The Wines of June 2023

Survived another month of unusual weather. Hot, cool, rainy and then dry. Hitting the heat now.

Here are some wines I enjoyed.

2022 Gunther Schlink Pinot Noir Rose,  Germany

We love this fruity Pinot Noir rose from Germany, made by a fifth-generation winemaker who focuses on offering top-tier quality at fantastic values. Rich flavors of cherry, watermelon, and red plum lead into a dry and juicy finish with hints of stony minerality.

Günther Schlink Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 is nice expression of German “Spatburgunder”—German for pinot noir. Although this likely qualifies as a dry rosé, there is a touch of sweetness, too. Ripe grapes and push the residual sugar to the dry border. Also, this is German wine, so whiff of sweetness and good acidity are part of the DNA. This works well as an aperitif or fun solo sipper. Pair with shellfish; light fish; chicken—cold, white meat, in a salad; pork—Parma ham, prosciutto; charcuterie board; vegetarian fare; fresh fruit, especially strawberries and peaches. Cheese—goat cheese, especially fresh and young cheeses; feta, mozzarella, baby swiss, mild cheddar. $13-15

A fairly nice Rose – had nice body with just a hint of sweetness. The minerality really makes this wine, gives it a bit of an edge. Worth drinking in the heat of summer – I think it is around $12-13.

2019 La Purisima Old Vine Red Blend, Yecla, Spain

La Purisima has a gorgeous black cherry color, with good intensity. There is a prevalence of ripe fruit, with hints of vanilla, toast and spicy notes. The nose is clean and complex with many nuances. The palate is fleshy, long and powerful with great fruit and spice on the finish.

Blend: 85% Monastrell, 10% Syrah, 5% Garnacha

JS93James Suckling

An excellent blend with 85% monastrell, 10% syrah and 5% garnacha. Deep and glossy with blackberries, wild spices, tar and mineral. Concentrated but not hefty. Juicy, with a medium-to full-bodied palate enveloped by fresh, chalky tannins. Balance is the key here.

I liked this red blend – full palate of dark fruits with a good balance to make it a good match to food. I got it on an email special for around $15, well worth buying.

2020 Slow MON Bobal, Requena, Spain

100% Bobal from 60-year-old vines in the goblet and without irrigation at Finca Casa de la Viña (Requena region). Altitude 731 meters. Soil mix: Clay. Yield: 2.5 Kg / strain. Manual harvest at night. Selection of the healthiest grapes. Wine with a bright cherry red color with a violet rim. On the nose, fruity aromas of ripe berries, such as strawberries, raspberries and cassis with spicy and balsamic notes from the Mediterranean forest, followed by light toasted notes from the oak. On the palate, Very tasty, fruity mid palate, soft tannins and slight hints of vanilla with an elegant finish.

I’ll admit I like bobal and mencia – lesser known grapes of Spain.  This is a fruit forward with without being overly forward. Good balance makes this wine very food worthy. Has enough body to age a couple of years, with a little tannic backbone. Under $25, you can serve this to your “wine” people and be pleased.

2021 M Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA

Chocolate-blackberry ganache, cranberry preserves, sweet mint, black licorice, dark olive, new leather, mahogany. Palate is sleek and supple, firm, fine-grain, polished tannins, with a complex, and classy finish.

Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 5% Petite Sirah

RP95Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

I love this easy-to-drink 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from McPrice Myers that well overdelivers for its price. Deep ruby-purple, it has alluring aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, dried herbs, leather and lavender, plus classy touches of oak spice. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and powerful without going over the top. It has abundant, grainy tannins, flinty streaks and plenty of refreshing acidity to carry the long finish. It's not your average chocolate bomb California Cabernet, despite its modest price tag.

A very nice cabernet, good fruits and balance with some herbs and spices to it. Nice finish. Priced around $25, well worth the money and could be aged for several years.

2021 Sean Minor Signature Series Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA

Our Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir leads with well-knit rich flavors of cherry, plum, blueberry and hints of cedar bark. Beautifully structured, elegant velvety texture with lingering earthy and dark cherry notes that glide across the palate. The balance is flawless throughout, with a clean, bright acidity that carries through the lengthy finish.

WS 91 Wine Spectator

Bright, high-pitched style, with blood orange and damson plum notes racing through, flecked liberally with savory and thyme hints. Nice sleek feel on the finish.

This was a capable Sonoma Pinot – not something to seek out but fairly nice. Fruitt showed pretty well, not one I’d keep in the cellar long. Priced around $25 – you might be able to do better at that price.

2019 Deloach Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, CA

This bright Zinfandel opens with aromas of baked plum, baking spice, white pepper and dusty earth on the nose. It is plump and zesty on the palate with licorice, black cherry and notes of black tea. Medium-bodied with round tannins, the finish is rich and intense.

Our Russian River Valley Zinfandel is predominantly harvested from the younger vines of the BCD Vineyard and the Slusser Vineyard, with smaller amounts of older vine Zinfandel from the Saitone and Boschetti ranches, all of which are certified Sonoma Sustainable.

The wine is made in a style that highlights the distinctive characteristics and unique flavor profiles of our various Russian River Valley vineyards. The BCD Vineyard is one of the last to ripen and oers the final blend great acidity and a noticeable brambliness, while the Slusser Vineyard offers darker fruit flavors and high-toned aromatics. The grapes from the Saitone Ranch lend an intense dark spice to the wine while the fruit from the Boschetti Ranch provides dense tannins and a fuller body.

I remember Cecil DeLoach – a retired fireman that started to make wine. He’s retired (sold out when he couldn’t make it) and the big French company bought it. So, this was a zin I found some what lacking in may respects. Modest fruit came through and the body was fair, but it was not an impressive zinfandel.  It was on special for $20, but I can’t say I would recommend it.

2018 Whitehall Lane ‘Rassi’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, CA

This beautifully blended 2018 Rassi Cabernet Sauvignon is exquisitely balanced with excellent fruit concentration. On the nose, this wine offers bing cherries,cassis, dried cranberries, black cherry cola, mixed berry jam, and a touch of brioche. The palate offers plush but delicate tannins, sweet black plums, strawberry rhubarb pie, red raspberry coulis, toasted bread, and cocoa dust that lingers on the finish. This offering is enjoyable today but will also evolve with cellar aging through 2030.

WE 88 Blended with 15% Merlot, this affordable red is nutty and herbal in cedar, with strong elements of toasted oak. Dark fruit presents as full bodied and deeply concentrated, with moderate structure giving it a supple foundation of power.

This was a pretty dense Cabernet with dark fruits and some spices on the palate. The tannins still showed in it, with an ability to age for a number of years; still drank nicely with a meal. Priced under $30, this is a nice wine that you can proudly pour and know you got a good deal. A Napa Winery making wine from a Sonoma vineyard – more common than you realize. Very enjoyable.

2021 Domaine Miraflors  Rosé Cotes Catalanes, Perpignan, France

Domaine Lafage Miraflors Rosé IGP Côtes Catalanes is a beautiful, salmon pink rosé that is produced in the heart of Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. This wine is a blend of 70% Mourvèdre and 30% Grenache Gris, which creates a delicate balance of fruity and floral notes on the palate. The wine exudes fresh aromas of ripe strawberries, watermelon, and blood orange, complimented by floral undertones of rose petals and jasmine. This wine has a crisp and refreshing finish, which makes it perfect for enjoying in the sun with friends or as an accompaniment to seafood, salads or light pasta dishes.

Raised in vats on fine lees, its nose is slightly iodized, fresh, spicy and mineral. The palate is lively in attack, the fruit and spices are well present on the palate with a beautiful roundness on the finish. A very beautiful rosé!

I opened this in some serious heat – it is refreshing and enjoyable.  Light red fruits and melon are surrounded with floral hints. The finish is a bit of a twist – it is dry and interesting. I got it for under $12, this is a sipper that has nice structure to go with summer meals. Also uses a glass stopper, those are kind of cool. Good buy.

Speaking of Good Buy – I hope you are all well and getting through the summer heat. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines!