In my day job I get to taste some really interesting wines, some great, some OK, and some that just make me smile from the first sip. These are three of them.
Paul Hobbs is the man behind this impressive Chardonnay made from predominately estate-grown fruit totally from Sonoma Coast and Sonoma County- two wine regions renowned for high-quality Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Paul Hobbs is considered an International Visionary of his work spread across 3 continents and 5 countries.
Crossbarn Chardonnay 2021
Lovely enticing aromas of apple, citrus, and honeysuckle issue a formal invitation to sip this delightful wine. The palate showcases layers of delicious crisp apple, and ripe pear with secondary layers of white peach, tangerine, and pineapple. Lean crisp mouthfeel with a creamy midpalate, excellent balance and complexity, and a French leaning with Sonoma roots.
Pairings should include Crab Fried Rice, Mushroom and asparagus Frittata, Crab Louie, and Chicken Paillard.
Cellar out to 2027 with confidence.
Esteban Martin Garnacha-Syrah-Tempranillo 2018
This is a blend of 34% Garnacha, 55% Syrah, and 35% Tempranillo sourced from the family-owned 400-acre vineyards in Cariǹena in Northern Spain. Make no mistake, this is a family-owned business involved in every aspect, with a focus on tradition, quality, excellence, environmental sustainability, and a love of wine.
It is time to discover this award-winning winery that is off the beaten track.
A potpourri of red and dark berries with a generous helping of spices make up the enticing aromas. The palate is soft, and approachable with ripe blackberries, dark cherries, with a hint of pomegranate, red currant, and liberal amounts of thyme, black pepper, and cooking herbs. The Syrah makes its presence felt from the aromas to the mouthfeel to the nice long finish cradled gently by the Garnacha and Tempranillo.
Drinking well now with an hour or so’s decanting but 3 plus years of cellaring will temper its brash youthfulness.
Pairings should include beef from the grill, Spanish Tapas with sausage- Chorizo al Vino Tinto, jamón ibérico- ham, croquetas de jamón or Spanish ham croquettes, Empanadas- beef, pork, ham or turkey, and potatoes with herbs.
A delight to drink and is of exceptional value- you can find this in the marketplace for under $15.
Salentein Estate
The Winery and the surrounding estate-owned vineyards are situated at an elevation of 4,000 feet with 121 acres under vine. Their goal of exceeding the expectations of their clients by producing wines of exceptional quality and value has a successful track record.
Standing in the shadows of the Andes at 20,000 feet this cross-shaped winery is purpose-designed and constructed with the environment in mind and utilizes a gravity feed system.
They are Argentina’s sixth-largest exporter and were listed in the 2020 listing of the Fifty Best World Vineyards and were also named Best Producer Argentina in 2019 by Mundus Vini.
“Bodegas Salentein embodies the essence of the Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. A magnificent project that transformed the region and attracted wine lovers from Argentina and around the world, it has created a new vision with respect to the quality and character of this extraordinary region”
Source: http://www.bodegasalentein.com
Reserva Cabernet Franc 2020
Enticing aromas of Blackberries and black currents dominate the nose with just a hint of Baking Spices and Menthol buried, almost an afterthought.
The palate is lush and rich with layers of ripe blackberries, black currents, and black cherries, with secondary notes of vanilla, chocolate, plum, and baking spices. Lots going on here with nice balance and restraint.
Elegant and appealing and exceptional value- you can find this in the marketplace for under $20. An absolute delight to drink and a great introduction to Cabernet Franc if you have not tried one before. Tannins are evident but after all, it is still young- a couple of hours of decant time would allow it to open.
Cellaring: I can see improvements over the next 10 years- until 2033.
Pairings should include Beef, Lamb, Pork, Game, Cured Meats, and of course a Veggie Pizza with Mediterranean Vegetables, goat’s cheese, and a drizzle of truffle oil.
Vine to Table 