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May's Wine Selections

Well, I hope everyone completed their homework from last month! This month we sample a couple of great selections to complement your weekend barbeques. Learn and enjoy!

Have a comment or question about any of the selections? Email me: Jake@VinoSOS

I will use a consistent legend throughout my selections:

  1. Riesling (White)
    • Loosen Bros.
    • DR. L
    • Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
    • 2006
    • $10.99
    • This is a great introduction to the wonderful world of German Rieslings', a grape that many people feel makes the best white wines. Gone are the days of the cheap, sweet Liebfraumilch (a.k.a. Blue Nun). This is the new Germany, which leans toward a dryer (non-sweet) style. Dr. Loosen was voted best winemaker in Germany.
  1. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon (White)
    • Bertani
    • Due Uve
    • Della Venezie, Italy
    • 2004
    • $14.99
    • Fantastic summer time wine. "Duč Uvč" means "Two Grapes" in Italian. Combine the crispness of Pinot Grigio with that of Sauvignon Blanc, and you get one refreshing wine.
  1. Sauvignon Blanc (White)
    • Ferrari-Carano
    • "Fume Blanc"
    • Sonoma County, California
    • 2005
    • $11.99
    • "Fume" translates to smoke in French. The term "Fume Blanc" is credited to Robert Mondavi, and implies that the Sauvignon Blanc grape has been aged in oak barrels instead of stainless steel tanks like it typically is. Oak barrels are known to give a smokey quality to wine.
  1. Chardonnay (White)
    • Trefethen
    • Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California
    • 2004
    • $24.99
    • Last month you tasted a cool climate Chardonnay from Sonoma-Cutrer that was bright and crisp. This wine sees more time in oak barrels and has a more buttery, creamy mouth feel, with butterscotch and vanilla qualities. Both of these wines hail from California, but are made in two different styles.
  1. Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (Sparkling)
    • Ca del Bosco
    • Franciacorta, Lombardy, Italy
    • 2005
    • $18.99
    • This sparkling wine is made in the same classic way that Champagne from France is made. "Methode Classico" as it is called in Italy. It is rich and creamy and should really be enjoyed with cheeses, white meats and fish. The Italians generally enjoy everything better with some food.
  1. Pinot Noir (Red)
    • Rodney Strong
    • Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
    • 2005
    • $15.99
    • Bright red cherry and wild strawberry nose. This is a lighter bodied Pinot Noir from the cool Russian River Valley in Sonoma Country. Perfect for drinking outdoors with Salmon off the grill.
  1. Barbera D'Asti (Red)
    • La Spinetta
    • Ca Di Pian
    • Asti, Piedmont, Italy
    • 2004
    • $20.99
    • Barbera is generally overshadowed by its neighbors Barolo and Barbaresco in the Piedmont region of Italy. Therefore it offers some great value for the dollar. It has weight to it that will certainly stand up to meat dishes, with loads of ripe fruit characteristics.
  1. Zinfandel (Red)
    • Murphy-Goode
    • Liar's Dice
    • Sonoma County, California
    • 2003
    • $18.99
    • This Zinfandel is a Rich Young favorite. Big…Big…Wine. Lots of red fruits, heady tannins, and alcohol. This is a great back-yard barbeque wine.
  1. Malbec Reserva (Red)
    • Luigi Bosca
    • Mendoza, Argentina
    • 2004
    • $16.99
    • Malbec is the grape that will put Argentina on the map, particularly from the Mendoza region. The Malbec grape has been a part of the red Bordeaux blend in France forever, but Argentina is the first country to let the grape shine on its' own. This is a great example from one of the best producers.
  1. Cabernet Franc (Red)
    • Macari
    • North Fork, Long Island
    • 2003
    • $16.99
    • Cabernet Franc is the grape that I think Long Island does best. With that said you have to like Cabernet Franc, which some people think has an under ripeness to it. Cabernet Franc is definitely more earthy (think green bell pepper, tobacco leaf) than its brethren Cabernet Sauvignon.
  1. Aragones, Alicante Boucet, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah (Red)
    • Quinta do Carmo (Domaines Baron de Lafite Rothschild)
    • Alentejano, Portugal
    • 2000
    • $19.99
    • With Port Wine sales dropping around the globe, the Portuguese decided to turn their focus to dry table wines. They use the same grape varieties that have been planted in Portugal for centuries, but ferment the wines dry and do not fortify them. Recently they have been blending in some international grape varieties, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, as in the Quinta do Carmo example.
  1. Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Red)
    • Los Vascos (Domaines Barons de Lafite Rothschild)
    • Colchagua Valley, Chile
    • 2004
    • $14.99
    • In South America, with all that sun and warm air vintage is not really and issue. Every year the grapes should be able to ripen. Drought is more of a concern. The Colchagua Valley benefits from runoff from the Andes' Mountains.