Of the twenty-eight (28) wines I’ve reviewed during this past year, the ten (10) listed below (5 red/5 white) are my personal favorites. Please note that the prices quoted, with the exception of the selection from Galer Estate in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, are approximates and dependent upon the whims of your local retailer.
FAVORITE RED WINES:
2010 Firriato Chiaramonte Nero d’Avola: When most people think of Sicilian red wines, especially the Nero d’Avola, which is the island’s best-known indigenous varietal, they usually conjure up taste visions of rustic, overripe wines that are barely fit for human consumption. But Firriato winemaker Giuseppe Pellegrino successfully marries modern oenological techniques with an Old World grape by bringing about a cool fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel followed by six months of aging in American oak barrels. The result is an elegant, fresh Nero d’Avola that sports bursts of fruit & spice, lithe, perfectly balanced tannins, and a vibrant acidity. This racy, food-friendly wine is normally priced in the $18.00 dollar range.
2009 La Maialina “Gertrude”: Nestled in the Tuscan hills, La Maialina Winery was founded in 2009… but it is already making something of a splash on the international wine scene. The name literally means “little pig.” It refers to the Cinta Senese heirloom breed of little pigs that originated near Siena. These pigs date back to the 14th century; today, they are the only breed of native Tuscan pig that still survives. The grapes for the 2009 “Gertrude” were sourced from highly regarded Chianti producer Castell’in Villa. The wine is a blend of 45% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Merlot. Each grape variety was fermented separately; following blending the wine was then aged in French oak for 10 months. The result is a modern-style blend that is rich, full-flavored, and smooth & elegant on the palate. This wine is price in the $14.00 range.
2008 Pinnacoli Primitivo di Manduria: Primitivo is a dark-skinned grape utilized in a variety of inky, tannic wines from the Puglia region of southern Italy… Without doubt, however, it is better known under its American sobriquet: Zinfandel. But unlike its stateside cousin, which is often characterized by its lethally alcoholic content and overbearing fruit bomb-ish qualities, the 2008 Pinnacoli Primitivo di Manduria is a model of restraint and finesse. This ruby-red wine is rife with full flavors of red fruits and spice. The tannins are subtly understated, balancing ripe fruit and 14% alcohol with hints of coffee & earth. And this wine is smooth; smooth on the palate, smooth going down, smooth on the finish. And the price is pretty smooth as well: approximately $16.00. This is an eminently quaffable wine to enjoy with roasted meats & game, pizza, zippy pasta dishes, and spicy cheeses. Great label, too… and there’s even a twist-off cap.
2010 Renwood Dry Creek Valley Old Vine Zinfandel: This California winery, founded in 1994, is now owned by Argentine oilman Alejandro Bulgheroni. From its inception, Renwood attempted to build its reputation primarily as a Zinfandel producer, a commitment that the new owner has been quick to embrace and expand. Secondary varietals have been dropped, while the winery’s lineup of zinfandels has been expanded. Renwood’s 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley is composed of 94.8% Zinfandel, 4.5% Syrah, and 0.7% Souzao. This latter varietal is indigenous to northern Portugal, but it is more widely grown in Califronia and South Africa, where it is generally used in the production of Port; and this contributes significantly to the Zinfandel’s deep color and intense fruit flavors. Oak is also quite prominent here, as well as notes of pepper and spice. This is a hefty Zin, sporting 14.5% alcohol, yet it still maintains excellent balance and exudes a definitive touch of elegance. This wine normally sells in the $20.00 range.
2010 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir: Other than the Burgundy region of France, the state of Oregon, due to its unique combination of soil and climate, produces some of the best Pinot Noirs in the world. The 2010 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir is a superb example of the winemaker’s art. This is a smooth-as-silk, elegantly complex wine that is perfectly balanced and loaded with hints of spice, fruit, and ever-so-subtle candied notes. This is a wine that goes down easy, is drinking beautifully right now, and has the backbone to keep improving for at least another half-decade. It is everything a great Pinot Noir should be. The only possible drawback for some folks might be the price tag: approximately $30.00 per bottle. In the ultimate scheme of things, however, this is quite reasonable for a Pinot Noir, which, because of the grape’s decidedly finicky nature, is notoriously difficult (and expensive) to cultivate. I’ve seen several Oregon Pinot Noirs selling in the $100.00 – $150.00 range… and top-of-the-line French Pinot Noirs (red Burgundies) often go for thousands of dollars per bottle. Given this wine’s superior quality – and the hefty tabs being exacted elsewhere – the $30.00 price tag strikes me as something of a bargain.
FAVORITE WHITE WINES:
2011 Galer Estate Huntress White Wine Blend: Located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, owners Brad & Lele Galer have lovingly transformed the old Folly Hill Winery into an oenological force to be reckoned with. The Galers harvested and produced their first wines in 2008; and the results have been impressive… as have the awards, which have been pouring in since 2011. To my surprise, my wife, an unabashed lover of oaky Chardonnays, preferred the Huntress White Wine Blend to the Winery’s highly touted 2011 Reserve Chard. This was certainly my choice, as this wine exhibits a variety of interesting nuances. The blend is dominated by 68% Chardonnay, but also benefits from a 23% shot of Riesling. This is highly unusual, as Riesling generally doesn’t blend very well with other varietals. When it is blended, however, it is most likely with Chardonnay… And its infusion to the 2011 Huntress brings a crisply refreshing acidic punch to the party. The real kicker, however, is provided by 9% Traminette, a white wine grape that is a cross of Gewürztraminer and a French-American cloned varietal. A relatively recent addition to the world of winemaking, it is rapidly gaining popularity among wine lovers. Like its parent, Gewürztraminer, this grape adds pleasant spicy, floral notes to wines in which it is introduced, as well as subtle flavors of honey and apricot. This excellent wine is priced at $25.00 per bottle and is available at the Galer Estate, 700 Folly Hill Road, Kennett Square, PA. For more information about the Winery and/or tasting hours, please call (484) 899-8013 or check out their website at www.galerestate.com.
2011 La Bellanotte Pinot Bianco: La Bellanotte is an artisan winery comprised of 8 hectares of vineyards located in Italy’s Fruili region in the country’s extreme northeastern corner near the border with Slovenia. The winery produces a full range of white and red wines, including an extremely rare (and exorbitantly expensive) dessert wine produced from the Picolit grape. The estate grown vines, many of which are between 56 and 80 years of age, are all hand harvested. Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc) is a white wine grape variety that is uniquely suited to the humid sub-Mediterranean climate in the area near the Isonzo River in Fruili; and the grapes that produced the 2011 La Bellanotte Pinot Bianco were harvested from vines whose average age is 60 years. This superb wine captures the eye with its brilliant straw color while beguiling the nose with delicate scents of herb & citrus. And these herbal/citrus notes are carried over onto the palate in an elegant, complex medium-bodied elixir that is kept in perfect balance by 13% alcohol and a refreshing acidity. Food-wise, this is a marvelously flexible wine… and more than reasonably priced at approximately $21.00 per bottle.
Moletto Prosecco Extra-Dry Non-Vintage: Prosecco is a sparkling wine made from Glera (or Prosecco) grapes north of Venice, Italy. Typically it is dry and very bubbly and tends to be crisp and clean on the palate. The difference between Champagne and Prosecco is to be found in the winemaking process. Champagne and most other sparkling wines undergo a second fermentation in the bottle and age for an extended period of time in order to derive richness and flavor. Prosecco, on the other hand, undergoes a secondary fermentation in highly pressurized stainless steel tanks and is bottled under pressure in a continuous process. Because this method creates a sparkling wine in a much shorter period of time from vineyard to bottle, Prosecco retains much more youthful flavors and a more vibrant effervescence. Founded in 1960 the Azienda Agricola Moletto is a family-owned estate in the province of Treviso. The winery’s non-vintage Prosecco is dry with mild lime, grassy, and floral notes and a light, refreshing acidity. At a recent wine tasting, this wine proved the hit of the evening. This is pleasant and easy drinking at its best… And it’s also easy on the wallet, normally retailing in the $12.00 – $15.00 range.
2009 Prüm Blue Kabinett Riesling: Family-owned, S.A. Prüm was founded by Sebastian Alois Prüm in 1911. Since 1971, it has been owned by Raimund Prüm, Sebastian’s grandson and the head winemaker. Under Raimund’s leadership, the property has earned the reputation as one of the most successful wineries in Germany’s celebrated Mosel wine region. The 2009 Prüm Blue Kabinett is the quintessential German Riesling. The telltale “petrol nose” is especially prominent. On the palate, there is an initial swirl of sweetness followed by a not-quite bone dry expanse of fruit. This wine is intense & complex yet light bodied and, thanks to a wonderfully crisp acidity, especially refreshing. This dynamite Riesling sells for approximately $18.00.
2011 Santiago Ruiz O Rosal: This blended white wine from Spain is backboned by 70% Albariño. This grape is noted for its distinctive aroma, very similar to that of Gewürztraminer. But whereas Gewürztraminer is decidedly floral and spicy on the palate – something of an acquired taste – Albariño produces wines that exhibit clean, fresh ripe fruit flavors and are refreshingly high in acidity. Added to the Albariño are 15% Loureiro, 10% Caiño Blanco, and 5% Treixadura & Godello. This interesting blend yields a wine of great character that is completely unoaked and rife with aromatic touches and a tangy minerality. But not only is this wine delicious to drink and incredibly food friendly, the label is unique as well. It is actually a copy of the map that Santiago Ruiz’s daughter, Isabel, drew by hand to show guests how to get to her wedding. The Santiago Ruiz Winery is over 150 years old. One of the first wineries in the Rías Baixas region of Spain, it was established by Santiago Ruiz’s maternal grandmother. Mr. Ruiz himself has retired and his daughter, Rosa, is now the owner/winemaker. This lovely vintage retails for approximately $22.00.
Cheers!
TAD
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