The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
Late Season Overstock Sale
August 23, 2023
White
A Light Bright White
2021 Quinta de Soalheiro Minho Allo Louero Alvarinho
Light and fresh but with some weight and richness, it takes Vinho Verde To a new level. You can drink it by itself, but it will also make a perfect warm-weather company to most fish dishes.
Aroma: broad, a touch lactic, flinty, very dense, and full, pretty, fresh, floral, and low toned, with a hint of green; Mouth: fleshy, citric, tactile, lemon-lime, bright and full, long; Very Good $16.99; By the Mixed or solid case, $14.49
Suave, Sophisticated Bordeaux Blanc
2016 Grand Enclos du Ch Cerons Graves
Fragrant fleshy Semillon with its honied undertones buttressed with crisp, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc and added dimension with a touch of perfumed Sauvignon Gris make a full-fleshed savory oak-tinged wine that wants lobster but will happily get along with white fish or meat. It has improved with age
Color: very dark opaque; Aroma: Rather sweetly oaked dense, fullish, forward, Semillon; Mouth: clean, racy firm structure, sweet fruit, some crispness under the flesh, intense sumptuous, mouth-filling; Very Good – Excellent$23.99; Mixed or solid case, $19.99
Highly Rated, All-purpose Chardonnay Great Price
2121 Frank Family Chardonnay Carneros
"Soft, open-knit, and very easy to like. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, and white pepper lend vibrancy to this steely, finely-cut Chardonnay from the Frank Family. All the elements are very nicely balanced throughout. Outstanding"Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Powerful, with richness to the concentrated salted butterscotch, peach pastry, and dried apricot flavors. Delivers details of spices and honeycomb, with elegant fresh acidity weaving in and out to highlight the flavors. Outstanding" Wine Spectator
$40, Mixed or solid case,29.99
Orange
2021 Holzer Invaders
Austrian Surprise
It's not as aggressive as the name would imply, but a nicely rounded, balanced rose from the Mueller Thurgau grape. Everyone will like it, with the slightest hint of tannic burr on the finish that devotees of skin-contact white wines love.
Color: Pale; Aroma: Very rich, intense, great depth, juicy, heady, rounded; Mouth: Bright rose-like, clean, fresh, long, the lightest note of tannin on the finish; Very Good $18.99; Mixed or solid case, $15.99
Light Red
2022 Boucard Nom de Zeus!!!
Cabernet franc from Touraine with no added sulfur. That is part of the reason it's so fresh and lively. It will put a lighter-bodied lift to your tongue even lightly chilled on a hot day. We love it.
Color: Medium dark; Aroma: Heady firm, dusty and soft, clean, rich and full; Mouth: Bright, nice rounded acid, smooth and mellow with a spicy Franc cut; Very Good $15.99; Mixed or solid case, $12.99
A Chillable Light Red
2021 Opstal Estate Cinsault
Cinsault is a blending grape in Provencal roses, but it is coming into its own to make lighter-bodied, fresher reds. This light cool red is full-fruited and resonated with a soft burr of tannin. Great, lightly chilled with the steak or burger.
Aroma: very pretty, fresh, and light; Mouth: light spicy herbal note, clean, racy, fresh with a low toned resonance, long, light, and fruity; Very Good Plus $19.99; Mixed or solid case, $15.99
Richer Reds
A Brawny Cab Franc
2019 Ch de Villeneuve Saumur-Champigny Vieilles Vignes
This second Cabernet franc from a top Loire winery would be top-of-the -line from many others. 60-year-old vines give it substance and concentration, the ripe 2019 vintage ripe ripeness. It has a vigor and boldness that will stand up to marinades and spice. Very satisfying on the palate.
Aroma: very rich, heady, intense, powerful, light mocha, bright, fresh, with a lilt of fragrance; Mouth: very bright, intense fine tannins acid inflected, r bright; Very Good - Excellent $27.99; Mixed or solid case, $29.99
Spain, Jumilla Monastrell
2019 Juan Gill Blue Label
Ripe and fleshy old vineyard Monastrell (Mourvedre) with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. French and American oak here, juicy and a blast of mouth-filling fruit. Zinfandel fans will love it
Color: ruby black; Aroma: floral and aromatic, very ripe black fruit spice; Mouth: juicy and mouth filling. Fleshy, exuberant blue fruit succulent with mice underlying tannin finishes long and ripe; Very Good - Excellent $35; Mixed or solid case, 27.99
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- Len Rothenberg
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