The Wines of November 2024

Turkey day is done and we head into the Holidays. Cold weather, snow and all the fun with the season. Enough Hum-bug, lets look at some wines.

2022 Ciconia Red Blend, Alentejano, Portugal

The wine is all about ripe, soft fruits. Berry flavors are tempered by the wine's generous texture, juicy acidity and attractive fruitiness. The wine is ready to drink.

Deep ruby hue with violet hints colour. Very ripe red and black fruits (mulberry, raspberry and plum), integrated with spicy and balmy notes, such as pepper, mint and coconut. Well-balanced, round, rich taste of fruits and spices, nice structure of smooth tannins.

An inexpensive little red from Portugal – bright and fruity, just made for pizza or pasta on a weeknight. Priced around $10, nice little school night red.

 

2021 Turley Old Vines Zinfandel, California

Old Vines is composed of a variety of venerable sites from California that are either too small to be made into a vineyard designate wine or are “new” to the Turley family (and way of farming). Vines are anywhere from 50 to 130 years old, and a true representation of California old vine Zinfandel, hailing from vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lodi, Contra Costa, Amador and Paso Robles. There is no better way to gauge the classic character of old vine Zinfandel in California than through this wine.

Hailing from over 20 ancient vineyards across California, this wine has inherent depth, complexity, and grace thanks to the old vine sources. The ’21 is extremely well composed; dark fruits like plum and blueberry alongside black tea and savory herbs. A serious and brooding wine that is satisfyingly nimble on the palate. Ready to drink now at 55°-60°F.

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2021 Zinfandel Old Vines has a medium ruby color and plush red and black cherries on the nose with accents of mushrooms, forest floor, savory spices and mint. The full-bodied palate is grainy and refreshing with generous berry fruit and a long, spicy finish. It's similar to the Juvenile with a bit more oomph, and it's just as easy to drink. 

A serious zinfandel with nice fruit and nuances of earth and spices.  Drinks very well and has acidity to match with a meal. Would keep for a few years but is great now. Priced around $38, worth the splurge.

2021 Barton & Guestier Vouvray, Val de Loire, France

Brilliant clear yellow. Seductive nose with lovely fruit aromas (pear, pineapple) and delicate floral notes. Smooth on the palate with a nice refreshing finish.

A simple little Chenin Blanc – fresh and lightly floral. Not great but good for the price of $13.

 

2021 Juggernaut Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA

Cedar, pine and wood char aromas lead to juicy black cherry, maple and clove accents in this full-bodied, oaky-tasting wine. It's a sturdy, stylized pour for casual occasions. 87 pts – WE

Cool breezes and damp fog build character in our Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. French oak complements bold red fruit, intriguing perfume of Stargazer lilies with hints of vanilla, waffle cone and toasty oak. Both graceful and vigorous, this wine opens with a perfume of white flowers followed by persistent flavors of red cherry and berries.

A pleasant little Pinot, decent body and acidity keep it balanced on the red fruits. A little baking spice but not too much – pretty nice for a $20 bottle. From the Bogle Family of wines.

 

2021 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, California

A simple and straight-forward Cab Sauv offering notes of black cherry, black plum, black currant, black pepper, cedar wood and a very strong dose of jalepeño pepper.  86 pts WE

SIMI California Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine offers balanced flavors of the best growing regions in the coastal state. This red California wine opens with inviting aromas of blackberry and plum. Each sip of this delicious red wine features dark fruit flavors of blackberry, plum, and black cherry, complemented by notes of toasted oak and brown spice with a supple, velvety finish. Aged for nine months in French and American oak barrels, this aromatic red grape wine's lingering taste brings out the best in savory dishes. Pair this SIMI wine with grilled portobello mushrooms, steak, short ribs, beef or veggie burgers, and aged cheeses, or enjoy a glass of wine on its own. $25

I don’t get the jalepeño pepper, but I get a bit of bell pepper. It is not overpowering, but noticeable. There are nice red and black fruits with a nice body and adequate tannins and acidity.  This is their basic Cabernet and it is pretty good – priced around $25.

 

2022 Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Ynez, California

Our Santa Ynez Cabernet Sauvignon is full of wild blackberries and blackcurrants, layered with nuances of cassis, tobacco and allspice adding complexity to the fruit. The palate is deliciously long, carrying the core of dark fruit on the palate through to the finish with fine supple tannins.

This limited release captivates with wild blackberries and black currants layered with delicate notes of cassis, tobacco, and a hint of allspice. These vibrant aromatics lead to a richly structured palate, where dark fruit flavors linger with a finish of fine, supple tannins that give the wine both depth and elegance.

Crafted from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes, the wine showcases the unique terroir of Santa Ynez. Fermented on skins in stainless steel tanks and then aged for 14 months in oak barrels, it achieves a full-bodied profile marked by balanced acidity and a smooth, long-lasting finish.

This wine a very nice, with good structure and black fruits that are enhanced by spice and graphite flavors. Long finish, it drinks nicely, and went with heavier meal fare. Really a good bottle, priced under $30, one to keep on your list.

 

2022 Pessimist by Daou Red Blend, Paso Robles, California

This bottling delivers the ripe power that so many want, in a package that's balanced by savory elements. Dense aroma of tar, char, asphalt, cassis and cocoa show on the nose. The palate is rich and creamy, loaded with coffee bean, coconut husk and baked fruit flavors.  92 pts WE

Blend: 60% Petite Sirah, 22% Zinfandel, 16% Syrah, 2% Lagrein

Barrel Aging: 10 months in 50% new French oak                 Alcohol: 14.9%

A great blend that is a brooding deep wine, full of fruit and earth type notes. Full mouthfell, soft tannins and dark fruits all the way through the finish. Good bottle to get around $25 at ost stores.

 

2022 Tooth & Nail Tempranillo, Paso Robles, California

Noted by Wine Enthusiast as "One of the Best Tempranillos to Drink Right Now" the 2022 Tempranillo presents vibrant aromas of black cherry, strawberry preserve and fig with distinct savory notes. The palate is chewy, generous and supple, delivering flavors of blueberry, cherry cola, vanilla, cedarwood, mocha and mushroom, all buttressed by buoyant acidity. Notes of toasted oak emerge on a rich, rustic finish.

Clean and dark aromas of black plum, elderberry, wild thyme and fennel give a rustic angle to the nose of this bottling. The structure is sticky and yet the body remains medium, carrying peppercorn, fennel and dark purple fruit flavors.

A lost grape for California – Tempranillo is the grape of Rioja, Spain. Has a touch of dust, along with dark fruit flavors and a moderate body. Good acidity to match food, a pleasant bottle for around $20.

 

2015 Altamente Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

Opaque ruby. A sexy, expansive bouquet evokes ripe, spice-accented black/blue fruits, incense and smoky minerals. Sweet and energetic on the palate, offering juicy blackcurrant, boysenberry, spicecake and cola flavors that show very good delineation and spicy lift. Rich, yet lively and precise, finishing with solid thrust, resonating spiciness, and silky, slow-building tannins. (fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for six months in used French oak barrels)                             

This was lingering on the shelf at the store, but I had it several years ago. Took a shot and was rewarded with an elegant wine with red and black fruits; moderate body and acidity to make it very enjoyable. Retailed for about $12, a very nice bottle for everyday drinking.

 

2018 Fromm Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand

This is a bright and bouncy springtime Pinot from the well regarded organic producer Fromm. The cinnamon and clove spice get along graciously with the slinky red and blueberry fruit and floral characters. Tingly acidity on the palate makes the fruit pop. It's backed by savory, sappy notes and a talc-like cinch of tannins that hits just at the right spot. Light-bodied and chillable, this is a playful yet seriously well made wine. Drink now–2027.                93 Pts WE

I had this with my Thanksgiving meal (Ham, not turkey) and it was splendid. Despite being a 2018, the wine was a light bright color with an engaging fruity nose. The body was driven with red fruits and  blueberries, and had hints of baking spices. Just a great wine – it is  priced in te mid-30’s, I think (mine was a gift).

Hope all is well and you get everything you want from Santa Claus. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.