Best Wines of Lockdown

Posted on May 31, 2020 by admin

As we can all agree, 2020 feels like the longest year ever and we are only half way through as I write this post. Here in Vermont our stay at home order went into effect mid March and luckily we are slowly opening up a little more each week. At times this pandemic has seemed very surreal, almost like I am in a bad dream. Unfortunately, it is very real and has taken a huge toll on all of humanity across the globe. The silver lining however is that it has forced many people to reevaluate their priorities and has allowed them to spend precious moments with their families that they may not have gotten otherwise. Dinnertime in my house has been the highlight of the day.

I really enjoy cooking and as many of you already know I love drinking wine! The wine buying has increased quite a bit over the last few months. Between curbside pickup, free shipping offered from some favorite wineries, and the fact that all of our grocery stores have a pretty decent selection, I’ve been able to acquire some old favorites as well as some new finds. Below are what I feel are the best wines I’ve had during the Covid-19 lockdown. These are new wines that I previously hadn’t tried before and they are featured in no particular order.

MONTEVETRANO COLLI DI SALERNO IGT 2009

Prior to the stay at home order, one of our organic food stores, Healthy Living, had a huge sale on wine. This bottle may have been the best value on the shelf. Normally selling for $65 to $80, we picked this up for $34.99! Montevetrano Colli di Salerno is a dry, deep ruby red wine is from the appellation Colli di Salerno in the Campania region of Italy. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 30%, and Aglianico 10%. As this had quite some age on it I was a little concerned that it may be past it’s prime hence the sale price. Fortunately, this wine is aging exactly as it should in the bottle. I decanted this for a bit prior to serving and the aromas were quite pronounced. Tons of dried fruit (prune, dried cherry), leather, and caramel. Full body, high acidity, with medium, nicely softened tannins and medium alcohol 13.5%. Sadly I went back to the store recently and as I expected this delicious wine was sold out. Time to try some newer vintages to see how they compare!

VIETTI BARBERA D’ASTI TRE VIGNE 2017

Here is another Italian gem found on sale at Healthy Living from a top producer, Vietti. This dry, red wine is 100% Barbera from the town of Asti in the Piedmonte region. I found it to be deep ruby in color with medium body, medium acidity, medium tannins, and medium alcohol 13.5%. Aromas of red cherries, mushroom, and dusty leaves with flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and vanilla on the palate. I loved this Barbera so much I went back last week and bought another bottle to cellar. Best part was it is still on sale for $16.99!

LOCATIONS F5 RED NV

I have had several wines from Dave Phinney’s Locations project over the years and I think this is such a fun way to travel the wine world through a bottle. Locations F5 red is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc from the Roussillon, Rhône, and Bordeaux regions in France. This dry, full bodied wine is high in alcohol 15% abv, with medium acidity and medium tannins. The nose for me was all red cherry and vanilla but primarily black fruit on the palate. Blackberry and black cherry with some baking spice and black pepper on the finish. I finished off almost the entire bottle myself and paid for it the next day with a throbbing head- but it was so good! Next up for me in this Locations series is the F rosé. I’m also very interested in trying New Zealand (NZ) and Texas (TX) if I can get my hands on them! I usually see this line of wines available from a lot of retailers. I happened to find mine in our Hannaford supermarket chain for less than $20.

LLOPART BRUT RESERVA ROSÉ 2016

I enjoy a lot of different wine styles but two of my loves are bubbly from just about any region and rosé. I love to drink pink and better yet let it sparkle in my glass! This sparkling rosé is a Corpinnat, a new category of sparkling wine from Penedes, Spain. Several Spanish sparkling producers have elected to leave the Cava DO and Llorpart is one of them. This pretty, bright pink rosé is a blend of Monastrell 58%, Garnacha 21%, and Pinot Noir 21%. It is dry and made in the traditional method (second fermentation in the bottle), and 12% abv. Juicy red berries and bread aromas from the lees on the nose with smooth, strawberry yogurt on the palate. I opened this bottle to kick off my birthday celebration this year and was very happy I chose it for my special occasion. Llopart Brut Reserva Rosé 2016 was #51 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2019 and was purchased on wine.com for $26.99.

NV VIGNEAU CHEVREAU VOUVRAY VIGNEAU SELECTION PÉTILLANT BRUT

There are so many alternatives to Champagne that offer great value in the category of sparkling wine and this sparkling Vouvray from Domaine Vigneau-Chevreau in the Loire Valley, France is one of them. This is 100% Chenin Blanc and is also made in the traditional method. Pure gold in the glass, dry, with fine bubbles and bright acidity. Alcohol is 12.5% abv. Notes of crisp apple and lemon are followed by brioche on the finish. Unfortunately I can’t remember where I purchased this bottle and I believe it made the move from Jersey with us. I have seen this wine for sale online at a limited number of sites for under $25.

FATTORIA MORETTO LAMBRUSCO GRASPAROSSA DI CASTELVETRO SECCO

Back to Italy we go with this dry, red sparkling wine from Fattoria Moretto in the Emilia-Romagna region. I absolutely love Lambrusco and I definitely don’t drink enough of it. One of my all time favorite food and wine pairings is pizza and Lambrusco. Since the lockdown we have been having pizza night each week where I make pepperoni and mushroom pizza that has been a huge hit. This wine is a blend of Lambrusco and Grasparossa grapes. Medium to deep purple in the glass with medium body, medium plus acidity, low tannin, and low alcohol 11.5% abv. There is something about the combination of the black fruit flavor, earthiness, and mouth feel of this wine that I love. Lambrusco also pairs incredibly well with charcuterie plates. What’s not to love? I purchased this wine at my favorite local wine shop, Dedalus, for $22.99.

If we were tallying the above list Italy comes out the winner with three wines in the top followed by France. Overall I would say with all the wine we have been consuming lately there has only been one I’ve been disappointed with so not bad on the purchasing front. I hope everyone remains safe at home and healthy and that you just might find a wine or two you love from this list!

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Shelburne Vineyard

Posted on March 31, 2020 by admin

This past Saturday, March 28th there was an Instagram campaign running called #openlocalwine. The local wine I chose to highlight on the platform was Harvest Widow’s Revenge 2019 from Shelburne Vineyard, located here in Vermont. I have been visiting Shelburne Vineyard often over the years prior to making the Green Mountain State my permanent home, and I continue to enjoy their wines and tasting room now that I am close by.

Shelburne Vineyard has always been one of my favorite places to go for a quick tasting or a glass out on their patio overlooking their McCabe’s Brook Vineyard and Marquette vines. There are 15.5 total acres of vines across three separate vineyard sites where mostly Minnesota hybrid grapes are grown. The more well known of these include LaCrescent, Louise Swenson, Marquette, and Petite Pearl.

Harvest Widow’s Revenge is an off dry red blend of all Vermont grown grapes, primarily Marquette and Petite Pearl. In the glass it is pale ruby in color, with light intensity aromas of red fruit. On the palate it is medium bodied, with medium acidity, low tannins, and is high in alcohol at 14.5% abv. This wine has a ton of ripe red fruit, primarily red currant and red cherry with a hint of baking spice on the finish. This wine should be served lightly chilled and is a great red wine for the upcoming summer months.

To keep the local theme going we also opened another Shelburne Vineyard favorite, Celestial Louise 2018. This is a dry, sparkling wine made by the carbonation method. The blend consists of Louise Swenson, Prairie Star, and LaCrescent grapes. In the glass it is pale lemon in color and has light intensity citrus aromas. On the palate it is light in body, with medium plus acidity, and medium alcohol at 13% abv. I got really juicy green pear and light lemon flavors with a hint of minerality on the finish.

In addition to the two wines mentioned above, I also recommend Shelburne Vineyard’s Lake View White, Whimsey Meadow Rosé, and both versions of their wine in a can called Capsize. For natural wine fans, head winemaker Ethan Joseph has created range of natural wines under the Iapetus brand that are worth checking out. I had the opportunity to taste through four of his wines at a tasting this past winter and really enjoyed the Substrata 2017 and the Subduction 2017.

Shelburne Vineyards ships to most states so if you are looking to try the wines I have highlighted here head over to their website to purchase. Both the Harvest Widow’s Revenge and the Celestial Louise retail for $18.99 but they both consistently sell out so get them while you can. Cheers and stay healthy my friends!

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Clos Du Val Three Graces

Posted on February 24, 2020 by admin

Years ago during my first visit to Napa Valley we stopped by Clos Du Val winery with friends for a tasting. Clos Du Val is family owned and has an important history in Napa wine.  (If you are a wine geek like me, you may know they were part of the 1976 Judgement of Paris blind tasting.)  During our visit we were able to taste through their current offerings at the time as well as some library wines not listed.  I am not joking when I say it was love at first sip!  Since that day I have been a member of their wine club and the arrival of my quarterly shipment causes a lot of excitement in my house! Once per year I receive a bottle of Clos Du Val Three Graces in my shipment.  This red blend is the first class wine of their portfolio and the special attention to detail during the selection of the blend, as well as the production of the wine are beautifully expressed when you open the bottle.  Recently, their wine maker Ted Henry tasted this wine live on Instagram and explained how he goes barrel by barrel and selects the best of each grape varietal used to create this wine.

The Clos Du Val Three Graces 2015 is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot all grown in the Hirondelle Estate Vineyard.  The juice ferments in stainless steel tanks and is pumped over three times per day.  Aging takes place in 100% new oak barrels for two years.  Since I also have a bottle of the 2016 in my cellar, I decided Valentine’s Day dinner with my family was a special occasion that called for the sharing this very special wine.  Upon pouring in the glass: medium ruby color, with medium intensity aromas of black fruit, vanilla, cedar, smoke, and earth.  Three Graces is a dry wine, with high acidity, high tannin, and is high in alcohol at 14.5%.  It is full-bodied, with pronounced flavors of blackberry, black cherry, vanilla, and cinnamon.  The flavors are very concentrated and are present on the long finish.

The 2015 is available on the Clos Du Val website but it’s a bit of a splurge at $175 a bottle.  If you are planning a trip to Napa Valley I highly suggest a visit to their tasting room.  Reservations are required ahead of time and they have several tasting experiences you may choose from.  Other wines worth tasting from Clos Du Val are their Cabernet Franc which is a regular favorite of mine, as well as the Estate Chardonnay, and the Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hirondelle vineyard. These wines are always consistent and REALLY good!  Do you have a favorite Clos Du Val wine?  Let me know in the comments.

Picture above is my customized Fall 2019 shipment.  (Club shipment was Three Graces 2016 and a Pinot Noir.  I swapped out the Pinot Noir and added the Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, and Merlot.)

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Channing Daughters Petit Verdot

Posted on January 27, 2020 by admin

Before I made the move up north I spent a lot of time visiting Long Island wine country.  There are many wineries there that are worth visiting and they are producing some very good quality wines from many different grape varietals.  While the majority of vineyards are located on the North Fork, on our last trip we headed to the South Fork to spend an afternoon at Wölffer.  We had time to visit another winery before our dinner reservation so we decided we would check out Channing Daughters Winery in Bridgehampton.  I had heard about Channing Daughters previously, but knew nothing about their history or the wines they were producing.  The property consists of a small tasting room and 28 acres of vines.  Sculptures by the owner, Walter Channing, are placed around the grounds.  Even though Channing Daughters is a small producer, they grow more than two dozen grape varieties to produce both red and white wines.  Their wines are made entirely by hand using traditional methods.  Since the quantities made are small, the winemaker is able to experiment with different techniques and blends to make distinct and interesting wines.

I purchased several bottles during our visit: Vino Bianco, Rosato Pétillant Naturel, and the Petit Verdot 2015.  I had been holding onto the Petit Verdot since my visit and finally decided it was time to enjoy it.  Petit Verdot is a Bordeaux varietal usually used for blending, but there are also very good and outstanding wines made as a single varietal.  Channing Daughters Petit Verdot is deep ruby in the glass and has medium intensity black fruit and spice aromas.  On the palate there are primary flavors of black cherry, and blackberry giving way to a hint of cinnamon. It is a dry wine, full bodied with high tannins, medium acidity, and a medium length finish.  Alcohol level is also medium at 12.5% abv.  The wine is aged in neutral oak for 18 months.  The current vintage being sold at the winery is the 2017 and retails for less than $40.  In addition to the wines available for tasting they also produce several variations of Vermouth which you can sample as well.  If you are planning a trip out east and Long Island wineries are part of your itinerary definitely check out Channing Daughters.  If you need any advice on other wineries you should visit feel free to direct message me on Instagram or email me via my contact page.

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Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea 2009

Posted on November 4, 2019 by admin

Each year for my husband’s birthday I try to find a really good Rioja either to drink at home or to pair with a special dinner out at a fabulous restaurant.  As I have said often when I am posting about this Spanish red wine, it’s my husband’s favorite.  Honestly, if it wasn’t for his love of the wines coming from this region I might forget to drink it.  I am beginning to think that Spanish wine in general isn’t on the radar of most Americans.  Italian reds and Napa Cabs seem to dominate most wine lists and the majority of people tend to stick with what they know.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with that tactic, however, there are whole regions out there producing amazing quality wines at outstanding values that are just begging to be added to your shopping cart and Spain is at the top of the list!

 

Months ago during one of my wine hauls at Super Buy Rite in New Jersey, I purchased a bottle of Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea 2009 with the intention of putting it away until hubby’s birthday in September.  Since we were away in San Fran on his actual birthday, I cracked this open a few weeks ago and boy was it worth every penny!  To get context as to what makes this Gran Reserva from Muga so special, we need to appreciate that Bodegas Muga is one of the most important wineries in the Rioja province of Spain.  The winery was established in 1932 by husband and wife Isaac Muga Martínez and Aurora Caño.  The winery is located in Haro which is part of the coveted Rioja Alta region.  The vines used to make this wine are some of the best and oldest, growing on prime southern facing slopes below the Montes Obarenses.  Due to multiple climates within this location, they also grow Viura (Macabeo) and Malvasia white grapes.  They are the only wine producer in Spain to employ their own Master Cooper to make the vats and barrels for the winery, and use traditional production methods combined with more modern innovations in wine making to ensure the highest quality possible.

The Gran Reserva Prado Enea 2009 is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan), and Graciano grapes. This Rioja is fuller in body and experiences significant aging prior to release.  It is first aged 12 months in American oak vats, followed by 36 months in French oak barrels.  After bottling it is aged an additional 36 months.  In the glass it is dark ruby but more translucent in color than you would see in some heavier reds, while having a clear rim at the edges.  On the nose I experienced woodsmoke, cedar, and chocolate aromas.  On the palate was predominantly red fruit: cherry and red plum, cocoa powder, vanilla, and a slight dill note which I am thinking is coming from the American oak vats.  The combination of both American and French oak plus plenty of time to develop, results in a well structured wine with a long finish due good acid, soft tannins, and 14% alcohol content.  This wine can be enjoyed now or can be cellared for long term aging.  Since this is a Gran Reserva the price tag is much higher than your typical Crianza or Reserva Rioja and will cost between $60-$70 per bottle depending on the retailer.

If you can find the Gran Reserva Prado Enea I highly recommend you buy it.  This is a highly rated wine if you are into ratings and use them as a guide while making your wine choices.  Wine Spectator gave it 93 points and Wine Enthusiast rated it 95 points.  This isn’t the first wine that we have tried from Bodegas Muga.  We also enjoyed the 2017 Rosado which is their version of Rosé a few summers ago on a boating excursion.  Bodegas Muga is a solid producer and one that you can’t go wrong no matter which of their wines you find.

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