The past few weeks in wine have been quite the meandering and diverse journey - perfect start to the summer!
Kenwood, Rose of Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2019
Lovely, sweet, red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, some orange/citrus, and mineral. Medium-full bodied, delightfully fresh and wonderfully savory. A lovely rose with satisfying substance, I love it! Drink now. 3 Stars [5/19/20]
Cantine di Ora, Barolo 2015
Lovely Barolo nose. Lots of dark, savory red fruits, with leather, mushroom and cocoa. On the light side of full bodied, a modest but very satisfying Barolo. Just a bit tight at first, needs air to show its best. Drink now or in the next 5 years. 3.5 Stars [5/19/20]
Schramsberg, J. Schram, North Coast 2010
Golden with a hint of red. Very little nose. But on the palate, oh my goodness so much depth. Pear, loads of apricot, orange/citrus, and in parallel with those, generous black cherry and raspberry, with loads of toast and mineral, and a very long finish of citrus curd and mineral. Very full bodied, driven by citrusy acidity. Wow! This would hold its own against prestige cuvee Champagne; this is in a different class from any other American sparkler I’ve had. 10 - 20 years ahead, and I expect a stunning maturity. 4.5 Stars [5/19/20]
Bergeron Estates, Vidal Icewine, Reserve, Niagara-on-the-Lake 2017
Awesome nose, loads of candied pear and apricot, honey, spice, flowers, and citrus, with beeswax, and deep mineral. Wow. The palate, oh my goodness; loads of honey, pear syrup, apricot/plum, perhaps a touch of blueberry, with tons of potent spice and mineral, with a long, spicy finish. Full bodied and potent, lusciously sweet and somewhat syrupy, but driven by huge citrus acidity. The balance is so exquisitely precise. Stunningly good; wow! An unfathomable value ($12 for a half bottle from Aldi); how did this wine happen? 20 - 30 years ahead, perhaps much longer. 4.5 Stars [5/19/20]
Ego Bodegas, Infinito, Jumilla 2016
70% Monastrell, 20% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cab Sauv. Dark ruby / purple. Excellent nose of dried blackberry, blueberry, black currant, dark cherry, lavender, herbaceous tobacco leaf, chocolate, smoke, and mineral; dark and heady, rich and sweet, but fragrant and rather lovely, with nice depth. On the palate, liqueur-like blackberry and cassis, black cherry and plum, with minty herbs, a hint of flowers, a hint of chocolate, and lots of tarry/smokey earth/mineral, all with peppery spice, and with loads of spicy, slightly chalky tannin and red fruit lingering on a long finish. Impressive. 5 - 10 years ahead. 3.5 Stars [5/21/20]
Kenneth Volk, Mourvedre, Enz Vineyard, Lime Kiln Valley 2013
Medium garnet, with a hint of orange at the rim. Rather lovely mature nose of dried fruits (blackberry, cassis, cherry, plum), cured tobacco leaf, mint, lavender, licorice, loads of smoke, tar, and mineral, all with mature forest floor / fruitcake notes; deep, fragrant, and wonderful. On the palate, generous blueberry/huckleberry, blackberry, cassis, minty tobacco, spice, lots of tarry mineral, with a long, lovely finish of spice, tobacco leaf, red fruit, and citrus. Medium-full bodied and savory, with generous citrus acidity and a gorgeously delicate texture. Fully mature, drink now. 3.5 Stars [5/21/20]
Vigneti Zanatta, Orion, Vermentino di Sardegna 2019
Pale straw yellow. Lovely, fresh nose of rich orchard fruit, generous citrus, honey, flowers, and a hint of sweet herbs. On the palate, pear upfront, then peach/nectarine, orange/lime citrus, a touch of pineapple, honey, flowers, herbs, with some stone/mineral, and nice medium-long finish of spice, nectar, and mineral. Medium-full, with generous orangey, slightly steely acidity, with honeyed fruit, wonderful presence, and very good depth. This is delightful and the quality is excellent, and I like it very much! Drink now. 3 Stars [5/22/20]
Marques de Carrion, Montequinto, Reserva, Rioja 2015
100% Tempranillo. Great color, pure, dark ruby, opaque core. Excellent, lovely, mature Rioja nose of black cherry and generous black currant, saddle leather, tobacco, lots of wood, smoke, mature forest floor, and a touch of citrus, all with sweet, fragrant red fruit. Similar notes on the palate; black cherry, blackberry, black currant, plum, generous citrus/orange acidity, tobacco leaf, a touch of flowers, leather, wood, generous peppery tannin, and stone/mineral, with medium-long finish. Medium bodied but with somewhat potent presence, prominent acid, and rich, dark, savory fruit. A classic Rioja, nearing full maturity. Drink now or in the next 3 - 5 years. 3 Stars [5/23/20]
Marques de Carrion, Montequinto, Crianza, Rioja 2016
100% Tempranillo. Very good color, dark, pure ruby. Excellent, rather lovely nose, dark cherry, black currant, and plum, flowers, lots of herbaceous tobacco leaf, dark, gravelly earth, fresh ground black pepper, and generous toasty oak; smells a lot like a Chilean Carmenere. On the palate, dark but fresh cherry, cassis, blackberry, plum, all with sweet red fruits, leather, cured but herbaceous tobacco leaf, dark, chocolatey earth, toasty oak, stone/mineral, and lots of peppery tannin that linger on the finish. Full bodied with generous citrus/tart cherry acidity, savory, with a core of sweet fruit that is rather lovely. Drink now or in the next 2 - 3 years. 2.5 Stars [5/23/20]
Dumangin e Fils, Le Rose, Brut, Premier Cru, Champagne NV
47% Chard, 37% Pinot Noir, 16% Pinot Meunier. Medium salmon/bronze; the color of a cloudy sunset. Exceptional nose that grows and becomes more complex as it opens; deep and very bready/yeasty, with generous red apple and fresh strawberry, some blood orange, and stone/mineral. On the palate, strawberry/cherry, red apple, apricot, blood orange, pineapple, roasted citrus rind, honey, toast, and generous mineral. Medium-full, with fresh, rich fruit, slightly savory, even somewhat peppery, with exceptional balance between the citrus acidity and honeyed fruit, all back up by stoney depth. Drink now or over the next 5 - 10 years. Exceptional! 4 Stars [5/23/20]
Doble de Diez, Mencia, Spain 2018
Medium garnet. Nice nose, dark and somewhat heady but fresh, with tart cherry, blackberry, and plum, with a touch of flowers/dried fruit, a hint of minty herbs, and dark earth. On the palate, tart red cherry, blackberry, plum, and pomegranate, with minty herbs, some spice, and mineral. Medium-light bodied but with good density, and generous acidity; the fruit is fresh and somewhat lush. Better as a refreshment than with food, it is best slightly chilled. A nice, easy drinking summer red. 2 Stars [5/25/20]
Requiem, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2017
Lovely nose of dark fruit and dusty, fragrant earth. On the nose and palate, a personality of tart black cherry, blackberry, cassis, tobacco/evergreen, and dusty, cocoa-powder-laden earth. Full bodied, lush and polished but with prominent cranberry-like acidity keeping it light-footed, with rather elegant balance; excellent quality and depth. The quality is impressive for a wine in the $20 - 30 range. Drink now or in the next 5 - 10 years. 3.5 Stars [5/26/20]
International Press, Vinho Branco, Portugal NV
Mostly Fernao Pires. Light straw yellow. Rather lovely, aromatic nose of orchard fruit, citrus, honey, orange blossom, a touch of herbs, perhaps a touch of spice, and generous stone; good complexity. On the palate, ripe pear, apple, candied peach, grapefruit/orange, honey, sweet herbs, a touch of white pepper, and generous stone; a wonderful interplay of honey, herbs, spice, and stone/mineral lingers on the finish. Medium-full, with a honeyed, slightly fat texture, driven by very generous citrusy acidity (just a touch steely as well). A fresh and attractive white that is a nice matched to grilled chicken. Very good. Drink now. 2.5 Stars [5/30/20]
Rod Easthope, Sauvignon Blanc, Reserve, Hawke’s Bay 2019
Pale yellow. Very nice, fresh nose of stone fruit, tropical fruit, gooseberry, citrus, grass, and stone. On the palate, peach/plum, gooseberry, guava, kiwi, grapefruit/lime, a touch of honey/nectar, grass, white pepper, all with some nice stony depth; impressively long finish of fruit, spice, and stone. Medium-full bodied with a potent, spicy presence, and exceptional length; the expansiveness, density, and flesh texture of the mid-palate are captivating. I’ve never had a Sauv Blanc quite like this before, with its darker, richer fruits; excellent complexity; good depth of quality. This is rare case of a Sauv Blanc that would actually benefit from some time in the cellar; I would like to revisit it in 3 - 5 years, and I would not be surprised if it is alive and well in 10 years (especially under screwcap). An impressive effort. 3.5 Stars [6/6/20]
Le Douleur Exquise, Grenache Blanc, Pays d’Oc 2019
Medium-pale yellow. Initially subtle nose that opens to reveal ripe pear, generous orange, white flowers, honey, perhaps some tropical fruits, peppercorns, and stone; rather lovely, rich, with good depth. On the palate, rich pear/apple, plum/apricot, generous orange/grapefruit, a touch of tropical fruits (pineapple/passionfruit), all with honey and overtones of white flowers, and peppercorn and mineral that linger on a finish of honey. Medium bodied, rich and slightly fat in in texture, driven by very prominent citrus acidity. Perfect for fish, seafood, salads, or just drinking on a warm summer day, Drink now or in the next 3 - 5 years. Very nice. 2.5 Stars [6/12/20]