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Hey and welcome to my weekly dig by the pile of wine samples that present up asking to be tasted. I’m happy to convey you the most recent installment of Vinography Unboxed, the place I spotlight among the higher bottles which have crossed my doorstep lately.
This week included a reasonably younger Pinot Blanc from Oregon and a reasonably highly effective Chardonnay from South Africa. Additionally from Oregon, I’ve received the most recent rosé from Troon Vineyards.
A giant chunk of the wines this week come from the Sardinian producer Surrau, a comparatively new producer in Sardinia, situated within the Gallura area, well-known for its Vermentino. The grape makes up roughly 70% of the vineyard’s manufacturing throughout its roughly 140 acres of vineyards, most of that are planted on the decomposed granite that characterizes this area of Sardinia. I’ve received two examples of their Vermentino this week, each of that are glorious. The “Limizzani” is a contemporary, early-drinking model of the grape, whereas the “Sciala” is a barely richer, barely extra severe interpretation from older vines in sandier soils. However don’t let the phrase “severe” throw you right here, these are each electrically shiny wines with mouthwatering freshness.
Surrau additionally despatched alongside a few their reds as effectively, their Cannonau (higher generally known as Grenache on this a part of the world) and their proprietary crimson wine merely referred to as Surrau, which is a mix of Cannonau and different indigenous crimson varieties corresponding to Muristellu, Carricagjiola, in addition to Carignan. The Rosso Surrau, particularly, is kind of distinctive and suggests the potential for glorious improvement over time.
Transferring a bit nearer to dwelling, I’ve received a pair current releases from Ashes and Diamonds, a well-liked new(ish) property in Napa Valley run by Kashy Khaledi, a media government and son of Darioush Khaledi who based Darioush vineyard in Napa. The youthful Khaledi’s return to Napa after a profession in promoting and multimedia has produced one of many hippest new locations in Napa, and an intriguing collaboration with two completely different winemakers, Steve Matthiasson and Diana Snowdon Seysses. The wines produced by these two superstars break the mould of conventional Napa wines, with decrease alcohol and leaner, extra natural flavors. This week I attempted their Grand Vin, which is a mix of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and their Cabernet Franc, each of which have been stony and natural and taut of their expressions of fruit.
The Zinfandel from Dutton-Goldfield would possibly effectively be simply the other of that description, with lush blackberry and blueberry fruit that every one however gushes out of the glass.
Lastly, I’ve received a few the latest releases from Francis Ford-Coppola’s Inglenook Property. Their Bordeaux-style mix named Rubicon has been produced on the property since 1978 and in recent times has been crafted within the historic type of the property, with extra restrained alcohol and better acidity, a change that I feel has been to its profit. There’s undoubtedly some wooden affect that reveals by on this wine and in its sibling, the property’s Cabernet Sauvignon, however it’s fairly effectively built-in into each wines. That mentioned, I feel each will reward 5-10 years of cellaring.
Notes on all these and extra beneath.
Tasting Notes
2018 Yamhill Valley Vineyards Pinot Blanc, McMinnville, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Pale greenish gold within the glass, this wine smells of unripe apple, lemon cucumber, and lemon zest. Within the mouth, shiny inexperienced apple, Fuji apple, and grapefruit flavors have a pleasant briskness due to glorious acidity. There’s a touch of inexperienced bean or bell pepper on this wine as effectively giving it a faintly bitter end. 13.8% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. Rating: round 8.5. Price: $25. click to buy.
2017 Capensis “Silene” Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
Pale yellow-gold in shade, this wine smells of buttered popcorn, pineapple, and lemon curd. Within the mouth, shiny lemon curd flavors combine with pineapple and chilly cream, with fairly white floral notes lingering with a faint woody taste by the end. Wonderful acidity retains the mouth watering because the wine lingers for a very long time. Intense and ripe, however with sufficient brightness to stability its fruit. It is a new bottling for the Capensis label, consisting of fruit sourced from two mountain vineyards – the property Fijnbosch winery and the neighboring Nooitgedacht winery, ranging in elevation from 940-1730 toes above sea stage. 14% alcohol. Rating: between 8.5 and 9. Price: $40. click to buy.
2020 Troon Winery “Kubli Bench” Rosé, Applegate Valley, Southern Oregon, Oregon
Palest peachy pink in shade, to the purpose of virtually trying like a white wine, this wine smells of watermelon rind and rosehips. Within the mouth, shiny rosehip, moist chalkboard, and dried herb flavors have a lean, savory high quality backed by intensely juicy acidity. Notes of citrus peel linger within the end together with dried herbs. Maybe barely extra austere than I’d like my rosé to be, however undoubtedly tasty. A mix of 60% Primitivo and 40% Tinta Roriz. 11.4% alcohol. Rating: between 8.5 and 9. Price: $25. click to buy.
2020 Surrau “Limizzani” Vermentino di Gallura, Sardinia, Italy
Mild yellow-gold in shade, this wine smells of contemporary ripe golden apples and lemon blossom with a touch of apricot. Within the mouth, snappy Meyer lemon and pink grapefruit flavors are electrical with unbelievable acidity. Hints of yellow herbs linger by the lemony end. Mouthwatering and scrumptious with a touch of salinity. 13.5% alcohol. Closed with a technical (plastic) cork. Rating: round 9. Price: $17. click to buy.
2020 Surrau “Sciala” Vermentino, Vermentino di Gallura Superiore, Sardinia, Italy
Mild yellow-gold within the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd and white peaches. Within the mouth, lemon and peach flavors have an exquisite stability between wealthy ripeness (and the silky texture that goes together with it) and a brisk lemony zippiness due to glorious acidity. Flavors of peach, lemon, and lemon cucumber lean a bit natural because the wine finishes, with hints of citrus zest. Fairly fairly. 14% alcohol. Rating: round 9. Price: $26. click to buy.
2019 Surrau “Naracu” Cannonau, Sardinia, Italy
Medium ruby in shade with only a trace of garnet, this wine smells of strawberry and chopped herbs. Within the mouth, splendidly natural notes of strawberry, cherry, and dried herbs have a faint powdery tannin that hangs in the back of the mouth. Wonderful acidity. The wine general has a barely stony austere high quality. 14.5% alcohol. Rating: round 8.5. Price: $16. click to buy.
2019 Surrau “Rosso Surrau” Purple Mix, Isola dei Nuraghi, Sardinia, Italy
Medium garnet within the glass, this wine smells of strawberry and boysenberry jam. Within the mouth, contemporary and shiny strawberry and boysenberry flavors have a deeply stony side to them. Shot by with dried herbs (particularly sage) this wine has an exquisite dusty word that lingers with the sage and faint tannins by the end. Unbelievable acidity. 14% alcohol. Rating: round 9. Price: $ . click to buy.
2016 Ashes and Diamonds “Grand Vin No. 3” Purple Mix, Oak Knoll District, Napa, California
Darkish garnet in shade, this wine smells of candy black plum and black cherry. Within the mouth, black plum and black cherry fruit are backed by a deep earthy savoriness that includes dried sage and dusty roads. There’s a dried floral word that floats round on prime of the earthy core, as faint tannins brush the sides of the mouth. This wine gives the look of ready to unfurl, like a flower blossom packed tightly earlier than bloom. I’d like to revisit this in 5-10 years. A “proprietary” mix of Merlot and Cabernet Franc made by Diana Snowdon Seysses from 30-year-old vines. Fermented complete cluster with native yeasts, and aged in 30% new French oak. 13.6% alcohol. Rating: round 9. Price: $90. click to buy.
2017 Ashes and Diamonds “Quantity 4” Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Medium garnet in shade, this wine smells of plum, black cherry, and inexperienced herbs. Within the mouth, inexperienced herbs and inexperienced bell pepper flavors lend a decidedly savory high quality to the plum and cherry fruit. There’s even a faint salinity to this wine, that lingers with natural flavors and the faintest whisper of tannins by the end. Undoubtedly not on your common “massive daring” Napa wine drinker. A mix of fruit from a number of completely different vineyards within the southern a part of Napa Valley. Fermented in metal and aged in 30% new French oak barrels for 19 months earlier than bottling. Made by Steve Matthiasson. 13% alcohol. Rating: round 8.5. Price: $75. click to buy.
2018 Dutton Goldfield “Dutton Ranch – Morelli Lane Winery” Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Medium garnet in shade, this wine smells of candy licorice and blackberry pie. Within the mouth, blackberry bramble and blueberries combine with a contact of black pepper and licorice. Boisterous to the purpose of being barely flamboyant, it is a riotous berry celebration within the glass, with a contact of warmth within the end. Wonderful acidity retains issues shifting alongside, and faint tannins add some texture however don’t get in the way in which. 14.5% alcohol. Rating: round 8.5. Price: $50. click to buy.
2018 Inglenook “Rubicon” Purple Wine, Rutherford, Napa, California
Darkish garnet within the glass, this wine smells of cocoa powder, candy oak, and crimson fruit. Within the mouth, nutty plum and cherry flavors combine with cola and cocoa powder in addition to the faint toastiness of oak. Hints of cedar sawdust and licorice root linger within the end. Brilliant acidity retains the wine contemporary. 14.3% alcohol. In a heavier bottle than it must be, weighing 1.58 kg when full. Rating: between 9 and 9.5. Price: $145. click to buy.
2018 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa, California
Very darkish garnet in shade, this wine smells of black plums, mulling spices, and cedar. Within the mouth, fantastically supple tannins wrap round a core of cherry, cedar, and cocoa powder tinged with floral and natural notes that linger with a faint bitterness within the end. Fairly fairly and refined, with glorious acidity. Scrumptious now however wait 5 years and be careful. 14.5% alcohol. Rating: between 9 and 9.5. Price: $100. click to buy.
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