The Wines of May 2022

May is pretty much a memory now, some hot and some cool days. Mother Nature still trying to make up her mind what season it really is. Memorial Day - the "unofficial" start of summer.

How about some wines?

2018 Ancient Peaks Renegade Paso Robles, Ca

Renegade comes from Ancient Peaks' estate Margarita Vineyard on the historic Santa Margarita Ranch. From missionaries to gunslingers, rough riders to outlaws, a colorful cast of characters has traversed the ranch’s rugged terrain since the 18th century. In that spirit, Ancient Peaks has made an intensely flavored blend that pushes the envelope and resists conformity, adding an adventurous twist to the family of wines. Defiantly bold and daringly elegant—this is Renegade.

Blend: 38% Syrah, 36% Petit Verdot, 26% Malbec

WE91Wine Enthusiast

Earthy aromas of dewy thyme, oregano, juniper and pine needle are sprinkled with cracked pepper and laid across dark berry on the nose of this blend of 38% Syrah, 36% Petit Verdot and 26% Malbec. A eucalyptus spice hits the palate alongside the pepper, with dark fruit lingering long.

WW90Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2018 Ancient Peaks Renegade is a fully-built yet smooth red blend. TASTING NOTES: This wine brings aromas and flavors of black fruits, violets, and licorice front and center. Pair it with a mild curry lamb stew. (Tasted: October 9, 2021, San Francisco, CA)

This is an easy-going blend with nice upfront aromas and nice black fruit mouthfeel. Nice acidity for meals, this is a good wine to have on hand. Priced just under $20, well worth the money

2018 Matchbook The Arsonist Red blend, Zamora, CA

The 2018 Arsonist Red Blend is our left of center take on the classic Bordeaux blend. Anchored by Petit Verdot the grace of the wine shows in an elegant bouquet of plum, raspberry and mocha. The blend of three powerhouse reds delivers full flavors of blackberry, cherry, chocolate and pepper spice; barrel aging adds a nice dose of vanilla oak. The finish lingers with dark fruit flavors, herbs and old-fashioned saddle leather.

The 2018 Arsonist Red Blend is Matchbook's left of center take on the classic Bordeaux blend. Anchored by Petit Verdot the grace of the wine shows in an elegant bouquet of plum, raspberry and mocha. The blend of three powerhouse reds delivers full flavors of blackberry, cherry, chocolate and pepper spice; barrel aging adds a nice dose of vanilla oak. The finish lingers with dark fruit flavors, herbs and old-fashioned saddle leather.

This is a big-flavored wine that pairs well with the richness of grilled lamb chops or a well-marbled rib-eye steak.

Blend: 52% Petit Verdot, 26% Malbec, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon

TP93Tasting Panel

Opaque garnet color and rich aromas of plum. Chewy, velvety, and intense, with notes of chocolate, mocha, and spice; dense and balanced. Mostly Petit Verdot with Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine is a tasty treat – a blend I wasn’t expecting. Nice nose with dark fruits dominating the flavor profile. A bit a sharpness from the Petite Verdot made a good acidity balance for food. Very nice wine and priced under $20 – a keeper.

2018 Tabali Pedregoso Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo, Chile

Tasting Notes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense ruby in color, this Cabernet Sauvignon is notable for its good body and structure. It has upfront aromas of cherries, violets, cassis, and smoke, complemented by hints of toast. Well-rounded on the palate, with balanced, silky tannins and great structure, it achieves a good balance between fresh acidity and abundant fruit.

I got this for under $10 – it was a pretty good wine. Decent body and fruit, but not something I would rave about. Worth the money, maybe just as a “School-nite” wine.

2019 Escudo Rojo Carmenere Reserva, Colchagua, Chile

Purplish-red with violet highlights. Very intense and fruity, with notes of forest fruit, combined with spicy notes such as pink peppercorn, bay leaf, rosemary, black truffle, and subtle aromas of roasted coffee bean imparted by ageing in French oak. Starts off very delicate, refreshing and juicy with well-balanced acidity. The tannins are refined and velvety. Wild fruit aromas follow through to the aftertaste, culminating in a long finish.

Pair this wine alongside spicy beef and vegetable stir-fry, paprika chicken, partridge with mushrooms, vegetable curry.

JS93James Suckling

Extremely aromatic with dried flowers, as well as black-fruit and wet-earth character. Full-bodied and chewy, yet finely textured. Extremely characterful with cloves and other spices. Dry finish. Reserva this year.

WW92Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2019 Escudo Rojo Reserva Carmenère highlights the richness and elegance of this stylish grape variety. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers attractive aromas and flavors of ripe plum, spices, black fruit, licorice, and a hint of wood. Enjoy it with BBQ baby back ribs.

Very nice Carmenere – drinks bigger than expected. A pleasant nose is followed by some dark fruit, some wood and some baking spices. Follows through with a moderate finish. Priced just under $20, this is a wine well worth the price.

2020 Chateau Fage Blanc, Graves de Vayres, Bordeaux, France

This delicious white wine has a beautiful bouquet, nuanced between the citrus fruit touches coming from the Sauvignon Blanc and with an expressive style brought by the Semillon. Very well balanced on the palate, this crisp wine offers freshness and fruitiness. Perfect to drink in its youth and very food friendly.

The white wines of the Bordeaux region are often overlooked when considering a richer, more textured white wine from around the world. The wine is driven by flavors of ripe and dried citrus fruits, baked apples, spiced peaches, honey, and field flowers. This classic Bordeaux blend is ideal for more savory flavors and richer menu items including pork, veal, and roasted vegetables.

SOIL: Gravelly soil. Graves carry along by the Dordogne

HARVEST AND VINIFICATION: Vineyard: Double Guyot cut / De-budding /

Wine Making: Cold pre fermentative maceration. Controlled fermentation

AGEING: 3 months in new French oak barrels

This Bordeaux white tends to be 60% Semillon and only 40% Sauvignon Blanc – being slighty more “perky” to the tongue. The nose is nice, followed by the citrus fruit, honey and crisp floral flavors.  Well built body – works for lighter fair as well as sipping. Priced around $15, a great wine for summer or opening courses.

2018 Chateau De Cranne, Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

A deep purplish red color with flashes of plum, revealing an impressive density and depth. The nose is finely textured with aromas of jammy wild fruit, blackcurrant, whortleberry and blackberry, with a Mediterranean density. The amplitude of the tannins are simply astonishing. Their softness offset by a slight tang, giving the wine an impression of freshness. The finish is seemingly endless with the hints of laural, black pepper and camphor. After a few minutes, the tasting gains in warmth highlighting the notes of moorland and smokey Provence herbs.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, Organic Farming

This wine was a bit earthy, reminding me of hummus. Mostly dark fruit with some tannins, the wine was better with a meal, but not my favorite. Priced around $20, worth a try at that cost.

2019 Les Tetes Bordeaux Superieur AOC, Bordeaux, France

100% Merlot from a 35 year old biodynamic single vineyard, wild fermented and aged all in concrete, then bottled unfiltered with almost no sulfur added. Still medium bodied with darker red and blue fruit and an earthy note of black olive and wild herbs.

Grapes: Merlot

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: organic grapes and yeast, hand-picked, spontaneous fermentation in concrete tanks, no fining, lightly filtered (vegan), minimal So2 at bottling only; 12.5% ABV

All Merlot from France. Biodynamic, wild fermented and aged in concrete. Not a bad little wine, very light tannins, decent red and black fruits with an earthy follow-through. Costs between $20 and $25, better at the bottom end for me, though it might be better in a year or so.

2019 Trefethen ‘Eschol’ Red, Oak knoll, Napa, California

Sourced entirely from their Main Ranch vineyard, winemaker Bryan Kays crafts a unique blend each year. This 2019 is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc. The wine was aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels 13% new.

The wine opens with bold fruit-forward aromas of blackberry and dried cherry. On the palate, bright red fruit flavors give way to modest tannins and balanced acidity, making it very food-friendly and ready to pair with casual dinners at home.

This is a very nice blend with a pleasing nose of red fruits. The red fruit flavors are matched with baking spices, cocoa and cherry cola. Moderate tannins and a good acidic backbone, the wine was good with food and on its own. Family owned Napa Valley winery, this bottle is only $25 – well worth that price. Could hold this for a couple years and it would be better.

2017 Chateau Teyssier Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc

JS92James Suckling

A balanced and pretty red with walnut and berry aromas and flavors. Medium to full body.

WS91Wine Spectator

This has a very friendly, juicy, rounded core of plum, blackberry and raspberry fruit, backed by silky tannins and carrying through the generous finish.

90 Wine Enthusiast

"Firmly tannic, this wine shows dark-coffee flavors as well as solid black fruits. It has the richness of the vintage, although that is muted for the moment by the solid structure. Wait for this powerful wine to develop & drink from 2021".

The nose was very berry, while the wine had a big body of red and dark fruits with hints of herbs and tannins weaving through it.  Long finish, good now but could be better with 2-3 years of cellaring. Available around $40 nice wine to cellar and pop out with some lamb or beef.

Another month gone by – hope you are all hale and healthy. Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of April 2022

So we try to begin Springtime - although the weather doesn't always agree. Had a major tornado in are area, so it is Spring for sure. BTW, it wasn't near my side of town. Let's talk some wines!

2014 Prunotto Fiulot Barbera d’Asti, Alba, Italy

The wine is a vivid and intense ruby red in color with a grapey and fruity (plum and cherry) aroma. Grapes grown on light and loose-textured soils and modern oenological techniques which enable producers to obtain and conserve fruit and freshness combine to make this a wine which is very pleasurable in its youth. For this reason it goes well with simple dishes such as hors d’oeuvres, soups, risotto, and pasta.

I just have never had a great experience with Barbera – I’ve had a number of them and they just don’t do it for me. This had nice balace and decent aroma, but the flavor just was an average quaff. Got it for about $12, nice if you like this type of wine.

2019 Irmana Frappato Terre Sicilianne IGT, Sicily, Italy

Tasting Note: A lively Frappato with attractive aromatics that will lull your nose deep into your glass.

Deep-intensity ruby in color, this wine has an aromatic, medium-plus-intensity nose of raspberry, blueberry, raisin, rhubarb, dried cranberry, strawberry, blackberry and blossom.

On the palate the dry, medium-bodied Frappato has medium-plus-intensity, red-and-black-fruit flavors suggested on the nose supported by medium-plus acidity and medium tannin ultimately completing with a floral, medium-plus finish.

The midpalate is filled with ripe-and-just-ripened red fruit.

The sort of red wine that wine lovers and wine novices would both enjoy.

Bottle Note: Produced from hand-picked grapes, Irmana Frappato is a red wine with a refreshing fruit palate and soft finish. The rich aromas of red fruits and floral notes are balanced by a pleasant finish, making it the perfect wine to sip with charcuterie, sauces with seafood, or meat dishes. From our native grapes, a wine that is an authentic expression of the island. Hand harvested and cultivated with deep respect for nature.

This was a little different, but in a good way. Never had this grape but it made a nice food wine. It didn’t seem to be very tannic, but had some nice red and blue fruits on the palate. Modest finish, but pleasant and well structured with food. Ran about $14, well worth trying.

2018 Punta Final Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Punto Final shows deep violet colors with red hues. Strong floral tones of violet and rose combined with red fruits such as blackcurrant and raspberry. In the palate , the wine is smooth and silky with round tannins and a long and persistent finish. Pair with all types of meats and light pasta.

"Aromas of ripe blueberries and plums flow freely to the mouth, where the tannins are smoothly arranged and really balanced at the finish.  Pure and upbeat."

I remember earlier vintages of this wine. It still is an enjoyable bottle, with nice red fruits and a moderate finish. Nice body to be a food wine – found this under $10 most places, well worth getting a few as school nite wines.

2018 Coster Dels Olivers Red Wine, Priorat, Spain

A new custom cuvée for Eric Solomon. Coster dels Olivers is a blend of 60% Carinyena, 30% Garnatxa, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon grown on slate soils by the Sangenis family of Porrera. A combination of younger vine fruit, a relatively cooler northwestern exposure of the vineyards, a high percentage of Carinyena, and 12 months of aging in well-seasoned French and Hungarian oak barrels, ensures a brighter and juicier style of Priorat made for immediate enjoyment.

JD92       Jeb Dunnuck

Based largely on Carignan, with 30% Garnacha and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Priorat has a big, smoky nose of mulled red and black fruits, graphite, flowers, and new leather. This carries to a medium to full-bodied wine with terrific tannins (especially for Carignan), a balanced, elegant texture, no hard edges, and a great finish.

This is a great find – the blend, although a little unusual, drinks superbly. There are red and black fruits with hints of smoke in the flavors and a nice finish with hints of tannins. Really did not expect this to be as good as it is! I got it around $20, this is an affordable Priorat that you can share with friends.

NV Montinore Estate Vivace Sparkling wine, Willamette Valley, OR

Vivacé is Italian for “in a brisk, spirited manner,” which is the perfect descriptor for this aromatic sparkling white wine blend. Estate-grown Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris and Riesling are artfully blended to highlight the best qualities of each varietal. The beautiful plants adorning the label depict biodynamic preparations we lovingly apply to our vineyard. The result is a fragrant nose of orange blossom, lemon, lime, honey and a hint of ginger while the exuberant palate features juicy green apple, ripe melon, lime zest and citrus confectionary. A wine that still has nice structure and a lasting finish. Vivacé is bubbly and easy drinking. It’s a delightful and refreshing sipper for any occasion.

An unusual blend for a sparkling wine but they really pull it off. Vibrant with citrus aromas and green apple – really well done sparkler. Priced under $20 – a great wine for openers or light food.

2021 Kokomo Grenache Rose, North Coast, California

Rosé is not a second thought for us. We dedicate blocks of fruit for our rosé program and pick when the acid is high and the sugar is low. The delicate hue of this rosé is a direct result of harvesting the fruit at 20 brix and our gentle whole berry press. Delightful flavors of pink grapefruit, orange peel, and wild strawberry fill the palate.

This Rose had some fruit flavors but they didn’t really stand out – seemed like a pleasant quaff or salad wine but nothing really notable. Priced around $20 – I’ve had better for that price and less.

2021 Stolpman ‘Love you Bunches’ Sangiovese, Santa Barbara, California

Serve cold! 2021 strikes a wonderful balance between the fleshier, warmer 2020 vintage and the more angular, high-toned 2018 and 2019 versions.  Riper red berry fruit sings over the tart finish resulting in a pleasurable, quenching crunch.  A perfected adult version of Sour Patch Kids candy.  A floaty fleshiness develops by the second glass – which, btw, arrives quickly – with some mellowing watermelon notes on the mid-palate.

A bit different – you wouldn’t know for sure it is Sangiovese – but a quaffable drink to enjoy with lighter fare. The fruit is there but there are some other flavors that mix in the palate. Not bad, but at $25, a little pricey for an experiment.

Another month has flown by and I salute you for surviving the last few years. Stay healthy, try to be happy and keep popping those corks – I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 

 The Wines of March 2022

We have made it to Spring time - even though I had snow here in the Midwest on the 31st. It melted quickly - hope you are not melting. How about some wines!

2017 Ercavio Tempranillo Vina de Meseta, Castilla, Spain

Gobs of blackberry and currant flavors balanced with wild herb undertones and lively acidity.

RP91 Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

"I’m glad to see the old Ercavio Roble renamed as the 2017 Ercavio Tempranillo Viñas de Meseta, as the wine is more about the grapes and place than the short aging in oak. I also found it unusually subtle and elegant, floral and spicy, with complex aromas and a velvety palate with some spiciness, very fine tannins and great balance. It’s super drinkable, and I think in 2017 it overdelivers big time. Amazing bargain! 130,000 bottles." (91 pts.)

Got this for only $10 – and it does way overdeliver at that price. Nice fruits with a supple body that held up well to grilled and meaty foods.  Watch for this name – and snap up their wine!.

2016 Gouguenheim Bonarda Syrah, Tupungato, Argentina

Our vineyards are cultivated at an altitude of more than 3,600 feet above sea level, one of the highest estates in Mendoza. In a desert climate region, we use melt water from the Andes Mountains carried by irrigation channels, through alluvial soils.

All these elements alongside a vast temperature difference between day and night, allow the fruit ripening and concentration, which come together with the expertise and knowledge of our people to define our wines, and consistently produce top quality wines year after year.

OK – there is literally nothing on the internet, except they produce this in a young style. I got it closed out at $8 – and really, it was not a bad wine. A touch light, but sufficient fruits and some acidity to make it a decent meal-time drink (Pizza night wine). 

2020 Ruminat Primitivo, Terre di Chieti, Italy

California Zinfandel’s equally bold and brash Italian sister.

This Primitivo is a bright ruby red in colour. The bouquet shows aromas of black cherry and violets. The palate is soft and smooth with notes of sweet black cherries and blackcurrant fruits combined with notes of cinnamon and cloves supported by lovely soft tannins. Well balanced with a fresh acidity and a long, fruity finish.

Cantina Orsogna

Cantina Orsogna is an award-winning Abruzzo cooperative specialising in native grapes of the region such as Montepluciano d`Abruzzo, Cococciola and Pecorino. Orsogna are committed to the biodynamic principles by which they make their wine and have many certified Demeter biodynamic wines.

Tasting Note : Ripe cherry fruit on the nose leads on to a warm, fruity palate. Lively red cherry and plum flavours are wrapped in fine-grained tannins and the finish is long and fruit-filled.

 

This is one sturdy red wine, from Bio-dynamic grapes. Good dark fruit flavors, some tannins and good acidity to hold up to heavy meals.  Wine runs about $15 – this is a good buy.

2019 E. Guigal Cotes Du Rhone Blanc, Southern Rhone, France

A predominance of Viognier lends a plump, peachy flair and silken mouthfeel to this full-bodied, fleshy white blend. Matured entirely in stainless steel, its grapefruit, apricot and white-peach flavors are pure but edged by a smoky, mineral backdrop that adds drama and complexity. At peak now–2024.

RATING91

The wine is a blend of 60% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 5% Bourboulenc and 2% Grenache Blanc.

This is an outstanding white wine from the Southern Rhone. Easy to find, moderately priced and wonderful to drink. The Viognier really makes this wine sing. Has sufficient acidity to match a meal, great as a summer sipper. Priced around $20, well worth it.

2019 Birchino ‘Scylla’, Lodi, California

This earthy, slightly funky blend of 78% Carignan, 15% Grenache and 7% Mourvèdre opens with aromas of cranberry, turned earth and dusty herbs. The palate's crunchy, tarry tension is loaded with blistered raspberry flavors and an underlying earthy funk.                                RATING91

This has a hint of “funk”, but it comes out of that quickly. Decent body, soft fruit flavors – drinks in layers – a little different each sip. Moderate acidity – a New World wine made in an Old world style. Priced around $21.

2017 Brotte Cairanne Domaine Grosset Rouge, South Rhone, France

“Generous and Harmonious”

Colour – Intense ruby colour with garnet glints.

Nose – Very elegant with complex aromas of red berries, warm spices and dry forest floor                                         

Palate – Mouth warming and unctuous, its palate follows through from the nose with hints of cinnamon and red peppercorns married with ripe wild berries and prunes. The tannins are elegant giving way to a long toasted finish.

A whisper of cedar lends spice and nuance to ripe, concentrated black currant and plum in this forward, piercing red. A rich, full-bodied blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah matured in French oak (just 1/3 new), it's an explosively fruity, approachable wine that maintains freshness and vitality throughout. Delicious now, it should hold well through 2026.

This is a splendid south Rhone wine – beautiful nose of red fruits. The flavor goes through those with some hints of stone and a broad mouthfeel. Moderate finish that hints of that part of the world. Priced around $40, if available. Really good wine for the price.

2019 Tenshen Red, Santa Barbara, California

Variety Rhone Style Red Blend- Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah & Merlot

This is quite a gamy and powerful wine, starting with aromas of dried beef, iodine, soy, smoked mulberry and cracked pepper. The leathery palate surrounds smoked black plum and grilled blackberry, with persistent game notes lingering on the finish.            RATING91

Dark cherry, white pepper and spring floral aromas blend with dense blackberry flavors, sweet tannins and a juicy finish.

This great Rhône-style blend from the Central Coast has an avid following. The presence of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, and Merlot is amplified by white-peppered black cherry, balsamic, and bittersweet dark chocolate.

A good example of a Rhone style wine from Cali – bright fruit nose and nice color. The fruits fill your mouth with some different hints of flavor – beef, soy sauce and hints of smoke. Aftertaste is not too long, but the wine has good acidity and really goes with a meal, better than a sipper. Priced around $22 – one worth trying for the experience.

Hope you had a good month! Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines

 The Wines of February 2022

Welcome back - another month of interesting wines for you. Hope you enjoy them.

2018 Graffito Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Deep violet color that evokes its name. Ethereal rose petal incense and spicy perfume with a bass note of smoky earth and espresso. Juicy and medium-bodied with red currant and black pepper on the palate. Finishes with smooth, lush tannins, ripe acidity and good length.

JS92James Suckling

Attractive purple flowers and blueberries intermingle with cassis on the nose. The palate has a fresh and lithe, juicy feel that carries very fresh, even and long into the soft, approachable finish.

I haven’t had much malbec latelt, but this was a tasty bottle. It had nice fruit upfroint, sufficient acid for food and a pleasant finish. Something to drink now, not later, but overall very nice. I scored it for under $15.

2018 Lechuza Garnacha, Castillo, Spain

Wine industry veterans Baron Ziegler, Noah Dorrance, and Steve Graf are the guiding spirits behind the importing project titled Valkyrie Selections. Lechuza is their custom blending project, made from 90-year-old vines in the Carinena region of Spain. Done entirely in stainless steel, the wine has expressive aromas of black and blue fruit and violets with a peppery nuance; on the palate it is round and soft, with concentrated blueberry and cassis flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate.

This one was different from other Old-vine garnacha since it didn’t see any oak.  Nice red fruits balanced with a touch of acidity – went well with meals. Not much of a finish, but it was a good wine for $10. Cool label, too

2018 Los Frailes Monastrell Garnacha, Valencia, Spain

A 90 point organic wine! The nose shows good intensity and certain elegance a mixture of red berries, some fennel, Mediterranean herbs and spices. The palate is medium-bodied, with very fine tannins, clean, delineated flavors and good freshness.

"The red-blend 2018 Monastrell-Garnacha has Monastrell and Garnacha Tintorera, which explains the dark, almost opaque color, the juicy and full-bodied palate and the good freshness. It's juicy and tasty with an herbal twist in the finish."

This is a deeper wine, between the Monastrell and the dark Alicante Bouchet. Good body, enough backbone to match a meal and a pleasant finish. Well worth the money, organic and all, being under $15.

2018 Bodegas Las Campanas  111 Red Blend, Navarra, Spain

 

Plum and olive aromas are reduced at first but open with airing. This red is full in feel, with intense grab and strength to the palate. Flavors of game, berry and plum finish dark and spicy. Ripeness and fruit are paramount on this Navarran red.  RATING90

This wine is 85% Cabernet and 15% Garnacha – a really nice combination. It is a full feel with cabernet – red and black fruits, and the Grenache adds some spice and herb flavors. Did very well with meals.  Another great buy, being around $15 – 16.

2018 Raul Perez ‘Ultreia’ Saint Jacques, Bierzo Spain

Varieties: Mostly Mencía with Bastardo (Trousseau), Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The truly impressive 2018 Ultreia Saint Jacques transcends its price category. They destemmed more grapes because they fermented it in the oak vats they bought from Vega Sicilia to use in the new winery, where it macerated for two months and then matured in used barrels for nine to 10 months. The secret is to use very good grapes from very good vineyards. The wine is clean, precise and fresh, and the oak is super-subtle, almost unnoticeable. The palate reflects a fluid wine of pleasure, a red of thirst. This is the wine where they have invested more, and 2018 has to be the finest vintage to date. It was bottled in October/November 2019. Rating: 93+

W&S90Wine & Spirits

Fermented in whole bunches in open-top oak vats, this ages in a mix of foudres, barriques and cement. It starts off green, then develops some plummy notes to fill out its silken texture and gamey scents.

This was a very pleasant wine – I wasn’t sure what to expect. It felt heavier than expected with dark red fruits and some herbaceous notes. Nice moderate finish, not really tannic.  Matched meals very well – and who doesn’t like saying “Bastardo”!  Price point is around $20-25.

2018 Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux, France

Beautiful bright and intense purple color with purple hues. The nose expresses candied, cherry and ripe fruit with grilled and elegant woody notes. The palate, supple and round on the attack, reveals a pretty fruity flesh with good tannins, round and tasty, which persist pleasantly in the finish.

RP92Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Marjosse is made up of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc with a splash of old Malbec. Big old barrels were used for 25% of the crop. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with a compelling nose of baking spices, raspberry pie, warm red and black currants, rose hip tea and fragrant earth with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate is filled with fragrant red and black fruit, framed by great freshness and soft, supple tannins, finishing on a floral note.

Really lovely Bordeaux – medium bodied with red fruits and hints of herbs. Moderate finish, a little tannins, but not overpowering. Great balance, good acidity – it matched with food very well.  Great bottle for a price of $25 – worth cellaring some for a couple years.

2019 Sao Miguel Escolha dos Enologos, Alentejano, Portugal

89 pts Robert Parker - Ruby color with violet reflections. Complex aroma of ripe red fruit, white flowers and spices well integrated with notes of vanilla. Palate round, rich and voluminous. Balanced acidity and fine tannins. Long and complex in the after taste.

Mechanical harvest during the night. Total destemming. Cold maceration pre fermentative for 48 hours. Fermentation with controlled temperature (22-28 ° C) in stainless steel vats. post-maceration for 5 to 10 days. malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks with French oak staves. Stage for 9 months in French and American oak barrels of 400 L.

Grape Varieties:               Alicante Bouschet,Touriga Franca,Touriga Nacional

Tasting Notes:   Ruby color with violet reflections. Complex aroma of ripe red fruit, white flowers and spices well integrated with notes of vanilla. Palate round, rich and voluminous. Balanced acidity and fine tannins. Long and complex in the after taste.

This wine was pretty heavy on the palate. It had a lasting mouthfeel with dark red fruits and some herbs. A wine that was better with food, almost overpowering on its own. Moderate aftertaste with obvious tannins; could use a year or two of cellaring to open up the wine more.  Priced nice at $20 – 25.

Another month (a short one with some wild weather) has flown by us. Stay well, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines

 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.