Wines of March 2024
Another month has flown by, along with Easter. Hope the bunny stopped at your house and left something good. Just going to jump into the wines...
2017 Parker Station
Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA
This was a wine I
couldn’t drink. Slightly oxidized and so green tasting – pyrazine to the max
(think green bell peppers with green beans and asparagus – in a wine). Won’t even share a pic or web info…
2010 Nickel &
Nickel State Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville, CA
The long hang time this year offered nice flavor development
in the 2010 State Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, and this wine delivers a wonderful
expression of bright berry fruits. The velvety texture carries flavors of
raspberry and black cherry, while the toasty oak adds spice. The soft, thick
palate is warm and inviting, and the rich, defined tannins create a solid
backbone, carrying the flavors to an extremely long finish.
94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon State Ranch from Yountville boasts an impressive bouquet of chocolate and creme de cassis, and powerful, full-bodied flavors. It may be the most concentrated, dense and powerful effort in this portfolio. This blockbuster, full throttle (14.8% natural alcohol) wine should age effortlessly for two decades. I wonder if this designation has any kinship to the State Lane Vineyard owned by the Kapcsandy family?
A wine almost fourteen
years old and still a powerhouse. Not many tannins left, but still a good body
with life and dark fruit flavors with spices. Mouthfilling , this wine just
stands out – made for a hearty fare. Priced around $125, very, very nice.
2015 Trapiche Broquel
Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Arg
Rich wine perfumed with aromas of cassis and raspberry jam.
Elegant touch of smoke and roasted pepper with balsamic and spicy notes. Soft,
complex, and very long aftertaste.
Ideal to serve with pasta, grilled red meats, and stews.
A wine just about past
its prime – still drinkable but feeling a little tired. Aftertaste was not
long, the red fruits were there but fading, touch of spice notes. Close out at under $10, ok as a weekday wine.
2020 The Butcher
Zweigelt, Burgenland, Austria
Violet-reddish in color. Aromas of cherry, dark berries,
herbs and spices. On the palate it is balanced with firm tannins and flavors of
cherry and oak.
FOOD PAIRINGS Anything
your local butcher sells.
VINIFICATION 12 months aging in used barrique oak barrels
zz-why-galt. Austria's most planted red wine grape and is a cross between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent (tastes like Pinot Noir). Resulting wines are bright, tart, and fruity.
The winemaker used to
be a butcher, hence the name. I’ve enjoyed this grape (wine) before – it is a
lighter red but has decent body to go with the fruits. Label is a bit scary,
but whatever. Normal price around $20 – we closed it out for under $10. Worth
that price for spaghetti or pizza.
2016 Zorzal Eggo Franco,
Mendoza, Arg
“The Eggo Franco is produced, like many of their wines, with
grapes from Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary. It fermented in cement eggs with
some stems and with 50% of the wine kept in contact with skins for some three
to four months, then pressed and put back in the eggs to complete its elevage,
which lasted some nine months. It typically shows a mixture of herbal and
candied berry aromas, hints of beef blood and iron. The absence of oak shows
the naked tannins and provides an earthy side, which to me is very much the
wild character of Gualtallary.” –Luis Gutierrez, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
91 James
Suckling
Aromas of currants, flowers and stones follow through to a medium body, firm and silky tannins and a delicious finish.
A Cabernet Franc from
Argentina – kept in concrete eggs – thus “Eggo”. Still a fairly tasty wine –
there is an initial funk on this wine that needs an hour to blow off. (Funk
meaning barnyard components). Moderate body with some dried red fruits. Another
wine to consider for weekday, non-guest meals. Saw it online for $30, I think
we had it for around $20. Bought it for under ten dollars, just to try again.
2021 Quilt Cabernet
Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA
Dark Plum in color with exuberant aromas of dark cherry strudel, ripe blackberry and cocoa nibs. Bold and opulent flavors dance on the palate. Boysenberry jam, dark chocolate, and Malabar plum swirl with a hint of clove. Elegant with strong acidity and velvety tannins lead to a long smooth finish. Pairs wonderfully with creamy tomato pasta with Italian sausage or a juicy portobello mushroom burger with pesto.
94 Tasting
Panel
Ripe boysenberry preserves are amplified by a wash of milk
chocolate and almond brittle. Sumptuously textured, with sleek tannins
enveloped in sandalwood.
91 Wine
Enthusiast
Powerful and rich-tasting, this wine from Joseph Wagner is velvety in texture and spicy in aroma. It drips with jammy, Port-like flavors that are backed by fine-grained tannins that tighten a bit on the finish for a good grip. Best from 2025.
From the Joseph Wagner
family – makers of Caymus. Heavy duty Cabernet with interwoven tannins and a
long finish. Lots of dark red fruits, hints of cocoa and some spice notes. Could take a year or two of bottle aging to
bring out more of the nose. Nice wine – priced from $40 – 55, worth popping for
your wino friends.
2021 Protocolo Rouge,
Castilla, Spain
One of Spain's greatest bargain reds! Tempranillo- mostly from 35 year-old vines in Manchuela- is blended with 10-15 year old Tempranillo from Eguren's holdings in Toro and Rioja to create a wine that tastes literally three times the price. Take a look in the wine press: top critics everywhere annually bestow 90+ ratings on this still-overlooked gem.
Ruby red with violet hues. Fruity, raspberry, red fruits.
Light notes of vanilla and spice. Good balance of tannins and acidity.
Finishing with notes of raspberry, vanilla, and light notes of wood.
90 James
Suckling
Earth, dark berries, dried herbs and forest floor on the nose. Medium-bodied with firm tannins. It has an earthy edge in the mouth with a dusty, flavorful finish. Drink or hold.
I have had many
vintages of this little gem of a wine. Not a long term keeper, but a bottle to
open and enjoy any day of the week. A traditional type of Spanish wine – not a fruit
bomb, but nice red fruits, hints of spice and a moderate backbone. Typically about $11, we sold out at $8.99.
Always a consistent and pleasing wine.
NV Tapiz Malbec Rose
Extra Brut, Mendoza, Arg
Bright pink colour. Delicate and intense aromas of red fruits, cherry and strawberry stand out. Persistent and small bubbles. In mouth is fresh and fruity. Excellent balance acidity‐sugar.
Bright
pink in hue, delicate, persistent small bubbles provide crisp freshness on the
palate with the aromas carrying through. Fresh and fruity ripe cherry,
pomegranate molasses; crisp with minerality and sliced strawberry.
A very nice bubbly – a
fresh palate of light red fruits with a good balance. Suitable for lighter fare
or just sipping on the porch. Priced at around $20, a great bottle to buy.
2021 Domaine Bousquet
‘Alavida’ Malbec, Mendoza, Arg
With its mix of black fruits
and floral notes, Alavida is an expressive example of Malbec from the
increasingly sought-after high-altitude vineyards of the Uco Valley. Deep
purple in color, this is a vibrant dry red, rich in fresh, newly picked fruit.
Pleasingly round on the palate, it concludes in a long finish.
This wine is Kosher for
Passover.
89 Wine Enthusiast
This
is one of the few Argentine Kosher Malbec wines on the market. The grapes were
sourced from organic vines in Uco Valley. It’s fruit-forward, with notes of
ripe plum and cherry on the nose and the palate. Soft tannins and lively
acidity lead to a flavorful, medium finish.
Wine opened with a touch of funk on the nose but that blew off quickly. Fruit forward with red fruits with decent acidity to go with foods. Not a long finish, but a pretty good bottle. Priced under $20, great for a Kosher wine.
2021 Chateau
Haut-Monplaisir, Cahor, France
92 pts James Suckling - "This has a bright and fruity nose of red plums, raspberries and orange slices. It’s juicy and fresh with a medium body and crunchy acidity. From organically grown grapes."
89 Wine Enthusiast
Tannins and structure support the black fruits in this fruity, balanced wine. The wine is still young, but shows ripeness and a fine juicy character. Drink from 2025. Organic.
The French Malbec
always stands out in a tasting, compared
to the Argentine bottles. Fruit is more refrained, nicely acidic for food and
just a moderate wine. Not bad, just not my favorite style. Priced just over $20…
2020 Kaiken ‘Ultra’
Malbec, Mendoza, Arg
A Malbec of an intense bright
red color with purple hues. On the nose, enticing aromas of dark fruits and
spices come out, laced with the most enthralling mineral nuances. It is solid
and robust on the palate, revealing plenty of concentration, a defined
character and smoothness. Its soft tannins create a pleasant texture, while its
crisp acidity, personality and balance all lead seamlessly to a long and
complex finish.
Blend: 100% Malbec
92 James Suckling A
generous and fruity malbec with lots of ripe black cherries, strawberries,
blackberries and spices. Hints of graphite and violet, too. Round and juicy on
the medium- to full-bodied palate with firm and lightly chewy tannins.
2021 Catena ‘La
Consulta’ Malbec, Mendoza, Arg
92 Robert
Parker's Wine Advocate
The range of appellation wines from 2021 is very fresh and balanced, clean and precise, as can be seen in the juicy but serious 2021 Appellation La Consulta Malbec, which was produced with grapes from vines planted in 1996 on alluvial soils. This is still young and a little marked by the élevage in barrel, with spices and some creaminess, and it has the mineral sensation and fine tannins that this wine always has. It has black fruit and an earthy twist.
Catena Appellation La Consulta Malbec hails from Argentina's renowned Malbec-producing regions. This Malbec showcases dark berry and plum flavors, often with hints of spices and a velvety texture. Argentina's high-altitude vineyards contribute to the wine's intensity and balanced acidity, making it an ideal choice for grilled meats and spicy dishes.
This wine had a nice
nose and good mouthfeel. Nice fruit flavors without too much of a fruit bomb.
Nice hints of spice and soft texture – nice acidity for food and a decent
aftertaste. Priced just around $26, another good bottle.
Another month, more wines. Hope all is well and keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.
