It’s been a fun year of tasting new wines and trying new vintages of old favorites. Without further ado, here are my Top 10 wines of 2019:
- Craggy Range, Te Kahu, Hawkes Bay, Red Blend, 2016 – This Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec resembles characteristics more closely related to Bordeaux than its origins in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Located on the North Island, the Gimblett Gravels Vineyard sees lots of sunshine and is named after the stony gravel in the soil. Dark berries, loam, mushroom, and baking spices play nicely with each other on the bouquet and the palate. Try pairing this blend with your next dinner of steak and mushrooms.
- Le Haut Medoc D’Issan, Bordeaux, 2015 – Limited to 18,000 bottles per vintage, this is affordable Bordeaux at its best. What sets this wine apart from others in the category is the incredible presence of non-fruit characteristics. Immediate aromas of mushroom, forest floor, leather and tobacco leaf take center stage while the blackberry and cherry flavors are subtly tucked into the tertiary folds of the this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend.
- La Spinetta, Vignetto Bordini, Barbaresco, 2016 – It’s surreal to think the first time I tried this wine I was sitting across from La Spinetta’s lead winemaker Giorgio Rivetti. We had an in-depth discussion on vineyard management, the use of indigenous grapes, and the incredible lengths they take through several rounds of green harvesting. Fully informed, I tried this wine and it immediately became the standout of the flight. It has not only the typical notes of cherry and violets, but also a good amount of cinnamon and vanilla spice. The tannins are also much more tame than other Nebbiolos from Barbaresco. Pair with roasted red meat and wild game.
- St. Supery, Virtu, Napa Valley, White Blend, 2014 – It’s nice to find a domestic white blend that is mostly Semillon. It’s even better when it tastes as delightful as a high quality White Bordeaux. Soft layers of citrus mingle with fresh grassy tones and ripe orchard fruit. The palate continues to evolve with a muted, creamy texture due to sur-lie maturation and French oak aging. Make this your new go-to seafood pairing wine!
- Ciro Picariello, Greco di Tufo, 2016 – This gorgeous gem form Campania is not only delicious, but it’s also incredibly versatile. We all know high quality Italian white wine is great for food pairing, but this one is also great for enjoying now, or ageing for 10-15 years! When aged, this wine has been known to go up against some stellar white Burgundies. The fascinating attributes don’t stop there. The Greco di Tufo grapes are hand harvested from practicing organic vineyards at the edge of Altavilla and Tufo and produce an aromatic and flavorful wine with notes of honeysuckle, stone fruit, and candied lemon peel. Only 3000 bottles made!
- Krutz, Magnolia, Russian River Valley, Chardonnay, 2015 – Krutz family cellars is known for their high-end and high-priced selections. However, they wanted to produce wines for everyday drinking by harnessing their quality fruit selections and outstanding winemaking practices. This venture produced their Magnolia line of wines. This is a layered and textured Chardonnay that includes tropical fruit aromatics along with pears and apples on the bouquet. The palate has ample weight (due to light use of new French oak) and showcases a refreshing lift with integrated acidity. Pair with poultry, fish, or salads.
- Honoro Vera, Rueda, Blanco, 2018 – Aromas of white flowers, tropical fruit, and light citrus waft from the glass. On the palate, the wine continues to show warm, round tones of apples and pears with a nice lift of lemon curd on the back. Its moderate acidity and flavor profile make it one of my favorite pairing options for Gazpacho.
- Reine de la Ville, Île de Beauté, Blanc, 2017 – This small production white wine cultivated in volcanic soils from Corsica has quite a bit more going on than its price would suggest. Yellow flowers, mineral tones, and slight hints of salinity are at the forefront of the bouquet leaving only small traces of stone fruits (think tangerines and apricots) in their midst. The palate mirrors the bouquet and there is a subtle viscosity that presents nicely on the finish. It makes a nice pairing with a traditional pasta salad and lighter fare.
- Chateau Yvonne,”La Folie”, Saumer Champigny, 2017 – Even though Matthew Vallée took over this winery in the mid-2000’s, it remains rich in history and dates back to the 16th century. Most of the hectares are devoted to Cabernet Franc and the plantings are divided between 28 separate parcels all with varying slopes, aspects, and soils. “La Folie” is 100% Cabernet Franc taken from only 3 parcels on the estate and aged in neutral French oak. The wine is organic, unfined and ufiltered and boasts lovely bramble, blackberry, floral, and fresh pepper aromatics. On the palate, bright raspberry and mineral tones give way to soft and slightly dusty tannins. Pairs nicely with roasted chicken.
- Domaine des Remparts, Côtes D’ Auxerre, Bourgogne Rouge, 2014 – The cool and damp growing conditions in Burgundy during 2014, while a bit difficult, still yielded some very nice wines. This little gem from the Côtes D’ Auxerre displays soft vegetal notes, with a hint of rose tea spice, tomato leaf, and dark cherry. There’s a softer subtlety on the front of the palate, but then the wine has a very bright lift on the finish. These two extremes are minimized and come together nicely when the wine has had a chance to breathe a bit. On the finish, the tannins are more velvety as opposed to dusty. This wine represents a tremendous value for its category. Enjoy!
