Wines of May 2024

    Another month, more wine. Just as an aside, I do not actually drink that much wine - I have a winetasting group that meets monthly, and I get samples from work, leftover from in-store tastings. Just in case you wondered...So here we go

2015 Brutocao Torrent Red Blend, Mendocino, CA

Torrent = A rushing or abundant and unceasing stream; a deluge. This best describes our new proprietary red wine blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, a “ Torrent” of aroma and flavor. It starts with cascading aromas of black licorice, blackberry, and espresso. A silky mouth feel, a deluge of chocolate and coffee lead to an outpouring of plum and tobacco for a long, smooth finish. This is a serious, dry, well-structured wine with lots of dark-fruit flavors and firm tannins. It has tempting black cherry aromas and black currant flavors, a full body, and a mouth-filling lightly astringent texture that will pair well with rich food.

Aging:   18 months in a blend of French Oak, American Oak, and our Winemaker's proprietary blended barrel mix.

Accolades:          2015 vintage: Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition: Gold

I was afraid this might be past its prime, but it was very flavorful. Still had a nice fruity nose with dark fruit flavors and a good backbone for food matching.  We had it on sale for under $15 – great buy.

2017 Ceremonia Reserva Utiel-Requena, Spain

This dark-ruby-colored wine has a nose of raspberry, cocoa and geranium leaf. Bright cherry and raspberry notes take the lead, backed by notes of dark chocolate, thyme and lavender. Tenacious tannins give way to a bright fruit-filled finish. —  WE 91 Pts

Bought on a close out – this wine retailed for only $15. It is very fruit forward with sufficient backbone to last a few more years. Very enjoyable – mostly red fruits with some herbal overtones.  Great buy

 

2015 Langman Grace’s Grenache, Sierra Foothills,Ca

Winemaker’s Notes:

2016 was another excellent growing season for the Langman Estate Winery area of the Sierra Foothills in California. It was a very long, dry summer with excellent diurnal temperature changes that allowed the fruit to mature very evenly over the 7+ month growing season that extended harvest into October. This is a vintage of special wines. The Wine! Fruit from our high-elevation vineyard yields grapes with thicker and darker skins and juice that is bolder and richer than most lower-elevation examples of the same varietals. A Grenache that pairs wonderfully with a wide range of foods. This is a full-bodied, big structure Grenache that has a bouquet of strawberry and white pepper and a long-finishing palate of dark strawberry and a refined, classic example of Grenache soft pepper. Delightful!

TASTING NOTES:

The Wine! Fruit from our high-elevation vineyard yields grapes with thicker and darker skins and juice that is bolder and richer than most lower-elevation examples of the same varietals. A Grenache that pairs wonderfully with a wide range of foods. This is a full-bodied, big structure Grenache that has a bouquet of strawberry and white pepper and a long-finishing palate of dark strawberry and a refined, classic example of Grenache soft pepper. Delightful!

I first had this two years or so ago and I was very impressed by it. It has begun to trend downward – as with most Grenache, there is not a lot of tannins or acidic backbone to last too long. Still tasty, with red fruits dominating but the finish is getting shorter and less soft pepper. Only about $13 – we are closing this out at $5. Worth that price…

2021 Milbrandt Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Washington

93 Points! Great Northwest Platinum Competition

Bright aromas of orchard fruit with underlying citrus notes and honeysuckle on the nose. Crisp, bright mouth feel reminiscent of Washington state's apples. The palate is driven by crisp red apple with a good acidity and a touch of peach on the finish. A very well balanced Chardonnay with crisp and refreshing flavors

Bright aromas of orchard fruit with underlying citrus notes and honeysuckle on the nose. Crisp, bright mouth feel reminiscent of Washington state's apples. The palate is driven by crisp red apple with a good acidity and a touch of peach on the finish. Accented by hints of vanilla and crème brûlée, it is medium-bodied, full of flavor, and offers a lingering finish of vanilla custard and apple crisp (oh, and outstanding value...!)                13.5% ABV

First taste of this was not very impressive. I had some after a while and it really seemed to be better. Nice apple essence with some spices. Really very nice – not a butter bomb, but good with food. Priced under $15, nice price.

 

2010 Agricola Cuvelier Cuvée del Maule, Cauquenes, Chile

This is one delicious Chilean wine, perhaps the most delicious Chilean red made in a fresh, drink-it-now style that we have yet to taste. A blend of Cabernet, Carmenere, Merlot, Cinsault, Carignane, and Pais (Mission), the wine shows beautiful aromatics: spicy, red fruited, dried cranberry/dried cherry mixed with a hint of cured meat. On the palate the wine is fresh and distinctive, reminiscent of a southern French vin naturel. The vines here are very old and dry farmed (the Maule Valley is perhaps the only place in Chile where irrigation is not necessary). Winemaking is simple: native yeast, whole cluster fermentations with carbonic maceration, and aging in used French oak barrels. A minimal amount of sulphur is used. Not only is this terrific stuff, but it is quite possibly the most interesting project to come out of Chile.

I first had this wine several years ago. Took a chance on it – being an orphan bottle at the store. Main problem was the cork – it just fell apart as I was trying to open it. I had to do some straining to get the cork residue out of the wine. Probably on its last legs, but still had good red fruits and enough acidity to go with a meal. I think it was around $15, surprising how nice it still drank.

2018 Chateau Arnauld Haut-Medoc, France

Very nice deep ruby color, dazzling. Nose of black cherry, salted caramel, gingerbread. Full and indulgent on the palate with notes of brioche. Very nice impression of sweetness. Harmonious and generous overall, ending with an elegant and smooth finish. Two great experts of the terroir, Franck Bijon and Hubert de Boüard, were the driving force behind the renaissance Château Arnauld, purchased in 2007. Franck Bijon identified the potential of 5 hectares along the river’s edge, then selected other exceptional parcels one by one to create an estate of 17.2 hectares of great homogeneity which is now classified Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.

Blend: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Petite Verdot

96           Decanter

Opulent and inviting, with a nose of plush black cherry and damson fruit, then the palate is dressed with fine cassis, red pepper, leather and sleek oak.

Wine Enthusiast               WE 92

This ripe, juicy wine comes from a vineyard planted around a medieval priory. The wine has spice, ripe tannins and attractive black-currant and red-berry fruits. The winning combination should age well, so drink from 2023.

We had this open at the store for a tasting and I scored the rest of the bottle. Nice red fruits on the palate with some herbal notes through the finish. Moderate tannins, but enough acidity to make food matching easy. Enough tannins to last for several years in the cellar.  It is priced around $50 at the store, though I saw it for $40 online. Nice, but for the price – see the next wine.

2018 Chateau La Rose Du Pin, Bordeaux, France

This wood-aged wine is rich in tannins as well as dense black-plum flavors and juicy acidity. The wine's spiciness and generous structure are fine foils to the fruitiness that sings through. Drink from 2021.     WE 90 pts

As passionate botanist, Henri Ducourt knew how to scout out the finest terroir in Entre-Deux-Mers. In 1965, he therefore began to buy plots of vines near to the village of Romagne on a remarkable loamy-clay plateau. Over the years he built up a great estate between “A La Rose” and “le Pin de Cornet”, which has now become Château La Rose du Pin.

Under $20, this wine really performs – red fruits, bracing acidity and enough structure to last several more years in the cellar. I’m impressed with this wine and say it is a best buy – get 2 of these for one Arnauld.

2021 Visitini Sauvignon Blanc, Fruili, Italy

It’s easy to think of Sauvignon Blanc as a one trick pony, since so many are made in a sharp, citrusy style. But this biodynamic bottling from Italy’s Slovenian border shows its ability to offer uncommon complexity. While many Sauvignon Blancs are pressed, fermented and bottled within a few months of harvest, Visintini ages theirs on the lees to develop texture, cellaring it for another year or two until it sings with ripe, layered, succulent flavors.

Serving Suggestion: Chèvre, honey, & black pepper crostinis (à la Toast). Roasted Cornish game hen, well-crusted w/ lemon, rosemary, & thyme. Seafood pizza.

This Sauvignon Blanc comes in at a whopping 14% alcohol. Whites usually are lower in alcohol – this was a different SB than California or New Zealand. For me, it was better with food, rather than sipping alone. It had a lot of minerality instead of apple and grapefruit. Can’t say it was my favorite, with a price of just over $20…

2021 Pala ‘Oltreluna’ Monica, Sardinia, Italy

Vibrant notes of licorice and red fruit on the nose. Dry and smooth on the palate with perfect balance and length.

Delicious with lamb and pork dishes and medium-aged cheeses.

Tasting – Intense ruby red colour with violet hints, very clear. Very intense, with vegetable and spicy hints, light liquorice nuance. Dry and smooth to the palate, enjoyably fresh, well balanced and harmonious, good nose-palate persistence.

Matching and service – Lean starters, dry and liquid soups even with savoury sauces, grilled and pan cooked meat, goat and sheep medium seasoned cheeses.

There has been no DNA testing on Monica, but it seems to have come from the mainland Italy in the 1200’s.  Red fruits with vegetable nuances and touches of herbs. Wasn’t a great match with a steak, better with pork or grilled fowl. Priced at around $20, it is OK, more of a porch sipper to me.

2021 G.D. Vajra Pinot Nero, Langhe, Piedmont, Italy

Bright ruby in color with good depth at the core, this Pinot Noir is aromatic and delicate, with perfumes of rose petals and ripe strawberries given a touch of spice by the oak ageing.

On the palate, it is structured and elegant, with a savory-spiced red fruit character and a long, perfumed finish.

The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine are grown on Bricco di Vergne, the highest vineyard on the hill which rises through the village of Barolo therefore unsuitable for Nebbiolo. Vajra has created this Piemontese tribute to one of his favourite grape varieties, Pinot Noir, which he feels is a point of reference for many producers and lovers of Nebbiolo.

This wine had red fruits but seemed a little subdued. Sort of a sad nebbiolo instead of Pinot Noir. Did not pair well with a steak, probably better with some cheese and vegetable dishes. Not terrible, but not a favorite of mine – priced just over $20.

2021 Bela Red, Ribera del Doura, Spain

#79 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2023

Bela Crianza is produced from selected grapes manually harvested from their own vineyards. Vinification is in stainless steel tanks, followed by 6 months in American and French new and one-year old oak barrels. Purple color in color with a nose that shows complex aromas which are perfectly assembled black fruit. As it crosses the palate is very fleshy and creamy, with a nice tannin, which gives us an idea of the longevity of the wine.

James Suckling  90pts

Lots of dark cherries, black olives, coffee and cumin spices to the nose. Rich and medium- to full-bodied on the palate with tight, chewy tannins and a juicy, spicy finish.

This was a nice Spanish red – dark fruits and some baking spices backed by some tannins and acidity for food. Nice finish, my style of Spanish wine. Priced at $20, it is a hit. Worth buying and keeping a year or three.

Another month - hope all is well. Getting ready for those hot summer months. Keep popping those corks and I'll see you out behind the grapevines.