Pages

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Wine Reviews: California New Releases

Happy Saturday, folks. I hope you’re all healthy and handling these pandemic times as well as can be expected. I’m still receiving lots of samples, and the delivery drivers have been great about social distancing, and I’m making sure to wash my hands after handling wine boxes!
Over these past few weeks at home, I’ve been receiving a lot of samples from California, mostly from producers I know well.
We’ve got some interesting Albarino from Lodi worth checking out, and a delicious Sonoma Roussanne as well. Even if you’re like me, and skeptical of Napa Sauv Blanc, Galerie’s Naissance Sauvignon Blanc is something really special. I also have some Napa Cabernets that deliver a lot of goodness and value.
These wines were received as trade samples and tasted sighted.
Sparkling
N.V. J Vineyards & Winery Cuvée 20 – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
SRP: $38
Medium gold color. Nose shows white flowers, sea breeze, with generous pears and oranges, pie crust and chalk tones. Medium-bodied, the sweetness is balanced with vibrant acidity. Flavors of tangy apples and tangerines, green melon, blend well with notes of sea salt, white flowers, fresh biscuits and sugar cane. Fun, fresh, zippy, but also offering some balance and complexity, especially for the price. 51% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 9% Pinot Meunier, with a 10.5 g/l dosage, aged 30 months on the lees. (88 points)
White wines
2019 FEL Pinot Gris – USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
SRP: $25
Light yellow color. Bright floral tones on the nose with daisies, nettle honeysuckle and mint on top of peach and apricot fruit. Flexy texture on the palate, plush and creamy, but nervy acidity keeps it lively. Apricot and white peach fruit, yellow plum, fresh and vibrant fruit, mixing well with notes of floral perfume, mint, and flinty, salty tones. Inviting and complex. Fermented in old French oak and aged five months on the lees. (90 points)
2018 Oak Farm Vineyards Albariño – USA, California, Central Valley, San Joaquin County
SRP: $24
Deep yellow color. Bright and boastful aromas of white peach, green apple, apricot, with orange blossom, dandelion and sea salt. Crisp and tangy on the palate, yet a plush mouthfeel. Oranges, white peach, papaya, lime, a fruit salad topped in salty, steel, floral complexity. Lively, bright, yet punchy and fruity, this could easily sneak by in a Rias Baixas blind tasting, but it does have a bit more fruit. Delightful spring/summer wine at a bargain price. All stainless steel. (90 points)
2019 Mettler Family Vineyards Albariño Estate Grown – USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi
SRP: $20
Light yellow color. Nose shows bright lemons, white peaches and nectarine, with all sorts of wildflowers and some wild herbs. Fleshy texture but bright, zippy appeal here, along with papaya and peach fruit. Spice lemon verbena and sliced green onion mix well with notes of sea breeze and clean laundry. A shellfish and outdoor patio-friendly kind of wine, as Albarino should be. All stainless steel. (87 points)
2018 Galerie Sauvignon Blanc Naissance – USA, California, Napa Valley
SRP: $30
Pale lemon color. Airy, breezy aromatics with lemon pith, green apples, topped in sea spray, baby’s breath and nettle, some mint. On the palate, this has lovely textural depth but a bright, sprightly appeal. Lemon, green apple, kiwi, fun and fruity but complexities abound: chalk, minerals, crushed stones, pure mountain stream. Notes of mint, honeysuckle and sliced cucumber round out the finish. Pure, lively, racy, fun, this is a killer Napa SB for the price. Fermented and aged in a mix of stainless steel, concrete eggs and old oak. (91 points)
2019 Ehlers Estate Sauvignon Blanc – USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
SRP: $32
Light yellow color. A burst of kiwi, papaya and white peach on the nose, with honeysuckle, white pepper, verbena and clean laundry. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and deep texture, generous but super fresh. Kiwi, lemon, white peach, topped in sliced green onion, white pepper, honeysuckle, with notes of chalk and sea salt. Clean, focused, crisp but shows lots of depth, too. Aged six months on the lees. (89 points)
2017 Sosie Roussanne Vivio Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley
SRP: $38
Deep yellow color. Gorgeous aromas of dried apricot, glazed pears, honey, ginger, white tea. Rich texture on the palate, deep and plush, yet moderate acidity. Apricot, honeyed pears, plush and deep with notes of graham cracker, wax, salted almond, green tea, ginger snaps. Bold but shows lots of nuance and vibrancy, very nice for Roussanne to be this lively. Aged 15 months in 20% new French oak. (90 points)
Red wines
2016 Galerie Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair – USA, California, Napa Valley
SRP: $65
So inviting on the nose, with dark plums, black cherries, cassis, with earth, leather, sage, menthol and mint complexities. Gorgeous texture on the palate with structured tannins and bright acidity, balanced, vibrant, pure. Black currants, plums, deep, suave fruit, laced with beautiful notes of violets, clove, mineral, graphite, earth, sage. Such a nuanced, fresh style, but this will age beautifully. Aged 19 months in 73% new French oak. For the price, this wine has such an elegant, complex, “real” feel. (93 points)
2016 Mi Sueño Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
SRP: $75
Aromas of blueberry and blackberry, with vanilla, espresso, charcoal, earth and violets. On the palate, this is full-bodied and velvety with medium acidity and a dark, juicy, fruity core (blackberry, blueberry). Complex notes of charcoal, warm earth, graphite, espresso roast and mint chocolate chip. Hedonistic but complex and smooth, this could use a few years or a good decant. Aged 2 months in 65% new French oak. (90 points IJB)
2017 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five – USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
SRP: $95
Aromas show a deep core of black cherries, black currants, tart blueberry, with smoky earth, tobacco, clove, black pepper, tar and vanilla. Big and voluptuous on the palate, rich and structured with fine-grained tannins, moderating acidity. Gorgeous blueberry and blackberry fruit mixes well with complex, violets, tar, pencil lead, smoky earth, nuanced cedar and clove. Another stunning vintage of this Cabernet, which doesn’t disappoint. 100% Cabernet aged 20 months in all new French oak. (94 points)
2016 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder – USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
SRP: $80
Aromas of tangy black cherries, tart currants, with charcoal, vanilla, dark chocolate, some black tea, leather and clove. Full but balanced with moderating acidity. Bold and expressive with a chewy but lively texture, deep currants, plum sauce. Notes of mint, chewing tobacco and earth blend well with vanilla, coconut and dark chocolate. Saucy and rich but lovely vibrancy throughout. I’m curious to see what four or five years does to this wine. Aged 22 months in 80% new French oak. (91 points)

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Arrival of the Rosés

It’s the unofficial start to “summer” here in the northern hemisphere this weekend. But what even is summer in these pandemic times? My plans for everything are cancelled, but I’m healthy and thankful.
And the annual arrival of new rosé wines offers some sense of normalcy amidst the chaos. I’ve been receiving a lot of new pink wines from France and America, new and old (to me) wines that offer some solace in these strange times, which are reviewed below.
These wines were received as trade samples and tasted sighted.
2019 Domaine De Cala Rosé – France, Provence, Côteaux Varois
SRP: $17
Pale copper color. Bright aromas of lemon, peach, red apple peel, with mint, nettle and chalk dust. Crisp and zippy on the palate on a medium-bodied frame with white cherries and tangy strawberry fruit. Notes of mint, dandelion, herbal tea, perfume. Salad-friendly, bright, tangy, fun. A blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Rolle, Syrah, Carignan and Grenache Blanc. (87 points)
2019 Château de Peyrassol Rosé­ – France, Provence, Côtes de Provence
SRP: $29
Very pale copper color. Super bright on the nose with white cherries and watermelon rind, topped in dandelion, wild herbs, chalk, saline. Zippy and crunchy on the palate with a bright and steely feel, lemon and grapefruit pith fruit. Light and fun but shows some complexities in terms of chalk, mint, lemon oil and saline. Fun, summery, but deep stuff. Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Rolle and Ugni Blanc from 35-year-old vines. (89 points)
2019 Hahn Pinot Noir Rosé – USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey
SRP: $15
Medium pink color. Nose shows plump white peach and papaya, tangy red apple, with white tea, clove and sweet red flower notes. Juicy, medium-bodied wine with medium acidity and ripe peach and apricot, drizzled with lime and topped in orange peel. Notes of honey, clover and sliced cucumber add some complexity. Plush yet fresh, fun but showing some depth, especially for the price. (87 points)
2019 Steele Wines Cabernet Franc Rosé – USA, California, North Coast, Lake County
SRP: $18
Light cotton candy color. Nose of nettle, white pepper, with watermelon, white cherry and raspberry fruit. Crisp and vibrant on the palate with brisk acidity, creamy texture, and juicy but crisp fruit (watermelon, white cherry, raspberry). Fresh and bright with notes of honeysuckle, basil and white pepper. Crushable but showing significant complexity as well. All Cabernet Franc from the Silva Vineyard. (88 points)
2017 Castello di Amorosa Spumante del Castello Brut Rosé – USA, California, Napa Valley
SRP: $49
Light strawberry color. Nose shows chalk, honey, white pepper, clover, on top of strawberries and white cherries. Fine bubbles, a zippy frame with white cherry and raspberry fruit. Notes of fresh mint, verbena, chalk dust add complexity. No deep, bready notes, this is a light, bright, salad and fruit-friendly sparkling wine, but shows complexity and depth. Champagne method Pinot Noir. (88 points)
2019 Gamble Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé – USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
SRP: $20
Light salmon color. Bright and floral on the nose with white cherries, lemon, white peach, with chalky, white tea tones. Creamy texture with a crunchy strawberry, wild raspberry and red apple peel fruit. There’s a pleasant chalky, herbal tea, nettle and honeysuckle feel. Lots of depth and personality. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. (89 points)
2019 Ehlers Estate Cabernet Franc Rosé Sylviane – USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
SRP: $32
Deep watermelon color. Gorgeous aromatics of watermelon, juicy cherries, strawberries, open and inviting, quite ripe, but shows complex hay, rhubarb and white pepper elements, too. Plush texture on the palate with lovely depth, ripe and juicy but bright acidity keeps it tight. Watermelon and strawberry fruit on a bed of cut flower stems and cinnamon sticks. Flinty, mineral, salty tones, this is a juicy but racy and complex rose. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. (91 points)
2018 Castello di Amorosa Pinot Noir Rosato Cresta d’Oro – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
SRP: $39
Pale copper color. Bright, steely, floral nose with strawberries and white cherries, topped in nettle, honeysuckle, sliced cucumber. Bright and vibrant on the palate with sweet strawberry and white cherries, mixed with notes of chalk, verbena, honeysuckle and mint. Juicy but stays light, fresh, salad and summer-friendly stuff. All Pinot Noir. (89 points)
2019 Cenyth Cabernet Franc Rosé – USA, California, Sonoma County
SRP: $30
Light watermelon color. Aromas of white cherries and raspberries, with rose petals and white pepper. Bright, vibrant and clean on the palate with raspberries, white cherries and watermelon. Creamy but fresh, complex notes of white pepper, clove, white tea. Such a delightfully balanced and focused rose. All Cabernet Franc. (90 points)


This post first appeared on the daily wine blog Terroirist.