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.