WINES of February 2023

A short month that seems to last for a really long time. Here's this month's line up

2019 Prosper Maufoux Bourgogne

This wine is a beautiful green gold color with silver and grey highlights. It has a charming lemon aroma, with very soft vanilla accents. The flavor is minerally, ample, and round with lingering acidity.

Enjoy with grilled fish, seafood and charcuterie.

Domaine Vigne au Roy Hautes Cotes de Nuit Blanc is a bright and delicious wine that's perfect for your next dinner party. Its fruity nose and medium body make it a winner with any dish, the mineral notes of yellow fruit give it depth and character. So order a bottle today and see what all the fuss is about.

WW90Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2019 Prosper Maufoux Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Domaine Vigne au Roy is aromatic and delivers excellent energy on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with fragrant aromas and flavors of brisk, tart fruit. Try it with shellfish and pasta in a light cream sauce.

Very flinty and crisp, a very nice Chardonnay in a European style. Priced around $25 -30, was a gift.

2014 Revelry Range, Walla Walla, Washington

The 2014 Revelry Vintners 'Range' Grenache/Syrah is a deep and warm wine that showcases this hot vintage in Washington state. This begins with aromatics of red cherry, smoked brisket and black cherry with black olive. There are deep flavors of black cherry, black olive, smoked meats that connect to the velvety texture and plush mouthfeel. This wine is impossible to resist right now, but will cellar well into the next decade. (Best 2017-2027)

Range is a blend of Grenache from the southern reaches of Washington State, and Syrah grown 100 miles to the north. The product of two classic Rhone varietals, each grown in vastly distinct locales, this wine is a sultry, and incredibly balanced array of flavor. It is the extent to which, or the limits between which variation is possible.

A very nice American Rhone style wine, with a fresh berry nose and great red fruits with a good mouthfeel. Well worth the $20 price tag.

2020 Akutain Cosecha, Rioja Alta, Spain

 

Cosecha The Akutain Cosecha is comprised of mostly Tempranillo with Garnacha, is fermented in fiberglass vats with native yeasts and raised for a short time in the same fiber glass vats. A delicious wine to pair with a variety of Tapas, and a pure example of Rioja Alta terruño.

Akutain's Rioja Cosecha is a blend of mostly Tempranillo with a small amount of Garnacha. The grapes are fermented using native yeasts in fiberglass tanks and matured for a short time in the same vats. The wine is youthful and very expressive delivering an abundance of high-toned, red fruit character with background flavors of spice. On the palate, the wine is fresh and juicy with a medium body and light, airy finish. Pair with a wide range of tapas from chorizo to gambas al ajillo to assorted meat pintxos.

A vibrant red wine that felt more like a Rhone wine instead of Spanish. Red fruits and a moderate body, this wine was good sipping and foods. Great buy at $20 – no real tannins so something to buy and drink.

 

2021 Stolpman La Cuadrilla, Ballard Canyon, CA

2021 Cuadrilla opens up with dark ripe plum highlighted with bright fresh red berries. Deep and supple with fine chalky tannins already married with a smooth, polished texture. An alluring otherness of wet stones, mint, and mocha prevail from the nose through the mouth captivating the senses beyond just the magnificently pleasurable profile.

Blend: 75% Syrah, 15% Grenache, 10% Sangiovese

RP92Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A blend of 75% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 10% Sangiovese, the 2021 La Cuadrilla has a medium ruby-purple color and scents of cassis, blueberry preserves, violet, earth and autumn leaves. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated yet light on its feet with bright acidity, dusty tannins and a long, spicy finish. Profits of the Caudrilla go to Stolpman's full-time crew of 30 employees. Best After 2022

JD90Jeb Dunnuck

Spiced red fruits, dried herbs, leather, and exotic flower notes emerge from the 2021 La Cuadrilla Red Wine, a juicy, medium-bodied, delicious red to drink in its youth.

A very well made wine with red fruits with nuances of earth and herbs. Moderate finish, with nice body – held up to heavier meals.  Another great buy at $20 – this one could age a few years, as well.

Hope you are all well. Remember, Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grparevines

 Wines of January 2023

Running a little behind - had a stomach bug that knocked me for a loop. I'll spare you the details

2011 Amalia Barolo Montforte ‘d’Alba, Italy

Red berry, rose and anise aromas mingle in the glass. The firm palate is still closed, but offers raw red berry, menthol, sage and anisette. It's still rather primary but has the structure to evolve and develop complexity. Drink after 2019.  RATING91

Founded in 2003, Amalia have produced a lovely Barolo made from two small vineyard sites; one hectare in Le Coste and two hectares in Bussia. Initial flavours of plum and raspberry develop on the palate, gaining slightly meaty and herbal notes. This is an elegant style that can be drunk from an early stage in its lifespan.

This was an excellent wine – aged to perfection. Light red fruits with a nice acidity level to match with hearty foods. Held this in my cellar for a couple years, got it on sale for around $30. Wonderful wine for any occasion – Happy New Years to me!

2017 Provenance Merlot, Napa Valley, CA

This structured, fruit forward wine showcases the distinctiveness of Napa Valley with ripe blueberry and plum flavors accompanied by layers of herbal spice.

JS94James Suckling

Attractive combination of green olives, dark fruit and tea follow through to a full body with round, savory tannins. Refined, flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

"Soft elongated tannins wrap around a thick body of hugely concentrated black fruit and a wealth of oak in this brawny wine. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings adhere to the variety's characteristic earthiness." Wine Enthusiast

A Cabernet drinkers Merlot – full bodied with great red and dark fruits. Great body for having with food, the aftertaste lingers. Some tannins still left – got it closed out at $20 – a real steal.

2017 Peachy Canyon Cirque du Vin, Paso Robles, CA

Deep garnet & brick in color. Clear margin. Warm and smooth. Caramel, raspberry, black currant, eucalyptus nose. Tart black cherry, raspberry preserves, and black currant.

Blend: 54% Zinfandel, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Petite Sirah

Not an overly impressive wine – got better on the second day. Decent red fruits and some spice, but not overwhelming in any way.  It was close-out at $15, just alright for the price. Pretty label.

2018 Tabali Pedregoso Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva, 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.

Reviews

The 2019 Pedregoso Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is the entry-level Cabernet Sauvignon from their coastal DOM vineyard with colluvial soils, which has more similarities with Alto Maipo, slightly cooler. It was planted with a massal selection they got from the old Santa Rita vineyards. This has a little more clay, and the wine is rounder and more approachable. It's harmonious and balanced and was matured in neutral, well-seasoned oak barrels, so they respect the fruit. They have produced 216,000 bottles of this wine, their largest volume. It was bottled in December 2019. ~90 Points Robert Parker

This was very enjoyable – as usual a touch of Chilean funk upon opening, but nothing too bad. Mostly red fruits with some herb notes. Nicely put together, great mouth feel and body for food. Got it at $12, really good wine for school night wine or anytime.

2020 Ventisquero Chardonnay ‘Tara”, Atacama, Chile

Blend: 100% Chardonnay

Profile: The nose reveals fruit, such as sweet cucumbers and apricots, as well as floral notes. As you sip the wine, it evolves in the glass.

Pairings: Oysters, sea urchins, oily fish and white meat. It’s a fresh, nervous, mineral wine. The mouth is tense and well-structured. The chalkiness and salinity of the soil come through in the palate. The nose reveals fruit, such as sweet cucumbers and apricots, as well as floral notes. As you sip the wine, it evolves in the glass. This is not a classic style of Chardonnay and we attribute this to its very particular and unique terroir. The Pacific Ocean has a major influence on the vineyard, producing morning fog, known locally as the “Camanchaca,” and strong winds, which cool the vines, making this a desert with cool climate conditions. The area is very arid and the soils are chalky and saline.

A unique Chardonnay – not the buttery chard or even the usual unoaked type.  Lots of minerality and salinity – made me think of eating raw fish. The fruit never overcomes these features in this wine. Can’t say it was great – needs a plate of seafood to make it best. Priced over $30, I’ll probably say skip this

2015 Vintisquero Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Grey’, Maipo, Chile

 

A lovely Chilean red wine made from Cabernet grapes planted on vines that grow in granite soils of the winery's Trinidad Vineyard. This is located in the cool climate and coastal region of the Maipo Valley. Aromas of fleshy ripe black plums, spice, smoke, graphite and cigar box. Pair with a pepper steak.

Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: potato and chick pea stew, grilled sirloin steak

A modest Cabernet from Chile – at its best now (no further aging). Decent dark fruit flavors and a touch of spice and earth.  Not a long finish, decent enough with food. Available around $20, not bad -not great.

2018 Grey Single Block Carmenere, Maipo, Chile

RP91Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

I tasted two vintages of the Carmenere, and the 2018 Grey Carmenere shows a lot more restraint and austerity than the more generous 2019 I tasted next to it. So, both wines show varietal typicity and marked character from the vintage, plus the stony soils from Maipo where the grapes grow. This is a little more herbal and sharp despite showing very similar parameters.

Spicy cherry, plum and cola aromas on the nose of this wine set up a tight palate with rubbery tannins. Cherry and plum flavors come with a fair amount of oak spice that settles on burnt toast. Modest heat rises up on a short but aggressive finish.

A nicely made Carmenere, very full bodied with modest tannins. Mostly red fruits with hints of oakiness, in a good drinking zone right now. Good body for matching heavier foods. Priced around $20, well worth the money

2019 Vintisquero Vertice Red Blend, Apalta, Chile

Deep red with violet hues. The nose reveals black fruit, such as blackberries, intermingled with gentle spices, such as black pepper, damp earth, notes of native forest and a hint of graphite and soft spices. This wine has a firm structure and silky tannins. Its black fruit and spicy flavors, together with medium to high acidity lend it balance in the mouth and persistence in the finish.

Critical Acclaim

D96Decanter      Offers glossy dark fruits, smoky hints, and classic Apalta eucalyptus notes. The palate is crunchy and fresh with lively acidity and fine tannins. Young, but so poised and age-worthy. A seriously impressive style that will improve. Blend : 51% Carmenère, 49% Syrah

I call this a heavy duty wine – hardy black and dark red fruits with some spices in the palate.  Tannins are present but not overwhelming – would be best with another year or three of aging. Holds up well to heavy foods – very nice wine. Priced in the $30 range, worth seeking out.

 

Another month, another year. Hoping you and yours are doing well. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of December 2022

You realize your old (or getting there) when you talk about how wacky the weather has been - you know, bitter cold, then springlike. At least we made it through the Holidays. How about some wine talk?

2017 Brancaia Tre Toscana Rosso, Tuscany, Italy

Plenty of density and richness, but a fine line of acidity and freshness. Structured and quite long on the finish. Aromas of black berries, licorice, dried herbs and black pepper. This elegant, well-structured cuvée offers plenty of drinking pleasure now or later and goes well with every kitchen.

Blend: 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is ideal with pasta and rice dishes, light roasted or sautéed meat, poultry, fried or grilled fish. Our favorite: with Vitello Tonnato with fresh capers.

JS93James Suckling

Good focus and intensity to the nose here, folding in licorice, dried herbs, black pepper and Chinese spices. Full body, plenty of density and richness, but a fine line of acidity and freshness. Structured and quite long on the finish.

Very nice Italian wine – modest nose of red fruits but a nice mouth feel with red and black fruits and some herbs. Nice acidity to go with many foods, although some thing Italian really went great. Usually around$ 22, I got it for under $18, well worth the price

2018 Chateau Des Demoiselles Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux, France

This rich, fruity and wood-aged wine promises balance from the blackberry fruits and generous tannins. At the moment, a dry core shows strongly, but this will soften. Drink from 2021. RATING88

Dusty ruby color. Aromas and flavors of dried berries, apricot tart a la mode, starched linen, and licorice with a satiny, vibrant, dryish medium body and a charming, medium-long finish that exhibits accents of cocoa-dusted dried berries and olives with crunchy, drying tannins. A round and rewarding Red that will complement a fine meal.

A fairly young but tasty red from France – nose was ref fruits and hints of floral. In the mouth, darker fruits with some spice mixed with moderate tannins. Pleasant aftertaste and good balance to fit a meal. Got it at $12, worth buying several for the cellar and drinking over a few years.

2015 Vilosell Red wine Costers del Segre, Spain

TASTING NOTES OF 2015 Vilosell : View: cherry color, violet hues. Nose: red berries, blackberries, blueberries, spices like pepper and clove, toasted aromas of good wood. Mouth: Intense, voluminous, friendly, fine sweet tannins and ripe forest fruits. Long and persistent, a sweet explosion of red fruits. APPELLATION: Costers del Segre. VINES: Tomás Cusiné GRAPES: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot and Syrah. AGEING: 9 months in French oak barrels. PREPARATION: malolactic fermentation in. ALCOHOL CONTENT: 14.5%

Very closed nose, this wine took a few minutes to open up. When it did, it had a good bunch of red fruits, herbs and spices. Pleasing aftertaste, no real tannins but good body as a food wine. Close out price $10, a nice wine for everyday.

2018 Domaine La Garrigue Vacqueyras

A worthy comparison between the Vacqueyras and Cuvée Romaine can be made. Whereas the Romaine trades on a fruitier, more easy-going structure, the Vacqueyras is altogether different. Seeing an additional 6 months in tank it possesses a notable meaty quality with firmer tannins and a seriously dense core of black fruit and iron.

Should you find yourself with a fairly large piece of beef or lamb on your hands you’d be hard–pressed for a more suitable assistant at the table.

WE93Wine Enthusiast

Sun-kissed raspberries and rose petals perfume this bright, penetrating blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. It's a surprising contrast to this producer's equally delicious but significantly brawnier 2017 bottling. Full bodied but freshly composed, it highlights crisp red-plum and cherry flavors lifted by a mineral undertow and brisk acidity. This lovely wine is ready now

JD91Jeb Dunnuck

More rounded and fleshy than the 2017, yet also tannic, the 2018 Vacqueyras has classic notes of red and black fruits, garrigue, and pepper. Based on 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault and Mourvèdre, brought up all in tank, it’s going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age yet keep for upwards of a decade.

Southern Rhone, one of my favorite wine areas. This wine does have a bit of a meaty quality, but in a good way. Heavy body with red and black fruits, spices and some herbaceousness with some tannic backbone. A wine that cries out for food, this heavyweight could take a few years of aging in the cellar. Priced normally around $30, I got it for $23 on an email special from Matt at Auburn. Great wine.

2016 Chateau St. Jean Reserve 8555 Cuvee, Sonoma, Ca

This aged cuvée is likably smooth, rich and well integrated, with a velvety plushness that appeals. Red and black cherry, mocha and traces of vanilla mingle around a soft core of full-bodied ripeness and moderate structure. VIRGINIE BOONE   RATING91

This is a wine club special, I believe, the 8555 being the wineries street address.  This cuvee is made with the 5 Bordeaux grapes in an unspecified number. I would guess mostly merlot with cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot to make the structure. Wine was very smooth, with nice balance – mostly red fruits with hints of herbs. Went well with a meal and had a moderate aftertaste. Bottle was a gift, but Wine-searcher has it for $75 – 125. I had it with Christmas dinner and is was very good.

2021 Thistledown ‘Thorny Devil Grenache, McLaren Vale, Aus

RP 95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Aromas of savory spice, hung deli meat and blood fill the senses, but it is in the mouth where the purity and succulence of the fruit is revealed. This 2021 Thorny Devil Grenache is long and savory, sweet and fine, built into a framework of pliable tannin and exotic spice. Balanced and exciting.

JS93James Suckling

Dense aromas of baked red cherry, strawberry, black tea and rosemary. Full-bodied with succulent red fruit and spice. The silky tannins are well structured and guide the palate through an even-keeled finish. White pepper spice. Nicely composed. Vegan. Drink or hold.

 

An unusually heavy weight Grenache from Australia – surprising how well this wine showed. Red fruits, some meatiness and herbs fill the mouth, supported by light tannins.  A bit of a surprise, but a really nice wine priced under $30. Awesome label, too.

2020 Domaine Chateaumar ‘Cuvee Vincent’ Cotes-du-Rhone 2020, Southern Rhone, FRA

 

Blend: 100% Syrah           Aging: 8 to 10 months in concrete tanks

Cuvée Vincent is made from 50+ year-old vines growing on two parcels bordering Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its unusual composition of 100% Syrah imbues it with the smoky aromas and meaty, savory flavors more associated with the legendary wines of Hermitage and Côte-Rotie in the Northern Rhône, but with the generosity of tart cherry, blackberry, blueberry, and dark spices one expects from the more lush Southern Rhône. A rich and complex wine unlike any other Côtes-du-Rhône you’ll find, and one that will elevate a wood-grilled ribeye, roast duck, braised lamb shanks, game, or any hearty dish to sublimity.

Most Cote-du-Rhones (CDR) are a blend of grapes – this one was all syrah. Normally, the Northern Rhone wines are all Syrah, but this is a southern Rhone wine.  A hearty and heady wine, very enjoyable with the smoky French style Syrah (ain’t no Aussie Shiraz) with red and blue fruits and that spice blend that you can’t name. Balanced and a food ready wine, a steal at $24, on special for $20.

2013 Emilio Moro ‘Malleolus’ Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero, Spain

Of a deep mature cherry color, this wine stands out for the intensity and quality of the sensations it offers. From black fruit aromas to strong and mature tannins that fill our mouth. The integration of fruit and wood offers an exquisite balance.

JS92James Suckling

Elegant and deep nose of candied red fruit and petal character. Full body, soft tannins and a caressing, long and flavorful finish. Drink now.

This is a ready to drink wine from Ribera del Douro.  Mouthful of red and black fruits with a touch of sagebrush and herbs, this wine has a good balance for its weight.  Good finish that lingers, excellent with red meats – close out priced at $34; hard to beat a wine from that region at that price.

2019 Royal Prince Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA

A plush, opulent, densely textured, full-bodied wine that shows loads of black raspberry fruits, violets, shaved cocoa with polished, sweet tannins. The 2019 Royal Prince Cab is dark and almost opaque in color. It shows aromas of truffle, black cherry, and licorice.

The 2019 takes over where its predecessor left off – a massive over-achiever. The NDA on the sources for this wine is long and littered with iconic names. At once powerful and richly textured, it also shows flashy acidity and great persistence in the finish.

JD93Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is rock star stuff and delivers a classic Napa level of richness and depth while staying pure, clean, and beautifully balanced. Lots of blackcurrants, dark chocolate, spice, and hints of tobacco all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, with a rich, fleshy, opulent mouthfeel, good tannins, and a great finish. Don't miss this sexy, concentrated, impeccably made Cabernet!

Very much a Napa Cabernet with dark fruits, a little graphite, spices and a touch of chocolate. Moderate tannins (could cellar for a few years) and a nice clean finish. Sufficent body for food, a well made Cab from overpriced land.  Original price $50 – which is a good deal, Matt has it on close-out at $30.

 

Another Month gone by and now a New Year. Stay well and safe. Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of November, 2022

I haven't finished my notes about the 2012 California red wines we had, so I'll finish the November listing first. Typical Fall weather - hot and cold and everything in between but rain.

2016 Finca Collado Fet A Ma Hecho A mano Fait main , Alicante, Spain

GRAPE: 85% Monastrell 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

VINEYARD: Monastrell vines of over 40 years of age, located throughout the municipal area of Salinas, intermingled with Garnacha, Bobal and Forcallat. On honest, sandy and slightly saline soils low-goblet vines with a production limited to 2 kg per vine naturally.  30-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon strains located in Finca Collado on sandy soil.

Fet a mà is a very expressive and tasty wine, where the Monastrell, the degree of maturity and the breeding are fused in a perfect balance.

VISUAL: High-intensity color, without reaching saturation.

NOSE: In the nose it is very intense, with a very well-combined aromas of fruits, balsamics, licorice and coffee, very complex.

MOUTH: In the mouth, it has a good entry, silky, and tasty entry on the palate, with a little ripe tannin. In the finish, a slight acidity and balsamic aftertaste brings the perfect balance to the wine.

I got this on close out for under $9; of the three Finca Collado wines, this was showing the best. Not much in the way of tannins left, but the fruit was still expressive of dark fruits and hints of earth. Really nice everyday wine.

2018 Regina Viarum Mencia, Ribeira Sacra, Spain

A young red wine made from grapes Mencia, fermented in stainless steel tanks and a brief stint in French oak and American. A craftsmanship that every year reports to the winery numerous awards: Regina Viarum won the award for Best tinto de Galicia 2010; Best young red wine from the Ribera Sacra 2010 and 2011; and Baco de Oro 2011 the best young red wine from Spain, becoming one of the most laureates wines, not only de Ribera Sacra, but Galicia.

Another close out, but I really like Mencia from Spain. Very little oak influence, but the fruit is bright – red berry and touches of acidity. Under $15, this is a good wine for grilled food and roasted meats.  Nice, try it if you can.

2019 Andrew Murray Watch hill Vineyard Syrah, Santa Barbara, CA

The 2019 vintage was just truly magical at Watch Hill Vineyard, allowing for a long even ripening window, and several different harvest dates. This allowed us to bring in the Syrah with several different flavor profiles. Harvest began in the middle of October and finished two weeks later. As you all must know by now, this is perhaps my favorite Syrah vineyard and thus my favorite wine to release each year. Critics have been praising this wine since our first Watch Hill bottling. More importantly, you all have really seemed to appreciate this wine as it always sells out VERY quickly. Each vintage, we co-ferment up to 6% Viognier and employ up to 25% whole cluster fermentation. We ferment the wine in small open top tanks and then age the various lots for 18 months in French oak barrels (25% new). This yields an impossibly dark garnet (nearly black) color, with neon tinges at the rim, pointing at the cool climate origins. Right now, the wine has notes of ripe cherry, pepper, flowers, charred bacon, tar, and just a hint of toasty oak. The ideal drinking window for this Syrah is 4 - 12 years from today.

Not just Andrew Murray, but a single vineyard, Oh my. This is a great tasting wine with cherry and berry fruits and a touch of oak. Tannins are very fine grained and the wine has good balance. It runs around $30, but well worth every penny. What a Syrah should be – no over-the-top fruit bomb, but a dense and tasty wine.

2018 Sanford La Rinconada Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills, CA

La Rinconada Chardonnay is very expressive, displaying lemon confit and wet rocks while a touch of hazelnut adds charm. Bright, detailed, and nuanced, La Rinconada Chardonnay has a lot going on aromatically, while the minerally stone fruits on the palate are racy with a long finish.

This classic Chardonnay pairs well with sushi, Asian dishes, or a simple cheese plate.

WE93Wine Enthusiast

Clean while creamy aromas of Meyer lemon zest, honeysuckle and butter show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The tense palate delivers a strong mineral kick from chalk and chiseled stone, offering tight yuzu and lime-peel flavors.

WS90Wine Spectator

Minerally style, with fresh-cut apple, citrus and green pear flavors that are focused and direct. Lemongrass notes linger on the structured finish. Drink now through 2024.

Clean while creamy aromas of Meyer lemon zest, honeysuckle and butter show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The tense palate delivers a strong mineral kick from chalk and chiseled stone, offering tight yuzu and lime-peel flavors.

RATING93           PRICE$50

I don’t know the price besides what the Wine Enthusiast has in the review. This was my Thanksgiving wine, a gift from my brother. The minerality of this wine is wonderful, with soft fruits and hints of citrus.

I ended up drinking it all because it was so smooth and had good balance to be with the meal.  Really nice bottle of Chardonnay.

2018 Andis EN OR, Sierra Foothills, CA

Rich but balanced, this full-bodied wine integrates ripe black cherry and blackberry with nuances of woodsmoke and cocoa wrapped in velvety tannins. Made with one-third each of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, it offers plenty of flavor and polish. JIM GORDON

RATING92           PRICE$45             VARIETYRhône-style Red Blend

APPELLATIONSierra Foothills, Sierra Foothills, California, US

My wine buddy Matt had me try this – priced under $20, I find it to be a very nice bottle of Rhone style grapes. Black fruits dominate though some oak comes through with light tannins. Good balance, making it a good wine for meals. No doubt, this is a good Rhone Ranger example from California.

2020 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso, Campania, Italy

The Vesuvio DOC area is characterized by volcanic, loose soils, very rich in minerals and well-draining. The exposure is mainly South-East facing. Positioned 170m a.s.l., the vines are albarello-trained (head-trained) and Guyot-pruned, with a plant density of 2,500 vines/ha. Average age of the vines is 15 years.

Hand harvested in October, grapes are fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperatures. Refinement in bottle one month prior to release.

Ruby red. Aromas of cherries, plums, raspberries, and black pepper. Refined, light tannins and bright acidity make this a lifting, fruity wine. Pair with salumi, tomato and meat-based sauces and pizza Margherita.

This wine did not jump out on the nose – maybe still a little young? Nice red fruits on the palate, not much in tannins. Excellent balance that made it go really well with a meal. Available around $25, this is the entry wine for this producer (Mastroberardino) – made 100% from Piedirosso grapes.

2019 Mastroberardino Aglianico Irpinia, Campania, Italy

Ruby red. This fresh, youthful red has notes of strawberry, cherry, blackberry and violet flowers. The palate is smooth, medium-bodied, with red fruits on the palate and a fruity finish. Pairs well with a variety of light appetizers, fresh tomato sauce-based dishes and roasted chicken.

This wine, the entry to the Aglianico they grow has a broader nose and quite a bit of red and dark fruit notes. There is a modest aftertaste, with a few tannins in the mix. Good balance and a great wine to pair with Italian dishes and other meals. Priced under $25, nice price for this wine.

2019 Mastroberardino Aglianico ‘Re di More’, Campania, Italy

Deep ruby red. A complex and enveloping bouquet offers aromas of red fruits, particularly strawberry and raspberry, and spices such as vanilla, tobacco, cocoa, and coffee. This is a warm, enveloping wine with great structure and notable softness. Pair with salumi, mushroom and truffle dishes, as well as meat sauces and game.

V92Vinous

Crushed stone gives way to sweet exotic spices, then hints of curry, and finally crushed blackberries and plums as the 2019 Irpinia Aglianico Re di More comes to life in the glass. This is silky and polished upon entry, gaining depths through mineral-tinged black fruits, savory herbs and rosy inner florals that form toward the close. Seamless from start to finish, the Re di More tapers off with a concentration of tart raspberries and hints of violet pastille that last incredibly long. This suave expression of pure Aglianico is going to win a lot of hearts. You get a little bit of new barrique spice, and it’s wonderfully integrated. This drinks like a baby Taurasi, but it’s much more accessible. Best after 2023.

The next step up for Aglianico is the ‘Re di imore’. This wine is fuller than the last one, with a lot of expressive red fruits and a good balance. Longer aftertaste, with a little hint of tannins. This wine is drinking well with a meal right now, but has stability to last a few years in your cellar. Retail is about $35 and well worth every penny.

 

2017 Mastroberardino ‘Radici’ Taurasi, Campania, Italy

#84 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022

Deep ruby red. Full, complex and intense, with notes of cherry, violet, wild berries, and a distinctive spicy aroma. This elegant wine has flavors of plum, black cherry, strawberry and intense spices.

Pair with mature cheeses, truffles, porcini mushrooms, Ragout and other dishes with long cooked sauces and roasted red meats.

V94Vinous

The 2017 Taurasi Radici is a force to be reckoned with, as it bursts from the glass with masses of raspberries, currants and plums, complemented by an array of autumnal spices and crushed violets. Its textural depth and density is something to behold, silky, almost creamy, yet contrasted perfectly by a core of mineral-laced black fruits and brisk acids, as an air of inner rose and cloves forms toward the close. The 2017 is persistent and structured yet also unbelievably fresh, as fine tannins frame its smoky mineral tones, along with lasting hints of blackberry and olive. This is a gorgeous rendition of Radici that should provide readers with a slightly earlier drinking window than normally expected. That said, we are talking in terms of Taurasi here, and this wine has a very bright future ahead of it.

JS93James Suckling

Complex already on the nose with blue and black fruit, as well as notes of nori, goudrons and spices, such as cinnamon and mace. Full-bodied with intense, almost steely fruit and mineral flavors and firm, medium-grain tannins. The quality is evident here. It’s just a bit rough at the moment and needs a couple of years to calm down and expand in all directions. Try from 2023.

This is the “Big Daddy” of this group. This wine is huge – broad shouldered and a tannic beast. Not undrinkable, but you know it when you get it in your mouth. I would cellar this for 3 to 5 years. The red fruits that are in it will stay with age and the tannins will back down. Excellent balance to have with a meal, although right now I’d have it with a rare steak. In a couple years, it will go with any heavier type dish, Italian or other. Priced around $65, this is a wine well worth its price.

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

 The Wines of October 2022

It hasn't really been fall weather, except for a few days this month. Got through Halloween and through to the other side. Had some guests this month, so a few extra wines for the month. Here they are:

2018 Betz Besoleil Columbia, Valley, WA

Vintage: 2018

Varietal: 46% Grenache, 24% Counoise, 24% Mourvèdre, and 6% Syrah

Appellation: Columbia Valley      Aging: 40% Whole Cluster Inclusion

Bottling date: June 2020                Alcohol: 13.8%

Region: Washington       Tasting Notes

The 2018 Bésoleil shows what it’s made of from the moment it hits the glass, displaying a brilliant, bright ruby color. The aromas are intense and complex: strawberry preserves, orange zest, and raspberry, tellicherry pepper, fresh rose petals, and herbs de Provence. The texture is silky and the palate expansive, adding layers of fresh spice and cedar. Freshness and delicacy are the name of the game here as it moves into a focused, lengthy, and saline finish that’s supported by a fine tannic structure. Delicious. The 2018 Bésoleil will continue to gain nuance over the next 8-12 years.

Acclaim                 93-95 Barrel Rating - Robert Parker

 This is an excellent wine from the Pacific Northwest.  A blend with a fruity nose followed on the palate by red fruits and some spices. Good balance, very good with food – this is a knock out. Got it reduced at $30, a definite buy.

2013 Finca Collado Crianza, Alicante, Spain

Winery : Bodegas Finca Collado                 Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

Aging: 14 months             Oak type : French

Tasting note       Cherry red colour, complex and elegant on the nose. Notes of ripe red fruits and spices, chocolate, licorice, caramel predominate. On the palate it is intense, tasty and persistent. Positive bottle evolution.

 Vineyard Plants 25 years old. Planting density: 2,800 plants per hectare. Double cordon pruning system.

 Winemaking      50hl and 20hl stainless steel tanks. Macerations adjusted according to the type of variety. Gentle vertical pressing. Fermentation and maceration with the skins for 3 weeks.

Got this at a close out price – getting a little long in the tooth. Touch of funk but not overpowering. Still pretty good fruit and acidity to go with grilled food.  Pretty nice for a $5 bottle (close-out).

2015 Senorio de Irati Crianza  Navarra, Spain

"Spicy berry aromas come with welcome side notes of desert brush, while this feels juicy and bright throughout. Spiced black cherry aromas are pure and fruity, with a bold and tasty finish providing back up.

TASTING NOTES:  View: dark cherry red.

Nose: aroma of red fruits, vanilla background, roasted and balsamic notes.

Mouth: good fruity on the palate with balanced acidity and good run.

APPELLATION: Navarra.

GRAPES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha and Graciano.

ALCOHOL: 13%

 

Another bargain, still drinking pretty well. Nice fruit, almost past its prime. Went with food, so great for another $5 bottle (close-out).

2019 Treana Chardonnay Central Coast , CA

A medium bodied Chardonnay which displays our signature rich toasted notes of caramel and stone fruit on the nose and through the pallet. Hints of orange blossom and honey and citrus on the pallet. The mineral finish lingers with a touch of mandarin creating a wine that is powerful and refined.

Very nice “old-style” Cali Chard. Priced around $20, I think – I bought it a while ago.

2018 Borrigiano Il Borro Valdarno di Sopra Italy

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.

This is an easy drinking Italian that also holds up to food. Nice fruitiness in the nose and palate, no heavy tannins or acid, yet balance for various foods. Priced around $20, this is a good buy.

2013 Pian Della Vigne Brunello di Montalcino, Firenze, Italy

The 2013 Pian della Vigne shows a brilliant ruby red color. The nose is delicate and complex with notes of ripe fruit, cherries, and plums, perfectly balanced with sensations of dried and candied fruit and spices. The palate is ample with supple tannins and is enlivened by a note of vibrant acidity with fully brings out the intense persistence and pleasure of its aromas. The finish offers hints of tobacco, dark chocolate, and berry fruit. An extremely elegant and bracingly savory wine of great finesse.

WE94     Wine Enthusiast

Alluring scents of sweet pipe tobacco, baking spice, violet and baked plum abound in this fragrant red. Elegantly structured, the bright, polished palate offers Marasca cherry, raspberry compote and licorice framed by well-knit, silky tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. It's already tempting but the best is yet to come. Drink 2021–2028.

A wonderfully complex wine with a modest nose, but a palate of red fruits and spices. Good body, though the tannins do not leap out; the wine has excellent body and pairs with food. Still youthful enough to last a few more years in the cellar, an outstanding wine from Antinori. Current price is about $50 and worth every penny.

2020 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Tualatin Estate, Oregon

Tualatin Estate Vineyard rests in the foothills of the Oregon Coast range and is one of the oldest plantings in Oregon, planted in 1973 by Oregon wine pioneer Bill Fuller, and now in the newly approved Tualatin Hills AVA. The unique Laurelwood soil profile at the Tualatin Estate Vineyard contributes to the complex nature of the wines.

A special bottling for Auburn Spirits in Wichita, this is a pinot noir that holds its own with other wines.  A fruity nose is followed by a palate of cherry and red raspberry. Nice body in the wine, would pair with food. Under $30, another great buy.

2020 G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d’Alba, Barolo, Italy

 

Deep violet in color, the nose is of red and wild berries leaning to cherries w some herbal notes. The gentle tannins are a perfect match for the moderate, but very fresh acidity.

Dolcetto is the flagship grape of Piemonte because the beguiling sweetness of its fruit is perfectly balanced by its ripe tannins, which make for a magical food wine that just comes alive at the table and brings everything else along with it.

WS90Wine Spectator

Black cherry, rose and juniper aromas and flavors mark this pliable red. Picks up a touch of earth on the finish, yet this is overall pure and full of finesse.

Dolcetto is the all-purpose wine that can be found on every lunch and dinner table in Piedmont. Even though they possess different flavor profiles, in terms of functionality at the table, Dolcetto is to Piedmont what Beaujolais is to France.

There are so many Italian grape varietals and wines! This is a tasty red with a touch of earth but bright red fruit. Nice body weight to go with foods, especially pasta and antipasto. Since it was a gift, I’m guessing the price was around $20-22.

2021 Thistledown Gorgeous Grenache, South Australia

 

Thistledown taste extensively and pick on the way up to ensure that the fruit is balanced and energetic on arrival at the winery. Multiple ferments combine traditional techniques with open, spontaneous, 100% whole bunch cuvees, partial whole bunch ferments and a gentle extraction regime throughout

to encourage the more “pinot” side of Grenache to emerge. As with all Thistledown wines, the approach is detailed, sensitive to each site, with winemaking

James Suckling

I like the mix of fresh-pear and lemon aromas and flavors that this delivers. The palate has some freshness and cut with a soft, fleshy core. Easygoing. A blend of Riverland and McLaren Vale.

A lighter style wine, yet the palate has nice red fruits and some weight to carry it through lighter fare.  Tasty for about $20 price tag.

2017 Bodega Calle ‘El Necio’ Syrah, Mendoza, Argentina

Vintage: 2017 | Wine Type: Red Wine     Varietal: Syrah

Origin: Argentina | Appellation: Single Vineyard, Altamira, Uco Valley

Elaboration: Hand picked fruit. Fermented in wide top concrete tanks, and aged 12 months with French oak.  

TASTING NOTES

“Garnet color.  Peppery aromas and flavors of overripe strawberries and pink peppercorn with a lively, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and a long blackberry pie and tar finish with chewy, grippy tannins and light oak.  A peppery Syrah with ample fruit.” 

100% Syrah from Altamira, this wine has notes of bacon, spice, black cherries, and a touch of floral and smoke. The medium-bodied palate finishes with round tannins.

This wine was heavier in body than many syrah – the red fruit flavors powered through on the palate, but hint of tannin and earth crept into the mouthfeel. Needed food to balance the wine, just different than most Syrah. Priced reasonably just over $20, worth trying for a change.

Another month - hope all is well. Until next time, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 The Wines of September 2022

Another month has flown by. Here are the wines I enjoyed this month

2019 Badia a Cultusboni RS Chianti Classico, Italy

Savory and enjoyable, this pretty red offers aromas of woodland berries, tilled earth and leather. On the tangy, easygoing palate, lithe tannins and fresh acidity accompany juicy Morello cherry, black plum and star anise. Drink through 2023

The 2019 Chianti Classico RS Cultusboni is deep, fleshy and super-expressive. Tobacco, cedar and dried autumn leaves give the 2019 lovely aromatic presence. Deceptive in its mid-weight feel, the 2019 is beautifully layered and resonant from start to finish. It is another impressive wine in this range from Badia a Coltibuono. The 2019 is positively stellar and one of the best wines I have tasted here in some time.

This is a highly rated Chianti Classico with good reason. Deep in flavor with nice acidty to make a great food wine. Priced around $15 (on sale) this is a great bottle to bring out for a variety of food.

2017 Tarima Hill Monastrell Old vines Alicante, Spain

Cherry color with a hint of intense ruby. In the nose mature fruit, raspberries, blueberries, spices, hints of balsamic and notes of flowers. Tasty in the mouth, balanced and full-bodied. Long finish.

90           Decanter

A beautiful bruiser with ripe black fruit, leather and spice notes, a lot of wine for the money. Full bodied with fruit to match the brawny structure.

Got this on close out at $13, this is a heady rich wine.  Well worth the price, it needs food to balance the heavy fruit flavors and touch of tannins. I really enjoy this grape.

2015 No Curfew Cabernet Sauvignon California

A powerhouse cabernet that is savory and fruit-focused. Approachable, youthful, yet integrated flavors of black cherry, plumb and blueberries work very well with this cabernet.

Another close out – at $6, this is a good “school-night” wine. Nothing outstanding but fairly well made, balanced, with few tannins. Good with your average spaghetti or pizza or meatloaf night dinner.

2021 Carol Shelton Rendezvous Rose, Mendocino, CA

A red-ruby color, fresh red-fruit flavors and a sense of bursting ripeness combine with a crisp sensation for great charm and drinkability in this medium-bodied wine. Made from organically grown Zinfandel and Carignan.  RATING89

Cold maceration for two days on skins to winemakers discretion, then 50% of juice was drained (bled off), cold settled and cold fermented

CELLAR STORAGE/AGING:  100% stainless steel

When a rose looks almost like a pinot noir, you know you have a special wine. Good body and fruit flavors, this goes with a lot of foods. Priced in the $20 range, well worth trying and surprising your friends.

2020 Pasqua ‘Desire Lush and Zin’ Primitivo, Puglia, Italy

On the nose the wine brings a mixture of overripe and dried black fruits in the foreground, followed by a very nuanced, spicy-oaky background and a subtle earthy layer in between the two. On the palate the wine delivers exuberant acidity, ripe tannins and an overwhelming touch of alcoholic warmth showing through on the mouthfeel, which leads to a quite seedy-crisp aftertaste. All in all, this is a fruit-forward, rich and extracted primitivo wine, that is made in a clear cut, new world style.

A fresh style of primitive, this wine is showing really well. Bright fruits with enough body to be a good food wine. Worried about Cali wines from 2020, try this one. Generally under $20.

2020 Ridge Dusi Ranch Zinfandel, Paso Robles, CA

In 1967 Ridge first bought Zinfandel from this vineyard, then farmed by Benito Dusi. Today, his nephew, Mike Dusi, continues to tend the old, dry-farmed vines. Picked at ideal ripeness, the 2020 is exceptionally well balanced in fruit, tannin, and acid. It is enjoyable as a young wine for its exuberant fruit and will continue to evolve over seven to eight years.

WW93Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: The 2020 Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel is bright and lively. TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of bright strawberries and raspberries. Try it with grilled hanger steak.

As usual, Ridge excels with this grape. Good fruit with balance, some body to manage food, a nice bottle to enjoy with friends. Only about $35, at the lower end for this producer. BTW, this is all zinfandel, not the usual field blend. If you can't find 2020, try the 2021.

2019 Bedrock Wine ‘Pagani Ranch Heritage’ Red, Sonoma Valley, CA

 96 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2019 Heritage Wine Pagani Ranch shows why this site is very obviously a California version of a grand cru. No matter the vintage, the personality of the vineyard comes through with tremendous eloquence. Bright red berry fruit, blood orange, rose petal, mint and cinnamon build in a creamy, stunningly beautiful wine that satisfies all the senses. Most observers place Pagani Ranch among the top three or four sites in Sonoma Valley, but it might very well be higher than that. The 2019 is stunning, that’s all there is to it. As always, the field blend is Zinfandel based, with bits of interplanted Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Lenoir and Petit Bouschet." 01/21

An exceptional and hardy field blend. Bright fruit with undertones of spice, this is really a knock-out bottle of Zin. Could use a year or two of cellaring to loosen the edges. Tremendous and around $40 – enjoy it with a slab of steak.

Another month - hope all is well. Remember, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.