Wines of January 2022

Times fun while you're having flies. Another month and a few more wines.

2018 P.S. Garcia Bravado Old Vine, Itata Valley, Chile

Varietal Composition:

40% Syrah, 36% Carignan, 14% Grenache, 1% Mourvedre, 9% Petit Verdot

The deeply colored and formidable sounding 2018 Bravado lives up to its name. Big, beautiful, and full of life, this field blend of Syrah, Carignan, Grenache, Petit Verdot, and Mourvèdre has garnered 93 points from Tim Atkin. P.S. Garcia’s 2018 Bravado Old Vine Red Blend offers up heady aromatics, a boatload of flavors, and plenty of punch, which include a cache of ripe fruits: fresh blackberries, blueberries, and plums along with a dash of delectable spices. Although big and bold in the mouth, the 2018 Bravado never loses its equilibrium. Bravado’s lush old vine fruit is incredibly balanced by mature ripe tannins and a pleasant core of acidity from the Carignan that provides energy and lift as well as a long lip smacking finish. Reminiscent of some of the finest old vine California field blends, P.S. Garcia’s 2018 Bravado makes a great statement and one fine-drinking wine.

A very nice wine, the blend brining in a best of each grape. Fruits – mostly black and some red, dominate the palate but the subtle undertones add a pleasant dimension. Enough acidity to make it good with food and a moderate aftertaste. Available for under $20, this is a great wine to start a new year.

2016 Benanti Etna Rosso, Italy

Ruby red color. On the nose are intense aromas with hints of vanilla and ripe fruit. On the palate are elegant, harmonic and remarkably persistent flavors.

The 2016 Etna Rosso—crafted from 40-year-old, free-standing Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio vines planted in sandy, volcanic soils at 2,300 feet above sea level—represents a new height for Benanti. If you’re not familiar with these two great indigenous grapes of Sicily, you’re in for a treat: Think of Nerello Mascalese as the Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo of Etna, but with more spice. In that sense, every sip of this wine transmits the deeply energetic volcanic character of its origins, and will thrill fans of Burgundy, Barbaresco, and Beaujolais Cru. In this season of flame-grilled meats and hearty flavors, it’s absolutely perfect.

I liked to call this an Italian Pinot Noir – light red color but good flavors and acidity. There was an undertone of herbs that made the wine good as a sipper but also a food wine. Got it for under $20 – this is a great wine to have on hand at all times.

2017 Podere Castorani Cadetto, Montepulciano D’Abrezzo, Italy

Earthy aromas of clay, wet thyme and mentholated tobacco ride over a ripe brambleberry core in this red. It's rounded and juicy in feel, filled out by plenty of dark-berry flavors on the palate, with soft tannins giving this an accessible feel.  RATING 88 Wine Enthusiast

 Rated 91 by James Suckling

Lots of clean, fresh black-fruit character to this. Medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins but the fruit persists through the finish. Drink or hold.

This was a pretty good wine, although there was something in the aftertaste that was different. Not really bad, but different. Went well with a meal, sufficient acidity, no real tannins, enough black fruits to tide over the palate feel. Priced under $15, worth it as a school nite wine.

2013 Benanti Serra Della Contessa  Etna Rosso, Italy

Serra della Contessa has been the name of Benati's family estate since 1474. This wine was first produced in 1998 and comes from old vines of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, trained as bushes on the volcanic soil of Monte Serra, an extinct crater located on the South-Eastern slope of Mount Etna at almost 1,640 feet. The grapes are hand picked in late September. Fermentation occurs in steel vats with indigenous yeasts selected after a long patient study. The wine is aged for a long time in large oak casks and in steel and possesses remarkable typicity, elegance and longevity.

Blend: 80% Nerello Mascalese, 20% Nerello Cappuccio

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark The 2013 Etna Rosso Serra della Contessa is a unique wine from a unique vineyard site located 500 meters above sea level on the southern Viagrande flank of the volcano. It does not fit squarely into the Etna Rosso mold. It flaunts those differences with pride. This wine is based on Nerello Mascalese, with a smaller part Nerello Cappuccio. There is a pronounced balsam element with some spice and dark herb that add an almost savory or meaty quality that you don't get from wines made on the north side of the volcano.

This is the “Big Brother” of the earlier Etna Rosso, from the same producer. It still is a light red, but this wine is deeper, still red fruits but undercurrents of herbs and spice. Longer finish, though not heavily tannic. Good acidity to match foods, this is a real nice wine. Available from $25 -30, it’s a good one to have in your cellar.

2012 Castello Banfi Belnero Toscano,  Montalcino, Italy

Deep and intense mauve red. Bouquet: Gentle aromas of vanilla, tobacco and coffee, with hints of cherry jam and prunes. Taste: Harmonious with soft, well-balanced tannins. Persistent finish and a great potential for aging.

JS91James Suckling

Aromas of blueberries and lemon rind with some blackcurrant skin, too. Full body, firm and chewy tannins and a long finish. Needs two or three years to soften.

Predominantly Sangiovese with small percentage of noble French varietals.

Characteristics:

Color: Deep and intense mauve red.

Bouquet: Gentle aromas of vanilla, tobacco and coffee, with hints of cherry jam and prunes.

Taste: Harmonious with soft, well-balanced tannins. Persistent finish and a great potential for aging

I call this a big boy wine – very dark and deep with black fruit and hints of herbs. Still carries some tannins and acidity for having with a heavy meal. Could sit in the cellar for a couple years and still be good. Really.  I got it on closeout at $20, great find.

2019 Alexander Valley Vineyard Merlot, Sonoma, California

Merlot from the Wetzel Family Estate has a reputation for being a big, complex wine. First produced in 1984, this has been a classically structured wine each year, often showing as much tannin as our Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2018 growing season began a bit cooler than the past few vintages, but we had a near- perfect fruit set with moderate summer temperatures and relatively few heat spikes. The mild weather led to a longer maturation period, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly. Harvest began on September 12 and the fruit had excellent flavors and balanced natural acidity.

This wine always impresses red wine lovers, and we refer to it as a Merlot for Cabernet lovers. There are spicy aromas of cassis, black cherry, plum, vanilla, oak and mild chocolate in the glass. This wine has broad mouth-feel with flavors of juicy red cherry, cassis, blackberry, plum and chocolate. This is a nicely balanced wine with a long, juicy finish.

This is a very balance Merlot from Sonoma – good red and black fruits on the palate and a moderate finish, with decent acidity to go with food. Still a little tannic backbone, as well, could age a few years. Available around $16, nice bottle for a good meal. I’ve always enjoyed the products from the Wetzl family.

2018 Luke Merlot, Wahluke Slope, Coulumbia Valley, WA

92 POINTS - WINE ENTHUSIAST

LUKE Merlot reveals the hallmarks of great Washington Merlot – dark red fruits, rounded tannins and an opulent, smooth finish.  Fresh flavors of plum, cherry and blackberry dominate the mid-palate while earthy flavors of tobacco, cedar and clove marry the spices of vanilla and mocha to extend the wine’s long lingering finish.

Wahluke Slope AVA, Columbia Valley. Vineyards: Stone Tree, Weinbau, Ravenscliff, King Fuji & Southwind  Varietals: 96% Merlot 4% Cabernet Franc

Very deep flavored Merlot – almost Cab-like, with dark fruits on the palate and a long finish. Nice but maybe better when it tames down in two years? Excellent blend, acidity for food – a real winner fo a wine. Priced right – around $20 or just over.

2016 Keermont Merlot, Stellenbosch, South Africa

The Keermont Merlot 2018 has a deep royal red colour. Beautiful dusty, ripe strawberry fruit nose with notes of dried herbs, cigar box and cinnamon. The palate is soft, but clean and elegant. The wine exudes flavours of ripe red fruit with undertones of orange rind and dried herbs. Soft chalky tannins and good natural acidity help to maintain a fresh elegance and a long, succulent dry finish. Best drinking: 2022-2032.

Merlot, which in French means The Little Blackbird (Merle), is the second most popular red grape in America (after Cabernet Sauvignon). Known for being soft, ripe and elegant, most Merlots are easy drinking reds that go well both with food as well as on their own. This is an approachable grape varietal and is often recommended as the first red wine someone new to red wine should drink.

Another blockbuster Merlot – deep red and black fruit flavors, good structure with acidity and some tannins. Lon finish – could sit in a cellar a couple years, easily. These last 3 Merlots would make a Cab Sauvignon drinker very happy. Should make any wine drinker happy! This is a bit pricier, generally around $38, but sometimes on sale/closeout. Don’t let the vintage (2016) scare you off of this one. It is a great wine.

That’s it for another month. Hope you all are staying safe and healthy. Until next time, Kepp popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 

 The Wines of December 2021

Special wines - from the Ferragamo family - Il Borro in Italy, Thanks to Darrel Gibson for coming to Wichita to tell us about the wines and the winery. 

2019 4 Gatos Locos Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina

Miau Four Gatos Locos Malbec is made from 100 percent Malbec.

Miau is the typical cry a cat makes when willing to attract attention. Made by four mad cats - Mariana, Facundo, Gabriel and Juan - from their vineyard high in Alto Gualtallary, where the sun, slopes and limestone create the best wines in Valle de Uco.

The wine boasts a very deep color, red fruit aromas, spice and herbal perfume with an intense profound mineral palate. Juicy and round tannins.

"This is the entry-level wine of Cuatro Gatos Locos and it's 100% malbec from the Gualtallary zone, a high-altitude location more than 1,300 meters above sea level in the Uco Valley. It has the succulence and voluptuousness of a Gualtallary malbec, with the exuberant flavors of red fruits and violets in a pleasing body with round and juicy tannins. A wine for grilled meat—the perfect match."

4 Crazy cats – a pretty tasty little wine. Some tannins, nice fruits, red and blackberry flavors with a moderate finish. Priced around $15-20, well worth the price.

2016 Passalacqua Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma, CA

All of the grapes for our coveted Cabernets come from the TR Passalacqua Vineyard. These prized 19 year old vines are located on the western slope of Dry Creek Valley at a 400-foot elevation. The quality of the fruit comes not only from the exceptional terrain of the vineyard but also from meticulous farming practices. We grow balanced vines, using bunch thinning, leaf pulling, and limited irrigation to ensure the highest quality fruit. We drop fruit at various points in the growing season to promote even ripening, and concentration of flavors. The TR Passalacqua Cabernet is a testament to our belief that truly great wine is made in the vineyard.

This is a Boutique producer in Sonoma, making some very good wines. Mostly available from the mailing list and a few restaurants in that area. This still had a nice tannic backbone with red and black fruits giving a full mouthfeel. Lasting finish – a real nice bottle – price estimate is $60.

2014 Domaine La Tour Vielle Banyul Remage, France

Fresh red berries: strawberry, black currant and raspberry with a hint of spice. Mouth is dynamic and round. Goes well with desserts or on its own.

The ancient art of Banyuls is disappearing at a frightening pace. One of its great champions and longest-standing practitioners is the wonderful, charismatic Vincent Cantié. He is the spirit of Catalan culture personified, and he makes the best Banyuls money can buy. Made from ripe Grenache picked from steep, stony hillsides above the Mediterranean on the Spanish border, Banyuls is muted with neutral alcohol to stop fermentation and preserve some residual sugar to produce a glorious after-dinner drink. Its best friend is probably a walnut tart or a flourless chocolate cake. Thomas Jefferson loved Banyuls and so can you. "

Got this on a close out a few years ago and forgot to bring it out until now. This is a nice dessert wine – good body and sweet without being cloying. Not too much raisin, but still good red fruit flavor. I think I paid under $20 – but any banyuls is good.

2016 Stags’ Leap Winery Petite Syrah, Napa, CA

The 2016 Petite Sirah is made up of 79% Petite Sirah, 8% mixed Rhone varieties, 7% Grenache and 6% Syrah, aged for 12 months in 25% new American oak. Very deep purple-black in color, it opens with notes of freshly crushed black cherries and black berries with touches of plum preserves, baking spices and tar. The palate is medium to full-bodied, very firm and grainy with a lively line to lift the peppery black fruit to a long finish.

The 2016 Petite Sirah is deep and saturated with a core of blackberry, blueberry and black plum, alongside more savory notes of cocoa powder, black pepper spice and Old Bay seasoning. On the palate, the generous blackberry and peppery plum flavors continue but elements of fresher Bing cherry and creamy cassis notes also come through, as well as delicate anise seed, clove and cedar spice notes from the oak ageing. This wine is smooth and silky with velvety tannins and a generous lengthy finish, encouraging you to enjoy it now, but has the depth and complexity to age for many years to come.

A powerful Petite Sirah from Napa – this bad boy will stain your teeth and keep you coming back for more. Full flavored with black fruits and nuances of spice. Lengthy finish with just a touch of tannins remaining.  Priced around $35 – worth every penny.

2020 Il Borro ‘La Melle Chardonnay, Tuscany, Italy

The wine is named "Lamelle" after the Italian word / description for the grooves (precisely "lamelle") of a shell which is beautifully depicted on the label. The shell was used because the area where the grapes are grown is rich in sea fossils which are very similar to these shells. These fossils go back to the end of the Pliocene period where there was a deep lake that existed about 3 million years ago.

It is straw-yellow colored and its bouquet discloses the typical aromas of the grape variety. On the nose, it is fresh with hints of yellow pulp fruits and floral scents. The taste is pleasantly fresh and fruity with a marked mineral note deriving from a well-balanced acidity and a good sapidity.

(Sapidity: refers to the presence of mineral salts in wine. The flavor contributes to the softness of the wine.)

It is ideal with fish dishes, light first course dishes, or fresh soft cheese. Also to be served as an aperitif.

Italian Chardonnays seem to really shine. Using less oak makes for fresher and brighter wine. This went well with our salad course and was good as a sipping wine. The fruit flavors have that minerality that comes through in the mouth, with a pleasant aftertaste.  Priced around $25 – very good buy.

2018 Il Borro Borrigiano Rosso, Valdarno di Sopra, Italy

RP92Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This is the first wine from Il Borro to be made under the Valdarno di Sopra appellation designation (the first vintage made was 2015), and the wine's name Borrigiano means "inhabitants of the Il Borro hamlet." The 2018 Valdarno di Sopra Borrigiano is a blend of Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah that sees a brief period of cold maceration followed by ten months of aging in large oak casks. The aim here is to keep the freshness of the fruit intact, and this goal has been readily achieved. The bouquet opens to forest berry aromas with raw plum and fresh prune. This is a terrific wine with a confident, pure and easy-drinking appeal that is nothing short of charming.

Easy drinking blend that goes well with food. Red fruits dominate the mouthfeel, with a hint of earthiness. Nice wine – well priced around $20.

2018 Il Borro ‘Pian di Nova’, Tuscany, Italy

A touch of conviviality, a friend with whom to share memorable moments. This is the natural place of Pian di Nova, a full-bodied wine marked by subtlety and softness. Generous on the palette from the first taste to the last, this is a wine that will amuse.

Tasting Notes Pian di Nova has an intense ruby red color. The bouquet is floral and intensely fruity with scents of fresh black cherry, concentrated raspberry coulis, dried cranberry and fresh blackberry with hints of Cardamom and spice. The taste is smooth and full bodied with a pleasant freshness that echoes the same profile that was found in the initial aromas. The finish is persistent and well-balanced, framed with velvety tannins.

75% Syrah and 25% Sangiovese

This blend was a very tasty wine – the red and black fruits came through with some spices. Moderate aftertaste that left you wanting more. Good acidity to go with food – a real good wine at a modest price around $20. I really enjoyed this one a bunch!

2017 Il Borro ‘Il Borro’ Toscano , Tuscany, Italy

"Il Borro" has an intense ruby color, with purplish reflections. The bouquet is full and intense, concentrated, with notes of underbrush and with spicy scents. The taste is dry, with a good body and soft tannins, a good consistency, well integrated and persistent.

Ideal with all Tuscan dishes cooked with meat, Tuscan croutons, aged cheeses, cured meats, first and main courses with game (wild boar, chianina meat and salami). Il Borro wine also pairs perfectly with hamburgers.

This is the estate's flagship wine and is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Petit Verdot once played a small supporting role in the blend, but that grape has since been removed because it left too strong a signature. The 2016 Il Borro is a seamless, full-bodied red wine that presents an A-list aromatic presentation with dark fruit and plum followed by savory spice, leather and tobacco. The quality of the fruit is sweet and bright, but there is also a distinct mineral note to the wine that contrasts the sweetness with saltiness. The tannins are well integrated and there is enough acidity to lift the entire flavor profile of this beautiful wine. Some 32,000 bottles were made.

This was a big, broad-shouldered wine.  A great nose followed by a mothfeel of  dark fruits with spices and tobacco. This just feels like a heavy weight wine. Very nice – tannic backbone and sufficient acidity to match food. This could cellar for 10 years and be excellent. Priced between $65 -75, good price for a wine of this quality.

Another year has flown by us - hope you all have a wonderful 2022. Stay safe and keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of November 2021

Made it through November with hotter than usual weather. Never know what that means for December.

Here are the wines from November:

2017 Chateau L’Hospitalet Grand Vin Rouge, LaClape, France

syrah grenache mourvedre  Rouge

The colour is a brilliant ruby. The intense nose is dominated by spicy and red fruit (strawberry) aromas. The mouth presents silky and fine tannins underlining the fruity freshness of this wine.

Highly expressive southern French nose of incense, liquorice, cassis and black plum with a floral hint. Strong flavoursome attack of red, ripe fruit and fresh leather with a hint of cocoa powder. Bold, hedonistic and modern.

A very good southern French wine – good fruit nose and good flavors of red fruits and hints of earth and cocoa. Got this on close out at about $20, a really good buy. Good at a higher price.

2015 Altamente Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

Color: Intense and deep red color with a fuchsia purple hue and beautiful blue rim. It is alive!

Nose: highly ripe, fresh, tempting fruits with aroma of eldelberries, herb, thicket, carob tree and blackberries. Very Mediterranean! Intense, balsamic, highly scented.

Mouth: strong personality, complex, nice texture, fresh, greasy, acid and balanced. It is very opened, quickly recognizable, enjoyable. Again ripe black fruits, redcurrants, thicket.

A good Monastrell from Spain – dark wine with good dark fruits and brush. Nice acidity to go with food – a steal at $10 a bottle. Keep some on hand.

NV Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Fay Golden Rectangle , Napa Valley, CA

A limited edition, multi-vintage bottling of Stag's Leap's FAY vineyard, this wine sees extended barrel aging and is a Cabernet Sauvignon/Petite Verdot blend. Bottled in 2015

Really delicious, typical Fay. Being NV rounds out the edges of a wine that I already think of as being approachable young. Actually a good thing tonight. A bit floral nose, good amount of fruit, but not over extracted. Plum and blueberries. Some cedar. An expressive cab that still quite elegant.

The Fay vineyard was shortened by the new visitor facility at Stag’s Leap. They made a few bottling including this and Fay’s apology from grapes that grew on the site. The wine is drinking superbly at this time – pleasant nose that becomes a good fruit balance in the mouth and has a very nice finish. Don’t know the price, but this is one good bottle of juice.

2018 Far Niente Chardonnay, Napa Valley, CA

Classic Far Niente style with aromas of grilled citrus, melon and honeysuckle with hints of white fig, gardenia and toasted hazelnuts, background of mild toasted oak that adds supportive warmth and richness. A silky entry builds on the palate with a rich texture that continues to evolve. Possessing great structure and length, a sweet core of melon and citrus is supported by white floral and toasted vanilla and baking spice notes. The broad mid palate comes back together with a long bright finish.

WW92Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2018 Far Niente Chardonnay shows class and balanced. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits excellent richness and stays elegant to the end. Pair its aromas and flavors of ripe, core fruits, peach skin, and oak with shellfish in a generous cream sauce.

WS90Wine Spectator

Rich and juicy, with oaky accents to the dried apple and glazed apricot flavors. The well-structured finish is filled with savory and buttery notes. Drink now through 2023.

This is a sturdy Chardonnay from Napa – good nose of fruits with a good texture in the mouth and flavors of melon and citrus, with some vanilla at the finish. Nice long finish, strong enough to have with many meals. I had it for Thanksgiving and it went very well with my meal. Priced around $60, I think.

2017 Maison Louis Latour Marsannay Rouge, Cote d’Or, France

This Marsannay is sturdy and robust due to the rich iron-based soil. The wine has an intense bouquet of red fruit and a silky palate with a distinct gamey character and great tannic appeal. 100% Pinot Noir

Pair with roasted duck, "coq au vin", lamb stew, and mature cheeses.

JS91James Suckling  Aromas of strawberries, toffee, smoke and earth. Medium body, fresh and bright acidity, medium chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Linear and bright for the vintage. Drink after 2020, but already approachable.

WS90Wine Spectator   A touch earthy on the nose initially but this blows off, revealing ripe black cherry, plum, earth and stone flavors. Rich and balanced, with firm tannins and a mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2023.

This is one great Burgundy for those that usually can’t afford good burgundy. Bright red fruits in the mouth, with some tannin and leather. Juicy finish, nice acidity, this is a real food wine. I got it for around $20 on a close out. Should get some more – this is a real pinot made in a great style

That's another month - hope everyone is staying healthy. Until next month, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 Wines of October 2021

Finally beginning to feel like Fall at the end of the month. Here are a few wines from the past month.

2011 Balthus Tempranillo Reserva, Rioja, Spain

No press on this wine – well past its prime. Not much fruit, just hints of what was once a decent wine. Not worth the $10 spent.

2016 Rock Horse ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, WA

Tasting Notes:  Currants and spice with a hint of blackberries on a lingering finish

Very good Washington Cabernet from Natalie’s Estate Winery. Good buy – I got it for about $15 and bought a bottle to give my daughter Natalie.

2011 Silvio Grasso Barolo,  Lamorra, Italy

On the nose, very intense, elegant, fruity. Flavors include dry, austere, warm, tannic, fresh, intense, good persistence. Pair with red meat, cheese, game.

Blend: 100% Nebbiolo

JS92James Suckling

A dense and decadent wine with dried meat, ripe berry and walnut character plus hints of leaf. Full-bodied, round and chewy yet savory and beautiful. Tannic and powerful. Try in 2018.

WS90Wine Spectator

Menthol and licorice accents complement the core of cherry and strawberry fruit. Balanced, but needs a few years to integrate. Fine length. Best from 2018 through 2032. 850 cases made.

This was a special occasion wine – poured at the restaurant Napoli. The wine was just hitting its stride with red fruits and hints of earth and spices. Threw a lot of sediment, but that was expected. Priced in the $30 range. A real treat and very good wine.

2012 Prunotto Mompertone, Monferrato, Italy

Deep ruby red in color with purple highlights, this wine has rich fruity aromas of plums and cherries with hints of violets, coffee and spices. The palate is ample, dense and full with soft tannins that are elegant and long on the finish. It is an excellent match with roasted meat dishes, pot-au-feu and fresh cheeses.

JS92James Suckling

A red with dense and silky tannins plus ripe strawberry, spice and almonds. Full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. I like this solid blend of barbera and syrah. Drink now.

The 2012 vintage of this Italian red wine is an unusual blend of Barbera and Syrah grapes. The wine was matured for 10 months in both oak barrels and (smaller) barriques.

Very pleasant wine – bright red fruit flavors with a touch of tannins. Good acidity for food matches, a real nice find. Priced under $20, worth getting several bottles.

2018 Dominio de Eguren Codice , DeCastilla, Spain

Ruby red with light violet in the edges of the glass. Red fruits (raspberries, blackberries) of nice intensity, coffee, toasted notes and vanilla. Well structured, balanced tannins-alcohol-acidity, fresh mature fruit in perfect conjunction with the characteristics of aging (spices, toasted coffee and noble wood). The finish leaves a pleasant memory of lightly toasted notes.

V90Vinous

Vivid ruby. Ripe red and blue fruits and a suggestion of pungent flowers on the highly perfumed nose. Silky, seamless and focused on the palate, showing energetic lift and solid punch to the gently sweet blueberry and raspberry flavors. Supple, even tannin's build slowly on the finish, which hangs on with strong, spice-tinged persistence.

I used to buy earlier vintages of this wine but haven’t seen it again until now. Nice ripe fruits with light tannins and pleasant acidity to make it very food friendly. Priced around $10, hard to beat at that price.

2016 Royal Princess Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, California

The Chardonnay comes all from the Sonoma Coast and was brought up in a mix of French oak (30% new) and stainless steel. Rocking notes of buttered peach, honeysuckle, white flowers, and a kiss of toasted almonds give way to a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay offering beautiful fruit, a solid spine of acidity, and a great finish. It shows more salinity and citrus fruits with time in the glass and has classic Sonoma Coast style. It could be twice the cost and still be a good value. Drink this beauty over the coming 2-3 years.

I call this a vibrant white wine, with a solid body and white peach, floral notes and a hint of oak. Nice finish, well worth the price – around $25.

Another month flew by - hope you all are safe and comfy. Until next time, Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 

 Month of September, 2020

It officially become fall, and maybe the temperatures will act like it. Ready to do a little less grilling and more cooking inside. Here are the wines from last month.

2016 Grgich Hills Petite Sirah Miljenko selection, Calistoga, CA                               

Aromas of ripe dark fruit with tones of sweet cherry and raspberry are carried by undertones of vanilla bean and rose petals. Dense red fruit on the palate is followed by silky tannins that uphold the complex aromas of the Petite Sirah. This wine envelopes every taste bud with its deeply rich aromatics, creating a lush and lingering aftertaste. Match its generous flavors with substantial flavors, such as lamb stew, grilled steak and barbecued pork ribs. This Petite Sirah will benefit from decanting an hour before serving.

Black violet color. Fruity aromas and flavors of pomegranate, violet, cocoa butter, compressed watermelon, vanilla, and basil with a lightly tannic, lively, dry-yet-fruity full body and a warming, intricate, medium-long finish that exhibits notes of rosemary with light oak flavor. A dense and tannic wine with lifted and lively aromatics the balance and satisfy; a stylish pairing for grilled meats.

This is an outstanding wine – the flavors last on a long finish. Very well made and opens wide after pouring in not too long a time. Gift to me, but priced around $65 online.

2018 Bodegas Volver Paso a Paso Tempranillo, La Tiera de Castilla, Spain

Intense cherry color and hints of garnet. On the nose, mature fruit stands out and we find creamy hints of toasted oak. On the palate, it is fruity with a long, silky finish.

Pretty tasty little Spanish wine – enough acidity to make food matches easy, yet very pleasant as a sip alone. Red fruits on the palate, not a long finish, but a good wine for around $10. Organic wine

2014 Angle Vineyards Pinot Noir Sonoma County, CA

Nothing online about this – after drinking it I know why. Made from surplus juice, it is drinkable, although the fruit gets overtaken by an earthy overtone. What  you get for about $7 – I’ll stick with my cheap Spanish wines.

NV Folk Machine BYOB Red, California

This new boxed red blend falls under his Folk Machine label (used for his more eclectic wine endeavors) and is 42% Carignane, 18% Petite Sirah, 15% Zinfandel, 15% Syrah, and 10% Tempranillo. The fruit was grown in Mendocino and Suisun Valley. Each lot was fermented separately, aged in combination of stainless steel tanks and oak barrels, and blended in the Spring. The end result is a mid-weight easy drinking, fun red that is juicy, fresh, and all-purpose.

This was a wine in a mystery tasting – fooled most of the people. A bright, young wine – the fruit was upfront and juicy. No tannins, some acidity for food – a great wine for a party where you have people that drink wine like water. The 3 Liter runs under $30 – good for what it is.

2020 Castillo de Olite Tempranillo, Navarra, Spain

Produced from grapes grown in the hillsides of Navarre in the north of Spain, this light and fruity red wine is aromatic and easy drinking. For more than 20 years it has been a great favourite of our clientele. Perfect for every day drinking.

Another nice Spanish wine with red fruits and little tannins. Enough backbone to go with various foods – another good buy at around $12 or less.

2017 Poggio Landi Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

From a great vintage, Poggio Landi’s gulpable, ruby-colored Rosso is a concentrated, cherry-scented way to enjoy young-vine Brunello while your 2017 Brunello wines mature in your cellar. Dusty black cherry, minerals, and almond would make this so enticing with a roast rack of pork studded with garlic and rosemary.

Aging a Brunello for decades brings these components into a glorious harmony. Some of us may have cellars that are provisioned with gloriously harmonious ’81 Brunello but most of us need something to drink tonight.  So when Landi is selecting her Rosso, she thinks of us, and chooses Brunello with more fruit, less acid and less tannin – and that is how she chooses the 32 barrels to “declassify” and label Sangiovese Rosso.

This wine almost seemed to need a little more time in the bottle.  Nice red fruits on the palate, not much backbone. Went pretty well with the food, but still was a little off in balance.  May reserve judgement on this, could be my mood and other wines that threw mw off. Priced around $21 -25.

2015 Conn Creek Anthology, Napa Valley, CA

In The Blend - Cabernet Sauvignon 93%, Cabernet Franc 3%, Merlot 3%, Petit Verdot 1%

Aromas - The nose is slightly fresh and yet a little jammy. Black currant, cherry, licorice, and blackberry notes are intertwined with smoke and dusty ones. Red flowers and cotton candy were a bit unexpected for California Cabernet sauvignon.

Palate - On the palate, Conn Creek Anthology expressed itself as juicy, yet elegant wine. The structure built more on acidity than tannins. Although the tannins seemed to be more pleasing.

Black currant, caramelized plum, and blueberry mixed in equal amounts and topped with cocoa make it hard to find the accent. Exactly what we like about good wine.

Finish - The finish is luxurious, lingering, and jammy.

Conclusion - This full-bodied and high alcohol cabernet sauvignon might spend some time in our cellar before we taste it again. Well incorporated tannins make it a good wine ready to drink now. Moderate acidity suggests it would pair well not only with meat but also with cheese dishes.

This is an excellent wine – I think I had this at the winery a few years back. Jammy, with black and red fruits over the palate with hints of dust. Good acid backbone, but still holding some tannin to create a long finish. Originally, only $59, but I got on close-out for $35. If you see this (or other vintages) at a good price – buy it. You won’t regret it.

I hope all is well – until next month, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The wines of August 2021

Another month has blown by - included some right hot days. I've got some Rose' wines, but I won't tell you how they are made (again). 

2017 Chateau St. Jean Reserve Syrah, Sonoma County, CA

This exemplary expression of Syrah entices with deeply saturated violet hues, evoking the Sonoma landscape with vivid aromas of lavender and iris, wild blueberries and plum jam, followed by subtle, intriguing notes of white pepper and game. Compact on entry, the wine is generous in black cherry and crushed berry fruit tinged with vanilla and cardamom, unfolding on the palate with luxurious texture, effortless harmony and long finish.

This was a gift – an excellent California syrah with deep red fruit flavors and nuanced overtones of spice. Finish was moderately long, with a little tannin. Nicely developed, good drinking and fine with meat for a meal. Estimated Price around $35 - $60.

2019 Cantine Paradiso Sant’ Andrea Primitivo, Puglia, Italy

Cantine Paradiso is located is the South of Italy, in the region of Puglia. Angelo Paradiso, the third generation of winemakers in the family, manages the vineyards and the winery.

Southern Italian wine is all about fun. This week’s special is a fantastic 90 Point Primitivo from the “heel of the boot” in Puglia. Primitivo shares a lot of genetic material with Zinfandel and that comparison feels quite apt when you get a big glass of the 2019 Sant’ Andrea from Cantine Paradiso. The nose requires no coaxing to give up fabulous scents of cherry hard candies, fresh plucked rose petals, cedar, and cinnamon. Swirl it all around and it just keeps on going, delivering more and more engaging aromatics with each passing moment. Sip it and delight in the exuberantly ripe fruit that you only get in a warm climate like Puglia. Bountiful flavors of cherry pie filling, raspberry preserves, and kirsch liqueur are neatly accented by stylish hints of cracked pepper, Ceylon cinnamon, dry cedar, and warm graham cracker pie crust. The palate has big volume and plenty of intensity of ripe fruit but it’s still a really classic Old World Red. The finish is dry and shows nice earth and spice. It’s fruity, that’s for sure, but it’s not that sneaky sweet junk that you all too often see coming out of California. This is the real stuff! Pair this beauty up with a piece of homemade pizza and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven!

Even though Primitivo and Zinfandel are genetically the same, wines from Puglia are not Cali Zin.  That being said, there are some good Primitivos – this one was a good example.  Bright red fruits, good acidity to match foods – a real good wine for any Italian foods. This was a $10 buy and well worth the money.

2017 Regina Viarum Godello, Ribeira Sacra, Spain

View: Golden yellow clean and shiny.

Nose: ripe fruit (apple, pear), floral notes.

Mouth: pleasantly sweet entrance, fresh, warm, gentle acidity, harmonious, spacious, well structured and balanced, persistent.

APPELLATION: Ribeira Sacra.

GRAPES: Godello.

ALCOHOL CONTENT: 13%

Pretty fair white wine from Spain – has a lot of aroma (it was noticed by others in the room, not drinking wine). The fruit is a little nuanced on the palate, mostly on the aftertaste. Good wine for the heat of summer, at $9 or so.

2020 Esterhazy ‘The Kiss’ Rose, Burgenland, Austria

Tasting-notes: Medium salmon rose. In the nose dominates a red fruit cocktail of rose hips, red ribs and raspberries. In addition there are hints of rhubarb and a fine herbal spice. The acidity is elegantly integrated, the train in the exit ensures a nice drinking flow.

The red berries and herbal notes are perfect for light, summery cuisine as well as for a terrace or pool party. Also known as “after work” drink.

This wine seems a little light – even for a pink one. Flavors are pretty good – strawberry and red raspberry with some herbal tones. Acidity good for lighter food matches. Little pricy for a pink at $20 that doesn’t really wow me.

2020 Stolpman Para Maria Rose, Santa Barbara, California

Blend : 60% Mourvedre / 20% Syrah / 20% Grenache

The nose pops with berry spice, tropical fruit perfume, and taught tiny strawberries.  In the mouth, deeper red fruit flirts with crisp acidity and firm crunch.  Cherry juice lingers on the finish with zesty freshness.  The wine calls for a frolic through a sheltered alpine meadow capped off with a schmoopy love scene.

This is a very good Pink wine, good pronounced red berry fruits and firm acidity. Seems much deeper than the previous bottle (above).  Very good and worth the $18 average price.

2018 Eyrie Vineyards  Trousseau,  Willamette Valley, Oregon

Eyrie’s Jason Lett and crew planted the Willamette Valley’s first Trousseau noir in 2012. The vividly red wine has aromas of dark berries, loam, and baking spices. Acidity and smoothness are perfectly balanced on the palate, with evolving flavors of herbs and fruits such as blackberry, pomegranate, and rhubarb. Light tannins combine with a precise, long finish to suggest promising ageability.

Trousseau is an ancient variety, originating in France’s Jura region and centered in the hillside village of Montingy-les-Arsures. In 2012, inspired by these wines, Jason Lett planted the Willamette Valley’s first Trousseau.

Our Trousseau is made from estate-grown, certified-organic grapes and transformed to juice by wild yeast. We strive to make a Trousseau that’s the truest expression of the fruit. That’s why we’ve chosen to not fine or filter this wine. Likewise, no sulfur is added during bottling.

The bright yellow, red and purple clusters produce a vibrantly colored wine. On the nose, there are distinct berry notes with a hint of baking spices. All of this continues on the palate with rich, crisp fruit and nice acid balance, and then light tannin on the finish.

I was surprised at how much O enjoyed this wine. Kind of like a “revved” up gamay with more character and better acidity. There are dark berries in the mouth and some spices nuanced into the palate. Not a long finish, but tasty.  A little pricy at $33, but worth trying.

2018 Birichino ‘St. Georges’ Zinfandel, Central Coast, California

This bottling, mostly from 1922-planted vines, is a uniquely intellectual spin on Zinfandel, proving unlike most other takes on the grape and somewhat simple, yet constantly calling out for attention. Aromas of red plum, cranberry and light herbs lead into light strawberry, dried meat and more herb tones, as well as a hint of blood. These elements all grow more ethereal with time. WE 91 Points

Vivid ruby-red. Lively cherry and boysenberry aromas are complemented by suggestions of cola and candied flowers. Allspice and licorice notes emerge with air and carry onto the palate, which features gently sweet red/blue fruit flavors that show fine definition and spicy lift. Displays strong, fruity thrust on the gently tannic finish, which echoes the spicy note.

This is not one of those over-the-top Zins that takes a bit to get used to. This is a thinking man’s Zin, restrained, with good fruit flavors, herbs and some earthiness. Nice acid to match a meal, the tannins are barely noticeable. Almost “airy” in a way; nice drinking right now. Priced around $26, worth trying.

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

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.