This Week's Tasting
Value Winter Warmers
January 16, 2019
On a cold winter day a body wants warming and rich comfort foods. This week six hearty wines of character that will fill you inside without lightening your wallet.
Torremoron's very old vines
Just in case you might be looking for a winery with some history, Barone Cornacchia in Abruzzo dates back to 1577. To this day the same family has run the estate, which is certified organic. The 2014 Barone Cornacchia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is also a terrific value wine with rich flavor.
The Torremoron label for wines made by the 28 families who make up the small village of Quintanamanvirgo in the heart of Ribera del Duero. The wine is produced from 70 to 100 year old old vines. It really turned our heads when we saw the price. The 2016 Torremoron Tempranillo Ribera del Duero is sophisticated and balanced.
Importer Dan Kravitz is a man for this season. A Mainer, he is blunt, plain spoken and direct. The wines he blends with his French partner wineries are very much in character. Two that he blends in the warm French south tantalized our palates. The 2017 Penya Cotes Catalanes is a very pretty blend ofGrenache, Carignan, Syrah, Mourvedre, all edgy and bright. The 2017 Domaine Cabirau Cotes du Roussillon with more Greanche and no Mourvedre is a wine of greater depth and density. Both wines are bright on top with good depth and bottom.
Bordeaux grapes make up two heady wines from two sides of the Andes. The Argentine 2015 Nieto Senetiner Blend Collection swirls the violet smoothness of Malbec, the nuttiness of Cabernet Franc and the bright cherry raspberry of Petit Verdot into a wine surprisingly faceted for its price. The 2014 Haras Cabernet Sauvignon Hussenet Gran Reserva shows the warm caramel-and-earth side of Cabernet. Just the thing for a lamb stew by the fire.
Red
2014 Barone Cornacchia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: Organic Deep red. Lots of dark fruit, blackberry and cherry with good structure and very pleasant balsam notes. Very Good Plus Plus 12.99; Mixed Case, 11.69; Case, 11.04
2016 Torremoron Tempranillo Ribera del Duero: On the richer side of Tempranillo with good color. Rich fruit framed by spice and really good structure. Very complete wine and a long finish. Very Good Plus Plus 13.99; Mixed Case, 12.59; Case, 11.89
2017 Penya Cotes Catalanes IGP; Color: medium dark; Aroma: heady dense, rather bright , firm, clean edge, low toned herbal; Mouth: medium bodied sweet berry on entry leads to fresh clean, fine acid, long; Very Good 10.99; Mixed Case, 9.89; Case, 9.34
2017 Domaine Cabirau Cotes du Roussillon; Color: Red black; Aroma: Sweet very dense, pretty forward, juicy forward; Mouth: Juicy forward sweet heady rather dense, spicy, with surprising complexity tight acid fruity forward, fresh; Very Good Plus 14.99; Mixed Case, 13.49; Case, 12.74
2015 Nieto Senetiner Blend Collection; Color: medium dark; Aroma: heady earth , rather softly woody, , earthy, nutty, ; Mouth: clean rather forward, fleshy, juicy, bright fruit, herbal nuttiness; Very Good Plus 15.99; Mixed Case, 14.39; Case, 13.59
2014 Haras Cabernet Sauvignon Hussenet Gran Reserva; Color: very dark ; Aroma: sweet ripe forward, sweet American oak, spiced plum; Mouth: clean bright sweet plum, rather earthy, bright clean forward, fine acidity, firm, bright tangy finish, long; Very Good Plus 15.99; Mixed Case, 14.39; Case, 13.59
and for dessert: Australian stickies are like a cross between sweet sherry, tawny port , and, in this case, French Vin Doux Nature. We got a small amount from this top producer for a much reduced price to share with you.
Chambers Rosewood Muscat 375 ml; Color: gold tan; Aroma: clean fleshy more wood than, firmness, sweet higher toned, wood influenced, then bright; Mouth: sweet very candied, bright orange rind, clean, very nice structure racy firm; Very Good - Excellent 14.99; Mixed Case, 13.49; Case, 12.74
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Please pass this on to any friends who are wine enthusiasts!
- Len Rothenberg & Peter Hemenway
