The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
The July Federal Case Summer Values
July 6, 2022
White
2020 Dyckerhoff Reuilly Blanc
Would you trust that a guy with a German name (actually, Alsatian but married into a good Loire family) could make good Sauvignon Blanc in a backwater town of the Loire Valley? Sauvignon Blanc is not everyone's cup of gooseberry, but this one has a generous lime and melon that makes it a lot of wine for little money.
A lighter "Sancerre," it has a Sancerre-like vibrant lime and grapefruit intensity. It's great for seafood, finned or shelled.
Aroma: Very heady dense Firm sweet melon, lifted lemon; Mouth: Clean, fresh juicy forward, dense, smooth lime and grapefruit, touched with anise surprisingly elegant; Very Good Plus17.99 Case, 14.99
2021 City Limits Roussanne
Wine from the Roussanne grape is bright and spicy in the northern Rhone. In the south, it shows lush and exotically tropical, sometimes even succulent, but always with an intriguing herbaceous note. Washington winemaker Morgan Lee's version combines the best of both regions with nice intensity, middleweight, enlivening acidity, and distinctive herbal spice.
Color: pale yellow-green; Mouth: thick and smooth to the tongue, not heavy bright green plum, very long bright spice; Very Good Plus was 21.99 Special 19.99, Case 16.99
2020 Raeburn Chardonnay Russian River
Good Russian River Chardonnay at less than $20 is virtually extinct. This one is excellent value. Raeburn is a micro-negociant who does everything right; half malolactic barrel fermentation six months on the lees make a richly more traditional California style that nonetheless expresses cool Russian River fruit
Aroma: reserved, rather reserved, clean, lightly oaked; Mouth: sweet fruity, lightly oaky dense, rich, creamy, and granular texture; Very Good Plus 19.99; Case, 16.99
Rose
2021 Pellé Menetou-Salon Rose of Pinot Noir
It has a poise between freshness and fruit. It's not thick fruit juice but savory Pinot Noir, on the cusp of terroir and fruit, lively on both nose and palate. You can drink it every day, by itself or with chicken salad or salmon on the grill
Aroma: sweet rather fine acidity, pungent, light but deep-noted fruit, pungent and caressing; Mouth: juicy, rich & fleshy, fresh, fullish with a deep raspberry-plum middle, a crisp finishing note; Very Good Plus $21 Case, 17.99
Red
2017 Monte del Fra Bardolino
The Monte del Fra estate in Verona is known for both Valpolicella and Bardolino. Lighter Bardolino is making a strong comeback. The 2017 is a classy light to medium-bodied to drink lightly chilled in summer. The Bonomo family bought this mountain on the beautiful shores of Lago di Garda and bring a refreshing sense of family and place to all of us.
Bright ruby. Well-balanced, fresh, and fragrant with cherries, savory herb, and spice. Vibrant and enjoyable finish. Very Good Plus Was 17.99 Special 14.99; even more special Case, 12.99
2016 Castello Montauto Chianti
The estate is on a long ridge of vines and woods leading down to the historic Tuscan village of San Gimignano. The Cecchi family is always about showing a clear and true mark of Tuscany in their wines. From great vintage, it's a great value in a modern fruit-filled, richly structured version.
Bright ruby. Cherries, underbrush and wild herb with clear soft acidity and good tannin. Clear Sangiovese freshness and flavors. Very Good Plus Was 17.99 Special 14.99; even more special Case, 12.99
July Federal Case two bottles each of the above $179
Or make your own case;
Mix any twelve bottles or more at their case discount prices
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Please pass this on to any friends who are wine enthusiasts!
- Len Rothenberg
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downtown on orders more than $75;
in Greater Boston on orders more than $199
