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Wine: Some favorites that are worth a try
By Tom Marquardt, Patrick Darr
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 | 1 comment(s)
We’ve tasted so many good wines recently, that this week we are playing catch up.
Enough excuses. Here’s some good juice for everyone to try:
Del Bondio Oakville Syrah 2003 ($15). We love the abundant, jammy fruit in this delicious and well-priced syrah from Napa Valley. It has been one of our great discoveries in recent months. Aged in oak for a long 18 months, it has good complexity for a syrah at this price. Ripe plum and blackberry flavors dominate with nuances of mint and chocolate. Thanks to fine tannins, you can enjoy this now or age it for several years.
Clayhouse Vineyard Adobe Red 2007 ($15). This Paso Robles producer makes a red and a white blend, both of which are excellent values. This red from the Central Coast includes zinfandel, syrah, petite sirah and malbec — an amazing basket of fruit. Simple plum and blueberry fruit and easy tannins and a touch of oak. Great for grilled foods.
Colome Estate Malbec 2006 ($25). Blended with some tannat and cabernet sauvignon, this Argentina malbec has more complexity than most. Intense black berry, licorice and allspice aromas followed by black berry, cassis and spice flavors.
Concannon Vineyard Petite Sirah 2005 ($15). This is a great value if you like your red wines big and bold. Fruit forward with ripe black berry flavors and notes of vanilla and spice. Blended with a bit of merlot, petite verdot and mixed reds.
Rosemount Traiminer Riesling 2007 ($10). Here’s a steal in the simple riesling market. From Australia, it has apricot and honeysuckle aromas with citrus flavors. Slightly sweet.
Rodney Strong Vineyards Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 ($25). Big and generous plum and spice flavors with round and rich texture to make it enjoyable now. Excellent value.
Rodney Strong Vineyards Symmetry 2004 ($55). Rich blackberry and cassis flavors with hint of chocolate and spice. Fruit forward and packed with soft fruit flavor.
Redwood Creek Pinot Noir 2006 ($15). The wine is made in California but from grapes grown in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Simple red cherry and strawberry flavors with a smooth texture.
Gabbiano Alleanza 2005 ($35). This Italian blend of merlot (70 percent), sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon is a great value for those of you looking for a complex wine for under $50. Huge aromas of sweet cherries, cinnamon and pepper. Cherry and black berry flavors with spice and tobacco notes. Velvet texture make it a quaffable wine to serve alongside meat and cheese.
Ruffino Il Ducale 2004 ($24). We love interesting Italian blends and this is a beauty. Made up of primarily sangiovese (80 percent), merlot and cabernet sauvignon, the wine has cherry and plum aromas, blackberry and dark chocolate flavors, soft tannins and a long finish. It would go well with parmigiano reggiano or pecorine romano cheeses.
Primus 2005 ($21). Vermonte’s fabled winemaker Agustin Huneeus believes in Chile’s carmenere grape and has been determined to make a world-class wine from the indigenous grape. It stands out nicely in this blend of 17 percent carmenere, 32 percent cabernet sauvignon and 51 percent merlot. Characterized by pronounced spices, the Primus has good body, cherry notes and big tannins.
Domaine Phillippe & Vincent Jaboulet Syrah 2005 ($15). Here is a simple red wine suitable for sipping or alongside pasta, hamburgers or other simple fare. Bright berry fruit. If you want something more complex, try the Crozes-Hermitage Rouge ($28) from the same region. More gutsy, but still abundant in ripe fruit.
Henry’s Drive Shiraz 2006 ($36). Mouth-filling plum and boysenberry fruit with a hint of chocolate and mint. Layered, complex flavors with good depth — serve with meats and grilled foods. The 2005 reserve shiraz ($54) is a phenomenal wine, albeit more expensive.
Sbragia Family Vineyards Gino’s Vineyard Zinfandel ($28). From the Dry Creek region, this fruit-packed zinfandel tantalizes the palate with juicy blackberry, raspberry flavors and hints of clove and black pepper.
J. Lohr Hilltop Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($35). J. Lohr makes fruit-forward wines and this one is no exception. Layered, fleshy fruit flavors with aromas of blackberries, cedar, mint and licorice. Quite a mouthful.
Enough excuses. Here’s some good juice for everyone to try:
Del Bondio Oakville Syrah 2003 ($15). We love the abundant, jammy fruit in this delicious and well-priced syrah from Napa Valley. It has been one of our great discoveries in recent months. Aged in oak for a long 18 months, it has good complexity for a syrah at this price. Ripe plum and blackberry flavors dominate with nuances of mint and chocolate. Thanks to fine tannins, you can enjoy this now or age it for several years.
Clayhouse Vineyard Adobe Red 2007 ($15). This Paso Robles producer makes a red and a white blend, both of which are excellent values. This red from the Central Coast includes zinfandel, syrah, petite sirah and malbec — an amazing basket of fruit. Simple plum and blueberry fruit and easy tannins and a touch of oak. Great for grilled foods.
Colome Estate Malbec 2006 ($25). Blended with some tannat and cabernet sauvignon, this Argentina malbec has more complexity than most. Intense black berry, licorice and allspice aromas followed by black berry, cassis and spice flavors.
Concannon Vineyard Petite Sirah 2005 ($15). This is a great value if you like your red wines big and bold. Fruit forward with ripe black berry flavors and notes of vanilla and spice. Blended with a bit of merlot, petite verdot and mixed reds.
Rosemount Traiminer Riesling 2007 ($10). Here’s a steal in the simple riesling market. From Australia, it has apricot and honeysuckle aromas with citrus flavors. Slightly sweet.
Rodney Strong Vineyards Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 ($25). Big and generous plum and spice flavors with round and rich texture to make it enjoyable now. Excellent value.
Rodney Strong Vineyards Symmetry 2004 ($55). Rich blackberry and cassis flavors with hint of chocolate and spice. Fruit forward and packed with soft fruit flavor.
Redwood Creek Pinot Noir 2006 ($15). The wine is made in California but from grapes grown in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Simple red cherry and strawberry flavors with a smooth texture.
Gabbiano Alleanza 2005 ($35). This Italian blend of merlot (70 percent), sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon is a great value for those of you looking for a complex wine for under $50. Huge aromas of sweet cherries, cinnamon and pepper. Cherry and black berry flavors with spice and tobacco notes. Velvet texture make it a quaffable wine to serve alongside meat and cheese.
Ruffino Il Ducale 2004 ($24). We love interesting Italian blends and this is a beauty. Made up of primarily sangiovese (80 percent), merlot and cabernet sauvignon, the wine has cherry and plum aromas, blackberry and dark chocolate flavors, soft tannins and a long finish. It would go well with parmigiano reggiano or pecorine romano cheeses.
Primus 2005 ($21). Vermonte’s fabled winemaker Agustin Huneeus believes in Chile’s carmenere grape and has been determined to make a world-class wine from the indigenous grape. It stands out nicely in this blend of 17 percent carmenere, 32 percent cabernet sauvignon and 51 percent merlot. Characterized by pronounced spices, the Primus has good body, cherry notes and big tannins.
Domaine Phillippe & Vincent Jaboulet Syrah 2005 ($15). Here is a simple red wine suitable for sipping or alongside pasta, hamburgers or other simple fare. Bright berry fruit. If you want something more complex, try the Crozes-Hermitage Rouge ($28) from the same region. More gutsy, but still abundant in ripe fruit.
Henry’s Drive Shiraz 2006 ($36). Mouth-filling plum and boysenberry fruit with a hint of chocolate and mint. Layered, complex flavors with good depth — serve with meats and grilled foods. The 2005 reserve shiraz ($54) is a phenomenal wine, albeit more expensive.
Sbragia Family Vineyards Gino’s Vineyard Zinfandel ($28). From the Dry Creek region, this fruit-packed zinfandel tantalizes the palate with juicy blackberry, raspberry flavors and hints of clove and black pepper.
J. Lohr Hilltop Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($35). J. Lohr makes fruit-forward wines and this one is no exception. Layered, fleshy fruit flavors with aromas of blackberries, cedar, mint and licorice. Quite a mouthful.
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