The wines of August 2024
A month with hot, hot weather and a few fall-like days has finally ended. Looking forward to real fall weather, being able to use the oven and other Autumn foods. Here are the Wines of last month.
2019 Artesa Cabernet
Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA
This wine delightfully overdelivers on its price point, offering dark chocolate and cherry richness around a lush texture of approachable elegance. Hints of clove, nutmeg and oak provide a balanced nuance of savory contrast. 92 Pts WE
Artesa’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of carefully selected vineyards across Napa Valley. The wine opens with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, dried fig and a hint of white pepper. On the palate we get layered notes of black cherry, mocha, and plum, framed by a touch of vanilla toast. The supple tannins and natural acidity lead to a vibrant and complex wine, with a lengthy and elegant finish.
I was not impressed by
this bottle. It wasn’t bad, just not really that good. There was black fruits,
but they were muted and just a touch of spices. Not much length on the finish.
Priced to move at $25, I really can’t recommend it.
2013 Finca Collado
Crianza, Alicante, Spain
65% Cabernet Sauvignon 35% Merlot
TASTE PROFILE
The color lends itself to long bottle aging. The nose is dominated by tertiary aromas, as well as ripe fruits, resulting in elegant aromatics. The palate is balanced, medium bodied, and shows ripe tannins, as well as black fruit, coffee, and a touch of leather. The finish is fresh, long, and well balanced.
STYLE OF VINTAGE
2013 had a long drought during the growing cycle of the vine, with a particularly hot August. In September, temperatures softened and began to cool overnight. This made us hold harvest for a few extra days to achieve the optimal level of ripeness.
VINEYARD
Grown on Finca Collado original vineyards, the vines of Cabernet are 30 years old and on sandy and chakly soil terraces. The Merlot wines are 30 years old and on clay and loamy soils. Trellised with low planting density.
This is a ready to
drink bottle at a bargain price. Selling at $9, this school-night wine is full
of red fruits, with touches of earth and tobacco. Damn good bottle for this
price.
2023 Penley Francis
Cabernet Franc, Coonwarra, Australia
The wine opens aromatically with blue fruits, purple florals, and star anise spice. The palate is beautiful and juicy, with a pink peppercorn spice lift. There's a real energy and plushness to the fruit in the mid palate, framed by lovely velvety tannin to round out the finish.
Vibrant dark red colour with black shaded edges and a light red purple tinged hue. Fragrant violet, freshly crushed red currant, red cherry and raspberry aromas are followed by fresh herb and subtle spicy earth notes. Fresh, juicy and light across the palate, red currant and red cherry fruits overlay delicate spicy herb and dusty earth nuances. Very fine grained tannins with crunchy like acidity leading into a bright, playful finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years. Alc. 12.5%
This is a really light
version of Cabernet Franc. Lighter in color and in flavor – the red fruits and
with floral overtones. Good wine but could be over powered by a heavy meal.
Priced on special at $15, fun bottle to have.
2020 Maison du Midi
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France
"This youthful red, a blend of 84% Grenache, 11% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre, is plump, round, and ripe. Its noteworthy elegance employs indulgently fresh, delicious blue and red berries, spicy and fragrant. White pepper and cranberry perform a mid-palate performance, igniting a silky texture, while washing the tongue with chalky tannins. Red cherry adds a sweetness to the toasty finish."
Jeb Dunnuck - "The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is downright classy, with impressive darker berry fruits as well as peppery garrigue and spice-driven aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has wonderful purity, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish."
This is a really good
CdP and it was priced around $30. I’ve kept it in my cellar for a couple years
and finally popped it. The red berry fruit is full, with a nice undertone of
earth and herbs. Still has a few tannins so the finish is fairly long. Wish I had several more bottles – buy this if
you see it.
2015 Graziano
Carignane, Mendocino County, Ca
Excellent concentration helps this medium-bodied, uncomplicated and gorgeously ripe wine stand out. It blends red and black fruits for a sense of focus and pure enjoyment in the flavors, while light tannins and good acidity balance it out nicely. 91 Pts WE
Closed out at $10,
this bottle is still drinking at its peak. Red and black fruits dominate with
some undertones of herbs. Tannins mostly gone but nice acidity and a moderate
finish. Awesome for the price.
2020 Matchbook
Chardonnay, Dunnigan hills, Ca
The 2020 vintage of Matchbook Chardonnay is notable for the rich fruit flavors that developed over the long growing season. The color is classic California golden straw. The flavors are full of the tropical notes that have become a signature of our Dunnigan Hills Chardonnay: pineapple, mango, melon, and papaya. 60% malolactic fermentation adds a creamy texture; oak aging adds a touch of vanilla and crème brûlée. This delicious Chardonnay has a satisfyingly plump mouthfeel that is balanced by the crisp, fresh fruit that lingers in the finish. Pair this easy drinking Chardonnay with buttery scallops, grilled chicken, or pasta with a cream sauce.
90 Wine Enthusiast
This rich and oaky wine offers plenty of butterscotch, ginger and nutmeg flavors on a full body. It’s very concentrated in flavor and balanced to the soft side. Best Buy $12
This is a decent
Chardonnay, with some tropical fruits and an overlay of vanilla and oak.
Moderate body and a short finish, worth the$12 price tag.
2021 Planeta Rose,
Sicily, Italy
50% Nero d’Avola, 50% Syrah
Our Rosé, fresh and fruity, encompasses all the emotions of the Sicilian summer. Its colour is that of a summer sunset. Its fresh aromas make it a marvellously friendly wine and easy to drink. It comes from a viticulture according to the criteria of sustainability and organic. Enjoy Planeta’s Rosé in good company, from aperitif to fruit.
Despite its light
color, this had good body and a moderate finish. Enough acidity for lighter
fare and great as a sipper. Priced under $20, nice for the summer.
2022 Di Giovanna
‘Vurria’ Grillo, Sicily, Italy
Vurria Grillo is an expressive and flavorful white wine, hand crafted from estate vineyards in Contessa Entellina, vinified only in steel. Expressive aromas of citrus, herb and yellow flowers. On the palate it is medium in body, with notes of citrus, white stone fruits and a savory finish
Good flavors and a
solid acidic backbone made this wine really special. The stone fruits and herb
notes allow this wine to shine as a sipper or with fare like chicken, salads
and other light fare. Usually priced around $25, really nice.
2022 Pianogrillo
Frappato, Sicily, Italy
Red with a remarkable taste olfactory impact, it expresses a strong and fragrant personality, typical of this Sicilian unique varietal and expressive of the soil composition. Bright ruby red, with intense aromas, ranging from fruity-flowery hues to spicy hints. The taste is light-bodied, fresco and juicy, with fruity tones particularly pleasant on the palate and a tasty trail that characterizes the finish
The red for summer –
Frappato – light body with cherry and berries. Sufficent acidity for body to go
with grilled foods or just summer sipping. Fun bottle with a price around $25.
2021 Pianogrillo
Curva Minore, Sicily, Italy
Characterized by rich fruity aromas, good structure, velvety and appealing palate. The frappato is a very particular red grape variety, which gives wines of great finesse and elegance, with subtle flowery and fruity aromas, medium-bodied, faint tannins and good acidity. The blend is a perfect combination, both harmonious and complex. The wine is a bright ruby red. The suite of aromas is pronounced with fragrant aromas of cherry, wild berries and pomegranate. The palate is mid structured, with a dynamic mouthfeel, fresh and supple. The finish is pleasantly savory.
A blend of two grapes,
this is a heavier, fuller bodied wine. The only DOCG in Sicily, this wine shows
really well and goes with multiple foods. Red berries and pomegranate with a
little herb undertone. Priced in that
range $25.
2021 Di Giovanna
‘Vurria’ Nero D’Avola
Vurria is an elegant and harmonious expression of Nero d’Avola, thanks to high elevation vineyards. A dark bouquet with sweet spices, where berries and plum standout. The palate is silky, with waves of currant and black cherry. Aging in tonneaux lends roundness and a velvety texture.
One of the most known
grapes from Sicily, this is a heavier weight wine. Flavors of black cherry and
plums and hints of spices in the mouth and a moderate finish. Priced in that range $25.
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