The Wines of July 2021

 

South African wine has a history dating back to 1659, with the first bottle produced in Cape Town by its founder Jan van Riebeeck. Access to international markets led to new investment in the South African wine market. Production is concentrated around Cape Town, with major vineyard and production centres at Constantia, Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester. There are about 60 appellations within the Wine of Origin (WO) system, which was implemented in 1973 with a hierarchy of designated production regions, districts and wards.

Other South Africa WIne terms

Steen – Chenin Blanc

Pinotage – cross of Pinot Noir & Cinsault

Cap Classique – Sparkling wine

Now for the Wines of the Month

2015 Via Nova Mencia, Valdeorras, Spain

Red wine fruit of the best grapes from the vineyards with more hours of sunshine in Galicia .

It emphasizes its freshness in which it is perceived the traditional elaboration combined with the use of the last technological advances and the outstanding processes of quality of the warehouse.

I enjoy Mencia – it has red ripe fruits and usually a good acid backbone to go with many foods. This wine is no exception – not a long finish or much tannin, but a nice food wine. Priced around $10, what’s not to like?

2017 Rosewood Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, CA

In this Cabernet Sauvignon you will find, red berry fruit notes and flavors, delicate tannins and subtle oak spice tones that lend to a layered complexity with intriguing finesse.

TASTING PANEL

90 points // Exhibiting ripeness, balanced fruit, tannins, and acidity, this fine specimen from the Maggio family is sweet and opulent. Dark cherry, mocha, and currants go big alongside appetizing notes of boysenberry pie.

A rather understated cabernet with some red fruits but not really doing much after sipping. Average as a food wine, average as a sipping wine. Only $10, but I have had much better for the price.

2019 Annick Bachelet Beaujolais Villages Reserve de Bel Air, France

An open and fruity wine, this has developed well. It brings out ripe red fruits and ripe tannins in a rounded offering of freshness and accessible richness. Drink the wine now. RATING 88

A well made wine from Beaujolais – nice ripe red fruits with some intertwined tannins. Decent acid to make it a good food wine, although it drinks by itself very nicely. I got this for $10, well worth the price.

2020 Starborough Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand

Marlborough, New Zealand- Crisp and refreshing, characterized by ripe tropical fruit accents and some herbal notes. The wine shows flavors of passion fruit, kiwi and guava over a citrus background.

Bright, approachable and refreshing, Starborough Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand is like wind-whipped seagrass on a warm summer day. It’s the perfect pairing for a casual catch-up and a quick bite.

This is a moderate little wine – I got a slap of lemon verbena through the flavors. Not bad with food, a summer sipper for sure. Priced around $8, it is what it is. (Never been a big Sauv. Blanc fan)- Hey, it was HOT outside!

2017 Famiglia Castellani Chianti Pontedera, Italy

Deep ruby in the glass, the wine is at once effusive with notes of crushed berries, Tuscan underbrush, fresh pipe tobacco and freshly roasted mushroom.  I love the harmony of the aromas here.  On the palate, the wine is elegant and refined.  Forward and juicy, with ripe notes of crushed wild berry, cypress needle, tobacco and earth it is complex and generous.  Medium to full bodied with well integrated tannins that only assert themselves on the finish, this drinks incredibly well with and without food.  Although it is drinking very well now, it is so well balanced that 3-5 years cellaring should not be out of the question.

I think the quote above is for reserve wine – this one is a little more simple and rustic. Red berries with some tobacco and earth – not many tannins. Decent acidity to make a food wine. Another $10 bottle that isn’t awful, but not something to seek out.

2019 Bouchard Aine & Fils Pinot Noir Rose, France

This rosé is incredibly light in aromas, with hints of white cranberry and underripe strawberry on the nose and mouth. There's pleasant acidic lift to the palate, and it's otherwise a short and breezy quaff. RATING83

This rose did not have as much fruit on the palate as others I’ve enjoyed. There is some acid to help it pair with foods, but not the best back porch wine I’ve had. About $10.

2020 Mother Rock ‘Force Celeste’ Semillon, Swartland, South Africa

A stunning example of what a little bit of skin contact can bring to a wine. Though not pouring or acting like a heavily 'orange' wine this skin-contact white has amazing notes of citrus, pears and whitecurrants with a touch of rind-like pith and tea white tannins. Incredibly impressive at any price and a steal for what it's being sold for.

Old bush vines of Semillon, farmed organically and fermented naturally with wild yeasts. The fruit source is a single vineyard on Paardeberg Mountain in the Swartland region. During the fermentation with wild yeast 20% is done whole bunch on skins for two weeks. Aged 90% in steel and 10% in neutral oak. Not fined or filtered and nothing is added save a very tiny dose of sulfites at bottling.

I don’t have many Semillons, but this is a really good one.  The flavors are bright – some citrus and melon with a darker undertone. Good acidity making it go well with lighter fare. Well worth trying – priced around $15 – 16.

2019 Craven ‘Karibib’ Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa

It's one of their best cuveés now. A razor sharp, electric Chenin with real energy. It's a wine that twists through the finish and finishes squeaky and dry. It's a first rate Chennin Blanc from this part of the world.

"Scents of lemon soap, faint cashew, some sandalwood notes, a touch of flint. Smells real good. Palate is flinty too, vibrant, alive, energetic and chock full of zingy acidity with good flavour and freshness on show. Tart, citrus-driven flavours and that lick of nuttiness is the deal. Excellent, tightly found finish for those seeking longevity from their white wines too. Super stuff." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

I like Chenin Blan and have for a long time. I noted that this wine had a good sharpness – almost flintlike.  Citrus with hints of floral and other essences with nice acidity and a bright finish. Very enjoyable – Priced around $27.

2020 Blackwater ‘Lazy Lucy’ Rose, Swartland, South Africa

The blend consists of Cinsault, Grenache and Chenin Blanc. The Cinsault grapes are picked from a 25 year old dryland bushvine vineyard in Paarl and the Grenache is from a 10 year old block in Botriver. 50% of the Cinsault and all the Grenache is whole bunch pressed. The remaining Cinsault gets destemmed and pressed. The juice is co-fermented in stainless steel, racked off the lees after 4 weeks and then color adjusted with Grenache to get the desired color. Light fining and cold stabilization is performed prior to bottling.

I call this Rose very ‘user-friendly’ . The fruits pop out – mostly red ones with a brace of minerals and some acidity. OK with lighter foods and very ‘gulpable’ on a hot day.  Around $18.

2018 Blackwater ‘Cuvee Terra Lux’ Pinot Noir, Elgin, South Africa

Rockstar Pinot Noir. Winemaker Francois Haasbroek’s surname may translate in Afrikaans as “rabbit pants”, but his Pinot Noir is no laughing matter. Serious stuff, crafted using grapes sourced from three young sites in the über-trendy Elgin area, fermented roughly one-third whole bunch and spending three weeks on skins. It is aged in seasoned oak, unfiltered and ridiculously rare as he made less than 2,000 bottles. This is such a rockstar Pinot Noir that if you left it on its own in a hotel room, you’d come back to find it in bed with six Chardonnays, the TV out the window, the sprinklers going off and an empty minibar.

Most of the press on the web is about the 2013 vintage. This was a tasty Pinot nor that I consider more Cali style than Burgundy. Fairly bright red fruit flavors, some acid for food. Not tannic, and with a short finish. Tasty – priced around $25.

2018 Waterkloof ‘Circumstance’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, South Africa

They harvest according to taste and spend a lot of time in the vineyards to see how the flavors develop. The grapes are destemmed, sorted by hand and poured into wooden fermenters by gravity. The natural fermentation started spontaneously using the wild yeasts present on the fruit.

Punch downs (twice a day) were used during the fermentation to ensure a gentle and slow color and tannin extraction. The wines remain on the skin for 30 days to help integrate the tannins and stabilize the color. The peels are separated from the juice by gravity flow. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel and was then aged for 21 months in new (9%), second and third year French oak.

This Circumstance is a decidedly cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon (Bordeaux!) With prominent notes of red berries, balanced by a hint of cumin. The taste shows great focus with exceptionally refined tannins and great length. This Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect companion for a variety of dishes, such as T-bone steak on the braai (barbecue) or slow-cooked lamb shank.

This is a surprisingly good Cabernet – old world style but nice length on the red and black fruit with tannins and acidity under the flavors. Showing nicely now and priced under $30, a good buy.

Another month gone and just a few wines. Stay well and safe - Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of June 2021

June has been an unusual month - Hot, then cool and rainy, then hot again. Can't make up is mind

How about some wine talk?

2016 Lioco Carignane ‘Sativa’, Mendicino, Ca

Fresh asphalt, blackberry, and tuberose aromas. The palate has flavors of cassis, umeboshi, and violet pastille. This wine pairs well with shepherds pie, bistro burger, and carne asada tacos.

From a historic Mendocino vineyard pitched on the lofty slopes of Cloverdale’s Pine Mountain. Jim McCutchen boasts 70-year old, head-pruned, dry-farmed vines planted on south-facing exposures at 2200-2400 feet. The soil is a mix of hard shale & clay. This rapidly vanishing California grape variety—made in this ‘old-timey’ way—harkens back to the Golden State’s earliest winemaking efforts.

WW91Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: To many of us (myself included), top-quality Carignan belongs in the "geek" part of the business. The 2016 Lioco Sativa is an excellent wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine is beautiful, pristine, and alive. Its refreshing aromas and flavors of ripe red fruit, earth, and dust make a lovely dinner wine. Pair it with herb-crusted lamb chops. (Tasted: August 19, 2019, San Francisco, CA)

I agree that this grape is ignored, considered old school and a generic grape for blending. This bottle will change your mind. Moderate color, upfront nose of red fruits and full flavors of red fruits and hints of herbs and earthiness. Pleasant as a stand-alone sipper, but really nice with a meal. I got it on close out, under $15, but well worth $20-25.

2017 Cerro Anon Crianza, Rioja, Spain

Berry and plum aromas are lightly spiced and show a touch of baby powder. On the palate, this is bright and juicy, with chalky tannins. Spicy berry and plum flavors are aided by a touch of charred oak, while this is toasty, dark and chocolaty tasting on the finish. Drink through 2023.

RATING 90 WE

A blend of 80% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano. Matured for 14 months in oak and at least 8 months in bottle.

A fine example of Crianza Rioja. An intensely dark cherry red with sparks of ruby. Initial fruity aromas are followed by spicy notes and aromas from the oak cask ageing. On the palate it is very structured and smooth. The tannins are ripe and mellow and the finish long and refined.

Nicely structured wine with those red fruits with some spice notes. Not a long finish, but not short. Some tannin, but not heavy. Really nice wine for $10 – stock up on several, it goes well with food off the grill.

2020 Cotes du Rhone Reserve de L’abbe Rose, France

Red wines may be the first thing that comes to mind about the Cotes du Rhone, but rose should also be on your radar. The youthful 2020 Foncalieu Reserve de l'Abbe features the region's top two grapes, Syrah and Grenache, in a fragrant blend where wild strawberry, stone fruit, spice, and mineral notes refresh the senses. For under $10 a bottle, it's worth keeping a case of this enchanting French beauty around!

Somewhat light in color, a decent pink wine that has some red berries with some minerality. OK with food but more of a porch pounder on hot days. Around $10.

2017 Grand Horse Old vine Zinfandel, Lodi, Ca

This Grand Horse 2017 Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel is beautifully balanced with notes of red cherry, currant and sugar plum. Medium weight, smooth tannins and crisp acidity keep the bright fruit lifted and focused.  American oak barrel fermented.

Another weekday wine – pleasant fruit, decent acidity and a light finish. No tannins, not much spice, but decent with food. Another $10 bottle.

2020 Domaine Bousquet Rose, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

Domaine Bousquet’s premium varietal series comprises a blend of estate and purchased fruit from the Uco Valley. The grapes benefit from major diurnal temperature swings, achieving exuberant ripeness while retaining the juiciness that invites a second glass. The wines are vinified with a French sensibility. The wines are un-oaked – an on-trend sensibility of little or no oak to let the fruit shine through and make the wines extremely food-friendly.

It has an elegant pale salmon color. The nose shows aromas of red fruits, with hints of fresh cherries and orange peel. In the mouth, it`s Lively with fresh acidity and fruity palate

It goes well with seafood, fish, and Asian food.

This wine is a darker pink, but not too dark. Flavors of red berries and some citric flavor – nice acidity to match with food. Good body weight and good as a sipper. Around $10, worth drinking this summer.

2018 Ver Sacrum Monastrell, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is 100% hand harvested Monastrell(Mouverdre) from a single vineyard in the Los Chacayes IG within the Uco Valley. The nose is bright with notes of sweet black cherry and cocoa that lead into a soft, round mid palate with hints of tobacco and dried leaves.

In a range of wines this quirky and intriguing, it's quite something to be the quirkiest of all. We think this wine gets that accolade. A little darker than the GSM and Garnacha, the nose is delicate, fruity and floral. It's also a tad denser and more compact in the mouth with hints of black fruits accompanying the red, and lovely savoury hints. Again, amazing length. 100% of the wine is aged on the lees in eggs for 6 months followed by 8 months in bottle prior to release.

“Bright, medium cherry-red… Juicy, tactile, high-pitched red berry, white pepper and spice flavours convey an impression of savoury dryness. A penetrating, lively wine without any oaky impingements.”

Aged in Concrete eggs, yet there was hint of coffee in the nose. Usually that comes from the barrel, but this came from where the grapes where grown. Dry, slightly lighter in color, but flavors of red berry and hints of spice. Short finish, but decent acidity to go with food. Around $16.

2010 Cuvee Del Maule Red Blend, Cauquenes, Chile

Jammy, juicy, earthy, spicy, with notes of “green pepper” and “black peppercorns.” Fruit-forward in the manner of a New World wine yet not quite full-bodied. The fruit? Ripe-sweet blackberry and cassis. Has good structure (round tannins, bright acidity) but not a lot of depth. Minerals and herbs (tobacco? mint?) come out on the finish. Very drinkable though not a keeper. Probably a great match with red meat on the barbecue. A natural wine made from the Earthquake Harvest: 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carignan, 16% Carmenere, 10% Pais, 7% Merlot, and 3% Zinfandel.

A unique blend, this wine had deep flavors and nice balance. Red berries and some earthiness comes though – nice acidity for food. Not a long finish, very little tannins, so drink soon. Great with food off the grill – around $16. (Another French family that came to Chile to make wines)

2017 Proemio ‘Terrior’ Red Blend, Mendoza, Argentina

Cherry aromas are punchy and high-toned. On the palate, this blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot is rugged but with soft pockets that allow it to expand. Flavors of dark berry fruits, cocoa and coffee finish quickly, leaving light notes of chocolate and toast.

RATING 87 WE

Fruit dominates on the expressive nose of this wine - think warm berry compote, ripe plums, and cherries. Underneath, there's an appealing spicy-savoury backdrop reminiscent of Chinese Five Spice with a hint of campfire smoke.

This wine is a berry bonanza on the palate! All the red fruit from the nose comes through loud and clear with flavours of wild strawberry, tart raspberry, and ripe cherry. It's fully dry though, so don't be fooled by all the juicy fruit flavours. Medium-bodied and with fine, moderate tannins to provide structure and a pleasant, dry finish with echoes of warm spice.

The red fruit shines through on the nose and on the palate – a little lighter in weight than I expected. This also had a coffee note – although they used staves in the concrete vats to add some oaky flavors to the wine. Good with food, moderate tannins and a moderate finish – around $20.

2020 Laurent Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

A bold, aromatic blackberry pie from the 'Napa of Chile.' Packed with telltale Cabernet flavors of cassis and wild blackberries and rounded out by a New World polish, this is a right-down-the-middle Cabernet for weeknight steak or pot roast.

Dark, ripe fruits with notes of leather and minerality; a little active on the tongue at first, giving a fresh pop of interest. Organic, unoaked and using indigenous yeasts, this is a natural value!

Taste: Bold and aromatic bright cherry, blueberry and brambly raspberry. Low tannin

This is a wine for beef – Cabernet from Chile without too much funky earthiness. Comes across fairly soft, being unoaked, but fills the palate with dark fruits and a touch of minerals.  Matches well with food, heavier fare, and is a nice change for Cabernet. Priced under $20 from a French family making wines in Chile.

Well, that's another month. Stay Safe and keep popping those corks - I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of May 2021

Another month and we are getting to go places with less masking. Get vaccinated if you haven't.

So, I killed off my over 20 year old bottle of Weller's Bourbon. Then I find out, that Weller's is now an "allocated" item at my liquor store - they only get a few bottles per month. How about that, I was hip before it became hip. I settled for a bottle of Buffalo Trace - they now own Weller's.

Now to the wines

2019 Chateau Guichot Famille Petite Vignobles, Bordeaux, France

You know the wine is not well known when you only find things about the White and Rose they produce. It was an adequate wine, some red fruits, a little acid to be food worthy, no real tannins or aftertaste. What you expect for a $10 Bordeaux

2018 Montes de Leza Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain

100% Tempranillo, this is the first wine of the Lozano family produced in its own winery located in the north of Spain. Each bunch of grapes has been carefully selected during the harvest.

It presents a very elegant nose to new wood and pleasant fresh notes of red fruits. The aging in new barrels makes this wine very balanced and shows very well integrated into the whole. The entrance in the mouth is wide and round. In addition it has good structure, Acidity friendly. The end is persistent that leaves us a memory of red fruit.

A pretty decent little Tempranillo from Rioja. Decent body, nice fruit flavors with a little touch of fruit on the end. Worth the $10 it cost, should pick up some more for “Week night” wines.

2019 Centine Paradiso Sant’ Adrea Nero di Troia, Puglia, Italy

Cantine Paradiso, Nero di Troia has varietal red berry fruits which dominate the nose. The palate offers balanced structure, good persistence and a nice twist of acidity.

Tasting characteristics : a ruby ​​red wine with purple reflections. Varietal red berry fruits dominate the nose. The palate offers balanced structure, good persistence and a nice twist of acidity

Food pairing : a wine to drink through the meal and a fine partner for vegetable or white meat-based preparations. Equally delicious when enjoyed on its own

This was a very good bottle of wine – nice fruits in the nose and mouth, good body and acidity to make it a real good food wine. Priced under $12, well worth getting a few.

2017 Waterdog Red Vinho, Portugal

Loving, loyal and intelligent, Portuguese Waterdogs are a treasured breed originally from the southern coast of Portugal – near where our winery originates. Waterdog red wine, a blend of Castelão, Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional grape varieties, have a fruity palate with notes of red berries and a touch of wood. Aged for 6 months on French and American Oak. Enjoy it with BBQ, roasts and pasta dishes.

Wine Enthusiast: 90 Points

This is a new wine from this producer, a blend of three grapes that is designed to be drunk young. In that, the wine succeeds, with its fine tannins cushioned by layers of black fruits and balanced acidity. Drink the wine now.

Another unusual grape blend, but very tasty. Good fruits ,both red and black with some vanilla, acidity for food and a touch a dryness on the finish. Screw cap available for around $12, really nice when grilling.

2018 Domaine de Ju Red wine, Ventoux, France

Raspberry and strawberry preserves are dusted with crushed earth and tea leaves in this big, juicy blend of Grenache (60%), Syrah (35%) and Carignan (5%). Vinified without oak, it's firmly focused on rich, fleshy red fruit flavors but there's an undertone of sweet spice that lends a sexy kick. Best enjoyed young. 89 Points WE

Lying just east of the Rhône, the beautiful vine clad Ventoux region is dominated by the giant Mont Ventoux. It's a region prized for its fresh, red fruit and spice character wines. Like this Gold medal winning Grenache based red from Domaine de Ju.

A bright tasting wine with an undertow of spice that made it very good. Red fruits dominate the nose and palate making it a good food and sipping wine. Another $11 bottle that I would drink again and again.

2020 Ver Sacrum “Geisha de Jade” White Blend, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is a blend of 40% Marsanne and 60% Roussanne all from a single vineyard in the Los Chacayes IG in the Uco Valley. The nose jumps out of the glass with notes of orange peel, apricot, candied peach, and tangerine all woven together with white flowers, lavender, and a touch of coriander. The palate shows good acidity to match the full bodied character and the wine finishes with notes of honeydew melon and just a hint of flor. Rockstar juice in a bottle!

 

You just don’t see white Rhone varietals growing in South America, but here it is. Very refreshing -  like a Chardonnay that went on a diet and bulked up. A short finish, but dry – very interesting wine. Available around $17 or so.

2019 CVNE Vina Real Rosado, Rioja, Spain

 Attractive salmon pink in color with a rose pink rim. This is an aromatic wine, the nose revealing floral aromas along with peach, apricot and background notes of strawberry and citrus. Delicious balanced, palate, rounded with a lightly acidic aftertaste and a long, fruit-driven finish. An elegant wine which can be enjoyed at any time, with food or without.

RP90Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2019 Viña Real Rosado is a clarete produced with white and red grapes: 70% Viura and 30% Tempranillo and Garnacha. At 12.5% alcohol and with good freshness, it was produced in a light and approachable style and bottled early to preserve the primary character. This almost has more character of a white wine than a rosé, obviously very pale and with great freshness. It's balanced with moderate ripeness and a dry and serious palate with a long, dry and chalky finish that I like very much. Rating : 90+

 

Good fruit flavors in this Rose, even though it is a pale pink. I noted the freshness and balance; the finish was dry. Very drinkable and only around $12.

2018 Ver Sacrum GSM, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

13% alcohol. Bush vines. 70% Garnacha, 15% Monastrell, 15% Syrah, planted 2012. The grapes are co-fermented. First of all they have 8 days semi-carbonic maceration, then they are pressed to a 3000 litre unlined concrete egg for fermentation to complete for 20 days off skins, then the wine spends 8 months in old oak. There’s a bit of reduction on the nose, which shows bright berry fruits. The palate is juicy, light and bright with a vibrancy to it, as well as compact cherry and plum fruit. It’s a really pretty, drinkable wine with perhaps some latent seriousness under the currently quite simple fruit. The freshness, carbonic character and purity are all lovely. On day two it has shed the reduction and it’s silky and delicious. 93/100

G.S.M. is an Australian term for a southern Rhône Valley-style blend of grenache, syrah and mourvèdre. Argentina is better known for malbec, of course, but Ver Sacrum chose to focus on other grapes in its high-altitude vineyard in the Uco Valley of Mendoza. This bottle is 70 percent grenache, with 15 percent each of mourvèdre and syrah. It’s intense and juicy, yet well-balanced and precise, full of red fruit and herbal flavors. - Eric Asimov of The New York Times

This wine is a little lighter than most GSM’s, but had good fruit in the nose and on the palate. A moderate finish with integrated tannins, a real nice food wine and sipper. Only priced at $16 or so.

2016 Feudi di San Gregorio ‘Rubrato’ Aglianico, Irpinia, Italy

An intense ruby red color, this Aglianico displays aromas of wild berries, licorice and herb. It's well-balanced with savory notes of balsamic, and pairs well with hard cheeses, eggplant parmigiana or hearty beef stew.

JS94James Suckling

Great fresh-plum and herbal character on the expressive nose leads into an aglianico that manages to be concentrated with no trace of opulence. Fresh, without being overly tart, at the long, dry and mineral finish. Drink or hold.

 

I noted the dark and red fruits, herbs and spice on the palate. The tannins were fairly light, but brought some body to the wine. Nice moderate finish – good with food, also. Priced around $25.

2016 Bodega Ordonez ‘Vatan’ Tinta de Toro, Toro, Spain

Showing even better than when I tasted it last year, the 2016 Vatan (100% Tinta de Toro) is still a baby and sports a deep purple color as well as blockbuster notes of blackcurrants, melted licorice, violets, ground pepper, and earth. It starts out tight and backward on the palate but slowly opens with air. It’s full-bodied, opulent, and powerful, yet still stays light on its feet, balanced, and lively. It still needs another 2-3 years and is going to evolve for 15-20 years or more.

COMMENTARY: The 2016 Bodegas Ordoñez Vatan does an excellent job of combining power and style. TASTING NOTES: This wine brings enticing black fruit aromas and flavors upfront and center. Pair it with the first cut of a prime rib, if you can get it away from your dining partner.

This wine had a great fruit nose, then flavors were like a blockbuster. Heavy red fruits and big tannins, with a very long finish. This wine needs at least a few years in the cellar to tame down – it is a massive wine. Priced from $35-40, this is a beast that needs to calm down and would hold for years.

I hope you all are safe and well. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of April 2021

A little slow posting this, I had a birthday occur and I'm older and slower. 

Here are the Wines from April

2017 Elk Cove Vineyard Estate Riesling, Willamette Valley, OR

An intense wine that shows floral aromas of candied apricot, orange-blossom, and honey. The palate evokes lively green apple and bosc pear, finishing with shortbread cookie and a touch of lavender and slate.

RP 89  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2017 Riesling Estate has a spicy nose of honeysuckle, musk and white pepper over a core of white peach and apricot. Light-bodied with stone fruits in the mouth, it has very juicy acidity and touches of white flowers and pebbles coming through on the long textural finish.

This is a well made wine – the fruits are clean, almost like stones, but very fragrant with good acidity for food. Dry but not puckering, great wine with lighter fare or appetizers. Really nice bottle of wine. Priced at $15 – 18.

2018 Erath Resplendent Pinot Noir, Dundee OR

TASTING NOTES

This ruby beauty offers beguiling aromas of raspberry jam, strawberries, cherry turnover with

vanilla icing and a fragrant hint of orange blossom. The palate is round and gratifying with

flavors of plum, loganberry, pomegranate and a dash of sage. Pretty, fruit-forward and perfectly delicious.

Really nice Pinot from this winery. A step above the regular bottle but not as pricey as the reserve. Good fruits with some herbal tones, decent acidity to match foods. Another really good bottle. Priced at $15 – 18.

2017 Pedroncelli Merlot Bench Vineyard, Dry Creek, CA

Aromas are rich and enticing with hints of strawberry, sage, and baking spices. Flavors of red cherry, plum, and notes of freshly ground black pepper are showcased along with a touch of vanilla and toasty oak. Medium-bodied with rounded tannins follow through to a spiced finish. A beautifully balanced wine.

90 pts Wine Spectator

Well-structured, with a firm backbone of acidity to the dried dark currant, dark cherry and dried berry flavors. Cedary accents show mid palate, featuring notes of graphite and slate on the tannic finish. Drink now through 2023.

$20

This is what Merlot should be like – good red and black fruits, hints of herbal flavors and a nice moderate finish with some tannin interwoven. You get some oak, but not overpowering. Great bottle for some red meat, will hold for a couple of years if you get a couple bottles. Priced around $20.

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards ‘Whole Cluster’ Pinot Noir Rosé, Willamette Valley, OR

Electric pink color, this wine opens with vibrant aromatics of tropical peaches, strawberries and cream and candied pineapple. The palate is juicy and displays fresh raspberry, kiwi and honeysuckle flavors while remaining bright and balanced with refreshing acidity. The finish carries lush watermelon flavors well beyond the sip.

Pair with complex, spicy and herbal dishes that highlight fresh spring and summer ingredients. Also enjoy with seafood like seared ahi tuna, shellfish and ceviche, curry dishes and other pairings with harissa sauce, sweet potato fries and antipasto platters.

WE90     Wine Enthusiast

Bright and spicy, this does not shy away from herbal scents and flavors, notably thyme and chervil. The crunchy fruit conjures up freshly picked mountain strawberries. It’s clean, crisp and most refreshing.

Not a bad little bottle, not my top pick of “pinkies”. Drawn off the whole cluster Pinot Noir and then made into this Rose. Fairly deep palate, some berry and floral hints, but gets a little lost near the end. Not much of a finish. Pleasant on a hot day or before more serious wines. Priced around $16.

2017 Domaine Bel-Air ‘Briante’ Brouilly, Beaujolais, FRA

Ripe red fruits dominate this broad wine. Rose-petal aromas are followed through with perfumed tannins that back up that fruit. Aged for eight months before bottling, the wine should be ready from late 2019.

100% Gamay from Brouilly which is the most southerly of the ten Beaujolais Crus. This famous cuvée “Briante” is an aromatic wine, full of plum, cherry, and kirsch notes. The palate is long, the tannins are refined and there is great freshness on the finish.

Think “light style pinot” with more dark fruits. The finish is average, tannins not noticeable by this time. Available at around $15, not a bad wine, but nothing I would seek out.

2018 Tenuta Sette Ponti ‘Crognolo, Tuscany, IT

RP93Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The Tenuta Sette Ponti 2018 Crognolo is mostly Sangiovese blended in with about 10% Merlot. This is a nicely balanced wine that offers the tangy freshness and acidity of the first grape ironed out and softened by that smaller percentage of the second. The wine is redolent of cherry, blackberry and plum. Its primary intensity is bright and cheerful. The finish shows pretty thickness, extraction and nicely integrated tannins.

Clay and sand soils as well as Tuscany’s special stony galestro limestone, combined with ideal sun exposure and a climate tempered by the Mediterranean, provide an ideal climate for the Sangiovese grape. Low yields of excellent-quality hand harvested fruit ensure a rich and concentrated result. Following hand sorting and destemming, grapes are fermented in a combination of temperature controlled and lined open-top tanks. Crognolo is aged in French Allier barriques and in bottle.

This is a knock-out style Super Tuscan at a reasonable price. Sangiovese with a little Merlot – a dark, tasty wine with dark fruit flavers, integrated tannins and a touch of oak. Nice broad finish, this wine could be held for several years and still be great. Available from $35 to 40, worth the money.

2019 Stolpman Vineyards Crunchy Roastie, Ballard Canyon, CA

Deep, luscious blue, purple, and black fruit welcomes one into the smooth, supple, billowy mouthfeel.  Classic Syrah notes of olives, olive tapenade, and “roast” meats compliment the fruit purity from the nose all the way through to the seamless, soft finish.  Deep enough to pair with summertime grilling yet so smooth it gets yummier and crunchier – almost refreshing - drinking it with a chill.  As the bottle opens up with air, red-fruit appears above the blue-black and a nice spicy framing of freshness begins to lift the palate.

The giving “come-to-mama” yumminess seems weightier than its light 12.5% alcohol would suggest.

95% Syrah, 5 % Viognier

WE92Wine Enthusiast

Crumpled rose and violet aromas meet with Dr Pepper spices and grape bubblegum on the nose of this bottling, which includes 5% Viognier. It’s very zippy on the sip, blending purplefruit and flower flavors with white-pepper spice and a lightly toasted finish.

This is a big French style Syrah, as opposed to the overly fruity Aussie style of Shiraz. Very nice, with broad flavors and nice acidity to make it pleasant sipping and matching food. The finish is moderate with hints of spice. Very nice style of Syrah, priced around $24 - 29

2015 Toricoda Primitivo, Salento, Italy

Red cherry and blackberry aromas meld with snippets of baking spice and menthol on the nose. The medium-bodied palate is firm, with structured tannins and crisp acidity, housing juicy berry flavors dotted with red floral tones. Dark plum rounds out the finish.  88 Points WE

The 2015 Torcicoda is an intense ruby red in color. The wine expresses rich and complex aromas of raspberry and black cherry, followed by delicate notes of licorice and vanilla. The wine is supple and ample with a complex, long-lasting finish.

JS91James Suckling

This is a gorgeous young wine with dried strawberry and cherry character. Hints of cream. Medium body, light tannins and plenty of luscious fruit at the end.

This is different than a Cali zinfandel; yet it has good red fruits and a deeper flavor profile of spices. Dark and almost brooding, it has enough acidity for food or just sipping. Moderate to long finish with mild tannins interwoven. Great buy – Available under $20 – try this one for sure.

2019 Chacabuco Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

   Best Buy              85 Pts WE

Cassis and plum aromas come with a sweet dash of cinnamon that seems a bit fake but not off-putting. A rubbing palate is slightly tannic, while this tastes of foxy berry fruit and metal. A lightly herbal finish with mild green notes is the close. 

Crafted from high elevation vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina by former Wine of the Month Bodega Los Haroldos, Chacauco represent three generations of the Falasco's family immigration from Italy to Argentina to pursue their dreams of creating a winery. In 1939 Octavio Rufino Falasco sold his family wine from a basket on the front of his bike. With time and hard work he bought more land and established a winery in San Martin. The label is to honor these humble roots in creating one of the most successful wineries in Argentina.

James Suckling: 90 Points

"This has plenty of violets and cassis on the nose with attractively fresh, primary style. The palate has a succulent, juicy feel. Light, smooth and fresh. Cassis to close. Drink now." James Suckling, 90 Points

A pleasant little Malbec with fruit forward berries and hints of spice. At a $10 price point, drink everyday – enough umph to go with meals and a pleasant little sipper.

Another month has flown by. Hope you are well and staying safe. Get the vaccination when you can. Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of March 2021

Another month has come and gone. Going to briefly talk about the Syrah grape.

Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is a dark-skinned grape variety grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce red wine. In 1999, Syrah was found to be the offspring of two obscure grapes from southeastern France, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche. Syrah should not be confused with Petite Sirah, a cross of Syrah with Peloursin dating from 1880 (Called Durif in France).

Legends of Syrah's origins come from one of its homonyms, Shiraz. Because Shiraz, capital of the Persian Empire (modern-day Iran), produced the well-known “Shirazi” wine, legends claim the Syrah grape originated in Shiraz and then was brought to Rhône. At least two significantly different versions of the myth are reported, giving different accounts of how the variety is supposed to have been brought from Shiraz to Rhône and differing up to 1,800 years in dating this event.

2016 Zorzal Eggo Franco, Tupungato, Argentina

“The Eggo Franco is produced, like many of their wines, with grapes from Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary. It fermented in cement eggs with some stems and with 50% of the wine kept in contact with skins for some three to four months, then pressed and put back in the eggs to complete its elevage, which lasted some nine months. It typically shows a mixture of herbal and candied berry aromas, hints of beef blood and iron. The absence of oak shows the naked tannins and provides an earthy side, which to me is very much the wild character of Gualtallary.” –Luis Gutierrez, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

JS91       James Suckling

Aromas of currants, flowers and stones follow through to a medium body, firm and silky tannins and a delicious finish.

A nice Cabernet Franc from Argentina- there can be bottle variation, although my bottle was very good. The medium body had an undertone of meatiness. Nicely made, good with food, good bottle of wine. Special at around $12.

2015 Langman Estate Grace’s Grenache, Sierra Foothills, CA

This wine is rich and soothing, showing distinctive floral, grapey aromas, a broad mouthfeel and ripe concentrated plum and prune flavors. It feels quite full bodied but not very tannic, and leaves a lingering finish. JIM GORDON           RATING 87

Another close-out from Matt – this is a really nice drinking Grenache. Good fruit, like the old vine Garnarcha from Spain. Priced at around $11, this is a buy several bottles.

2016 Brotte Chateaunuef-du-pape Blanc ‘Le Hautes des Barville’, Rhone, France

A tinge of copper to this white's hue suggests a bit of skin contact, and there's a decided textural element and tannic grip on the palate as well. Pear and melon flavors finish refreshing and mouthwatering in spite of the wine's richness. Drink now.  WE RATING 91

Wine Advocate 91

The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc les Hauts de Barville is 80% Grenache Blanc, fermented and aged in stainless steel. Straightforward grapefruit and lime notes abound in this medium to full-bodied offering. It's crisp and clean, with riper hints of stone fruit to round out the mid-palate, while citrus keeps the finish fresh and long.       by Robert Parker, JC, 2018.

A splendid white wine that had a great body with melting flavors of pear and melon with a nice acid balance. Great for sipping or with lighter meals. Priced around $35, kind of a splurge.

2014 Domaine De La Ville Rouge Crozes-Hermitage ‘Inspiration’, Rhone, France

“The Crozes-Hermitage ‘Inspiration’ is made from the estate’s youngest vines (10-15 years old) grown on the ‘plateau de Chassis’, a terrace made up of thick layers of pebbles from different glacial periods, interspersed with red clay. The juice gets a four-day pre-fermentation soak, with 80% then aged for 12 months in stainless steel, the remainder in oak barrels. A creamy, juicy nose of plum and spice and just a suggestion of the typical Crozes ‘bacon fat’ character. Light-bodied, fresh acidity, savoury, with soft tannins. Sleekly textured, elegant and just delicious – an approachable style to be drunk young and on the fruit. Very good value for the appellation.”

This wine may be at or just past its peak.  Over-ripe red fruits and tar, almost a little off-putting. Not a bad bottle, just showing its age. Around $24, try to get a newer vintage

2017 Finca Collado Syrah/ Monastrell, Alicante, Spain

RATING: 92 Points - James Suckling* An attractive color, with great intensity. The nose of the wine show ripe fruits and a touch of unroasted coffee. The nose leads to a tasty, intense palate, that has a touch of spice to go with a boat load of different fruit flavors. The finish is clean with a hint of tobacco lended from the Monastrell. An enjoyable, easy drink! Pairs well with appetizers, bbq and grilled meats, even a nice cheeseburger would work! Also a good combination with dark chocolate and red jams!

A very dark wine with red fruit with spice and tobacco. Medium body with a modest finish, a very nice drinking wine.Acidity to make it a food match – runs under $15 – well worth drinking

2018 Parducci Small Lot Petite Sirah, Mendocino County, CA

Parducci pays homage to the hearty character of Petite Sirah with grapes harvested from Mendocino County’s heritage vineyard sites and winemaking that embraces each wine’s unique varietal qualities. Full and velvety with bold dark fruit flavors and aromas of blackberry, sage and a hint of vanilla.

From Mendocino’s heritage vineyard sites, the 2018 vintage depicts the best of the qualities we’ve come to expect from this velvety, rich red, which aged in oak barrels and redwood tanks. Notes of briar and lavender play a key role on the juicy palate alongside bright acidity. It’s more of a gentle giant than a harsh teeth-grabber.

Nice red fruits show in this bottling – some tannin and decent acidity make it very tasty. Moderate finish – a really nice Petite that doesn’t overpower food. Priced around $15, buy several bottles.

2017 Shinas Estate ‘The Guilty’ Shiraz, South East Australia

Deep dark red black colour with a dark red hue. Spiced dark plum and liquorice allsorts aromas intermix with vanillin oak and hints of dark chocolate. Rich, plush and sweetly fruited with medium to full body weight, the palate is filled with luscious dark plum and liquorice flavours over a back drop of spicy vanillin oak. Soft acidity and velvet smooth tannins finishing with a medium length aftertaste.

Drink over the next 1-2 years.

Dark, brooding Aussie Shiraz that is not too fruit forward. Some tannins, but the blend well with the dark red fruits and oak. Long finish that ends on a almost sweet note. Well built shiraz with enough acidity to go with heavy meats. Priced around $25, nice bottle to have around.

Another month has flown by. Hope you are well and staying safe. Get the vaccination when you can. Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 Wines for the month of February 2021

Wow - a short but cold month went by. Hope everyone was warm enough - here are the wines to review.

2014 Passalacqua Cabernet Sauvignon TR Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, CA

The story of the Passalacqua family in the United States starts in 1865, when Francesco Passalacqua emigrated from Genoa, landing in San Francisco and settling in Healdsburg, where he immediately planted grapes. In 1895 he opened Fitch Mountain Cellars. The original house and one half acre of grapes still stand on Fitch Street in downtown Healdsburg. In 1930, Francesco’s widow Rachel purchased the Oliveto Wine Company in downtown Healdsburg, and in 1933 her daughter Edith opened Sonoma County Cellars in the building. Edith was one of the first women to make wine and to own and operate a winery in California after prohibition. She finally retired in 1958. Aunt Edith’s original label design graces each bottle of our Passalacqua Estate Zinfandel.

In 1979, third generation Tom Passalacqua and his wife Sandi purchased a 300-acre ranch off Mill Creek Road, at the southern tip of Dry Creek Valley. They planted almost 110 acres of it to Cabernet Sauvignon in 1996. In 2000, their son Jason, inspired by the Cabernet acreage and the families’ history, began making wine. The current winery property on Lambert Bridge Road opened as Passalacqua Winery in 2004, showcasing Zinfandel from select vineyards in Dry Creek Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon from the families’ TR Passalacqua Vineyard.

The aromatics completely show the barrel fermentation. It smells like mashed blackberries, cherries, and plums that have been soaking in a cedar bowl. You can get a sense of the oak, but it’s so integrated with the fruit, it’s hard to tease them apart. The palate shows some of that fruit, but turns more to dusty tannin and there is a dried leafy character in the background mixed with a touch of brown spices. The finish is mostly cedar and tannin that will continue to soften over the years.

This wine is drinking wonderfully right now. There are dark red fruits with a remaining touch of tannins.  Very good wine for a heavier meal, good drinking. Gift so I don’t know a price.

2015 Graziano Old Vine Carignane, Mendocino, Ca

Editors' Choice

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.

This is an interesting wine, much like a less spicy, refined Zindfandel than the usual Carignane.  Nice acidity to balance with a meal – red fruits but not overpowering with an herbaceous tone. Very nice – got on close-out for about $12. Get some if you can find it).

2018 Frescobaldi Remole Toscana, Tuscany, Italy

Remole Rosso 2018 boasts a bright and intense violet-red color. Fruity aromas, such as blackcurrant, raspberry and black cherry slowly give way to extremely delicate spicy notes. On the palate, the warm note is balanced out wonderfully by a fresh vivacity. It is a pleasant wine that marries elegance and balance with great softness.

Villa di Remole, in the heart of Tuscany, is the cradle of the 700 years of history and tradition of the Frescobaldi family. Remole is an intense, soft and fruity wine that will captivate and delight you. Particularly suited for full-flavoured first courses, charcuterie and red meat.

Not a bad little wine, lacking in comparison to other wines of this ilk. Goes well with Italian food, a little soft in mid-palate. No real tannin feel, drink reasonably soon.  Priced around $10 – 12.

2016 La Nerthe “Les Cassagnes” Cotes-du-Rhone Villages, Vaucluse, France

Archives affirm Chateau La Nerthe’s existence as early as 1560, while suggesting an even more distant past dating to the dawn of the region’s wine culture in the 12th century making it one of Chateauneuf’s oldest estates. Located in the heart of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC region of southern France not far from Avignon, the 225 acres of Chateau La Nerthe vineyards are located in a single block around the Chateau and have been certified Organic since 1998. The terroir is very typical for the region: vineyards runs along a slope, at the top of which the vines dig their roots into soils of sandy-clay, on the surface there is a layer of the famous galettes, large, round, well-worn stones that originated in the Alps, having been carried down to the Rhône by the glaciers of previous ice ages. The further down the slope of the vineyard you travel, the more these stones dominate. All 14 of the permitted primary varietals are planted-Grenache dominates 62% of vineyards and the vines average over 40 years old. Chateau La Nerthe is the prime expression of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

GRAPES: 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre

Winemaker Notes

Deep red color with a purple border. On the nose, intense red fruits with some black cherry notes. A beautiful freshness on the palate, with roundness. The finish is long, with notes of candied red fruit highlighted by sweet spices. Fresh, silky texture on the finish.

Enjoy with grilled, roasted or stewed pork, beef, duck, veal and lamb. This wine is perfect with pizza or your favorite Asian dishes. Also a great pairing with both soft and hard cheeses.

This is a very good CDR, good fruits, sort of almond cherry flavor with some stones thrown in. Moderate finish, a good wine to sip or to match a meal. Just a wonderful wine – priced around $20, well worth every penny.

2016 Fattoria le Pupille Morellino di Scansano Riserva, Grosseto, Italy

 

93+ Points! The 2016 Morellino di Scansano Riserva has made a great leap forward in recent vintages. The blend is 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine is aged in old Saffredi barrique along with larger botte. The wine shows a stunning crispness and a sharp focus in this vintage. It opens to black cherry notes and generous red fruit, with very lightly toasted almond and spice at the back. The mouthfeel is full, and while the bouquet starts off a bit closed, the finish grows steadily in volume and girth. It would be a nice accompaniment to grilled portobello mushrooms... This wine offers excellent value from coastal Tuscany. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

An excellent Italian blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet – a nice nose followed by a big mouth filling flavors of sharp red fruits. Some tannins, followed by a long finish – hints of spice and nuts on the back end. Very good with food – would stand up to big grilled meats, as well as pasta dishes. Well priced around $22 – 25; a good value at this price.

2016 Casa Santos Lima ‘Colossal’ Reserva, Lisboa, Portugal

 

With an intense ruby color, this wine presents itself with a great concentration in the nose. Extremely rich aroma with predominance of red ripe frutis and some floral notes, well integrated with notes of spices coming from the ageing in French and American aok barrels. In the mouth it shows great complexity with notes of plums and blackberries. The finish is rich and elegant.

Critical Acclaim  WS90Wine Spectator

Plum and boysenberry notes weave together with dried herb and smoky mineral accents in this sleek red. Savory spice details chime in on the finish. Offers moderate, grippy tannins. Drink now through 2020.

Grapes:  30% Syrah, 30% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz, 10% Alicante Bouschet

This wine has balanced red fruits – think strawberry and raspberry, with a touch of stone and some herbs (mint?). Good mouthfeel, tannins are subdued and the finish is moderate. Drink in the next year – price is great, find it for under $15 and drink it up.

2019 Alvaro Palacios ‘Camins’ del Priorat, Priorat, Spain

Blend: 40% Garnacha, 30% Cinsault, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah

JS94James Suckling

Gorgeous, bright fruit with raspberries, black cherries and lavender with some schist. It’s medium-bodied with very polished and integrated tannins that go on and on. Drink or hold.

RP91Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The regional blend 2019 Camins del Priorat is a blend of 35% Garnacha, 24% Syrah, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cariñena, 10% Merlot and 3% other varieties. The grapes were destemmed, lightly crushed and then fermented with the natural yeasts in a combination of stainless steel, oak and concrete vats. After fermentation, it matured in barrel and oak vats for four months.

I found this to be an intriguing wine. The red fruits seemed a little closed in at the beginning, but opened as the wine sat longer. Dark fruits dominate with hints of anise and balsamic overtones.  Give it another few monts and it should drink well – wine is powerful with integrated tannins and a moderate finish. Classic example of a modern wine made from rustic grapes and area. Priced around $22 – 25, a good wine to hang onto for a bit then enjoy.

Another month – it seemed short, except for the freezing weather. Hope you are well and staying safe. Get the vaccination when you can. Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.