The Wines of September 2023

Another month has flown past. Fall has started but someone forgot to tell the weather.

On to the wines.

2019 Casa Castillo El Molar, Jumilla, Spain          

94 points Wine Advocate

 The Garnacha bottling from 2019, the 2019 El Molar, was produced with the grapes from three plots of vines planted on gravel and sandy soils covered with tosca stones planted in 2004, 2006 and 2010. 2019 was marked by torrential rains on September 13th that changed everything, but the Garnacha (and the Syrah) were harvested before the rain, so this wine is from a "normal" Mediterranean vintage. Fifty percent full clusters were used for the native fermentation in underground stone pools with a short maceration. It matured in 500-liter oak barrels and 5,000-liter oak vats for 12 months. It's a little lower in alcohol but shows ripeness (without excess), but the core is floral, perfumed and elegant. The tannins are very fine-grained with the essence of the limestone soils, that chalky quality of the texture. Very impressive for a 2019.

I really liked this bottle of wine. Great value and the wine is very good. Nice red fruits on the nose and palate, moderate acid for food and a moderate finish. Only $20, well worth it.

2019 Artesa Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA          

Appearance: Opaque ruby core, translucent half inch at the meniscus;

Nose: Dusty, pyrazines (green pepper), new French oak, dried fig, toast;

Palate: Grippy tannins. Medium acid. Raspberry fruit.

Artesa’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of carefully selected vineyards across Napa Valley. It is comprised of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, and is aged 8 months in 100% French oak barrels (50% new oak).

Wine Enthusiast scored this wine 92 Points saying, "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."

This was a closeout priced cabernet that is really nice. Dark fruits on the nose and the palate withksome spice notes and a moderate finish with a few tannins. Priced around $25, this is one to buy several bottles and  keep for a year or so. It will be better!

2017 Stilio Primitivo di Manduria, Salento, Italy

This wine is ruby red with purplish reflections with an austere aroma of red fruit in jam, Morello cherry and walnut shells. It is velvety, full bodied and harmonious on the palate.

This is a heavier prmitivo than others I’ve had. Red and black fruits on the nose and palate with a nice weight to the wine. Moderate acid for food and a modest finish. Only problem is the bottle is one big heavy dude. Priced between $20 – 25, it is a nice bottle to try. Just don’t carry it far.

2021 Fontana Freddo Del Commune de Gavi, Italy

This is a white wine with personality, which resolutely defends its characteristics against the perils of time, allowing it to maintain the highest quality for several seasons. Straw-yellow with greenish highlights, it has an ample nose, with an intense bouquet featuring flowers, vanilla, lemon, lily of the valley and bitter apples. Its nicely dry taste is full, well-balanced and elegant.

JS90       James Suckling

Fresh and steely, with sliced limes and green apples and some minerals. Medium body, nice fruit and a steely finish.

From the Piedmont wine region, Fontanafredda 2021 Gavi di Gavi is a dry, medium-bodied, lean and steely 100% Cortese produced from sustainably grown grapes. Look for green apple crunch, lime zest and mineral flavours brilliant and lingering on the palate. Chill and enjoy it now.

A real tasty Italian white for light appetizers or summer weather. A touch of minerality with the fruits, like apple and pear, finishes nicely dry. Around $10, a great white wine.

2020 Gemtree Dragon’s blood Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Aus

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.

This is organic and all the trendy things, and it actually is a pretty nice wine. Not as overbearing as the old style Aussie Shiraz, but good red fruits and spice notes. Short finish and better on the second day, still worth trying. Priced under $12, no complaints.

2019 Charles & Charles Double Trouble, Columbia Valley, Washington

Blackberry, white pepper, black licorice, cocoa with hints of smoked meat. Long and energetic finish that builds with floral notes. . The blend in the end is 58% Syrah and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Syrah adds a depth add richness that just makes the wine better.

A tasty Washington wine of Cabernet and Syrah – a nice blend that leads with the cabernet and dark fruits but is lightened by the Syrah. Hints of spice and a long finish makes this a good wine that goes with food, as well. Priced under $15, this is a must buy.

2017 Secret Squirrel Rhone Blend Red, Columbia Valley, Washington

One of the best value Rhone blends from Washington. Wonderful sweet raspberry and mulberry, cured olive, purple flowers, fig and cigar box. Beautifully balanced for sipping or pairing with just about anything from the grill, it also has plenty of cellar life ahead of it. 61% Syrah, 18% Grenache and 21% Mourvedre.

Ignore the cutesy label, this is some darn good juice. Similar to a Cotes Du Rhone, this is a balanced wine with red fruits and some earthiness (in a good way). Moderate finish, tannins are integrated, nice acidity to nake it a food wine.  Priced around $25, well worth a try, just don’t let your friends see the label until they have tried it.

2020 K Vintners ‘Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Yakima Valley, Washington

"All-encompassing. Dense, rich, action packed. Explosive dark cherry, huckleberry, black olive. Ash, grilled herb, wet earth. Great intensity, taut and balanced. This has it all and more!"

An impressive Syrah with a lot of body, some tannic structure and dark fruits with some herb and earthiness. Long finish, an impressive Syrah. Normally about $50, Matt had it for about $35. Nice for a ‘splurge’.

I hope all is well, so until next month - Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 Wines of August 2023

    Survived a hot month - lots of 100 degree days in my area. Discovered the difference between sparkling wine, Frizzante and Pet-Nat wines. I'll tell you about it another time. Now some wines:

2012 St. Francis Lagomarsino Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Russian River Valley, USA

Red - Bold and Structured

Critic tasting note: "Tar and black fruit loll on the full-bodied palate here, the wine well composed to highlight dark, leathery cigar and a hint of cedar. Smooth and round on the finish, it's a varietal rarity for the appellation." - 90/100, Wine Enthusiast

A gift from my brother, this is a great wine drinking in its prime. The tannins have faded into the body of the wine, but the dark red fruits still fill the mouth, with echoes of wood and tobacco. Long finish – a wine made for a steak. Superb wine – the label is a little non-descript.

2012 Easton Cabernet Sauvignon, Sierra Foothills, CA

                From the Shenandoah Valley, Sierra Foothills, California Easton Estate 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is fragrant with cedar and sweet spice, black cherry and smoky on the nose. Beautiful and bold and tannic with dark cherry, plum, savoury herbs, smoky toasty oak and cake spice flavours on the palate, Pair with a well-marbled prime rib done rare.

Color is dark purple, with complex aromas of cedar, tobacco, and asian spice box. The fruit is blackberry/cassis/olive with a pleasant St. Julien-like texture, mineral-infused flavors, and sappiness. The wine has good balance, intensity, a plush texture, and length. It is a youngster now and slow to open, which bodes well for age ability. We think this is the best Cabernet Sauvignon we have made from this site to date.

I bought this for my daughter last Christmas, so I opened it when we went to their house after they moved. Cork broke because it had been stored upright. The wine still had good color and good red and black fruit flavors. Good body and a moderate finish really made this a good bottle of wine. I think it’s $35 -40, well worth it.

2019 Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

RP91Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The entry-level red, the old Monastrell, has been reverted to the varietal name, even if in 2019 it has some 15% Garnacha because it was a very good year for the variety (because it was harvested before the rain). As with the other wines, I had the chance to compare the 2019 Monastrell with the 2020. This 2019 fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in 500-liter barrels and 5,000-liter oak foudres for 10 months. It has an expressive nose of Mediterranean herbs and a combination of ripeness and lightness, a little in the style of 2016, a little more fruit-driven. They had to sort and discard and produced less wine. It's medium-bodied and has very good balance and fine tannins. 160,000 bottles produced. I tasted the September 2020 bottling, but all the bottlings are from the same master blend. Best after 2022.

A nice Spanish wine for just over $10 – this has good fruit, nice balance. Buy several and enjoy over a few years; not a “special time” wine, but an everyday drinker. Buy several of these.

2020 Stoke’s Ghost Petite Sirah, Monterey, Ca

Inky and dark, this Petite Sirah is brimming with black cherries, blackberries and cassis flavors.  Violet notes and hints of white pepper enchant, while intense jammy fruit stains the front teeth.  Stokes' Ghost is full-bodied with balanced tannins and a finish that lingers on the palate.  This rich, deep wine is just what the doctor ordered.

This ghost makes itself easily approachable! Aged in American, French, and Hungarian oak for 12 months, the wine is an earthbound and extracted extrovert, concentrated in a well-structured frame. Teeth-grabbing slate and plum-skin tannins are enveloped in blackberry, bramble, and dark chocolate.

This is an intense Petite Sirah – nothing about it is petite! Dark red wine that has a berry nose that follows with a big jammy mouthfeel of red and black fruits with nuances of spice.  Just a blockbuster wine that has some tannic backbone to last several years in a cellar. Closed out at around $20 – it’s about$35 on the internet. Well worth it, even at the higher price.

2022 Domaine De Couron Viognier, Cotes du Rhone, France

 

Vinification:        Native yeasts.  Harvested entirely by hand.   Very short contact time between crush and pressing.   Full malolactic fermentation as the Viognier ferments slowly and coolly under 60°F in concrete. Brief maturation in stainless steel.

Tasting Notes    “Aromas of yellow flowers, honeysuckle and peach.  Flavors of pronounced white peach and passionfruit with a seductive, zesty finish. Brings back summer in just one sip”

This is a nice wine.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  It has a very pretty nose.  Peaches with a floral note.  Slightly viscous texture.  On the palate, nice acidity.  Peach fruit notes.  Good finish.  This is refreshing and an excellent value.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This would be nice with lighter foods such as fresh seafood. 

I have always been fond of this varietal – it has a better body than chardonnay, better fruit than Sauv blanc – it just makes a good wine. This was a good example of Viogier, made correctly. The white peach and hints of citrus with a good body and acidity, good with lighter fare or just on its own. Priced around $15, well worth it – great summertime or anytime drinker.

2022 Field Recordings Freddo, Paso Robles, Ca

Winemaker Notes:  Serve chilled. Pop this one in the fridge, and when the label turns blue, you know what to do.

Winemaker Andrew Jones has a keen eye for diamonds in the rough: sites that are unknown or under-appreciated but hold enormous untapped potential. He strives for unique wines that are loaded with personality and a one-of-a-kind experience. The Freddo is carbonically macerated for two weeks had and has a juicy strawberry-cranberry sorbet vibe with crushed cherries blended in. Enjoy this slightly chilled with an antipasto plate by the pool.

VARIETAL  79% Sangiovese, 16% Dolcetto, 5% Valdiguié

This wine is meant to serve cold – not one to keep for very long in your cellar. No real tannins, but just upfront red fruits, moderate body and short finish. Fun wine for a hot weekend. Priced around $20, so not bad for the price.

2022 G.D. Vajre ‘Clare J.C.’ Nebbiolo Langhe, Italy

DESCRIPTION: Produced with grapes from the younger vines of Nebbiolo, JC Claré reminds us of the true and forgotten history era of the piedmontese Nebbiolo, when from 16th century until the early 1950’s, it still was vinified and enjoyed in its lightest and fresh garment. VARIETY: 100% Nebbiolo VINEYARD AND TERROIR: A range of vineyards starting in Barolo, opening up to Novello and reaching out to Bricco Bertone in Sinio.

TASTING NOTES: Light ruby color, slightly sparkling and very fresh, eye-catching. Spices and red fruits and a vibrant minerality, the JC is to be consumed fresh and a versatile wine: to be drunk in summer time and an ideal companion for cold cuts and lightly fried foods. An unprecedented expression of Nebbiolo with which one will be able to surprise even the most skeptical friends!

 I associate nebbiolo with Barolo, a long aged Italian wine. This is a young style wine with nice body, dominate red fruits with acidity to match foods. Lighter than other reds, but not so light you skip over flavor. Good wine for summer meals. Priced around $22, well worth the price. 

2022 Intellego ‘The Pink Moustache’, Swartland, South Africa

In this instance, facial hair symbolizes the three different styles of wine red(beard), rose (clean skin) and the light red(moustache). This wine represents the lighter red style and the word pink describes the colour as it’s a mix between a pink/light red colour.

Grapes: 48% Cinsault - 33% Syrah - 19% Mourvèdre

Bright magenta. The nose is awash with red currants, cherries, and strawberries with a herbal nuances and freshly ground peppercorn. On the palate, the party continues with tobacco leaves and such a pleasant tickle of tannins. Throw this bad boy in an ice bucket, grab a blanket, and head to the park.

Pretty little wine, with an interesting mix of flavors. Pleasant but not something I would spend my money on – priced around $26.

2019 Domaine Maire Arbois Pinot Noir, Jura, France

The Pinot Noir grapes were handpicked and sorted on sorting tables at their arrival at the winery. Then they were put in thermos-regulated stainless steel tank for a total maceration of 12 days, followed regularly throughout the fermentation with occasional pumping and stirring. Then the press and drop juices were assembled and withdrawn for malolactic fermentation on fine lies. 100% of the cuvee was then placed into 2 to 3-years oak casks for 6 month ageing period allowing to enlarge the aromatic palette. Bottling in June with a light filtration.

NOSE  Pleasant, straight and fine, with delicate small wild berries notes.

PALATE  It is a round, supple, velvety and greedy wine with light rounded tannins and a very present fruit.

This was a smooth little wine, I wrote down it was “moderately intense”. Pretty light red color, the wine had red berry and cherry hints in the mouth. Decent structure for foods, not much of a finish; not a bad little Pinot Noir. Priced around $27, not sure I would buy many of it.

Hope all is well as we finally head toward fall. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 Wines of July 2023

It took summer a couple of weeks, but when it went full blast, it really got hot! Found out that Frizzante has a second fermentation in the bottle, like Sparkling wine, but there is less yeast used and the bubbles are less than half of sparklers. It also takes less time. Often seen in Italy, they are fun little wines to drink.

OK, now for the month of wines:

2020 Philippe Viallet Vin de Savoie+

#55 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2021

Bright light straw with green and grey hints. Discreet and smoky with aromas of stewed fruits and notes of honey. Light and straight, with a good minerality and a slight saltiness on the finish.

Serve with fish, shellfish and with traditional local dishes (cheese fondue, tartiflette).

WS90Wine Spectator

Pretty, with unadorned star fruit, fennel and jasmine notes laced with a hint of lime zest on the breezy finish. Jacquère, Chasselas, Chardonnay and Altesse. Drink now through 2022.

Varietal: Jacquère, Chasselas, Chardonnay, Altesse Taste: The Viallet family have been working the vineyards of Savoie since 1966, when Marcel and Yvonne purchased their first estate, Domaine Clos Réservé, in Apremont, a mere 10km from Chambéry. Their second son Philippe joined the business in 1984, after having studied wine-making in Beaune. He realized the strong commercial potential of the wines of Savoie, and in 1985, he created Maison Philippe Viallet. This wine is a blend of grapes from the region not commonly known to us here (with the exception of Chardonnay) - Chasselas, Chardonnay, Altesse with a majority of Jacquere. In the glass, the wine is a bright light straw color with green and grey hints. The nose is exuberant and bouncy, with an Alpine freshness, crisp orchard fruit and Asian pear notes that follow through to the palate in the most pleasant way. There’s fantastic minerality and texture here, with a slight saltiness on the finish.

A very enjoyable white wine – hint of minerality with fruit flavors of pear, Fuji apple and floral hints. Moderate body, matched well with cheeses and chicken. Got it on special for about $16. Well worth it in a hot summertime.

2019 Four Vines the Biker, Zinfandel, Paso Robles, CA

This Four Vines The Biker Zinfandel is the solution to a boring evening. This classic California wine is produced by Four Vines. It is made from the red Zinfandel grape. The 'biker' variety tastes like black fruit and spice. It complements barbecued meats.

Black cherry and spicy aromas lead to an elegant palate of wild blackberry and plum flavors bolstered by a touch of black pepper and sweet, toasted oak.

The 2019 offers a plush mouthfeel and a long, velvety finish

This is a lighter style of zinfandel, not a heady, high alcohol fruit bomb. Nicely balanced with good fruit and body to match a meal. Red and black fruits dominate the palate with a modest finish.  Not something to age, drink in the next year or so. Priced around $14, worth buying to drink with your grilled foods.

2018 Zeni Costalago Rosso Veronese IGT, Verona, Italy

The label of this wine underlines the origin of Lake Garda in the Würm ice age with its adjacent morainic hills. These hills form an ideal pedoclimatic environment to cultivate the queen of the Veronese grapes: the Corvina grape.

Nino Zeni, eclectic oenologist and father of Fausto, Elena and Federica, started planting Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the early 90s in some vineyards nearby the lake. An idea came up in his mind to create a new wine as a modern expression of our region, a harmonious blend where the local character and the elegance of the Corvina grape are blended with the international character and the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to give a unique and balanced wine.

Tasting notes

Intense ruby red. Floral notes with hints of well ripened fruit. Vinous, velvety and lingering. Pairs well with pasta with sauce, grilled red meat, game and cheese.

Hand selection of the best grape bunches which are collected in small crates and left to raisin for a while.

Soil: hilly soil of morainic and volcanic origin.  Vine yield per hectare: 100 ql./ha.

Grape varieties: Corvina & Corvinone 70% - Merlot 15% - Cabernet 15%.

A modest Italian red that has the right body to go with many foods. Mostly red fruits with a nice mouthfeel; modest finish. Great with pasta and red sauce – priced around $14. Not one to age, but buy now and enjoy

2020 Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa County, CA

This Cabernet Sauvignon leaps from the glass with rich ripe flavors of sweet black currant, juicy blackberry, and cherry liquor, intermingled with hints of shaved chocolate, earth, and fresh tobacco leaf. The layers of flavors are balanced by hits of tasty oak. Silky soft yet structured tannins coat the palate and contribute to a long lasting finish.

This is a sumptuous, lush, and full-bodied wine, with flavors of juicy blackberry and cherry fruit, creamy like milk chocolate, and dusty notes all tied together with a toasty oak finish that is lingering.

This is not a cult-cabernet, but an affordable Napa Cabernet that delivers rather well. Dark fruits with some pencil shavings and a fairly long finish. Good body to stand to foods – capable of some aging, though not really tannic. Priced around the mid-20’s (was a gift) worth a try.

2020 Laxas Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain

Clear, brilliant wine, yellow straw color with green nuances. An intense aroma on the nose, perfectly combining the fruity and floral notes, particularly apple and stoned fruit (apricot). Freshness on the palate typical of Albariño, with a touch of acidity perfectly balanced with the structure and body of this wine.

WS90Wine Spectator

Broad and creamy on the palate but trimmed by well-cut acidity, this balanced white shows a pleasing range of baked pineapple, dried papaya and orange peel, with accents of fresh tarragon and green almond. Light- to medium-bodied, with a snappy finish. Drink now

Albarino is a great summer time wine. Crisp, with peach and apple notes that has good structure and body. Good with a summer repast. Priced around $15, well worth buying and enjoying.

2018 Riverside Wines Rio Mendoza Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Exotic and unusual for value-priced Malbec, with aromas of blueberry and Middle Eastern spice. Feels chunky yet juicy, with good acidity highlighting lightly herbal flavors of plum and tomato. Meaty, round and solid on the finish, with saucy spiciness.

Better than expected – an under $10 bottle that has nice upfront red fruits and a moderate body. Certainly, no aging potential, but at the price you can slug it down or open as a second or third bottle with friends.

2018 Izadi Reserva Rioja, Spain

 

Located in Rioja Alavesa, where Tempranillo thrives in a microclimate strongly influenced both by the elevation and the proximity of the Atlantic ocean, Bodegas Izadi specializes in red wines make almost exclusively from Rioja’s signature grape variety. Izadi Reserva is made from 100% Tempranillo grown in limestone rich soils and aged in American and French oak.

JS93James Suckling

Aromas of ripe plums and blueberries with hints of blue flowers, licorice and dried herbs. Medium-to full-bodied with plush tannins and savory fruit character. Polished and structured, with notes of chocolate and minerals to close. Drink of hold.

RP91Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Reserva, a blend of Tempranillo with 9% Graciano, still feels quite oaky after 15 months in French and American oak barrels, half of each. It has good ripeness for a cooler vintage, at 14.1% alcohol, and has a creamy mouthfeel with tannins and plenty of oak-related flavors in the finish. For fans of oaky modern Rioja.

WS91Wine Spectator

A polished red, layering supple tannins with an aromatic overtone of star anise, mocha and graphite. Fresh and medium-bodied, revealing black cherry coulis and fig cake notes, with a spiced finish. Drink now

This was an email special from Matt at Auburn Spirits. Whether it is 100% or 92% Tempranillo, it is a sturdy, almost rustic wine that has a long finish and tannins to be laid down for up to five years. Dark fruits and dries herbs dominate the palate, with oaky notes and a tannic grip of a wine meant for aging.  Got this for $16 –a tremendous buy. Recommend getting two and putting one down.

Hope all is well - I'm still hanging around, like a bunch of over weight grapes. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of June 2023

Survived another month of unusual weather. Hot, cool, rainy and then dry. Hitting the heat now.

Here are some wines I enjoyed.

2022 Gunther Schlink Pinot Noir Rose,  Germany

We love this fruity Pinot Noir rose from Germany, made by a fifth-generation winemaker who focuses on offering top-tier quality at fantastic values. Rich flavors of cherry, watermelon, and red plum lead into a dry and juicy finish with hints of stony minerality.

Günther Schlink Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 is nice expression of German “Spatburgunder”—German for pinot noir. Although this likely qualifies as a dry rosé, there is a touch of sweetness, too. Ripe grapes and push the residual sugar to the dry border. Also, this is German wine, so whiff of sweetness and good acidity are part of the DNA. This works well as an aperitif or fun solo sipper. Pair with shellfish; light fish; chicken—cold, white meat, in a salad; pork—Parma ham, prosciutto; charcuterie board; vegetarian fare; fresh fruit, especially strawberries and peaches. Cheese—goat cheese, especially fresh and young cheeses; feta, mozzarella, baby swiss, mild cheddar. $13-15

A fairly nice Rose – had nice body with just a hint of sweetness. The minerality really makes this wine, gives it a bit of an edge. Worth drinking in the heat of summer – I think it is around $12-13.

2019 La Purisima Old Vine Red Blend, Yecla, Spain

La Purisima has a gorgeous black cherry color, with good intensity. There is a prevalence of ripe fruit, with hints of vanilla, toast and spicy notes. The nose is clean and complex with many nuances. The palate is fleshy, long and powerful with great fruit and spice on the finish.

Blend: 85% Monastrell, 10% Syrah, 5% Garnacha

JS93James Suckling

An excellent blend with 85% monastrell, 10% syrah and 5% garnacha. Deep and glossy with blackberries, wild spices, tar and mineral. Concentrated but not hefty. Juicy, with a medium-to full-bodied palate enveloped by fresh, chalky tannins. Balance is the key here.

I liked this red blend – full palate of dark fruits with a good balance to make it a good match to food. I got it on an email special for around $15, well worth buying.

2020 Slow MON Bobal, Requena, Spain

100% Bobal from 60-year-old vines in the goblet and without irrigation at Finca Casa de la Viña (Requena region). Altitude 731 meters. Soil mix: Clay. Yield: 2.5 Kg / strain. Manual harvest at night. Selection of the healthiest grapes. Wine with a bright cherry red color with a violet rim. On the nose, fruity aromas of ripe berries, such as strawberries, raspberries and cassis with spicy and balsamic notes from the Mediterranean forest, followed by light toasted notes from the oak. On the palate, Very tasty, fruity mid palate, soft tannins and slight hints of vanilla with an elegant finish.

I’ll admit I like bobal and mencia – lesser known grapes of Spain.  This is a fruit forward with without being overly forward. Good balance makes this wine very food worthy. Has enough body to age a couple of years, with a little tannic backbone. Under $25, you can serve this to your “wine” people and be pleased.

2021 M Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA

Chocolate-blackberry ganache, cranberry preserves, sweet mint, black licorice, dark olive, new leather, mahogany. Palate is sleek and supple, firm, fine-grain, polished tannins, with a complex, and classy finish.

Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 5% Petite Sirah

RP95Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

I love this easy-to-drink 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from McPrice Myers that well overdelivers for its price. Deep ruby-purple, it has alluring aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, dried herbs, leather and lavender, plus classy touches of oak spice. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and powerful without going over the top. It has abundant, grainy tannins, flinty streaks and plenty of refreshing acidity to carry the long finish. It's not your average chocolate bomb California Cabernet, despite its modest price tag.

A very nice cabernet, good fruits and balance with some herbs and spices to it. Nice finish. Priced around $25, well worth the money and could be aged for several years.

2021 Sean Minor Signature Series Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA

Our Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir leads with well-knit rich flavors of cherry, plum, blueberry and hints of cedar bark. Beautifully structured, elegant velvety texture with lingering earthy and dark cherry notes that glide across the palate. The balance is flawless throughout, with a clean, bright acidity that carries through the lengthy finish.

WS 91 Wine Spectator

Bright, high-pitched style, with blood orange and damson plum notes racing through, flecked liberally with savory and thyme hints. Nice sleek feel on the finish.

This was a capable Sonoma Pinot – not something to seek out but fairly nice. Fruitt showed pretty well, not one I’d keep in the cellar long. Priced around $25 – you might be able to do better at that price.

2019 Deloach Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, CA

This bright Zinfandel opens with aromas of baked plum, baking spice, white pepper and dusty earth on the nose. It is plump and zesty on the palate with licorice, black cherry and notes of black tea. Medium-bodied with round tannins, the finish is rich and intense.

Our Russian River Valley Zinfandel is predominantly harvested from the younger vines of the BCD Vineyard and the Slusser Vineyard, with smaller amounts of older vine Zinfandel from the Saitone and Boschetti ranches, all of which are certified Sonoma Sustainable.

The wine is made in a style that highlights the distinctive characteristics and unique flavor profiles of our various Russian River Valley vineyards. The BCD Vineyard is one of the last to ripen and oers the final blend great acidity and a noticeable brambliness, while the Slusser Vineyard offers darker fruit flavors and high-toned aromatics. The grapes from the Saitone Ranch lend an intense dark spice to the wine while the fruit from the Boschetti Ranch provides dense tannins and a fuller body.

I remember Cecil DeLoach – a retired fireman that started to make wine. He’s retired (sold out when he couldn’t make it) and the big French company bought it. So, this was a zin I found some what lacking in may respects. Modest fruit came through and the body was fair, but it was not an impressive zinfandel.  It was on special for $20, but I can’t say I would recommend it.

2018 Whitehall Lane ‘Rassi’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, CA

This beautifully blended 2018 Rassi Cabernet Sauvignon is exquisitely balanced with excellent fruit concentration. On the nose, this wine offers bing cherries,cassis, dried cranberries, black cherry cola, mixed berry jam, and a touch of brioche. The palate offers plush but delicate tannins, sweet black plums, strawberry rhubarb pie, red raspberry coulis, toasted bread, and cocoa dust that lingers on the finish. This offering is enjoyable today but will also evolve with cellar aging through 2030.

WE 88 Blended with 15% Merlot, this affordable red is nutty and herbal in cedar, with strong elements of toasted oak. Dark fruit presents as full bodied and deeply concentrated, with moderate structure giving it a supple foundation of power.

This was a pretty dense Cabernet with dark fruits and some spices on the palate. The tannins still showed in it, with an ability to age for a number of years; still drank nicely with a meal. Priced under $30, this is a nice wine that you can proudly pour and know you got a good deal. A Napa Winery making wine from a Sonoma vineyard – more common than you realize. Very enjoyable.

2021 Domaine Miraflors  Rosé Cotes Catalanes, Perpignan, France

Domaine Lafage Miraflors Rosé IGP Côtes Catalanes is a beautiful, salmon pink rosé that is produced in the heart of Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. This wine is a blend of 70% Mourvèdre and 30% Grenache Gris, which creates a delicate balance of fruity and floral notes on the palate. The wine exudes fresh aromas of ripe strawberries, watermelon, and blood orange, complimented by floral undertones of rose petals and jasmine. This wine has a crisp and refreshing finish, which makes it perfect for enjoying in the sun with friends or as an accompaniment to seafood, salads or light pasta dishes.

Raised in vats on fine lees, its nose is slightly iodized, fresh, spicy and mineral. The palate is lively in attack, the fruit and spices are well present on the palate with a beautiful roundness on the finish. A very beautiful rosé!

I opened this in some serious heat – it is refreshing and enjoyable.  Light red fruits and melon are surrounded with floral hints. The finish is a bit of a twist – it is dry and interesting. I got it for under $12, this is a sipper that has nice structure to go with summer meals. Also uses a glass stopper, those are kind of cool. Good buy.

Speaking of Good Buy – I hope you are all well and getting through the summer heat. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines!

 The Wines of May 2023

I recently read a book about Champagne - and I found how Mayonnaise came to exist.

I'll bore you with that fact later. Let's talk wines.

2019 Margerum M5 White blend, Los Olivos, Ca

#30 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2020

Slight straw and golden hues with a viscosity that clings to the glass as it is swirled. Aromas of apricots, white floral, sweet honey, hints of brioche toast, sweet pea flowers and pineapple. Full, round and pleasing with ample acidity to balance the richness that will continue to evolve with time in bottle. Flavors of apple, wet stone and a touch of peach nectar engage with a lovely long persistent finish that lingers.

WE94Wine Enthusiast

Complex and yet utterly refreshing, this estate blend of 45% Grenache Blanc, 21% Marsanne, 14% Viognier, 13% Roussanne and 7% Picpoul Blanc begins with wet stone, chalk, nectarine, Rainier cherry and creamed pear on the crisp nose. The palate sizzles with acidity and ashy, chalky tension, delivering flavors of kiwi, lychee and more stone fruit.

WS92Wine Spectator

Mouthwatering and vibrant, oozing with perfectly ripe white nectarine, Casaba melon, mango and dried pineapple flavors, with hints of candied ginger on a fresh, fleshy body. Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Viognier, Roussanne and Picpoul Blanc.

Enjoyable white wine – not sweet, yet with good balance and body. Unusual grape varieties, but well worth the price at $20.

2020 Paul Dolan Zinfandel, Mendocino, Ca

Deep and concentrated fruit flavors give this full-bodied wine plenty to savor, while light vanilla and cinnamon notes from oak aging dress it up nicely. Moderate tannins maintain good balance despite the wine's richness.   RATING91

Paul Dolan Vineyards 2020 Zinfandel has rich aromas of dark fruits and plum which give way to subtler notes of cinnamon and white pepper. The wine's smooth tannins and medium weight round out flavors of boysenberry, cranberry, anise, and cardamom leading to a spicy, zippy finish of nice length and rich fruit.

Good zin that carries a lot of fruit with some subtle hints of spice. Moderate finish, good balance to match with grilled foods. Bought at $16, nice bottle- recommended.

2014 Torres Celeste Crianza, Ribera del Duero, Spain

Dark cherry red with intense garnet highlights. Aromas of black fruit (wild blackberries, blueberries) and delicate toasted notes (coffee) with nicely oak-aged undertones (toasted oak). Serious and warm with very fine, juicy, velvety tannins.

Given its tannic and fruit properties, it pairs well with a wide variety of meat dishes, including roasts and wild game.

WW89Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

A solid red, the 2014 Torres Celeste delivers excellent ripe fruit aromas and flavors. The wine, coupled with its fine oak presence, would pair well with oven-baked short ribs. (Tasted: November 15, 2017, San Francisco, CA)

Estimated price around $16 – a gift. The fruit had mellowed some with age, but was still showing nicely. Tannins were slight, but overall good balance. Inexpensive for that area of Spain, worth trying again.

2020 Vina Robles Petite Sirah, Paso Robles, Ca

Deep purple with aromas of boysenberry, caramel, hints of chocolate, white pepper and savory spice. Full-bodied with juicy dark fruits, dark chocolate and a mouth-filling palate coating and creamy finish.

WE92Wine Enthusiast

Violet and lilac aromas are wrapped in toasted walnut and black currant 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.

Oh, yeah. A meaty Petite with balance of fruit, acidity and tannins. Well made with dark fruits and a good finish. Priced around $20, this is a good buy.

2020 OZV Estate Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi, Ca

An earthy, doughy aroma shows how fresh this wine is, before revealing layered, indulgent flavors of raspberry syrup, blackberry jam and dark chocolate that coat the mouth. With a full body, smooth texture and lingering finish, it's easy to love.  RATING92

This zinfandel tasted a little young – the fruit was bright but it was like it needed something to make it balance. No real tannins and a modest finish, not the best I’ve had at this price. Average price is about $15 – you get what you pay for on this one.

2021 Wente Sandstone Merlot, Central Coast, CA

Our 2021 Sandstone Merlot is supple and beautifully balanced, showcasing aromas of ripe red cherry and plum that are complimented by creamy oak notes of sweet caramel and vanilla bean. Additional notes of white pepper, cardamom, and graphite provide more complexity and continue to develop as the wine breathes in the glass.

Moderate little wine, decent upfront fruit and hints of spices. Modest aftertaste, didn’t really feel complete – a little hollow in the mid palate. Fair acidity and a few tannins. Maybe better in a year or so?  Priced around $15, just ok, not great. (Like before – you get what you pay for).

2020 Hedges Family Estate Red Blend, Red Mountain, WA

Reddish black bramble fruits, red currants, bright cinnamon, clove, vanilla and a touch of chili pepper, cocoa, toasted seeds, and a touch of earthy graphite. Nice structure, good length and lovely flavors of fruit, spice, and earth. This wine has a classic Hedges style with a modern touch, very enjoyable now and will age for years to come.

This wine had broad fruit on the palate, with some tannin interwoven. The flavor brought some spice and earth to the palate with a long finish. Classic Bordeaux blend, this wine shows the good land where this is grown in Washington. A little higher in price – around $28, but worth the price – buy this one and enjoy.

2019 Penley Estate ‘Tolmer’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, Australia

Sourced from older vines, the “Tolmer” bottling is marked by refined tannins and a well-rounded, balanced texture. During fermentation, some lots are left to macerate on skins for as long as 30 days, to extract more tannin. The finished wine is aged in French oak barrels (30% new) for 12 months, then for a brief period in stainless steel tanks, before bottling.

Deep ruby-black, the wine leads with aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, licorice, violet, chocolate, and a hint of eucalyptus. It is medium-plus in body and incredibly silky without being at all “flabby” or sweet. While the tannins are soft, the acidity is fresh and balanced, which should bode well for aging. Pair this with braised short ribs or grilled ribeye with lots of char.

The dark berry fruit shows first with hints of earth and spice. Tannins are still a little tight – would be better with a year or two of aging. Priced like the previous bottle – around $28. Not really for everyone – not a typical Cabernet from Australia. (Pretty Label)

I hope all is well - remember to keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of April 2023

It almost seems like spring, except for a few days that turned cold and included a freeze. That shold be over in my area. Been a rough week, so I'll just go to the wines

2019 Chateau Recougne Bordeaux Supérieur , Fronsac, France

Château and the winemaking facilities, which were classified under the Fronsac Appellation many years ago. Merlot is best suited to the terroir and is the majority planting, complemented by both Cabernets. Grapes are 100% destemmed and crushed before being placed in temperature controlled vats. Prior to fermentation, approximately 20% of the juice in each vat is siphoned off in order to increase the skin to juice ratio (this juice is then used to make Rosé wine). Natural yeasts trigger fermentation and a twice daily regimen of pumping the juice over the skins begins remontage and an oxygen pump. The wine is racked every 3 months and therefore only needs a light filtration. Final blending and bottling takes place 18 months after the harvest. A nose of red fruits, a deep and powerful structure, round and silky tannins, make it a bottle with elegant, complex and rich content.

A tasty red from Bordeaux – not something with a long cellar life, but a few years wouldn’t hurt it. Nice red fruits withonly small amount of tannins and a touch of herbs.  Under $20, real nice for a week day type bottle.

2020 San Polo Rubio Toscano, Montalcino, Italy

James Suckling Review   Rated 90

Vibrant cherries, thyme and roasted herbs on the nose are followed by a medium-bodied palate full of juicy red cherries. Firm and fine-grained on the palate with lots of plums and berries. Pure and fruit-expressive. Drink now.

Wine Tasting Notes

Brilliant ruby red in color, with purplish glints. The bouquet is intense and persistent with fresh aromas of red cherries, violets and blackcurrants, followed by subtle spicy notes. Well-structured and balanced with satisfying tannins and aromatic persistence. The nuances of forest fruits and cherries which are typical of the grape variety make it easy to drink, yet still intense and elegant.

Rubio expresses the vitality and immediacy of crisply fresh Sangiovese grapes from Montalcino. Due to its versatility, it is excellent by the glass and ideal for open-air barbecues. It is delicious when paired with various cold cuts, salami, pasta dishes, sausages, grilled meats and medium matured cheeses such as the renowned Tuscan pecorino. 100% Sangiovese

This is a very nice drinking Italian wine – red fruits with hints of floral and herbs.  Good acidity makes it a great match for different foods. Another good, inexpensive drinker – priced under $20. Recommend

2016 Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva, Rioja, Spain

Winemaker Notes

Fruit (cherries, black plums, ripe blackberries) and oak (clove, pepper, vanilla, and coconut), enriched by the complex aromas developed during bottle ageing. Very attractive on the palate, with ripe fruit and spices, tobacco, and toasted oak. Elegant and soft tannins, middle weight, long, and complex finish. Delicious with red meat, grill, and roasts, game, mature, and blue cheeses.

Dry, spicy plum and cherry aromas are typical of good basic Rioja. This is medium in body, with somewhat rough tannins and spanking acidity. Plum and berry flavors are common, and it's racy on the finish.  RATING86

I’m afraid I found this wine rather lackluster. Usually the Reserva wines from Rioja have more body and a texture to them. This seemed like a recently bottled Tempranillo. I mean, yeah, it’s only $13, but with that extra time, you should get something. Skip this producer…

2019 Tascante Ghaiaia nera, Etna rosso, Italy

Subtle aromas of orange peel, cherries, and dried flowers follow through to a medium body, fine tannins, and a refined, subtle finish. Such beauty. So drinkable and fine. Drink now. ~95 James Suckling.

Lithe and savory, this lovely red has enticing scents of Mediterranean scrub, wild berries, crushed stone, and eucalyptus. The polished, savory palate offers wonderful finesse, featuring wild strawberry, pomegranate and star anise alongside flinty mineral notes. Glossy tannins provide elegant support. Drink through 2027. ~92 Wine Enthusiast. 

Pouring from the bottle with a thin, light ruby color, the 2019 Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese Ghiaia Nera is a finely textured wine. This delicate approach and those soft footprints make this bottle quite exciting to pour, especially as an easy companion to a homemade pasta dish. It offers wild cherry, tart berry, cassis, crushed stone, smoke and lavender essence. With 50,000 bottles produced, you get great value here. ~92 Robert Parker.

This wine really surprised me. Offered in an e-mailer from Auburn Spirits, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The wine is a lighter color than you expect.  The flavor is more than you expect – red fruits and a floral essence. No tannins, but good acidity to go with a meal.  I got it for $20 – it is an absolute steal. Recommend.

2020 Caligiore Reserve Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

A punchy Malbec from Mendoza – one of our favourites. Characterful, deep, purply red with a dark fruited nose. To taste, it’s rich and fruity with gentle tannins and a hint of sweetness on the finish.

Caligiore’s Malbec is made from certified organically-grown grapes from the winery’s estate Finca

Cayanta vineyard. With well-drained alluvial, deep loam soils that are perfected suited to Malbec

and winemaker Gustavo Caligiore’s minimalist, naturally-focused winemaking style, the resulting

wine is a classic, top-tier Mendoza Malbec. It offers an intense violet color with black notes and

notable structure but with dark fruit leading the way. The nose has an array of dark berry and violet

fruits and a weighty, unctuous mouthfeel that balances suppleness and light oak notes. The wine

has a long finish with lively acidity and finely grained, integrated tannins.

The Argentina Malbec craze has slowed down. Doesn’t mean that there aren’t some good bottles that are affordable. This is a perfect example – fruit forward with red and black fruit, moderate acid for balance and a moderate aftertaste. Good on its own, but a match for a variety of meals. It’s on the shelf for about $18 – it is a nice South American wine with distinction and fair price. Recommended

2020 Luke Companion Red Blend, Wahluke slope, WA

LUKE Red Blend showcases the opulence and synergy that a Bordeaux red blend can be when a thread of Syrah is layered in. Dark fruits flavors of blackberry and plum integrate with hints of Asian spices, coffee, chocolate, and vanilla. Tannins are silky smooth woven with good acidity and a long lingering finish.

Luke – I am your Father…Sorry, Star Wars always comes to my mind with this producer. Despite that, this is an excellent producer. All their wines are good – this red blend is a great wine. Added to the typical Bordeaux blend, 14% of shiraz is added.  That really tales this up a notch – dark fruits with essence of spices with a good finish. Light tannins but good acidity for structure.  Another good bottle from Washington state. Priced around $25, recommended

2020 John Duval ‘Entity’ Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia

93 points “A deeply resonant shiraz from ex-Grange winemaker John Duval from old-vine vineyards in the Barossa Valley subregions of Krondorf, Tanunda, Ebenezer and Moppa, and the Eden Barossa Valley. Deep-set blackberry, satsuma plum and black cherry with hints of licorice, dark chocolate and earth. Powdery gypsum-like tannins, a bright line and a simmering sense of latent power on the concentrated, black-fruit-rich finish.” Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion,

This is a big boy Shiraz from the former Penfolds winemaker. I found it not too fruit forward, like Aussie shiraz can be, but more layered with dark fruits, some herbs and integrated tannins. Balanced wine, although it might be better with a couple years in the cellar. Priced retail at $47, was available at $30 – really nice bottle for that price. Recommended

I hope all is well - remember to keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.