Hess Collection Allomi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

From Northeast Napa Valley, Hess Family Wine Estates, a fifth-generation wine company produces this beautiful and intense Cabernet. Spicy aromas pervade and an assault of black fruit, cassis and raisins ensue. The palate shows hefty tannins balanced with bold and ripe black cherry, blackberry and stone fruit along with a sweet echo reflecting oak, vanilla and spice. Perfect for a pairing with a Thanksgiving Holiday dinner.

Castel des Maures Cote De Provence Rose Cuvee 2016

This pretty Rose is from the French Riviera on the slopes of the Sauvebonne Valley. The grapes are 50% Grenache and 50% Cinsault.

Pale pink in the glass, dry and fruity, fresh and mild. Aromas of ripe peach and pear with mild citrus tones, on the palate similar ripe fruits of summer, raspberry and a good long finish.

This is my go-to Rose this summer, I generally pay around $16 but may be found for closer to $12.

Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay 2015

Aged in American and French oak for six months this bright Chardonnay from Columbia Valley, Washington is a soft and fresh white for summertime pairing.

Pale yellow in the glass, opens with a floral blast then aromas follow showing green apples and pears. On the palate is a wave of ocean foam and other reminders of the sea, also a hint of butter, lemon rind, honey and raw oak.

Will pair perfectly with a pasta with shrimp, garlic and oil, also worth a try with a salmon and ginger dish or crab.

14% alcohol, lowest price was online at Wine.com at $8.99

Anthony Road Dry Riesling 2016

Here is a Riesling from Anthony Road in the Fingerlakes region of New York. Colors of pale yellow, clear in the glass, a nose of lemon meringue, pineapple, floral notes and dried herbs. On the palate subtle notes of peach, pear, lemon rind, pineapple, marzipan and honey. Nice fresh acidity but balanced showing an earthy minerality. Beautiful finish. This is another summertime winner easily paired with a Dover sole and a bargain at $17.

A Family of Wine

At the Rockefeller Center Farmers' Market I revisited the Anthony Road Wine Company tent, and as I approached saw a familiar face. It was that of John Martini, one of the owners of the vineyard in Finger Lakes (I later searched this blog to discover I had last spoken to him in 2010 at the Union Square Farmers' Market).

While sampling his wines I chatted him up about what had lured him into the wine business in the first place. Apparently a good friend of his made the suggestion and the idea stuck. So in his early 30's he and his wife Ann bought the vineyard and never looked back. Now after over 40 years they are beginning the process of handing over the reins to their children, who by the way, already encouraged him to update the look of the labels.

I said how lucky he and his wife Ann were to have worked at something with such a passion. I'm sure there were times when they both dreaded getting up before the sunrise and would rather have rolled over and gone back to sleep. His said that even though you're at the whim of the weather, he wouldn't have done it any differently. It's more than just a business... it's a lifestyle, a lifestyle that especially works when you have the support of your whole family. John points to a photo of his huge extended family posed in front the vineyard. There must have been two dozen people in that picture and he went through one by one and listed who they were and what work they had done at the vineyard.

And I realized this man and his family are a throwback to what once was the way things worked in this country. And they are living that lifestyle and making their dream a reality while being stewards of the earth. I salute the Martini family and wish them as much good weather and fortune as they need to continue that dream.

Cecchi La Mora Vermentino 2014

This luscious white wine from Tuscany is made with 90% Vermentino and 10% various varietals fermented in small and medium stainless steel tanks for over 2 months.

Pale colors of hay in the glass surrounded by aromas of summertime honeysuckle and freshly cut ripe nectarines.

Fresh bright and juicy on the palate with flavors of white flower petals and hints of banana, tropical fruit and lemon rind.

Pairs very well with shrimp scampi, scallops and especially sushi. This is a treat for $19.99.

Crowded House Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Marlboro, NZ

Marlborough, a region in New Zealand known for its pitch perfect Sauvignon Blancs, has done it again. This is a softer and rounder vintage compared to recent years because of a warm and dry summer. And because the grapes were sourced from various spots in the region it allowed for a wider range of flavors and aromas. The fruit was fermented in stainless steel tanks and further texture was added by extended lees aging.

Aromas range from a mild tangerine citrus to ripe summer fruits and flavors showing clear resins, hinting guava notes against an herbaceous backdrop. Clean acidity and a freshness that is clearly indicative of the region and a long smooth finish make this a great value at about $13.

Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial 2013, Spain

What a wonderful succulent red blend from La Milla de Oro (the Golden Mile) of Castillo y Leon - Sardón de Duero, in Spain. Instead of the D.O. classification the producers opted for the more flexible "VdlT Castilla y Leon" allowing a terrific blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah and other varieties like Merlot and Petit Verdot.

Aged for 13 months in French and American oak barrels, this viscous red has thick dark colors accented with heady aromas of cherry pie and dark chocolate. The palate shows a richness that treats the tongue to a bombardment of ripe red and blue fruits through a lens of silky tannins and exquisite balance. What a beautiful treat! This bottle goes for about $30.

Left Coast Pinot Noir 2016

From the Willamette Valley, Oregon, where Pinot Noir is king, this "white" version began as an experiment a few years back. Fermented in stainless steel tanks with limited skin contact, this white shows the best of both worlds (red vs. white) with bing cherry on one hand and peach and summer fruits on the other. Almost clear in the glass, with notes of peaches and honey aromas, then juicy ripe pears atop bursts of the ripest peach of summer counterpointing an earthy minerality. A white with balance and bright acidity and a finish that goes on and on. Perfect for this coming July 4th holiday.

Valdivieso of Chile Brut Rosé

From the Central Valley in the southern area of Curicó where the foothills of the Andes make for cool evenings and allow gentle ripening, this sparkling wine made with 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay is made using the Charmat method. The wine is mixed in a pressure tank of stainless steel together with sugar and yeast. The fermentation takes place in the tanks not in the bottle. This method is also used to make Prosecco.

The colors in glass are a deep peach and fine effervescence while aromas of ripe summer fruit play with a note of bread. On the palate an off dry effervescence rises out of an intense bouquet of strawberry, raspberry and peach making for a beautiful and refreshing summer wine.

Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2016 Barossa Valley

“I’m the Dude, so that’s what you call me. That or, uh His Dudeness, or uh Duder, or El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.” — The Dude

“Careful man, there’s a beverage here!” 
— The Dude

There sure is!  I know it's not a White Russian, but this Two Hands Gnarly Dudes (Named for the gnarled old Shiraz vines that produce this luscious grape) is the beverage here for "The" Dude on Father's Day. 

And it comes from Australia's Barossa Valley made with 100% Shiraz and aged in French Oak for 12 months.

In the glass the colors are a ruby red with brighter red at the rim. The aromas are a stunning and attractive blend of cassis and underbrush with hints of salumi, herbs and slate. On the palate more blackberry and plum with bold, smoked meats and cigar box. Finishing long and bold with a hit of spice and black pepper. 13.5% alcohol. A great way to wish The Dude Happy Fathers Day.

Loveblock Pinot Noir 2013, Central Otago, New Zealand

Produced in New Zealand's Central Otago, a terroir perfectly adapted for a Pinot Noir, Loveblock is surely a special red wine with a delicate but intense signature.

The grapes were cooled for a pre-fermentation cold soak of five days, then warmed and innoculated. Hand plunged twice each day and pressed at dryness, the grapes then underwent fermentation.
Aged 11 months in older oak to retain the pure intensity of the fruit.

Aromas of violets and glycerine touched by herbal infused dark fruits, wafting delicious ripe plums and hickory smoked bacon. On the palate are wonderful fresh strawberries counterpointing mushrooms and black pepper and deep earthy tannins. Fine balance of acidity and tannins with a 13.5% alcohol content and a $37 SRP.

The Federalist Dueling Pistols 2014

Federalist Wines brings this luscious blend of half Syrah and half Zinfandel from Sonoma/Dry Creek Valley Appellation in California. Each varietal is fermented separately from free run juice. The individual lots spend an average of 15 days on the skins. Upon completing primary fermentation, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation then aged for 15 months in 20% new American (adds sweet notes) and Hungarian (adds spicy notes) oak barrels.

Rich and big and chewy... in its prime with bursting ripe fruit and a balance of great acidity and supple tannins.

Dark purple colors with extremely vibrant aromas: deep and dark with a persistent intensity of black fruits (black cherry and blackberry) pressed against cedar planks.

The robust aromas are matched in intensity by a rich palate of chocolate covered cherries, green peppers, marzipan and black pepper with a finish is that is long and satisfying.

A great Holiday gift at $29. Happy New Year to all!

Markham Merlot 2014

Wow, this $26 bottle drinks like it's $50! Chewy with silky tannins and excellent balance. Ruby red colors, aromas of strawberry jam, marzipan and cigar box. The palate shows caramel, baked fruit pie, licorice and milk chocolate. A perfect special red for the Holiday season.

"Located in Napa Valley, Markham owns 350 acres of vineyards, strategically located in several of the area's best growing regions. The Estate vineyards provide the backbone for the blend, totaling 50% of this bottling. Merlot from Oak Knoll contributes sour cherry character while Yountville components provide the classic Bing cherry aromas and flavor. The jammy notes come from blending in warmer up-valley fruit from Calistoga vineyards. Much care is taken to maximize the filtered light and allow the Merlot to hang freely within the canopy during harvest. This allows the fruit to mature and color evenly. The wines are sent to barrel as individual lots to mature, allowing for greater understanding of the direct impact of our viticultural and fermentation practices each vintage. "

Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2015

From Hanna Winery in Sonoma/Russian River Valley, California, this vibrant Sauvignon Blanc is fermented and aged in stainless steel on the lees.

The colors in glass are pale green shades of lemon or hay. I would call this "off dry", expressing a fresh and vigorous acidity with deep intensity and low tannins while weighing in on the medium side. On the nose I get fresh hay, summer stone fruit and dried fig with floral notes. On the palate is green pepper, ginger, spice, a minty citrus, green melon, grapefruit rind or pomelo and an herbaceous aftertaste with a lingering finish.

This medium bodied white wine can be an excellent holiday pairing with any shrimp dish.

SRP at $20

Cecchi Chianti Classico 2014 DOCG

It's been 10 years since I've been to Tuscany, but I can close my eyes and be transported there anytime I want. I can close my eyes and breath in the verdant aromas of the countryside, the citrus scent of lemon groves, the purple fields of lavender, the smell of freshly dug, earthy truffles. Last night though, I didn't have to close my eyes. Last night I opened a bottle of quintessential Italy... Cecchi (pronounced Check-ee) Chianti Classico.

Made from 90% Sangiovese grapes, aged in wooden casks for 12 months, then 2 months in bottle before release. Ruby red colors with a nose of intense red fruit, forest floor and tobacco. The weight is of medium body with smooth tannins while strawberry, raspberry and white pepper are displayed on the palate. The finish is long and playful reflecting fruit and earth... in a glass.

A perfect food wine, I paired it with pasta and red sauce, but will work well with roast turkey, chicken or red meat.

It's worth a try, so take a virtual trip to Tuscany... for $22.

Little Black Dress Diva California Red 2013

Winemaker Margaret Leonardi crafted this red blend from Mendocino, California. Made from a blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Petit Sirah, with smaller amounts of Zinfandel, Tannat, Mourvèdre, Garnacha, Malbec and other red grapes.

Ruby colors with aromas of cherry, cassis and licorice, then a mild lingering toasty edge. The palate showing playful notes of wild berries and dried flowers combining to form a complex show for the money (about $12).

Cusumano Alta Mora Etna Rosso 2014 DOC

Here is a new winery from the Cusumano family in the volcanic and fertile Mt. Etna appellation of Sicily, producing their Alta Mora Etna Rosso from 100% Nerello Mescalero grapes indigenous to the region. Fermented in stainless steel tanks then successive fining in 2,000 liter barrels.

Soft tannins and a bright acidity with bold character and complexity, this red shows like a Nebbiolo with slightly lighter volume.

Deep ruby red in the glass with intense aromas of blue fruits, moist earth and spice, touched by sprigs of lavender. The palate shows white pepper, spice and a lovely herbaceous finish. At $24 this would be a sure winner at any Thanksgiving dinner.

14% Alcohol.

Barton & Guestier Cotes De Provence 2015

This Barton & Guestier Rose from Cotes De Provence is a lively blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault and 20% Syrah with soft, muted but complex aromas of lovely florals, followed by hints of apricot and peach, then still more scents of marzipan and honeysuckle. The muted aromas are contrasted by an intensity of flavors with melon/cantelope, spices, light pepper and ripe fruit. There are bold chewy textures on the palate and finishes with jam and spice. Perfect for July weather.

St. Donat Estates Marga Furmint 2013, Hungary

As promised, here is another pretty Furmint. This one, from Csopak above Lake Balaton where light reflecting off the lake provides plenty of sunshine, the marly soil encourages growth. Aged in steel tanks and used oak barrels for 6 months. Clear pale husk colors the glass and subtle and warm aromas of bread and toast, hints of smoke, green apple and pear and a pleasant minerality. Flavors are creamy and rich, the palate is smartly sharp with a snappy floral ring along with a citrus edge. Long glowing finish. SRP $25 per bottle.