Two Wonderful Albarano’s

Tasting these two wines this week reminds me I’m still shocked this isn’t more popular and question why its ignored by most wine drinkers. If it wasn’t, it would be giving all other white wines a run for its money.

Montecillo Albariǹo 2022

Grapes are sourced from 40-year-old vines with, continuous battonage of the lees giving this the potential to cellar out with more depth and complexity.

White peach, floral, and citrus notes make an immediate impression.

The palate is elegant and delicate with impressive balance and freshness wrapped in an enticing mouthfeel. Rich fruits of peach, melon, and citrus notes balance excellent acidity making this a complete package. A long lingering finish makes you want to take another sip. An absolute delight to drink.

Cellar out to 2030 will reap rewards.

Food pairings should include grilled or fried fish, fish tapas, caviar, scallops, oysters, sushi, and tempura rolls: Chicken Piccata, roast chicken or turkey, crispy pork bellies, and Chinese lemon duck will also work well.

Alvinte Albariǹo 2021

The nose is a little restrained for my expectations with a splash of tropical fruit with a hint of citrus. Tropical flowers make an appearance later as it opens up.  

The palate is a whole different story with mouth-watering acidity that begs you to take a sip. Delicious layers of honeysuckle, peach, and melon with a hint of tangerine that finishes this off perfectly. Lovely complexity and balance are a definite plus.

It is hard to imagine why this varietal is not more popular- a delight to drink.

Cellar out to 2028.

Food pairings should include grilled or fried fish, fish tapas, caviar, scallops, oysters, sushi, and tempura rolls: Chicken Piccata, roast turkey, crispy pork bellies, and Chinese lemon duck will also work well.

Thomas Goss McClaren Vale Shiraz 2010 – big, bold, and opulent!  From the Cellar.

Ben Riggs, winemaker extraordinaire, made this from grapes sourced from McLaren Vale with some coming from the original Thomas Goss Vineyard established in 1849.

Ben recommends this wine be best enjoyed over the next 7 years- that puts it 7 years ago in 2017- see back label. I think he was a little conservative.

This is holding up so well it is ridiculous- rich blackberries and ripe dark cherries dominate the nose with just a hint of vanilla and plum. The palate is rich and lavish, with impressive layers of blackberry jam, dark cherries, and plum, with secondary notes of chocolate, vanilla, black raspberries with just a smattering of blueberries and spices- mainly white pepper.

Soft velvety mouthfeel with excellent balance with deceptive depth and complexity. This drinks way beyond its original price tag of around $12 and 90 pt rating. This could just be the best value Shiraz out of McLaren Vale in decades. Tannins are evident but in balance with just a hint of sweetness on the middle palate.

This absolutely over delivers, good luck finding a bottle but if you do- cheers and enjoy, and please let me know what you think.

Pairings should include red meat, red meat, and red meat, in whatever dish you enjoy most. From the grill, pasta, and pizza would work well.  

Cellar time, somewhere in the range of 3-5 years.  

Yalumba Virgilius Viognier 2016 – one of my favorites.

Seductive aromas of fields of wild flowers mixed with honey, melon, and ginger draw you in.

The palate reeks of elegance and finesse with an exceptionally smooth rich mouthfeel, wonderful texture and impressive depth and complexity. Seamless layers of honey, ginger, dried apricots, melon, and almonds with just a hint of stoney flint and spices on the finish.

This is such a complete wine with eight years in the cellar bringing everything together with focus and precision.

I reviewed the 2019 a few years ago, and while it was very impressive and considered a marginally better vintage, the years of aging has only benefited the 2016 vintage. An absolute delight to drink.

All the hallmarks of a classic Viognier that stands head and shoulders above the rest- it doesn’t get much better than this- one of my all-time favorites.  

Pairings should include Salmon, grilled chicken, Turkey, Pork, Lobster, Crab and Prawns as well as spicy Indian Chicken and Goat Dishes.

Chappellet Chenin Blanc 2017 – From the Cellar.

I have had this in my cellar for a while, waiting for the exact right moment. I decided this afternoon was the right time. This is my first time drinking this wine from this Iconic Winery.

Delightful aromas of Myers lemon, white peach, jasmine, and minerality escape from the glass enticing you to take a sip.

The palate features lively acidity, impressive minerality, and a fresh clean mouthfeel that shows both depth and complexity combined with delicacy and elegance. Intertwined layers of apple, lemon, lychee, white peach, and hints of tropical fruits that seem like an afterthought in the grand scheme of things.

This is an impressive wine and despite being 7 years old, it is holding up beautifully. Grab some if you ever see it- you will not be disappointed.

It is all Chenin Blanc but with a Napa twist. Not as rich and oily as some of the Vouvray offerings and is more delicate and subtle than the South African offerings.

I would be guessing but I think this has at least another 5 or so years- say to 2030.

Pairings should include lighter seafood dishes such as oysters, shrimp, grilled fish, grilled chicken, and Salade Niçoise with tuna.

If you are a fan of Assyrtiko, or Clare Valley Dry Riesling, this is a must-try.

Leviathan Red Wine 2021- Andy Erickson Does it Again!

Andy Erickson is the founder and winemaker for this impressive blend and is considered by many to be one of the finest winemakers in Napa. His resume is a list of who’s who including Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Staglin, Dalla Valle, Ovid, and Favia- an up-and-coming winery owned by his wife, in Coombsville. This is the most southern Napa AVA and the 16th to be formally recognized in 2011.

Andy and his team meticulously hand-pick vineyard sites across Napa with the aim of what will the site contribute to the blend and how will it improve the overall result. This vintage is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 10% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.

Lots of cherries, raspberries, and spices on the nose with just a hint of chocolate.

The palate is big, rich, and welcoming with seamless layers of Blackberry jam, Plum, and Dark Raspberries with secondary notes of Blueberries and Dark Chocolate. Impressive balance, silky smooth mouthfeel, and elegant with a long finish.

What you have is Andy Erickson’s fine-tuning and his magic touch at about a tenth to a twentieth of the price of the other wines he makes.

This will cellar out to 2030 and beyond. Upon saying that, there is a youthful exuberance I would not want to see you miss out on if you leave it too long.

Pairings should include red meat in your favorite dish or straight from the grill, especially with herbs. Pasta with meatballs, Lamb Skewers, Meat lovers Pizza, Roasted Chicken with herbs, Chicken Cacciatore with mushrooms and peppers added.

From the Cellar- Quintessa 2016.

Quintessa 2016

A generous pour into a glass will reveal stunning deep purple almost black in color, shimmering in the glass. Seductive aromas of fresh blackberries, crème of cassis, blueberries, dark cherries, cigar box and rich earth pours from the glass. Elegance, refinement, and sophistication exude from the glass establishing boundaries of expectation.

One sip will reveal that your expectations have been met and exceeded. Exceptional balance is immediately apparent.

Seamless layers of dark and red fruits sweep you away to the rows of vines in Rutherford at dusk, with the legendary ‘Rutherford Dust’ gently cradling the whole experience. There is subdued power sitting between the layers of fruits with hints of vanilla, red raspberries, dark chocolate, spices, with just a hint of truffles completes this wine.

Silky smooth, velvet mouthfeel from start to finish, frames a richness with impressive depth and complexity. Add 8 years of bottle aging to temper the tannins and you have a complete package to drink now, with a few hours of decanting, or be patient, and watch it develop over the next decade or two.

Did I mention small amounts of Carménère and Petit Verdot were added to complete the blend, making it a ‘Bordeaux Blend’ from Napa.

Most definitely lives up to the 98-point rating from James Suckling.

Food Pairings should be worthy of this exceptional wine. Seek out the finest cut of red meat you can find: Japanese Kobe beef, Japanese Wagyu beef, American Wagyu beef, Tomahawk Steak (bone-in rib eye), and filet mignon would all be excellent choices.

Three Excellent Releases from Patz & Hall.

Patz & Hall Winery

Let me start by saying that these wines are available at the Winery only, that means you cannot go down to your favorite Fine Wine Store and pick up a few bottles of each. The release of limited amounts of cellar door only and library releases is because the winery has changed ownership, back to the original founder James Hall, and his wife Anne Moses. As the story goes, James’s wife Anne did not want to take his last name as she did not want to live in the shadow of the character Annie Hall. Cannot blame her.

Patz & Hall Durell Vineyard Chardonnay 2019

Anyway, onto the wine, their Chardonnays are made to cellar. A close friend in the business visited there several years ago and tasted Chardonnay’s 20 years old and drinking beautifully. A testament to great winemaking.

This is an elegant refined Chardonnay sourced from the Durell Vineyard in Sonoma Valley and is made with a French influence.

The nose does not reveal as much as you would expect but the notes of honeysuckle, melon, apple, and spices are enough to entice you to take a sip.

The palate is rich and inviting with layers of baked apple, honeysuckle, pear, lemon, and spices. I get a sense that everything is intentional with this wine with a level of creaminess and intensity that I do not expect from Sonoma- but great grapes and winemaker make for a surprise. Throw in balanced acidity, some interesting minerality and a long finish and you have a winner.

This will cellar out to 2035 without a problem, be patient and expect improvements.  

Pairings should include Shellfish, scallops, Rich Fish dishes, Chicken, and Pork dishes.

Patz & Hall Burnside Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Grapes are sourced from Burnside Vineyard owned by the Martinelli Family, 4th generation growers in Russian River Valley, considered one of the best sites in Russin River Valley. Elegant and restrained is the name of the game.

Alluring aromas of bright dark cherries, raspberries and spices dominate the nose with just a hint of strawberries.

Silky smooth mouthfeel coats your mouth with delightful layers of dark cherries, raspberries, cola, and strawberries with just a hint of sweetness that feels like a ribbon around a gift, completing the package. There is wonderful depth and complexity

that almost goes unnoticed, distracted by soft tannins and excellent balance. This is Russian River Valley in a glass.

Cellaring out to 2030 and beyond will show improvements, but I should mention, it is drinking so impressively well now, you may be tempted to drink this sooner than later.

Pairings should include Salmon, Venison, Duck, Turkey, Chicken, Mushroom Risotto and Truffle mac ‘n cheese. 

Patz & Hall Moses-Hall Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Owned by James Hall and his wife Anne Moses, this vineyard is planted with 5 different clones that produces this aromatic, bold Pinot with depth and complexity.

The fruits are on the darker and bolder side compared to the Burnside release. Aromas of dark cherries, dark raspberries, and blueberries heightens your anticipation.

The palate delivers weight and structure with a smooth but bold mouthfeel. All the dark fruits on the nose are here with secondary layers of plum, blackberries and cola.

This will cellar out to 2034 and beyond endorsed by exceptional balance.

Pairings should include Salmon, Venison, Duck, Turkey, Pork, and Lamb Chops.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: Aveta Sauvignon Blanc & Artemis Cabernet- made to Impress.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Aveta’ Sauvignon Blanc 2022

This is an awesome example of what I have been saying for 5 plus years. How good are Napa Sauvignon Blancs getting? Welcome this like a refreshing tropical breeze.

Loads of enticing notes of grapefruit, tangerine, lychee, and peach will emphasize your anticipation until you take a sip.

One sip, and you are sold on this wine, from the smooth elegant mouthfeel with balance, and mouthwatering acidity to the finely intertwined layers of grapefruit, tangerine, white peach, melon, and apples

with secondary notes of passionfruit, pineapple, and guava. An absolute delight to drink.

I am sure this will cellar out 5 years plus but it is drinking so well now.

Food Pairings should include shellfish, Chicken with lemon butter, and Salads with white fish or chicken. Fish Tacos, Thai Green Chicken Curry, and Goat’s cheese would also work well.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Artemis’ Cabernet 2021

At the risk of repeating myself, for the benefit of those who do not know, Artemis is the Greek Goddess of the hunt, reflecting the Wineries’ desire to hunt for the best grapes possible to go into this iconic Napa Cabernet. 

The 2021 vintage was considered so great, that I was told by a winemaker you could feel the excitement in the Valley leading up to harvest. All this sets the stage for some exceptional wine releases in the future. Like everyone else, I was looking forward to tasting the 2021 releases, so my anticipation was high when this arrived.

It is a blend of fruit, sourced from the warmer northern section of the valley, contributing the black currant and blackberries to this wine, grapes from the cooler southern section of the valley contributing red currants, cherries, and of course, Stags Leap district that contributes a bigger, bolder, yet restrained style of Cabernet with dark fruits and herbs and cooking spices. This wine encompasses all these characteristics, with excellent balance, and all the depth and complexity you would come to expect.

The actual varietal blend is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, with just 1% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Malbec, and 0.5% of Merlot.

Enticing aromas pour from the glass, blackberries, boysenberries, and chocolate dominate with hints of plum and spices to round things out.

The palate is rich and silky smooth with seamless layers of blackberries, cassis, boysenberries, plums, dark chocolate, and vanilla with secondary notes of black currant, dark raspberries, dark cherries, and spices. I get the impression that everything is where it should be, very intentional.

Throw in some fine tannins, a long finish, excellent structure, and the ability to age 10 – 15 years and you have a winner that is an absolute pleasure to drink.

In its youth, you should decanter between 2 – 4 hours.

Food pairings should center around red meat dishes, make sure it is worthy of this wine.

From the Cellar- Freemark Abbey Chardonnay 2017

Freemark Abbey Chardonnay 2017

Aromas of freshly baked apples combined with tropical fruits such as pineapple, guava, ripe banana will entice you to take a sip. Do not hurry, enjoy the moment.

The palate is fresh and lively with intertwined layers of banana, pear, white peach, with secondary notes of citrus, apple, almonds, toast, and spices to round things out.

The mouthfeel is creamy without being overdone displaying excellent balance, depth, and complexity. This wine has an allure that will seduce you quietly making you fall for this wine, in a big way. An absolute delight to drink.

I paired this with Lobster Ravioli with finely cut asparagus, and a drizzle of Italian truffle oil and it ended up being an awesome pairing. I considered, for just a second, a Loire Sauvignon Blanc but very happy with my choice in the end.

Cellar time: its seven years old now and was excellent. I believe it has got another 4 plus years. Unfortunately, it was my last bottle of 2017 on my cellar. I think it will be spectacular in 5 – 7 years.

Antigal Uno Wine Releases. – Wines that over deliver!

Firstly, congratulations to Antigal for being awarded New World Winery of the Year in 2023 by Wine Enthusiast, and to their Wine Maker Miriam Gomez, who is one of the talented and accomplished winemakers in Argentina. She combines a passion for science and winemaking with some exceptional results.

The Uno Malbec has been around for a while and is a favorite of so many people. Most people know it from the striking metal 1 on the bottle.

Antigal have launched two new wines in the US, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay and they are most definitely in the easy drinking, budget friendly category.

Uno Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Herbal notes, cut grass and tropical fruits dominate the nose with just a hint of wild white flowers.

Mouthwatering crisp acidity greets you with your first sip with enticing layers of grapefruit and passionfruit, with pineapple and subtle spices rounding things out. Nice balance and length on the finish. This is a wine to bring out at parties this summer- a definite crowd pleaser or enjoy by yourself in your happy place. Mine is under the shade of a tree in my courtyard.

Pair with your favorite white meat dish, salads, and semi hard cheeses.

This consistently gets 90 plus but no ratings yet for the 2023 vintage yet.

Uno Chardonnay 2023

Enticing aromas of tropical fruits greet you at the door and invite you into the party.

The palate will convince you to stay a while and enjoy delicate interwoven layers of pineapple, peach, apricot, and vanilla, with just a hint of ginger and sweet lime to finish things off.

Wonderful round mouthfeel and an easy to drink attitude makes this you’re not so typical Chardonnay that is worth drinking at least once, or twice. It may even become your favorite ‘patio pounder’.

Cellar potential is 3 years but, like the Sav Blanc, I would drink it now.

Pairings should include your favorite white meat dish, Creme pasta, and firm cheeses.

Uno Malbec 2021

The nose is all blackberries, plum, violets, and vanilla.

The palate is rich and juicy with soft tannins and a smooth mouthfeel. Layer of blackberries, plums, black currants, and blueberries coat your mouth while secondary layers of dark raspberries, cassis, vanilla, milk chocolate, and sweet tobacco fill in any gaps that might be present. An overall smooth wine that leaves you wanting more. This is as good as any previous vintage I have tasted.

This will cellar out until 2029 without a problem.

Pairings should include red meats, Pasta with red meat sauces, and Tapas.