Wines of October 2024

Another month gone and I had some more wine. I also passed my Wine and Spirits Educational Trust (WSET) Level 1 Wine exam. My first wine certificate. On to the wines

2022 Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie, Italy

Freshly cut apples with a touch of lemon and yellow flowers define the nose of this Pinot Grigio. Crunchy on the palate with a steely minerality on the finish. 87 Points WE

Straw yellow. Notes of meadow flowers, pears, and golden apple. The bouquet is fresh and complex, showing refined notes of sage and mint accompanied by an elegant minerality typical of Pinot Grigio. Medium bodied, lively, and elegant. A touch of minerality lingers in the finish, with notes of lemon peel.

I haven’t had PG in a long while – let me sat I was surprised how much I enjoyed this inexpensive wine. Had good minerality and a decent body with pears and apple. Priced at $10, a real summer type wine.

 

2018 Chapel Hill Bush Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale, Australia

This is a lovely, layered vintage of Chapel Hill's Grenache. Broodier than many in the region, it has an appealing rawness to the nose, like the crush pad at harvest time. It exudes black cherries, blueberries, crushed violets, roses and an earthy, mineral streak, like sun-baked clay and warm stones. The palate is powerfully structured but taut and focused, the fruit and savory spice wound with sinewy tannins. Drink now–2035. — Christina Pickard  92 Points WE

Marked down at the store, this is a heavy weight Grenache. Some tannins still remain, but the heavy body of red and black fruits with hints of spice. Reduced from upper $20’s to around $15, this was a killer wine. I’ll look for Chapel Hill again.

 

2022 La Petite Perriere Sauvignon Blanc, Nerve’, France

Lovely intense, pale gold color. On the nose, there is an explosion of very ripe, yellow and exotic fruit aromas. Clean and refreshing on the palate with notes of melon and a mineral frame. This wine can be enjoyed when young but will also age well for 1-2 years after bottling. Pairs perfectly with antipasti, bruschetta, goat cheese, ham pastry or an arugula salad.

Pretty nice French wine, but nearing the end of its life. Still had decent fruit and a mineral note to it. Priced under $12, meant to be drunk young.

 

2014 Cave de Tain Premiere Note Syrah, France

Black-plum and blueberry flavors are pristine in this fresh, fruity expression of Northern Rhône Syrah. Medium bodied and mouthwatering in acidity, it's a juicy red with wide appeal intended for imbibing young.

A long in the tooth bottle from the store, it still had some red fruit. Reduced to $10, it was not bad, but not great either. Sometimes you win, other times not.

 

2019 Morgan Cotes du Crow’s Red Blend, Monterrey, CA

This always satisfying blend of 62% Grenache, 29% Syrah, 5% Tempranillo and 4% Cinsault begins with aromas of dark-cherry compote, root beer and star anise, proving rather complex while still fresh. Roasted cherry and hickory-smoke flavors give a warm angle to the sip, where savory charcuterie and fig flavors also arise. — Matt Kettmann           91 Points WE

A decent blend with dark fruit flavors. Hints of spice but it seemed a little lacking. Marked at $18, I expected a little more out of the wine.

 

2021 Ely Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA

Aromas of asphalt, graphite and olive are dusted in garden herbs on the nose of this bottling. There are firm tannins on the palate, framing the woody, dark-fruit flavors. — Matt Kettmann  87 Pts WE

Pretty interesting Cabernet from Paso – hints of green pepper but overall red and black fruits with hints of herbs. Not a real keeper – drink in 3 years or so, but went nicely with a meal.  Sale priced at $15, well worth that price.

 

2013 Podere Campriano Alta Valle Della Greve, Italy

100% Sangiovese of own production from organic grapes, produced in the oldest vineyard planted in 1980 by grandfather Nello and father Valerio.  Intense red color, intense aroma of red fruit, typicality and character thanks to the old varieties of Sangiovese. 

Perfect pairing: aged cheeses, braised meats, roasts... and a beautiful sunset.

A lost bottle at the store – reduced to $30 to move it. Took a while to open up and it was still a little restrained, due to age. Red fruits with some herbs on the palate. Probably a year past its prime, sitting on a rack in the store.

 

2019 Tagua Tagua Carmenere Gran Reserva, Rapel Valley, Chile

Featuring berries and a light note of black olive on the nose, this wine delivers intense black and red fruit flavors joined by a dash of salt. Hints of smoke are displayed in the finish.  Jesica Vargas 89 Pts WE

Our Gran Reserva line, with a passage of 12 to 14 months in French oak barrels, brings complexity, firm structure and perfect balance. Decant for 15 minutes if possible and drink ideally at 18°C.

Ruby red color, heightened by the larger body and skin typical of the Carménère grape. A fresh nose displays spice and black pepper. The acidity is well balanced with the tannins round and full through to a lingering finish.    A good steak is the perfect companion to this wine. It also fits well with a traditional corn cake.

This is one of the best Carmenere I have had. Bright red fruits with hints of spice and pepper. Very full bodied with just a touch of intertwined tannins. Priced at $15, a complete steal!

2022 Paringa Sparkling Shiraz, South Australia

Wine Pilot (92 Points):

“The ultimate love-it-or-hate-it style of wine. The fruit here is from South Australia, presenting as a deep purple/maroon. This is plush with choc/cherry notes, plums, coffee beans and licorice. An attractive, effervescent style with gentle sweetness and a soft finish. Zesty acidity helps to balance the sweetness making it quite delicious…”

I noted “Nehi Grape with Mentos”. Sweet and a touch sappy, not really my cup of tea, or wine. Priced around $16.

 

2022 J. Lohr Syrah, Paso Robles, CA

The 2022 J. Lohr South Ridge Syrah has vibrant purple and magenta hues. Fresh baked cherry pie aromas are accented with lilac, white pepper, and holiday spice. The juicy yet spicy structure of this northern Rhône cultivar is lengthened and lifted by the inclusion of Mourvèdre and Viognier.

92           James Suckling

A rich nose with plums, dark cherries, ground cloves, licorice and cocoa. Some cedary notes. Full-bodied, layered and creamy, with delicious purple fruit character and a supple finish.

A relatively inexpensive Syrah, but on with good body, dark fruits and spice elements. Very enjoyable with or without food – priced around $15, well worth it.

 

2021 Right Hand Man Syrah, Paso Robles, CA

For being part of the winery's “blue-collar” series, this is a rather complex, even challenging Syrah, starting with aroma of funky wood, loamy soil, reductive tar and dark berry. Roasted meat, charcoal and asphalt flavors meet black plum and rosemary on the palate. — Matt Kettmann  91 Pts WE

Wine Advocate: 94 Points

The recently bottled 2021 Syrah Right Hand Man is youthfully gregarious, with intense aromas of cassis, tar, violet, game meat and cracked pepper. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with concentrated yet detailed fruits and a long, layered finish. It's very expressive for this price point and easy to drink!

Another good Syrah from the central coast of Cali. Nose is less fruity than expected but the dark fruits on the palate are matched with spice and other flavors. Broad mouth feel, an impressive wine. Priced around $20, well worth the price.

 

2021 Chronic Cellars Petite Sirah, Central Coast, CA

Few brands combine style, substance and consistency like this one. This vintage's Petite Sirah pops on the nose with black fruit, pepper, wild herb and light caramel. The palate is framed by firm but forgiving tannins that hold blueberry and peppery herb flavors together. — Matt Kettmann  91 Pts WE

"Buckle up for a Petite Sirah that’s equally elegant and powerful. A seductive stunner, Suite Petite brings sultry flavors of bursting blackberries, blueberries, anise and a delightfully subtle hint of cacao and baking spices. With balanced tannins and a full mouthfeel, this is one you won’t soon forget!"

A modest nose and a slightly tame Petite Sirah – this wine does drink very well. Tannins are weaved into the flavors, with black fruits and herbs holding a nice body of wine. A touch soft, but drinks really well and holds to food nicely. Priced around $18, good buy.

 

2021 Vina Robles Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, CA

Vina Robles Petite Sirah is a deep purple color. Aromas of boysenberry and caramel with hints of chocolate, white pepper and savory spice. Full-bodied with juicy dark fruits, dark chocolate, mouthfilling with a palate coating creamy finish.

Violet and lilac aromas are wrapped in toasted walnut and black currant qualities on the nose of this bottling. The palate is lush with dark fruits and oak spices, which evolve into mocha and coffee bean flavors by the finish.

A serious deep brooding wine, just how I like my Petite Syrah (Durif). Dark fruits with hints of mocha and a broad mouth feel. Excellent wine – priced around $25, well worth that price.

 

Hope all is well. The Holidays are coming up fast. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.