I sampled a slew of excellent wines in 2016. And of the more than thirty (30) vintages noted throughout the year, the eight (8) listed below – five (5) red/three (3) white – are particularly recommended.
Please note that prices quoted are approximate, depending upon where the wines are purchased; and, of course, all are subject to change. I should also add that prices in other states can vary significantly from retailer to retailer. So it would certainly be well worth your while to spend some time surfing online for the best deals.
FAVORITE RED WINES:
2012 Aubichon Reserve Pinot Noir (Oregon): Aubichon wines are, in a word, artisanal… “If there is an easy way to do something, chances are we didn’t do it that way,” notes winemaker Jim Sanders on the winery’s website. And the results of this painstaking, meticulous approach are Pinots of incomparable character and depth. The 2012 Aubichon Reserve Pinot Noir is simply a fabulous vintage. In comparison to other varietals, most Pinot Noirs are rather light on their feet. The 2012 Reserve, however, has body to spare, great concentration & depth of flavor, and yet it remains enticingly elegant and supple. Retailing in the $40.00 – $45.00 range, it is infinitely better than wines costing twice the price. Garnering 92 big points from both the Wine Spectator and the Wine Enthusiast, the 2012 Aubichon Reserve is not to be missed.
2014 Domaine Lafage “Bastide” Miraflors (France): Hailing from France’s Côtes du Roussillon, the 2014 “Bastide” Miraflors is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. Collecting an average of 92 points the past several years from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, the 2014 actually scored the same or higher than all but a dozen or so Châteauneuf-du-Papes from the same vintage. This is a marvelously deep and succulent medium bodied wine that is still soft and silky on the palate. And the best part…? I ordered the 2014 online for a mere $12.99 a bottle. To quote Parker: “This is one to buy by the case.”
2005 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial (Spain): María Vargas, one of Spain’s highest-profile female winemakers, is acknowledged as brilliant & sensitive and extremely adept at combining the different plots of Murrieta’s 300 hectares of vineyards. And the bodega’s flagship is the Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, a Tempranillo blend that is sourced from three different vineyard plots planted in the 1960s. The 1985, 1968, and 1959 are legendary Riojas; but according to a host of wine critics and Ms. Vargas, the currently available 2005 may prove to be the greatest release ever. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate bestowed a whopping 96 points (100 point scale) and dubbed it “a classic among classics.” It garnered 95 points and an “Editors’ Choice” from the Wine Enthusiast, which called it “superb at every checkpoint” and a “World-class wine.” The Wine Spectator added 94 points and placed it at number 84 on its “Top 100 Wines of 2014.” This is a superb wine… powerful but elegant. It’s bold and rich on the palate at the present moment and has the ability to age gracefully for another two decades. A real gem… if you can find it. Goes for about $80.00.
2012 Planeta Noto Nero d’Avola (Sicily): Clearly at the cutting edge of a new generation of forward-thinking innovative wine producers, Planeta is owned by Francesca Paneta and her cousins, Alessio and Santi. Alessio is the winemaker, with Santi and Francesca handling marketing within Italy and around the world, respectively. Planeta is currently producing a prodigious number of wines, both from indigenous and international varietals, with at least ten Planeta wines being imported into the United States. The crème de la crème, in my opinion, are the wines produced from Nero d’Avola, the most important red wine grape in Sicily. Planeta’s 2012 Noto Nero d’Avola, which received 92 points and an “Editors’ Choice” designation from the Wine Enthusiast, is an exceptional vintage. Opening with intense aromas of spice & ripe red fruit, it bewitches the palate with silky smooth tannins and hints of cherry, raspberry, and cinnamon. Given its overall quality, it is something of a steal around the $33.00 mark.
2011 Tenor 2:2 Columbia Valley Red Wine (Washington State): Produced by Washington State’s Matthews/Tenor Winery, the 2011 Tenor 2:2 is a sumptuous red wine that is dressed to impress. And their winemaker, Aryn Morell, sports a résumé that reads like a Who’s Who of impressive Napa Valley wineries. Mr. Morell became head winemaker for Matthews in 2007; and, in 2008, he launched Tenor Wines with a focus on ultra-premium red and white Bordeaux style wines. Mr. Morell’s 2011 Tenor 2:2 Columbia Valley Red Wine, which received a 93-point score from the Wine Enthusiast, is a blend of 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Malbec. Typical of Bordeaux-like blends, the nose catches an initial intoxicating whiff of cordovan shoe polish followed by aromas of coffee, wood & spice. A stunning combination of power and finesse, the palate is all about dark fruits and a finish that seems to go on forever. A stunning wine… and worth every penny of its approximate $55.00 price tag.
FAVORITE WHITE WINES:
2014 As Laxas Albariño (Spain): Albariño is a white wine grape grown predominately in northwest Spain and Portugal, where it is known as Alvarinho. As Laxas is a top-flight Albariño producer located in the Rias Baixas district of Spain; and this vintage is surely one of the winery’s finest efforts. It was awarded 92 points and an “Editors’ Choice” designation from the Wine Enthusiast. Elegant and long & stony on the finish, the 2014 As Laxas Albariño is a personal favorite. It ranges in price from $15.00 – $22.00.
2015 Hamilton Russell Walker Bay Chardonnay (South Africa): The Hamilton Russell Winery specializes in producing terroir driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – “Wines from South African soil with a Burgundian soul” – that are widely regarded as the best in South Africa and among the best in the New World. Hamilton Russell Chardonnay is quite different from most New World Chardonnays. The stony, clay-rich soil, cool maritime climate, and naturally low yields produce wines with a tighter, drier, more complex mineral character and length to complement the fruit. And many wine enthusiasts – this writer included – prefer this more “classic” style to the round, viscous, vanilla and overripe fruit character of so many Chardonnays. As wine critic Stephen Tanzer notes: HR Chardonnays “convey a powerful impression of intensity without weight.” I’ve previously sampled the 2013 & 2014vintages – both highly rated by various wine gurus – but the 2015 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay tops them all. This is a ripe & rippling wine, beautifully balanced and alive with an incredible depth of flavor and refreshing minerality. The 2015 normally retails around the $30.00 mark; but do a little surfing and you’re sure to come up with several options for purchase in the low to mid 20s.
2013 Schloss Schönborn Estate (Dry) Riesling (Rheingau, Germany): This privately-owned German wine estate has been producing wine for some 650 years. During that time the Schönborn family has amassed spectacular vineyard sites and continued to pursue quality at every level of its production process. Unfortunately, American wine drinkers erroneously believe that all German wine is sweet and invariably on the nasty side. Good German wine is phenomenal; and its Rieslings are exquisite. One of the world’s most noble varietals, Rieslings are stunning in youth and age particularly well. The 2013 Scholss Schönborn Estate Riesling is an entry level Rheingau Riesling that is produced from a blend of different vineyards, all estate owned. This is a delightfully dry Riesling, as is noted on the label. It also displays all those classic Riesling characteristics: bright notes of lime and tangerine, a great acidity, hint of spritz, and that archetypal petrol nose. This superb wine makes an excellent aperitif and is also the perfect complement to various types of cuisine. The 2013 Scholss Schönborn Estate Riesling is currently on sale in Pennsylvania State Stores for $15.99.
Cheers!
TAD
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