, then hot again. Can't make up is mind

How about some wine talk?

2016 Lioco Carignane ‘Sativa’, Mendicino, Ca

Fresh asphalt, blackberry, and tuberose aromas. The palate has flavors of cassis, umeboshi, and violet pastille. This wine pairs well with shepherds pie, bistro burger, and carne asada tacos.

From a historic Mendocino vineyard pitched on the lofty slopes of Cloverdale’s Pine Mountain. Jim McCutchen boasts 70-year old, head-pruned, dry-farmed vines planted on south-facing exposures at 2200-2400 feet. The soil is a mix of hard shale & clay. This rapidly vanishing California grape variety—made in this ‘old-timey’ way—harkens back to the Golden State’s earliest winemaking efforts.

WW91Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: To many of us (myself included), top-quality Carignan belongs in the "geek" part of the business. The 2016 Lioco Sativa is an excellent wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine is beautiful, pristine, and alive. Its refreshing aromas and flavors of ripe red fruit, earth, and dust make a lovely dinner wine. Pair it with herb-crusted lamb chops. (Tasted: August 19, 2019, San Francisco, CA)

I agree that this grape is ignored, considered old school and a generic grape for blending. This bottle will change your mind. Moderate color, upfront nose of red fruits and full flavors of red fruits and hints of herbs and earthiness. Pleasant as a stand-alone sipper, but really nice with a meal. I got it on close out, under $15, but well worth $20-25.

2017 Cerro Anon Crianza, Rioja, Spain

Berry and plum aromas are lightly spiced and show a touch of baby powder. On the palate, this is bright and juicy, with chalky tannins. Spicy berry and plum flavors are aided by a touch of charred oak, while this is toasty, dark and chocolaty tasting on the finish. Drink through 2023.

RATING 90 WE

A blend of 80% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano. Matured for 14 months in oak and at least 8 months in bottle.

A fine example of Crianza Rioja. An intensely dark cherry red with sparks of ruby. Initial fruity aromas are followed by spicy notes and aromas from the oak cask ageing. On the palate it is very structured and smooth. The tannins are ripe and mellow and the finish long and refined.

Nicely structured wine with those red fruits with some spice notes. Not a long finish, but not short. Some tannin, but not heavy. Really nice wine for $10 – stock up on several, it goes well with food off the grill.

2020 Cotes du Rhone Reserve de L’abbe Rose, France

Red wines may be the first thing that comes to mind about the Cotes du Rhone, but rose should also be on your radar. The youthful 2020 Foncalieu Reserve de l'Abbe features the region's top two grapes, Syrah and Grenache, in a fragrant blend where wild strawberry, stone fruit, spice, and mineral notes refresh the senses. For under $10 a bottle, it's worth keeping a case of this enchanting French beauty around!

Somewhat light in color, a decent pink wine that has some red berries with some minerality. OK with food but more of a porch pounder on hot days. Around $10.

2017 Grand Horse Old vine Zinfandel, Lodi, Ca

This Grand Horse 2017 Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel is beautifully balanced with notes of red cherry, currant and sugar plum. Medium weight, smooth tannins and crisp acidity keep the bright fruit lifted and focused.  American oak barrel fermented.

Another weekday wine – pleasant fruit, decent acidity and a light finish. No tannins, not much spice, but decent with food. Another $10 bottle.

2020 Domaine Bousquet Rose, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

Domaine Bousquet’s premium varietal series comprises a blend of estate and purchased fruit from the Uco Valley. The grapes benefit from major diurnal temperature swings, achieving exuberant ripeness while retaining the juiciness that invites a second glass. The wines are vinified with a French sensibility. The wines are un-oaked – an on-trend sensibility of little or no oak to let the fruit shine through and make the wines extremely food-friendly.

It has an elegant pale salmon color. The nose shows aromas of red fruits, with hints of fresh cherries and orange peel. In the mouth, it`s Lively with fresh acidity and fruity palate

It goes well with seafood, fish, and Asian food.

This wine is a darker pink, but not too dark. Flavors of red berries and some citric flavor – nice acidity to match with food. Good body weight and good as a sipper. Around $10, worth drinking this summer.

2018 Ver Sacrum Monastrell, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is 100% hand harvested Monastrell(Mouverdre) from a single vineyard in the Los Chacayes IG within the Uco Valley. The nose is bright with notes of sweet black cherry and cocoa that lead into a soft, round mid palate with hints of tobacco and dried leaves.

In a range of wines this quirky and intriguing, it's quite something to be the quirkiest of all. We think this wine gets that accolade. A little darker than the GSM and Garnacha, the nose is delicate, fruity and floral. It's also a tad denser and more compact in the mouth with hints of black fruits accompanying the red, and lovely savoury hints. Again, amazing length. 100% of the wine is aged on the lees in eggs for 6 months followed by 8 months in bottle prior to release.

“Bright, medium cherry-red… Juicy, tactile, high-pitched red berry, white pepper and spice flavours convey an impression of savoury dryness. A penetrating, lively wine without any oaky impingements.”

Aged in Concrete eggs, yet there was hint of coffee in the nose. Usually that comes from the barrel, but this came from where the grapes where grown. Dry, slightly lighter in color, but flavors of red berry and hints of spice. Short finish, but decent acidity to go with food. Around $16.

2010 Cuvee Del Maule Red Blend, Cauquenes, Chile

Jammy, juicy, earthy, spicy, with notes of “green pepper” and “black peppercorns.” Fruit-forward in the manner of a New World wine yet not quite full-bodied. The fruit? Ripe-sweet blackberry and cassis. Has good structure (round tannins, bright acidity) but not a lot of depth. Minerals and herbs (tobacco? mint?) come out on the finish. Very drinkable though not a keeper. Probably a great match with red meat on the barbecue. A natural wine made from the Earthquake Harvest: 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carignan, 16% Carmenere, 10% Pais, 7% Merlot, and 3% Zinfandel.

A unique blend, this wine had deep flavors and nice balance. Red berries and some earthiness comes though – nice acidity for food. Not a long finish, very little tannins, so drink soon. Great with food off the grill – around $16. (Another French family that came to Chile to make wines)

2017 Proemio ‘Terrior’ Red Blend, Mendoza, Argentina

Cherry aromas are punchy and high-toned. On the palate, this blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot is rugged but with soft pockets that allow it to expand. Flavors of dark berry fruits, cocoa and coffee finish quickly, leaving light notes of chocolate and toast.

RATING 87 WE

Fruit dominates on the expressive nose of this wine - think warm berry compote, ripe plums, and cherries. Underneath, there's an appealing spicy-savoury backdrop reminiscent of Chinese Five Spice with a hint of campfire smoke.

This wine is a berry bonanza on the palate! All the red fruit from the nose comes through loud and clear with flavours of wild strawberry, tart raspberry, and ripe cherry. It's fully dry though, so don't be fooled by all the juicy fruit flavours. Medium-bodied and with fine, moderate tannins to provide structure and a pleasant, dry finish with echoes of warm spice.

The red fruit shines through on the nose and on the palate – a little lighter in weight than I expected. This also had a coffee note – although they used staves in the concrete vats to add some oaky flavors to the wine. Good with food, moderate tannins and a moderate finish – around $20.

2020 Laurent Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

A bold, aromatic blackberry pie from the 'Napa of Chile.' Packed with telltale Cabernet flavors of cassis and wild blackberries and rounded out by a New World polish, this is a right-down-the-middle Cabernet for weeknight steak or pot roast.

Dark, ripe fruits with notes of leather and minerality; a little active on the tongue at first, giving a fresh pop of interest. Organic, unoaked and using indigenous yeasts, this is a natural value!

Taste: Bold and aromatic bright cherry, blueberry and brambly raspberry. Low tannin

This is a wine for beef – Cabernet from Chile without too much funky earthiness. Comes across fairly soft, being unoaked, but fills the palate with dark fruits and a touch of minerals.  Matches well with food, heavier fare, and is a nice change for Cabernet. Priced under $20 from a French family making wines in Chile.

Well, that's another month. Stay Safe and keep popping those corks - I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of May 2021

Another month and we are getting to go places with less masking. Get vaccinated if you haven't.

So, I killed off my over 20 year old bottle of Weller's Bourbon. Then I find out, that Weller's is now an "allocated" item at my liquor store - they only get a few bottles per month. How about that, I was hip before it became hip. I settled for a bottle of Buffalo Trace - they now own Weller's.

Now to the wines

2019 Chateau Guichot Famille Petite Vignobles, Bordeaux, France

You know the wine is not well known when you only find things about the White and Rose they produce. It was an adequate wine, some red fruits, a little acid to be food worthy, no real tannins or aftertaste. What you expect for a $10 Bordeaux

2018 Montes de Leza Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain

100% Tempranillo, this is the first wine of the Lozano family produced in its own winery located in the north of Spain. Each bunch of grapes has been carefully selected during the harvest.

It presents a very elegant nose to new wood and pleasant fresh notes of red fruits. The aging in new barrels makes this wine very balanced and shows very well integrated into the whole. The entrance in the mouth is wide and round. In addition it has good structure, Acidity friendly. The end is persistent that leaves us a memory of red fruit.

A pretty decent little Tempranillo from Rioja. Decent body, nice fruit flavors with a little touch of fruit on the end. Worth the $10 it cost, should pick up some more for “Week night” wines.

2019 Centine Paradiso Sant’ Adrea Nero di Troia, Puglia, Italy

Cantine Paradiso, Nero di Troia has varietal red berry fruits which dominate the nose. The palate offers balanced structure, good persistence and a nice twist of acidity.

Tasting characteristics : a ruby ​​red wine with purple reflections. Varietal red berry fruits dominate the nose. The palate offers balanced structure, good persistence and a nice twist of acidity

Food pairing : a wine to drink through the meal and a fine partner for vegetable or white meat-based preparations. Equally delicious when enjoyed on its own

This was a very good bottle of wine – nice fruits in the nose and mouth, good body and acidity to make it a real good food wine. Priced under $12, well worth getting a few.

2017 Waterdog Red Vinho, Portugal

Loving, loyal and intelligent, Portuguese Waterdogs are a treasured breed originally from the southern coast of Portugal – near where our winery originates. Waterdog red wine, a blend of Castelão, Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional grape varieties, have a fruity palate with notes of red berries and a touch of wood. Aged for 6 months on French and American Oak. Enjoy it with BBQ, roasts and pasta dishes.

Wine Enthusiast: 90 Points

This is a new wine from this producer, a blend of three grapes that is designed to be drunk young. In that, the wine succeeds, with its fine tannins cushioned by layers of black fruits and balanced acidity. Drink the wine now.

Another unusual grape blend, but very tasty. Good fruits ,both red and black with some vanilla, acidity for food and a touch a dryness on the finish. Screw cap available for around $12, really nice when grilling.

2018 Domaine de Ju Red wine, Ventoux, France

Raspberry and strawberry preserves are dusted with crushed earth and tea leaves in this big, juicy blend of Grenache (60%), Syrah (35%) and Carignan (5%). Vinified without oak, it's firmly focused on rich, fleshy red fruit flavors but there's an undertone of sweet spice that lends a sexy kick. Best enjoyed young. 89 Points WE

Lying just east of the Rhône, the beautiful vine clad Ventoux region is dominated by the giant Mont Ventoux. It's a region prized for its fresh, red fruit and spice character wines. Like this Gold medal winning Grenache based red from Domaine de Ju.

A bright tasting wine with an undertow of spice that made it very good. Red fruits dominate the nose and palate making it a good food and sipping wine. Another $11 bottle that I would drink again and again.

2020 Ver Sacrum “Geisha de Jade” White Blend, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 40% Marsanne and 60% Roussanne all from a single vineyard in the Los Chacayes IG in the Uco Valley. The nose jumps out of the glass with notes of orange peel, apricot, candied peach, and tangerine all woven together with white flowers, lavender, and a touch of coriander. The palate shows good acidity to match the full bodied character and the wine finishes with notes of honeydew melon and just a hint of flor. Rockstar juice in a bottle!

 

You just don’t see white Rhone varietals growing in South America, but here it is. Very refreshing -  like a Chardonnay that went on a diet and bulked up. A short finish, but dry – very interesting wine. Available around $17 or so.

2019 CVNE Vina Real Rosado, Rioja, Spain

 Attractive salmon pink in color with a rose pink rim. This is an aromatic wine, the nose revealing floral aromas along with peach, apricot and background notes of strawberry and citrus. Delicious balanced, palate, rounded with a lightly acidic aftertaste and a long, fruit-driven finish. An elegant wine which can be enjoyed at any time, with food or without.

RP90Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2019 Viña Real Rosado is a clarete produced with white and red grapes: 70% Viura and 30% Tempranillo and Garnacha. At 12.5% alcohol and with good freshness, it was produced in a light and approachable style and bottled early to preserve the primary character. This almost has more character of a white wine than a rosé, obviously very pale and with great freshness. It's balanced with moderate ripeness and a dry and serious palate with a long, dry and chalky finish that I like very much. Rating : 90+

 

Good fruit flavors in this Rose, even though it is a pale pink. I noted the freshness and balance; the finish was dry. Very drinkable and only around $12.

2018 Ver Sacrum GSM, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

13% alcohol. Bush vines. 70% Garnacha, 15% Monastrell, 15% Syrah, planted 2012. The grapes are co-fermented. First of all they have 8 days semi-carbonic maceration, then they are pressed to a 3000 litre unlined concrete egg for fermentation to complete for 20 days off skins, then the wine spends 8 months in old oak. There’s a bit of reduction on the nose, which shows bright berry fruits. The palate is juicy, light and bright with a vibrancy to it, as well as compact cherry and plum fruit. It’s a really pretty, drinkable wine with perhaps some latent seriousness under the currently quite simple fruit. The freshness, carbonic character and purity are all lovely. On day two it has shed the reduction and it’s silky and delicious. 93/100

G.S.M. is an Australian term for a southern Rhône Valley-style blend of grenache, syrah and mourvèdre. Argentina is better known for malbec, of course, but Ver Sacrum chose to focus on other grapes in its high-altitude vineyard in the Uco Valley of Mendoza. This bottle is 70 percent grenache, with 15 percent each of mourvèdre and syrah. It’s intense and juicy, yet well-balanced and precise, full of red fruit and herbal flavors. - Eric Asimov of The New York Times

This wine is a little lighter than most GSM’s, but had good fruit in the nose and on the palate. A moderate finish with integrated tannins, a real nice food wine and sipper. Only priced at $16 or so.

2016 Feudi di San Gregorio ‘Rubrato’ Aglianico, Irpinia, Italy

An intense ruby red color, this Aglianico displays aromas of wild berries, licorice and herb. It's well-balanced with savory notes of balsamic, and pairs well with hard cheeses, eggplant parmigiana or hearty beef stew.

JS94James Suckling

Great fresh-plum and herbal character on the expressive nose leads into an aglianico that manages to be concentrated with no trace of opulence. Fresh, without being overly tart, at the long, dry and mineral finish. Drink or hold.

 

I noted the dark and red fruits, herbs and spice on the palate. The tannins were fairly light, but brought some body to the wine. Nice moderate finish – good with food, also. Priced around $25.

2016 Bodega Ordonez ‘Vatan’ Tinta de Toro, Toro, Spain

Showing even better than when I tasted it last year, the 2016 Vatan (100% Tinta de Toro) is still a baby and sports a deep purple color as well as blockbuster notes of blackcurrants, melted licorice, violets, ground pepper, and earth. It starts out tight and backward on the palate but slowly opens with air. It’s full-bodied, opulent, and powerful, yet still stays light on its feet, balanced, and lively. It still needs another 2-3 years and is going to evolve for 15-20 years or more.

COMMENTARY: The 2016 Bodegas Ordoñez Vatan does an excellent job of combining power and style. TASTING NOTES: This wine brings enticing black fruit aromas and flavors upfront and center. Pair it with the first cut of a prime rib, if you can get it away from your dining partner.

This wine had a great fruit nose, then flavors were like a blockbuster. Heavy red fruits and big tannins, with a very long finish. This wine needs at least a few years in the cellar to tame down – it is a massive wine. Priced from $35-40, this is a beast that needs to calm down and would hold for years.

I hope you all are safe and well. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.