The Wines of September 2024
2022 Honoro Vera
Garnacha, Calatayud, Spain
Color of intense dark cherry with a violet edge. Intense nose, dominated by ripe red fruits (raspberry, currant) together with spicy and mineral notes. A very fresh and fruity wine, full-bodied, pleasantly tannic with a light spice on the finish.
A tasty school night wine – good red fruits and a moderate body to go with dinner. Awesome label, as well $10
2022 Famille Fabre
Grand Courtade Pinot Noir, France
Winemaking: Cold pre-fermentation maceration. Gentle
extraction by punching down. Maceration for 8 to 10 days with temperature
control to offer maximum fruit. 20% of the juice is aged for 3 months in oak
barrels.
Tasting :
Eye | Pale ruby colour. Nose | Peat, cherry and stone fruit.
Palate | Black cherries and pepper.
Final | Light, delicate, with appetence!
I bought this for a wine class – it was an adequate little Pinot with some cherry and moderate acidity. Very little tannins, and a short finish – just OK. $12
2021 Liberty School
Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA
Charred blackberry, violet and white peppercorn aromas make for a familiar and pleasing nose. The palate is ripe with berry flavors that are cut by pinches of herb and more elegant spices – WE 91 Pts
This tried-and-true Cabernet has been a dinner table staple for more than 40 years. A rich ruby hue fills the glass along with aromas of fresh vanilla, lush red fruit and herbaceous nuances. On the palate, bright cherry notes mingle with warm cocoa and sweet oak. The finish is unbelievably smooth with soft, gorgeous tannins.
Second wine for the class – a decent cabernet with nice body. Red and black fruits with herbs and some green pepper and a modest finish. Not bad for the price. $16
2020 Gemtree Dragons
Blood Shiraz, McClaren Vale, Australia
With the Southern Ocean coastline just minutes from Gemtree's vineyards, the maritime influence runs deep at this winery. Couple this with the certified organic vineyards that are tended by hand and you have a perfect recipe for a bold and full-bodied Shiraz; the Dragon's Blood McLaren Vale Shiraz. Choosing sites that offer the greatest varietal expression, concentration and finesse, the wine then saw maturation in French oak of sizes ranging from barriques (225L) to puncheons (500L) for 12 months. The result is a foreboding Shiraz that displays notes of blueberry, blackcurrant, aniseed and balancing earthen touch. Ideal served on its own to fully appreciate the rich and complex flavours but also at home when paired with French cutlets and slow cooked duck.
For an inexpensive Shiraz, this wine is a tasty quaff. Fruit forward with red berry fruit, but not cloying like some Australian wines. Nice acid balance for food and a modest finish. Great at the price. $12
2020 Silk & Spice
Spice Road red blend, Gaia, Portugal
Spice Road is an intense red wine that highlights the most important spices traded during the Portuguese voyages of exploration, and which are now found around the world. This red wine blend, dark ruby in colour, offers intense aromas of ripe black fruit balanced with notes of dark chocolate and spices.
GRAPE VARIETY Touriga Nacional(20%);Alicante Bouschet(50%);Shiraz(30%)
Left over from a store tasting, this is a decent school night wine that offers dark fruit and decent acidity. Best with food, the finish is short. Decent wine but I’ve had better. $11
2022 Silk & Spice
White Blend, Gaia, Portugal
TASTING NOTE
Attractive citrus
yellow and slightly golden in colour. Aromatically intense with notes of ripe
peach, melon and white flowers, balanced with a touch of vanilla. The palate is
well-rounded, with an excellent integration of American oak and a very long,
balanced and agreeable finish.
GRAPE VARIETY Arinto(35%);Alvarinho(15%);Bical(50%)
See previous note – the white is slightly better with more flavor and body. Quaffable, as well as doing nicely with light food (chicken). $11
2021 Garnach de
Fuego, Calatayud, Spain
90 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The Breca Garnacha de Fuego has always provided a fresh look in its presentation of this grape variety. While powerful on the palate, it finishes bright and lively. The 2021 vintage is a lovely, flavorful, and well-balanced wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of raspberries and blueberries. Enjoy its beautiful fruitiness with BBQ baby back ribs.
I’ve had many vintages of this over the years. I think that this one is not as bright on the fruit as I remember. Tasty with the red berries and spice hints, but the finish is short. Decent acidity for food. $10
2019 Royal Tokaji Dry
Furmint, Hungary
A fresh, crisp wine showing all the fine qualities of the unique Furmint grape. Aromas of grape flowers, apple and pear combine with flavours of ripe apricot and peach to produce a sleek, intense dry wine with a long, refreshing finish.
A unique white wine that almost seems waxy on the nose. The mouthfeel is unusual – a cross of cantaloupe, peach and something else like minerals. The finish lingers but it is also a bit odd. I think I like this grape to be made into sweet wine. $19
2020 Thymiopoulos ‘Naoussa’
Xinomavro, Trilofos, Greece
All wines are fermented with wild yeast, and raised without any contact with oak. The result is a fragrant and fresh expression of Xinomavro, with notes of red fruit and herbs, with underlying acidity and a lingering finish.
Tasting Characteristics: Elegant aromatic character of fresh black fruits and herbs. Complex and balanced. Vibrant acidity and round tannicstructure. The aftertaste is long.
Bright red berry and cherry in a nice acidic frame with a medium finish. Nice food wine, with red meat. One of the better Greek red wines I have had from Xinomavro. $25
2023 Lubanzi
Cinsault, Swartland, South Africa
Characteristically light in colour & low in tannin, there is a certain gentleness to this wine. A crunchy character with dark cherries, raisins, strawberries & minty tannins.
A light wine, in both color and body, with red fruits and low acidity. More of a sipper than a food wine, not bad for the back porch. Needs to be a lower price… $19
2020 Michelini
Muffatto ‘Balsa de Piedra’, Tupangato, Argentina
Michelini i Mufatto Balsa de Piedra Tinto 2021 captivates with its bouquet of violets and ripe red fruits, such as cherries and raspberries. On the palate, it is succulent and harmonious, striking an impeccable balance between ripeness and vivacity. The tannins are smooth and well-rounded, providing a delightful texture that leads to a prolonged and lively finish. This red wine is an exemplar of sophistication and intensity, perfect for those in pursuit of robust yet polished flavors.
Intense black fruit notes mixed with hints of aromatic herbs and violet flowers. On the palate it is light, fresh and mineral. A medium-bodied wine with excellent acidity and very fine tannins.
The wine has a cassis nose, with dark red fruit flavors and some herb notes. The tannins are apparent but not overly heavy. A blend of Malbec and other red grapes, this is a little beauty that is well worth the price. $14, but $12 many places
2023 Hayotzer ‘Vinter’s
Select’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Galileee, Israel
A dry red wine with aromas of cherries and raspberries with a medium to full body. Perfect for stewed and braised meats as well as grilled vegetables.
This wine Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from specially selected grapes, grown in the sunny Judean Hills. The cool climate and rocky soil combined with generations of winemaking bring you a quality wine with aromas of cherries and raspberries with a medium to full body and beautiful purple color.
A berry nose followed by red fruit on the palate. Somewhat light, but tastes like a young Cabernet. Finish is modest, but a decent wine. Kosher, of course. $19
Hope all is well with you. Until next month, Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grape vines.
