|
Owen Roe Mirth Chardonnay ($13.99)
Washington From the producer: "The Mirth is quintessential Chardonnay exhibiting bright tropical notes and excellent purity of flavor and balance unencumbered by oak flavor. The wine is fermented and cellared in stainless steel to preserve its freshness and varietal character." From me: This unoaked Chardonnay is a good crossover white: while it can be nice in summer because of its fruitiness, its creaminess on the palate makes it a good fall or spring wine, too. The notes of buttery Meyer lemon complement roasted fowl or a meatier fish. The Curator White ($9.99) South Africa From the producer: "The CURATOR is a range of dynamic wines that are selected after the vintage each year. The grapes are grown in the Swartland region on the West Coast of Southern Africa. The vineyards are mostly bushvines growing in granite and slate soils, sourced from a number of traditional farmers. Chenin Blanc is the backbone and structure of this blend. The Chardonnay was naturally fermented and took a long time to complete fermentation, resulting in great texture and wacky aromas of dried peaches and apricots and ripe citrus. The Viognier, from one of Badenhorsts favorite growers and vineyards, completes the Swartland canvas and brings some spice and palate length to the wine. Grapes are picked by hand, chilled overnight and then pressed to settling tanks. The following day the juice is drawn off into tanks for fermentation. The winemaking team lets the wine run its course. Six months after fermentation the wine is blended after a series of intense tastings and dinners with the blend options. The blend that is finished first at one of these dinners is chosen as the final blend." 60% Chenin Blanc 20% Chardonnay 20% Viognier From me: The Curator is a great introduction to South African wines from a well-regarded winemaker. This is an entry-level blend that drinks above its price. The blend allows the acidity of the Chenin Blanc to come through, while the Chardonnay balances with ripe fruit flavors. The Viognier rounds it out, producing a fruit-driven, but dry wine. Clos LaChance Meritage ($15.99) California From the producer: "Clos LaChance Wines was established by the Murphy family in 1987. Through careful environmental stewardship of their 150 acre estate vineyards, the winery was one of the first to be sustainably-certified. Their wines showcase balance and integrity to capture the unique character of each varietal. The aroma of this Meritage is a mixture of red fruits with a tinge of green pepper. Initial taste is dominated by huckleberries and spice as a hint of vanilla leads to a smooth finish." From me: Meritage is a designation for wines that are Bordeaux-style blends, but that are produced outside of that designation of origin. The word is a portmanteau of "merit" and "heritage," so do pronounce the third syllable "idj" instead of "azh." This is mostly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, so there is plenty of dark fruit tempered by soft tannins, with a slight underlying vegetal note. This is a smooth and supple wine with just enough structure to appeal to both Cab and Bordeaux drinkers.
0 Comments
Menade Verdejo ($14.99)
Rueda, Spain From the producer: "It represents freshness, the wildest side of the Verdejo variety. The grapes come from different plots with clay-calcareous soils and pebbles from the Rueda area, which are made separately. Fermentation with natural yeasts to achieve the maximum expression of our environment, aromas of fresh grass, minerality and liveliness. The personality of Bodegas Menade. Aroma: Concentration of varietal and mineral aromas. Highlights of white fruit aromas interspersed with notes of laurel, fennel and aromatic plants of low mount like thyme. Palate: Dry, tasty and balanced. Certain bitter touches typical of the verdejo, round with volume. The natural acidity sustains an elegant and long finish." From me: This fresh, lively white is a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc, and an excellent introduction to Spanish whites. Verdejo is an indigenous grape, and Menade is run by young siblings who are determined to craft better quality wines that reflect the terroir of Rueda. Mild citrus, white flower, and mild herbal tones dominate this lovely, mineral wine. La Salceta di Ettore Ciancico "La Nocetta" Toscana Rosso ($29.99) Tuscany, Italy From the producer: "Tuscany is a land of history and traditions, with unique landscapes, hills and clay gullies, vast expanses of vineyards and olive groves alternate with small villages or typical stones farmhouses. In this triangle, between Florence, Siena and Arezzo, surrounded by the mountain ranges of Pratomagno and the Chianti hills, we find the Vald’Arno, an area dominated by clay, recognized as an area of excellence already in 1716 with the Bando of Cosimo III de’ Medici. Between the Agna river near the village of San Giustino and the ancient Etruscan and Roman road CassiaVetus, along the Setteponti road, La Salceta is totally embedded and integrated into the land. Since our foundation, the estate has been conducted in compliance with the rules of organic farming, using the latest knowledge and technology for the enrichment of the soil and the self-defense of the our grapes and olive trees. We work with the utmost respect of the soil, with is always protected by a completely natural grass cover, a layer of herbs, both selected and spontaneous, which act as a filter protecting the desiccant power of the sun and from the compacting and erosion of the rain and wind and simultaneously enhance the activities organism naturally present in the ground. 65% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Franc The name comes from a type of hunting, typical of this region, which used to take place in the woods facing our vineyards. We wanted to produce a wine that expressed all of the complex characteristics of our Val d’Arno terroir. So we used a selected autochthonous Sangiovese and a Cabernet Franc; our vinification techniques ensured the utmost expression of the terroir, without using wood. Bright and luminous ruby colour; a rich, complex and mature bouquet with a persistent flavour of red berries, chocolate, mushrooms, currants, strawberry, wild rose, violet with the aromatic vegetal and bell pepper hints of Cabernet Franc; Flavourful and balanced, with silky and elegant tannins, enlivened by a pleasing freshness, La Nocetta is valued for its beautiful minerally quality and long finish." From me: I had the pleasure of meeting the owner and winemaker, Ettore Ciancico, when he visited my shop this month. He is a lovely, joyous man, who is eager to talk about his wonderful wines. La Nocetta is the top wine from his vineyard, and it's also the most compelling of the line; Ettore loves Cabernet Franc (a grape that is not so commonly used in Italy), and here he has very successfully created a wine that showcases it, while allowing the Sangiovese to complement without overwhelming. It is earthy and robust, with a nice balance of fruit in vegetal undetones. |
Archives
August 2023
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed