The Wines of November, 2022

I haven't finished my notes about the 2012 California red wines we had, so I'll finish the November listing first. Typical Fall weather - hot and cold and everything in between but rain.

2016 Finca Collado Fet A Ma Hecho A mano Fait main , Alicante, Spain

GRAPE: 85% Monastrell 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

VINEYARD: Monastrell vines of over 40 years of age, located throughout the municipal area of Salinas, intermingled with Garnacha, Bobal and Forcallat. On honest, sandy and slightly saline soils low-goblet vines with a production limited to 2 kg per vine naturally.  30-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon strains located in Finca Collado on sandy soil.

Fet a mà is a very expressive and tasty wine, where the Monastrell, the degree of maturity and the breeding are fused in a perfect balance.

VISUAL: High-intensity color, without reaching saturation.

NOSE: In the nose it is very intense, with a very well-combined aromas of fruits, balsamics, licorice and coffee, very complex.

MOUTH: In the mouth, it has a good entry, silky, and tasty entry on the palate, with a little ripe tannin. In the finish, a slight acidity and balsamic aftertaste brings the perfect balance to the wine.

I got this on close out for under $9; of the three Finca Collado wines, this was showing the best. Not much in the way of tannins left, but the fruit was still expressive of dark fruits and hints of earth. Really nice everyday wine.

2018 Regina Viarum Mencia, Ribeira Sacra, Spain

A young red wine made from grapes Mencia, fermented in stainless steel tanks and a brief stint in French oak and American. A craftsmanship that every year reports to the winery numerous awards: Regina Viarum won the award for Best tinto de Galicia 2010; Best young red wine from the Ribera Sacra 2010 and 2011; and Baco de Oro 2011 the best young red wine from Spain, becoming one of the most laureates wines, not only de Ribera Sacra, but Galicia.

Another close out, but I really like Mencia from Spain. Very little oak influence, but the fruit is bright – red berry and touches of acidity. Under $15, this is a good wine for grilled food and roasted meats.  Nice, try it if you can.

2019 Andrew Murray Watch hill Vineyard Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA

The 2019 vintage was just truly magical at Watch Hill Vineyard, allowing for a long even ripening window, and several different harvest dates. This allowed us to bring in the Syrah with several different flavor profiles. Harvest began in the middle of October and finished two weeks later. As you all must know by now, this is perhaps my favorite Syrah vineyard and thus my favorite wine to release each year. Critics have been praising this wine since our first Watch Hill bottling. More importantly, you all have really seemed to appreciate this wine as it always sells out VERY quickly. Each vintage, we co-ferment up to 6% Viognier and employ up to 25% whole cluster fermentation. We ferment the wine in small open top tanks and then age the various lots for 18 months in French oak barrels (25% new). This yields an impossibly dark garnet (nearly black) color, with neon tinges at the rim, pointing at the cool climate origins. Right now, the wine has notes of ripe cherry, pepper, flowers, charred bacon, tar, and just a hint of toasty oak. The ideal drinking window for this Syrah is 4 - 12 years from today.

Not just Andrew Murray, but a single vineyard, Oh my. This is a great tasting wine with cherry and berry fruits and a touch of oak. Tannins are very fine grained and the wine has good balance. It runs around $30, but well worth every penny. What a Syrah should be – no over-the-top fruit bomb, but a dense and tasty wine.

2018 Sanford La Rinconada Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills, CA

La Rinconada Chardonnay is very expressive, displaying lemon confit and wet rocks while a touch of hazelnut adds charm. Bright, detailed, and nuanced, La Rinconada Chardonnay has a lot going on aromatically, while the minerally stone fruits on the palate are racy with a long finish.

This classic Chardonnay pairs well with sushi, Asian dishes, or a simple cheese plate.

WE93Wine Enthusiast

Clean while creamy aromas of Meyer lemon zest, honeysuckle and butter show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The tense palate delivers a strong mineral kick from chalk and chiseled stone, offering tight yuzu and lime-peel flavors.

WS90Wine Spectator

Minerally style, with fresh-cut apple, citrus and green pear flavors that are focused and direct. Lemongrass notes linger on the structured finish. Drink now through 2024.

Clean while creamy aromas of Meyer lemon zest, honeysuckle and butter show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The tense palate delivers a strong mineral kick from chalk and chiseled stone, offering tight yuzu and lime-peel flavors.

RATING93           PRICE$50

I don’t know the price besides what the Wine Enthusiast has in the review. This was my Thanksgiving wine, a gift from my brother. The minerality of this wine is wonderful, with soft fruits and hints of citrus.

I ended up drinking it all because it was so smooth and had good balance to be with the meal.  Really nice bottle of Chardonnay.

2018 Andis EN OR, Sierra Foothills, CA

Rich but balanced, this full-bodied wine integrates ripe black cherry and blackberry with nuances of woodsmoke and cocoa wrapped in velvety tannins. Made with one-third each of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, it offers plenty of flavor and polish. JIM GORDON

RATING92           PRICE$45             VARIETYRhône-style Red Blend

APPELLATIONSierra Foothills, Sierra Foothills, California, US

My wine buddy Matt had me try this – priced under $20, I find it to be a very nice bottle of Rhone style grapes. Black fruits dominate though some oak comes through with light tannins. Good balance, making it a good wine for meals. No doubt, this is a good Rhone Ranger example from California.

2020 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso, Campania, Italy

The Vesuvio DOC area is characterized by volcanic, loose soils, very rich in minerals and well-draining. The exposure is mainly South-East facing. Positioned 170m a.s.l., the vines are albarello-trained (head-trained) and Guyot-pruned, with a plant density of 2,500 vines/ha. Average age of the vines is 15 years.

Hand harvested in October, grapes are fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperatures. Refinement in bottle one month prior to release.

Ruby red. Aromas of cherries, plums, raspberries, and black pepper. Refined, light tannins and bright acidity make this a lifting, fruity wine. Pair with salumi, tomato and meat-based sauces and pizza Margherita.

This wine did not jump out on the nose – maybe still a little young? Nice red fruits on the palate, not much in tannins. Excellent balance that made it go really well with a meal. Available around $25, this is the entry wine for this producer (Mastroberardino) – made 100% from Piedirosso grapes.

2019 Mastroberardino Aglianico Irpinia, Campania, Italy

Ruby red. This fresh, youthful red has notes of strawberry, cherry, blackberry and violet flowers. The palate is smooth, medium-bodied, with red fruits on the palate and a fruity finish. Pairs well with a variety of light appetizers, fresh tomato sauce-based dishes and roasted chicken.

This wine, the entry to the Aglianico they grow has a broader nose and quite a bit of red and dark fruit notes. There is a modest aftertaste, with a few tannins in the mix. Good balance and a great wine to pair with Italian dishes and other meals. Priced under $25, nice price for this wine.

2019 Mastroberardino Aglianico ‘Re di More’, Campania, Italy

Deep ruby red. A complex and enveloping bouquet offers aromas of red fruits, particularly strawberry and raspberry, and spices such as vanilla, tobacco, cocoa, and coffee. This is a warm, enveloping wine with great structure and notable softness. Pair with salumi, mushroom and truffle dishes, as well as meat sauces and game.

V92Vinous

Crushed stone gives way to sweet exotic spices, then hints of curry, and finally crushed blackberries and plums as the 2019 Irpinia Aglianico Re di More comes to life in the glass. This is silky and polished upon entry, gaining depths through mineral-tinged black fruits, savory herbs and rosy inner florals that form toward the close. Seamless from start to finish, the Re di More tapers off with a concentration of tart raspberries and hints of violet pastille that last incredibly long. This suave expression of pure Aglianico is going to win a lot of hearts. You get a little bit of new barrique spice, and it’s wonderfully integrated. This drinks like a baby Taurasi, but it’s much more accessible. Best after 2023.

The next step up for Aglianico is the ‘Re di imore’. This wine is fuller than the last one, with a lot of expressive red fruits and a good balance. Longer aftertaste, with a little hint of tannins. This wine is drinking well with a meal right now, but has stability to last a few years in your cellar. Retail is about $35 and well worth every penny.

 

2017 Mastroberardino ‘Radici’ Taurasi, Campania, Italy

#84 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022

Deep ruby red. Full, complex and intense, with notes of cherry, violet, wild berries, and a distinctive spicy aroma. This elegant wine has flavors of plum, black cherry, strawberry and intense spices.

Pair with mature cheeses, truffles, porcini mushrooms, Ragout and other dishes with long cooked sauces and roasted red meats.

V94Vinous

The 2017 Taurasi Radici is a force to be reckoned with, as it bursts from the glass with masses of raspberries, currants and plums, complemented by an array of autumnal spices and crushed violets. Its textural depth and density is something to behold, silky, almost creamy, yet contrasted perfectly by a core of mineral-laced black fruits and brisk acids, as an air of inner rose and cloves forms toward the close. The 2017 is persistent and structured yet also unbelievably fresh, as fine tannins frame its smoky mineral tones, along with lasting hints of blackberry and olive. This is a gorgeous rendition of Radici that should provide readers with a slightly earlier drinking window than normally expected. That said, we are talking in terms of Taurasi here, and this wine has a very bright future ahead of it.

JS93James Suckling

Complex already on the nose with blue and black fruit, as well as notes of nori, goudrons and spices, such as cinnamon and mace. Full-bodied with intense, almost steely fruit and mineral flavors and firm, medium-grain tannins. The quality is evident here. It’s just a bit rough at the moment and needs a couple of years to calm down and expand in all directions. Try from 2023.

This is the “Big Daddy” of this group. This wine is huge – broad shouldered and a tannic beast. Not undrinkable, but you know it when you get it in your mouth. I would cellar this for 3 to 5 years. The red fruits that are in it will stay with age and the tannins will back down. Excellent balance to have with a meal, although right now I’d have it with a rare steak. In a couple years, it will go with any heavier type dish, Italian or other. Priced around $65, this is a wine well worth its price.

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

 The Wines of October 2022

It hasn't really been fall weather, except for a few days this month. Got through Halloween and through to the other side. Had some guests this month, so a few extra wines for the month. Here they are:

2018 Betz Besoleil Columbia, Valley, WA

Vintage: 2018

Varietal: 46% Grenache, 24% Counoise, 24% Mourvèdre, and 6% Syrah

Appellation: Columbia Valley      Aging: 40% Whole Cluster Inclusion

Bottling date: June 2020                Alcohol: 13.8%

Region: Washington       Tasting Notes

The 2018 Bésoleil shows what it’s made of from the moment it hits the glass, displaying a brilliant, bright ruby color. The aromas are intense and complex: strawberry preserves, orange zest, and raspberry, tellicherry pepper, fresh rose petals, and herbs de Provence. The texture is silky and the palate expansive, adding layers of fresh spice and cedar. Freshness and delicacy are the name of the game here as it moves into a focused, lengthy, and saline finish that’s supported by a fine tannic structure. Delicious. The 2018 Bésoleil will continue to gain nuance over the next 8-12 years.

Acclaim                 93-95 Barrel Rating - Robert Parker

 This is an excellent wine from the Pacific Northwest.  A blend with a fruity nose followed on the palate by red fruits and some spices. Good balance, very good with food – this is a knock out. Got it reduced at $30, a definite buy.

2013 Finca Collado Crianza, Alicante, Spain

Winery : Bodegas Finca Collado                 Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

Aging: 14 months             Oak type : French

Tasting note       Cherry red colour, complex and elegant on the nose. Notes of ripe red fruits and spices, chocolate, licorice, caramel predominate. On the palate it is intense, tasty and persistent. Positive bottle evolution.

 Vineyard Plants 25 years old. Planting density: 2,800 plants per hectare. Double cordon pruning system.

 Winemaking      50hl and 20hl stainless steel tanks. Macerations adjusted according to the type of variety. Gentle vertical pressing. Fermentation and maceration with the skins for 3 weeks.

Got this at a close out price – getting a little long in the tooth. Touch of funk but not overpowering. Still pretty good fruit and acidity to go with grilled food.  Pretty nice for a $5 bottle (close-out).

2015 Senorio de Irati Crianza  Navarra, Spain

"Spicy berry aromas come with welcome side notes of desert brush, while this feels juicy and bright throughout. Spiced black cherry aromas are pure and fruity, with a bold and tasty finish providing back up.

TASTING NOTES:  View: dark cherry red.

Nose: aroma of red fruits, vanilla background, roasted and balsamic notes.

Mouth: good fruity on the palate with balanced acidity and good run.

APPELLATION: Navarra.

GRAPES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha and Graciano.

ALCOHOL: 13%

 

Another bargain, still drinking pretty well. Nice fruit, almost past its prime. Went with food, so great for another $5 bottle (close-out).

2019 Treana Chardonnay Central Coast , CA

A medium bodied Chardonnay which displays our signature rich toasted notes of caramel and stone fruit on the nose and through the pallet. Hints of orange blossom and honey and citrus on the pallet. The mineral finish lingers with a touch of mandarin creating a wine that is powerful and refined.

Very nice “old-style” Cali Chard. Priced around $20, I think – I bought it a while ago.

2018 Borrigiano Il Borro Valdarno di Sopra Italy

This is the first wine from Il Borro to be made under the Valdarno di Sopra appellation designation (the first vintage made was 2015), and the wine's name Borrigiano means inhabitants of the Il Borro hamlet. The 2018 Valdarno di Sopra Borrigiano is a blend of Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah that sees a brief period of cold maceration followed by ten months of aging in large oak casks. The aim here is to keep the freshness of the fruit intact, and this goal has been readily achieved. The bouquet opens to forest berry aromas with raw plum and fresh prune. This is a terrific wine with a confident, pure and easy-drinking appeal that is nothing short of charming.

This is an easy drinking Italian that also holds up to food. Nice fruitiness in the nose and palate, no heavy tannins or acid, yet balance for various foods. Priced around $20, this is a good buy.

2013 Pian Della Vigne Brunello di Montalcino, Firenze, Italy

The 2013 Pian della Vigne shows a brilliant ruby red color. The nose is delicate and complex with notes of ripe fruit, cherries, and plums, perfectly balanced with sensations of dried and candied fruit and spices. The palate is ample with supple tannins and is enlivened by a note of vibrant acidity with fully brings out the intense persistence and pleasure of its aromas. The finish offers hints of tobacco, dark chocolate, and berry fruit. An extremely elegant and bracingly savory wine of great finesse.

WE94     Wine Enthusiast

Alluring scents of sweet pipe tobacco, baking spice, violet and baked plum abound in this fragrant red. Elegantly structured, the bright, polished palate offers Marasca cherry, raspberry compote and licorice framed by well-knit, silky tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. It's already tempting but the best is yet to come. Drink 2021–2028.

A wonderfully complex wine with a modest nose, but a palate of red fruits and spices. Good body, though the tannins do not leap out; the wine has excellent body and pairs with food. Still youthful enough to last a few more years in the cellar, an outstanding wine from Antinori. Current price is about $50 and worth every penny.

2020 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Tualatin Estate, Oregon

Tualatin Estate Vineyard rests in the foothills of the Oregon Coast range and is one of the oldest plantings in Oregon, planted in 1973 by Oregon wine pioneer Bill Fuller, and now in the newly approved Tualatin Hills AVA. The unique Laurelwood soil profile at the Tualatin Estate Vineyard contributes to the complex nature of the wines.

A special bottling for Auburn Spirits in Wichita, this is a pinot noir that holds its own with other wines.  A fruity nose is followed by a palate of cherry and red raspberry. Nice body in the wine, would pair with food. Under $30, another great buy.

2020 G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d’Alba, Barolo, Italy

 

Deep violet in color, the nose is of red and wild berries leaning to cherries w some herbal notes. The gentle tannins are a perfect match for the moderate, but very fresh acidity.

Dolcetto is the flagship grape of Piemonte because the beguiling sweetness of its fruit is perfectly balanced by its ripe tannins, which make for a magical food wine that just comes alive at the table and brings everything else along with it.

WS90Wine Spectator

Black cherry, rose and juniper aromas and flavors mark this pliable red. Picks up a touch of earth on the finish, yet this is overall pure and full of finesse.

Dolcetto is the all-purpose wine that can be found on every lunch and dinner table in Piedmont. Even though they possess different flavor profiles, in terms of functionality at the table, Dolcetto is to Piedmont what Beaujolais is to France.

There are so many Italian grape varietals and wines! This is a tasty red with a touch of earth but bright red fruit. Nice body weight to go with foods, especially pasta and antipasto. Since it was a gift, I’m guessing the price was around $20-22.

2021 Thistledown Gorgeous Grenache, South Australia

 

Thistledown taste extensively and pick on the way up to ensure that the fruit is balanced and energetic on arrival at the winery. Multiple ferments combine traditional techniques with open, spontaneous, 100% whole bunch cuvees, partial whole bunch ferments and a gentle extraction regime throughout

to encourage the more “pinot” side of Grenache to emerge. As with all Thistledown wines, the approach is detailed, sensitive to each site, with winemaking

James Suckling

I like the mix of fresh-pear and lemon aromas and flavors that this delivers. The palate has some freshness and cut with a soft, fleshy core. Easygoing. A blend of Riverland and McLaren Vale.

A lighter style wine, yet the palate has nice red fruits and some weight to carry it through lighter fare.  Tasty for about $20 price tag.

2017 Bodega Calle ‘El Necio’ Syrah, Mendoza, Argentina

Vintage: 2017 | Wine Type: Red Wine     Varietal: Syrah

Origin: Argentina | Appellation: Single Vineyard, Altamira, Uco Valley

Elaboration: Hand picked fruit. Fermented in wide top concrete tanks, and aged 12 months with French oak.  

TASTING NOTES

“Garnet color.  Peppery aromas and flavors of overripe strawberries and pink peppercorn with a lively, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and a long blackberry pie and tar finish with chewy, grippy tannins and light oak.  A peppery Syrah with ample fruit.” 

100% Syrah from Altamira, this wine has notes of bacon, spice, black cherries, and a touch of floral and smoke. The medium-bodied palate finishes with round tannins.

This wine was heavier in body than many syrah – the red fruit flavors powered through on the palate, but hint of tannin and earth crept into the mouthfeel. Needed food to balance the wine, just different than most Syrah. Priced reasonably just over $20, worth trying for a change.

Another month - hope all is well. Until next time, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of September 2022

Another month has flown by. Here are the wines I enjoyed this month

2019 Badia a Cultusboni RS Chianti Classico, Italy

Savory and enjoyable, this pretty red offers aromas of woodland berries, tilled earth and leather. On the tangy, easygoing palate, lithe tannins and fresh acidity accompany juicy Morello cherry, black plum and star anise. Drink through 2023

The 2019 Chianti Classico RS Cultusboni is deep, fleshy and super-expressive. Tobacco, cedar and dried autumn leaves give the 2019 lovely aromatic presence. Deceptive in its mid-weight feel, the 2019 is beautifully layered and resonant from start to finish. It is another impressive wine in this range from Badia a Coltibuono. The 2019 is positively stellar and one of the best wines I have tasted here in some time.

This is a highly rated Chianti Classico with good reason. Deep in flavor with nice acidty to make a great food wine. Priced around $15 (on sale) this is a great bottle to bring out for a variety of food.

2017 Tarima Hill Monastrell Old vines Alicante, Spain

Cherry color with a hint of intense ruby. In the nose mature fruit, raspberries, blueberries, spices, hints of balsamic and notes of flowers. Tasty in the mouth, balanced and full-bodied. Long finish.

90           Decanter

A beautiful bruiser with ripe black fruit, leather and spice notes, a lot of wine for the money. Full bodied with fruit to match the brawny structure.

Got this on close out at $13, this is a heady rich wine.  Well worth the price, it needs food to balance the heavy fruit flavors and touch of tannins. I really enjoy this grape.

2015 No Curfew Cabernet Sauvignon California

A powerhouse cabernet that is savory and fruit-focused. Approachable, youthful, yet integrated flavors of black cherry, plumb and blueberries work very well with this cabernet.

Another close out – at $6, this is a good “school-night” wine. Nothing outstanding but fairly well made, balanced, with few tannins. Good with your average spaghetti or pizza or meatloaf night dinner.

2021 Carol Shelton Rendezvous Rose, Mendocino, CA

A red-ruby color, fresh red-fruit flavors and a sense of bursting ripeness combine with a crisp sensation for great charm and drinkability in this medium-bodied wine. Made from organically grown Zinfandel and Carignan.  RATING89

Cold maceration for two days on skins to winemakers discretion, then 50% of juice was drained (bled off), cold settled and cold fermented

CELLAR STORAGE/AGING:  100% stainless steel

When a rose looks almost like a pinot noir, you know you have a special wine. Good body and fruit flavors, this goes with a lot of foods. Priced in the $20 range, well worth trying and surprising your friends.

2020 Pasqua ‘Desire Lush and Zin’ Primitivo, Puglia, Italy

On the nose the wine brings a mixture of overripe and dried black fruits in the foreground, followed by a very nuanced, spicy-oaky background and a subtle earthy layer in between the two. On the palate the wine delivers exuberant acidity, ripe tannins and an overwhelming touch of alcoholic warmth showing through on the mouthfeel, which leads to a quite seedy-crisp aftertaste. All in all, this is a fruit-forward, rich and extracted primitivo wine, that is made in a clear cut, new world style.

A fresh style of primitive, this wine is showing really well. Bright fruits with enough body to be a good food wine. Worried about Cali wines from 2020, try this one. Generally under $20.

2020 Ridge Dusi Ranch Zinfandel, Paso Robles, CA

In 1967 Ridge first bought Zinfandel from this vineyard, then farmed by Benito Dusi. Today, his nephew, Mike Dusi, continues to tend the old, dry-farmed vines. Picked at ideal ripeness, the 2020 is exceptionally well balanced in fruit, tannin, and acid. It is enjoyable as a young wine for its exuberant fruit and will continue to evolve over seven to eight years.

WW93Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2020 Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel is bright and lively. TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of bright strawberries and raspberries. Try it with grilled hanger steak.

As usual, Ridge excels with this grape. Good fruit with balance, some body to manage food, a nice bottle to enjoy with friends. Only about $35, at the lower end for this producer. BTW, this is all zinfandel, not the usual field blend. If you can't find 2020, try the 2021.

2019 Bedrock Wine ‘Pagani Ranch Heritage’ Red, Sonoma Valley, CA

 96 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2019 Heritage Wine Pagani Ranch shows why this site is very obviously a California version of a grand cru. No matter the vintage, the personality of the vineyard comes through with tremendous eloquence. Bright red berry fruit, blood orange, rose petal, mint and cinnamon build in a creamy, stunningly beautiful wine that satisfies all the senses. Most observers place Pagani Ranch among the top three or four sites in Sonoma Valley, but it might very well be higher than that. The 2019 is stunning, that’s all there is to it. As always, the field blend is Zinfandel based, with bits of interplanted Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Lenoir and Petit Bouschet." 01/21

An exceptional and hardy field blend. Bright fruit with undertones of spice, this is really a knock-out bottle of Zin. Could use a year or two of cellaring to loosen the edges. Tremendous and around $40 – enjoy it with a slab of steak.

Another month - hope all is well. Remember, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The wines of August 2022

    It was a hot month - and dry. I still managed to drink some wine - and I upgraded my old (10 year) home computer. Any typos are due to the new keyboard, not my fat fingers (hah).

2019 Sterling Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley, Ca

throughout the valley—from the cool southern Carneros region to the warm and rugged northernmost reaches of the valley near Calistoga. These incredible vineyards give winemaker Harry Hansen some of the best Napa Valley fruit to select from and craft these unique, intensely flavored and expressive wines.

Lush, mouthfilling grapefruit and kiwi flavors ride a nicely tangy texture in this rather full-bodied, fruity and generous wine. It's unoaked and made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes.   RATING90

Never been a big fan of Sauv Blanc, but when it’s hot, and the wine sees no oak, it is pretty refreshing.  I was pleased with this Napa bottle that I got for around $11. Well worth that price.

2019 Chateau De Mattes Saban Corbieres Viala France

Region Languedoc-Roussillon

Sub-Region Corbières

Soil Gravel & Limestone

Farming Sustainable

BlendGrenache 60%, Syrah 20%, Mourvèdre 20%

Alcohol 14.3%

Do you like Châteuneuf-du-Pape? How about Cornas? If yes, what would you say to a

Mediterranean French red that tasted like a magical combination of the two for just $20? Bring it on! Château de Mattes-Sabran rocked our world in a way few southern French reds have lately; a lot of the reds from this part of the world are playing checkers, but this one is a chess Grandmaster. Grown in scrubby, sun-soaked hillside vineyards strewn with the same kind of galets roulés (large granite stones) found in Châteauneuf, the old-vine Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre in “Le Viala” work together in perfect harmony, taking you straight to France’s south coast without any excess baggage. Like our favorite wines from the southern (and northern) Rhône, this tastes not just of fruit but of the dusty, rocky slopes that fruit is grown in, with the freshness that comes from a site with a little bit of altitude. With Winter approaching and a whole new set of wines about to take their place on center stage, We’re pushing this one out front for a star turn.

This wine was a little surprising. Nice fruit on the nose and on first taste. Then a little scub brush, and then a final taste of anise melting into a mint flavor. Unusual, but actually a nice flavor. Good acidity to go with foods, shined with grilled meat – priced around $16.  Nice buy.

2017 Familia Furlotti Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Heavy Malbec tendencies shine through in this wine, but they are restrained, refined and concise.   Blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry and cream of tartar are vibrant and sultry. Long family traditions help guide the grapes into the bottle.  The wine shows French oak aging, but it does not overpower the wine, nor does it contribute any density.  A truly pure expression of clean, high-altitude, old-vine Malbec.

Not a bad Malbec, but this wine was a little hollow in the mid palate.  Not a fruit bomb, nice restraint and went with beef very well. Still, bothered me a little with that mid-palate and short after-taste. Priced around $15, OK for a school night wine.

NV Marietta Old Vine Red Lot 73, California

OVR Lot Number 73 is bright and juicy, with strawberry and black raspberry supported by savory notes of briar and slate. The fruity and fresh Zinfandel from 2020 is given added complexity and length by barrel aged Syrah and Petite Sirah from 2019 and 2018. A touch of Grenache and Barbera add a more complex red fruit character and hint of red licorice and white pepper.

Pair the Old Vine Red with a wide range of foods: pizza, pasta, burgers, roasted vegetables, mushrooms, and tacos.

RP95Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The NV OVR Lot 73 is composed mainly of Zinfandel with smaller portions of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Barbera. Medium ruby, it offers intense red cherry, blood orange and apricot perfume with accents of rooibos tea leaves, red licorice, saline, lilac and loads of spicy nuances. The medium-bodied palate is light on its feet with soft tannins, bursts of refreshing acidity and detailed amaro accents on the long finish. This is so easy to drink!

Not sure about dome of Parker’s flavors, but this was a real god sipping wine that had the heft to match grilled meats. Moderate finish, almost no tannins but good acidity for the food.  I think this is around $16 – it has wine from 2018, 2019 and zinfandel from 2020. Priced around $15, this is a buy several bottles to have around.

2015 No Curfew Red Blend, California

"As the blend of 92% Zinfandel and 8% Petite Sirah opens up, its delightful array of floral aromas proves quite appealing. Dark fruit laced with lavender splashes the palate alongside round tannins; the ripe character shows both a sweet side and a savory component..."

 

When you get a wine for $6, you think – plonk. However, it is more expensive on-line. Reality –it is a very nice sipping wine with decent acidity and body to match uncomplicated meals.  If you find it under $10, buy and try it – you will not be disappointed.

2021 Argiolas ‘Costamolino’ Vermintino, Sardinia, Italy

Sardinian Vermentino is one of the great undersung white wines in the world, and Argiolas’ 2021 Costamolino is one of the island’s standard-bearing bottles. Crisp, mouthwatering, and succulent, packed with stone fruit and orange zest, it’s the perfect summertime white—and the kind of infinitely versatile wine to pair with everything from grilled halibut to hamachi crudo with salsa verde.

 

The island’s climate results in a gloriously crisp take on the grape. Transposed between continents, Sardinia is a place where beauty arises from a meeting of extremes. Picture ocean-sprayed, rocky coasts and long, flat plains, plus hot southern winds from Africa that collide with cool gusts funneling down from France.

This is a wine that defines minerality – great nose and body. Makes you want some seafood to have right then. Fine as a sipper, with that bit of orange with the other tastes of pine and stone fruit. Decent aftertaste, this is a great white wine. Priced around $20, buy this if you are serving any thing from the water (except catfish, cause you know… catfish).

2020 Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir, Tasmania, Australia

A Pinot Noir that’s uniquely Tasmanian, from a place unlike anywhere else.

Vineyard Region:             Tasmania             Wine Analysis:   Alc/Vol: 12.5%

Colour: This Pinot Noir is brightly coloured with youthful purple tones.

Aroma: A strongly perfumed style redolent of spicy black cherry, dark fruits and hints of raspberries.

Palate:  The wine displays a juicy, sweet-fruit middle palate with soft, ripe tannins and fresh acidity.

Peak Drinking:   Until 2024

Fruit-driven, elegant, and made to drink now, this Pinot Noir is brightly colored with a palate to match, boasting generous flavors of ripe cherry, raspberries and spice.

A versatile food wine that can be enjoyed with light or heavy dishes. Try this with pan fried duck breast and roasted Mediterranean vegetables. Or serve it with venison that is drizzled in a red wine and black pepper jus.

This is better as a si[pper – it would hold it’s own against lighter fare – not a slab of beef.  Seem bright in the flavor, little acidity and a very modest aftertaste.  Not French, no California – this guy sets up as pure Tasmanian – little devil!  Priced from $20 – 24, not bad, although I am not a Pinot enthusiast. 

2020 Corvo ‘Irmana’ Frappato, Sicily, Italy

Made from hand-picked Frappato grapes, Irmàna is an authentic expression of this grape variety. Velvety on the palate, with mild tannins, it is very smooth and has an aromatic persistence on the palate, while the nose is filled with subtle hints of rose and violet. The new design of the Line inspired by naturalness takes us simply into a world of sky and soil, sun and wind.

Drinking Frappato is like jumping into a giant pool of brightly-colored plastic balls.

Typical Tasting Notes: Pomegranate, Sweet Strawberry, White Pepper, Tobacco, Clove

Why Frappato is Awesome: Frappato is one of the few red wines out there that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Still, its sweet-smelling fruit flavors and pale red color aren’t something to poo poo. Frappato might actually be genetically related to Sangiovese (Italy’s top red wine, mind you). Plus, it’s perfectly at home growing on a live volcano (Mount Etna in Sicily)!

 

This wine is not to be taken seriously.  A touch sweet, a little tannins, kinda funky, yet enjoyable.  What I call a fun wine, much more of a sipper by a fire or on a beach. Priced under $20, worth it for the fun of having Frappato!

2019 Domaine Petroni Red, Corsica, France

Wonderful raspberry and ripe strawberry fruits as well as spice, flowers, and a beautiful chalky minerality all emerge from the 2019 Corse, a medium-bodied, fresh, seamless, impeccably balanced red from Corsica. It has plenty of classic Mediterranean spice and garrigue nuances, yet it holds onto a wonderful sense of freshness, focus, and elegance, and is just a joy to drink.

The rouge is a blend of 50% Niellucciu, 35% Syrah, and 15% Grenache. Grapes are fermented in concrete tanks and aged 12 months in stainless steel to preserve the fresh fruit-driven aspects of the wine.

This Corsican wine is very solid, with tannins, moderate acidity and that drying mouthfeel. Might use a year or so of aging, to bring some harmony. Not a sipping wine, but one that cries out for that slab of beef and garlic potatoes. Unique and worth trying – priced from $20 – 24, so you can say you’ve had Niellucciu.

Hope you are ready for fall – I know I am. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 

 The Wines of July 2022

We are in Summer - Heat waves, then rain and then more heat. Makes the weatherpeoples

lives easy - same forcast for a week!.

How about some vino I enjoyed this month.

2015 Numanthia Tinta de Toro, Toro, Spain

Bright cherry red with ruby highlights. Numanthia 2015 is a fresh, yet expressive wine. It first reveals a fruity nose with cranberries, blackcurrant and violet notes, then hints of cinnamon, cloves and black pepper followed by delicate and balsamic aromas with mint, eucalyptus and sandalwood. Firm on the palate with a harmonious, wide and balanced evolution. The wine's freshness offers length and vivacity, while it coats the palate with supple tannins. It first develops ripe red fruit, cocoa, cinnamon, mineral and spicy notes such as graphite, nutmeg or cloves, giving complexity and elegance. This finish is gentle and long, with minty, minerals and red berry notes.

JS96James Suckling

Astonishing fragrance for a Toro red, married to a huge body and a massive tannin structure in a way that’s without comparison in Spain and the world. Very long, plush finish that gets more and more delicate as it extends in the direction of the horizon. Drink or hold. This should have decades ahead of it.

WS94Wine Spectator

This powerful red is reserved, but has depth and intensity. Anise, mineral and tar notes give this an austere character, but there's a core of ripe fruit detail, supported by well-integrated tannins and enough acidity to keep this balanced.

    A gift to me, this wine is an outstanding Spanish wine. Good body, fragrant nose and a tannic backbone. The flavors give some tar and spice with the fruit but it is balanced and very nice. Great with a chunk of meat.

2019 Trentadue La Storia Cuvee 32, Alexander Valley, California

The 2019 Cuvee 32 is the 22nd vintage of this blend for Trentadue Winery. Every vintage has uniquely different blend determined by the best expression of its components and how they work together. The young Montepulciano has become an important player in the blend as well as their Brunello Clone Sangiovese. The 2019 had a moderate yields therefore produced wines with dark red color, bright fruit and firm acidity and well-structured tannins destined to age well. The 2019 Cuvee 32 has intense cherry/cassis aromas contributed by the Sangiovese followed by deeper red fruit aromas of plums, blueberry, and a hint of pomegranate. Typical for the blend is an enticing mixture of herbs and spices making the wine particularly enjoyable with Italian style food. With more air the wine shows more complex yet still in developing stage aromas and flavors of cocoa, cinnamon, leather, and black licorice. The mouth feel is medium to full with relatively high, food friendly acidity and a long and fresh finish. Drink now through 2029. Cheers!

41% Sangiovese                                32% Merlot         18% Montepulciano        9% Malbec

    Known as “Cal-Ital” because of the Italian varietals grown in California and mixed with grapes expected in Cali. A real food wine, pleasant acidity with the black fruits and a nice moderate finish.  Just sings with pasta or Italian style foods (yes, even pizza!). Got this on a close out for $20, well worth every cent.

2016 Sterling Merlot, Napa Valley, Ca

Wine Spectator

"Plush and well-spiced, with sinewy power to the dried red currant, plum and raspberry flavors. Notes of slate and hot stone show on the chiseled finish. Drink now through 2022."

The Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot is a vivid ruby-red color in the glass with aromas of blackberry fruit, plum and ripe black cherry. The appealing bouquet leads to a mouthcoating, rich palate where additional red and black fruit flavors mingle with notes of graphite and dried spice. The viscous mouthfeel of the wine is plush and the ripe tannins are refined and polished. The Napa Valley Merlot is well-balanced and elegant, offering true varietal characteristics and a sleek, flavorful finish.

    A very nice drinking Merlot, with red and black fruits dominating the palate with some earthiness and herbs. Moderate finish, enough backbone to go with food. Got this on close-out at 16, great price for this wine.

2019 Felciaio Badia di Morrona Vermantino, Pisa, Italy

Vermentino is one of the few local white grape varieties which is typically Tuscan. Regularly the major grape of the better blends produced on the region’s coast, perhaps for this reason it goes particularly well with fìsh.

A straw yellow with greenish highlights of good intensity, the wine is fresh and elegant in aroma with floral and citric notes. The flavors are soft and attractively crisp, perceptibly savory.

An excellent aperitif and with fìsh.

This wine has some floral and citrus notes with a strong minerality. Nice sipping, would be great with fish and shellfish, nothing too heavy. Appealing on hot summer days, for sure. Priced around $15, a good buy.

2017 Borsao Zarihs Shiraz, Campo de Borja, Spain

The color is opaque red-black. Crimson-purple rim. Powerful impression of blackberries, with a hint of wood smoke and sweet vanilla. The nose begins to open up and develops notes of dark chocolate. The initial impact is very full bodied, with a plush, soft structure. Flavors of dark berries dominate; wild blackberries and dried plums, with notes of espresso coffee.

Pair with rice based dishes like paella, beef, pork, pasta, or grilled vegetables.

WS92Wine Spectator

An elegant, medium- to full-bodied red, with an underpinning of smoky mineral and flavors of baked blackberry, herbed olive and toast. Well-spiced, with creamy tannins and a lasting, fresh finish.

JS91James Suckling

Berries on the nose with some cloves and peppercorns that follow through to a medium body with ripe fruit and creamy tannins. Flavorful finish. Just the right amount of wood to make it interesting. Drink now.

V91Vinous

Saturated violet. Dark berries, candied licorice, vanilla and a spicy black pepper accent on the oak-spiced nose. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering ripe blackberry and cherry liqueur flavors complicated by suggestions of vanilla and floral pastilles. Broad, fleshy and appealingly jammy, finishing very long and smooth, with a repeating vanilla note and slow-building tannins.

    Bodega Borsao makes some really good Spanish wines. Couldn’t pass this up when I saw it – Shiraz spelled backwards. Nice bright fruits but not overboard in an Australian fashion. Nice body with hints of flavors in the red fruits. Moderate aftertaste, enough backbone for grilled meats.  Priced under $15, well worth having in your cellar. Pop it open for the weekend.

2019 Gerard Bertrand ‘An 825’ Brut, Limoux, France

WW90Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2019 Gérard Bertrand Héritage Crémant de Limoux Brut is pleasing and true-to-type. TASTING NOTES: This wine deftly combines aromas and flavors of dried earth, sandalwood, and ripe fruit. Enjoy it with grilled chicken thighs.

    This wine was made before Dom Perignon made his Champagne. He actually came to study where this is made. Very nice bubbly, with the addition of Chenin Blanc adds a bit extra to the body and enhances the baked bread dough and floral components. Priced around $25, hard to beat on a hot day.

2019 Massimo Rivetti Barbera D’Alba Froi, Piedmonte, Italy

The Massimo Rivetti Barbera d 'Alba Superiore Froi impresses with its elegantly dry taste. It was bottled with exceptionally little residual sugar. This is a real quality wine that stands out clearly from simpler qualities and so this Italian naturally enchants with the finest balance in all dryness. Taste does not necessarily require sugar. On the tongue, this powerful red wine is characterized by an incredibly velvety and melty texture. Thanks to its succinct fruit acidity, the Barbera d 'Alba Superiore Froi is wonderfully fresh and lively on the palate. In the finish, this red wine from the Piedmont wine-growing region finally inspires with considerable length. There are again hints of black cherry and mulberry

This wine is made in the traditional style, which requires aging in cement and stainless steel casks. A good wine that is fresh, fragrant and easy to drink. 89 Suckling

I have not been a fan of Barbera – never really found any that did it for me. This one comes really close. This wine is fresh, with bright berry flavors and a decent backbone that encourages food.  Worth a try for Italian wine fans, priced around $20.

 

2017 Dharma Reserva Red, Mendoza, Argentina

“The 2017 Dharma is a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Franc from a single vineyard in La Consulta that is organic and biodynamically farmed. – I think the two varieties work very well together (it used to have Petit Verdot instead of Cabernet Franc), and it feels compact, integrated and serious. It has good ripeness without excess and fine-grained, elegant tannins. Serious, with potential to improve in bottle. Very good value too. 12,000 bottles produced.” – Wine Advocate

Often Malbec from Argentina comes out so fruit forward that it misses the flavor boat. While the fruits are expressive here, the Cab Franc keeps it from being excessive and adds a component that adds tannins and earthiness to the flavor. “Restrained”  is a good word to use on this one – and at about $20, a really good buy. Worth keeping a few on hand.

Another month and we’ve muddled through. Heat waves keep coming and going, stay cool.

Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 Wines of June 2022

We're into the Summer - hot time in the old town tonight! Drank a wine from a country I've never had and an old favorite from Spain. Here are the wines.

2015 Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux, France

Chateau Marjosse is typically a beautiful bright purple color and intense violet reflections. The nose expresses candied fruits, cherry and blackberry with elegant toasted oak notes. The mouth is supple and round and reveals pretty fruity with good round and tasty tannins and a pleasantly persistent finish.

JS91James Suckling

Aromas of spices, currants and milk chocolate with fresh-basil undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with lots of fruit and character on the finish. Tannins are velvety and dusty in texture. Excellent for this chateau. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2020.

This juicy, wood-aged Pierre Lurton wine has very ripe fruit. That gives it richness with black-plum fruits and a dense texture. A bitter coffee flavor shows through the fruit. It needs time, so drink from 2018. WE 86 points

This is a well made inexpensive red from Bordeaux. Priced at under $20, the wine had a nice layered fruit and light tannins with a decent finish. The 2018 is drinking great also, the 2015 had more depth of flavor. Pick either up, you won’t regret it.

2019 Ramon Bilbao Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain

Bright yellow with pale lemon and greenish hues . Elegant mineral and delicate white pear aroma. Nice acidity on the palate with eucalyptus and ripe granny smith apples. It is very fresh and juicy with a nice and subtle complexity of white flowers aromas and some tea flavors linger out to a pretty pleasant aftertaste. Great with lobster salads and cheese appetizers.

Briny aromas of citrus fruits include a pop of green pyrazines, while this is lean and lemony on a slightly dilute palate. White pineapple and chive flavors finish tangy and lemony. RATING 87 WE

Albarino can be just OK or like this example. Wonderful fruit flavors with a good acid balance that lingers on the tongue. A bit tangy – good by itself but good backbone to go with lighter fare. Priced around $15, this is a great summer wine.

NV Chateau Moncontour Vouvray sparkling Wine, Tourane, France

Nut and toast aromas lead to a smooth palate, with creamed apple and delicate orange zest flavors. Behind the crisp acidity, there is a mature feel, giving roundness to the delicious aftertaste.  RATING 90 WE – Chenin Blanc

A very old estate, this was purchased by the Feray Family in the 1990s and it has never looked back. Again 100% Chenin Blanc, this is a Cuvée (blend) made from the best fruit and aged for around 18 months on the yeast – although it tastes like it was aged longer.

Yeast autolysis dominates this wine, it even smells of toast – yeast / lees can give a good impression of oak sometimes. Rich pear, cooked lemon, quince, honey, apple compote are all here as well as some frangipane / bakewell pudding sort of character making it feel pretty rich and flavourful, although the brisk acidity certainly cleanses the palate making it balanced. An intriguing wine that I enjoyed very much – 90/100 points.

I enjoy sparklers from Tourane – this one did not disappoint. Smooth palate with apple and citrus fruit in a good acid level for sipping. Hints of baking spice on the finish, this is a really nice sparkling wine that is affordable. Priced around $20, this is a good wine.

2017 Milbrandt Merlot, Wahluke Slope, Washington

Plush red fruit, herb and eucalyptus aromas lead to scrumptious fruit flavors. It possesses a compelling sense of balance—a superb value that brings a sense of purity not always seen at this price.

Aromas of vanilla, shaved coconut and baking spice are at the fore, with the oak taking over. Dark fruit and barrel intermingle on the palate. The oak completely steals the show.  RATING 87 WE

Merlot from the Pacific Northwest was one of the early red wines I drank and enjoyed. This is a great example of the style – great red fruits with herb and spices in the mouth. Great balance with light integrated tannins. Moderate aftertaste, this is good alone or even better with a meal. Priced around $30 – I was able to get it under $20. This is a wine to buy several – holding it for a few years will enhance it.

2021 Excelsior Chardonnay, Robertson, South Africa

Elegant and approachable, this Chardonnay has zesty lemon and lime flavors, while this rich palate is balanced by a crisp acidity. This wine is perfect with grilled seafood or lightly spiced Thai chicken.

W&S 88 Wine & Spirits

This chardonnay bursts with floral aromas, which cede ground to bright white fruit girded by a matchsticky leesiness. It’s precise and persistent, and a steal at $10. Best Buy

The De Wet family have farmed the Excelsior Estate in the Robertson wine valley since 1859 when Koos de Wet first settled there. The family’s history in winemaking actually goes back even further. Koos was a direct descendant of Jacobus de Wet, an official in the Dutch East India Company, who landed in Cape Town in 1697! Jacobus became one of the first winemakers in Cape Town and the entire Southern Hemisphere when he bought a farm and began planted vines back in the late 17th century. Sorry for the history lesson, but I think that’s pretty cool!

Usually cheap Chards are like water – one dimensional and lacking flavors. This little $10 Chard is one of the better I’ve had. You won’t mistake it for a big oak bomb, but it is bright with white fruits and some citrus. Wonderful for a summertime sipper or with light fare. Really – ten bucks, try it.

2021 Garzon Albarino Reserva, Maldonado-Garzon, Uruguay

"Minerally, with a crisp structure to the dried apple and gooseberry flavors. Floral accents midpalate, with a lightly spiced finish, offering green herbal accents. Drink now through 2024. 6,000 cases imported."

First wine I’ve had from Uruguay – you would find the red from there would probably be Tannat. The best whites are from Albarino, the Spanish grape from Green Spain – the part above Portugal.  Tasty little wine, white grapes and apple dominating the mouth with hints of floral tones. Pretty good, though it looks to be about $20. Worth a try.

2020 Petalos Mencia, Bierzo, Spain

The wine is aged in large oak vats for 10 months to give it immediate appeal, while still retaining the estate's signature finesse and restraint.

RP93Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The regional red 2020 Pétalos comes from 90 hectares of vineyards, mainly from Corullón and Villafranca del Bierzo and the districts of Viariz, Hornija, Valtuille de Abajo and Otero. It mixes expositions, altitudes and soils and wants to paint a picture of Bierzo in the warm 2020 vintage. They reckon it's 92% Mencía with 5% other red grapes (Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne and Negreda) and 3% whites (Valenciana, Jerez and Godello) with an average yield of 26 hectoliters per hectare. The fruit is darker than in the 2019. This is still young, and, as it happens with even the most approachable wines from the region, it should be even better in a couple of years. I tasted it again in mid-December, and the wine is showing better and better; time in bottle has done it some good, and the wine has settled and is getting more balanced. I don't feel the sun now; it's harmonious and more serious, juicy and tasty. A little better than anticipated.

Just saying” Mencia from Bierzo” is fun. Mencia was a local grape that wasn’t exported for years because it was made into plonk to be drank in the area. When treated correctly, the grape can produce very nice wines – this is an example from one the pioneers in this area.  Juicy red fruits with hints of spices; short aftertaste but pleasant to sip or match with grilled food. Priced around $20, buy some and tell people your having Mencia from Bierzo!

2018 Artadi Vinas de Gain Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain

JS94James Suckling

Very pure fruit to this with blackberries and blueberries and some dried flowers. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a linear, refined finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

RP93Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The young red 2018 Viñas de Gaín follows the same philosophy as the white, grapes from a variety of vineyards in Laguardia and Elvillar ferment in oak and stainless steel vats followed by malolactic in barrel and an élevage in oak of nine months. It showcases the serious and fresh style of the best wines from the year. It has cold fruit and a very fine thread in the palate, fine tannins, long and balanced, very fresh. It has depth and complexity. A very good wine, it transcends its price point, like an upgraded version of the 2016.

This was a good Rioja wine – good upfront red fruits with stone and herbs and fine tannins embracing the palate. Worked well with food, overall a very nice wine. Priced around $25, worth the price.

Another month and were heading into the hot summer months. Stay cool. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.