Category: Wine of The Day

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2019 Bruma Ocho Blanc de Noir Carignan

A recent. trip to Baja California led to Bruma, a modern winery, making world class wines in the Valle de Guadalupe. 

The 2019 Bruma Ocho Blanc is made from all white Carignan, a rarity in the wine world, and yet, oh so delicious. 

Crisp and bright acidity, soft herbal fruit, with lemon and green melon flavors, light and citrusy, with a delicate creamy mouthfeel, this is a palate friendly white, with lots going for it, especially when paired with raw fish, sushi or ceviche.

That’s why the 2019 Bruma Ocho Blanc de Noire Carignan is today’s Winesiders Wine of The Day.

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2015 Martinelle Ventoux Rouge

The Ventoux is the region in the Rhone Valley that is on the verge of breaking out. As a regular visitor to the region some of the best winemakers in the region are hardly known outside there, and just like Camile at Saint Amant, Corinna Faravel at Martinelle is another of the rising stars who will become more widely known once the pandemic lets winemakers and buyers get together again.

Corinna did her apprenticeship in the Languedoc, at Domain d’Aupilhac, under the mentorship of Sylvain Fadat. Then in 2002 she landed her own vineyard and began producing wine. Now with vineyards in the Ventoux and Beaumes de Venice, the Martinelle wines are pure joy in the bottle.

The 2015 Martinelle Ventoux Rouge is mostly Grenache, with some Syrah, Mourvedre and Counoise in the blend. When young it was a big, brooding powerhouse, but like the charming person Corrina is, the wine has become charming as well. 

With flavors of black raspberry, ripe strawberry, blueberry and tar, the 2015 is now at that point where it’s really ready to drink and is showing the grace and elegance that the Ventoux can produce.

That’s why, the 2015 Martinelle Ventoux Rouge is today‘s Winesiders’ Wine of the Day!!!

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2018 l’Effet Papillon Rouge Cotes Catalanes

Marjorie and Stephane Gallet are the minds behind Roc des Anges, one of the Roussillion’s stars whose wines find their way to the best restaurant’s list across France as well as in the USA. 

Since 2016 I have also been a fan of their “bistro” brand, l’Effet Papillon whose wines are made in a local cooperative of growers and winemakers, with grapes they source from across the Maury region’s growers.

The 2018 L’Effet Papilion Rouge is once again a great example of their winemaking prowess. Dominated with Grenache, and a mix of old vine Syrah and Carignan, the deep, dark and brooding purple wine is no lightweight. What it may be is one of the best sub-$15.00 reds on the market these days, as the jammy strawberry, black plums, red cherry and brambly raspberry flavors are as enjoyable as they are long in the finish.

That’s why the 2018 L’Effet Papilion Rouge IGP Cotes Catalanes is today’s Winesiders’ Wine of the Day!!!

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2018 Domaine Jaume Generations

For many years I have been a fan of Domaine Jaume, the boutique producer near Vinosobres in the northern end of the Southern Rhone Valley. Not to be confused with the family of the same name behind Grand Veneur, the family Jaume makes exciting wines from old vines that fall into what I call “eating persons” wines.  

An eating person is one who savors great cooking, but doesn’t go to the “starred” restaurants, and finds satisfaction in the bouchons of Lyon, the wistubes of Alsace and the bistros and brasseries that are so common across France.

The 2018 Domaine Jaume “Generations” is exactly that kind of wine. A well-balanced blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, the Generations has been a staple for me since the 2010 vintage (which BTW is drinking very well today) as my go to wine that accompanies hearty, rich, savory and spicy belly filling food. It’s bright fruit, spicy notes and plum like finish all give it the kind of heft and weight, but in a delicate way, that makes this wine a multi-dimensional food wine.

That’s why, the 2018 Domaine Jaume “Generations” is today’s WineSiders’ Wine of the Day!!!

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2019 Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis

Delightfully light, easy to drink and full of fruit rose wines are not so hard to come by. But those with a light bubbly approach are not as easy to find. Thank fully there’s the 2019 Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rose, a Spanish pink wine from the Basque region in Northwestern Spain, where tapas and small plates are king.

Made in the region best know for Getariako Txakolina, the blend of two very local grapes, Hondarribi Zuri and its red companion Hondarribi Beltza make a lightly fizzy rose that is vinified in stainless steel and then bottled with carbonic acid that evolves naturally during fermentation.

Possessing a light fuchsia color and an enticing menthol and tropical citrus flavor of red melons, sour cherries and strawberry notes, the wine is one of those that you realize bottle’s empty before you know it. 

That’s why the 2019 Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rose is today’ Winesiders’ Wine of The Day.

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2019 Clos Ste. Magdeleine Cotes de Provence Rose

The more 2019 rose wines that get opened, the more and more exciting the vintage has been. And while it’s almost the time of the year to be thinking more about those serious reds and whites,  there’s just too many great pink wines still to be enjoyed, including the 2019 Clos Ste. Magdeleine 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose.

Much like the second rose of Bandol’s Chateau Pradeaux, St. Magdeleine is best known for their Cassis wines, both pink and white, so when there was a discovery moment of this new wine that is one third lower in price but an amazing challenger to their flagship Cassis rose. Made from vines that are on average 30 years old, the blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Syrah is about as serious of a pink wine as you can enjoy.

The wine isn’t big or heady, but light and flavorful, and easily can be a daily drinker.

Dominated by fresh strawberry aromas, a hint of just picked raspberries and a lovely blackberry taste in the finish, and dry, but not coarse is why the 2019 Clos Ste. Magdeleine Cotes des Provence is today’s Winesiders Wine of The Day.

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2019 Château de Trinquevedel

There are few wines that have had such a successful and long run when it comes to rose as Chateau de Trinquevedel. The Tavel legend has been a staple since about 2003 and with only a few years since then has it not hit the high mark.

Imported to the USA by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, the blend for Kermit is a bit different than the French release, as it’s made from 60% Grenache, 13% Clairette, 13% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 3% Mourvèdre, 1% Bourboulenc,  giving it a bit more Grenache and less Syrah.

Regardless of blend, the 2019 Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel brings freshness, crispness and dryness to every sip. Flavors of fresh strawberry, raspberry and blueberry come through, with hints of black pepper and lemon.

That’s why the 2019 Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel is today’s Winesiders Wine of The Day.

 

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2019 Kaena Santa Ynez Valley Rose

Rose wines made in Santa Barbara County vary from being as light as those from the Cotes de Provence to as dark as those from Bandol. Along the way, Kaena winemaker Mikael Sigouin decided to make wines more like the great dry pink wines from Tavel.

The 2019 Kaena Santa Ynez Valley Rose is another great hit for the Hawaiian born winemaker, as it comes off bone dry, crisp, fruit rich and delightfully refreshing. Loaded up with raspberry and strawberry flavors, and lovely mouthfeel, the latest Rose has all the marks of what a fine Tavel offers, but at far lower prices.

That’s why, the 2019 Kaena Santa Ynez Valley Rose is today’s Winesiders Wine of The Day. 

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2019 Habit Grenache Rose

Not as well known outside the Santa Barbara area, but certainly known by discerning wine lovers are the wines made by Jeff Fischer, under the Habit Wine Company label. Fischer, who is better known for his eponymous role on “American Dad” makes small batches of wines in the Santa Ynez region that never disappoint. And his 2019 Habit Grenache Rose is, once again, in that category. Made from fruit from two vineyards, Demetria and Vogelzang and aged four months in steel, the Habit Rose is a joy to drink.

The strawberry nose and flavors are obvious from first whiff and first taste. Blessed with elegant balance and length, the pink wine is juicy and full flavored, but dry enough to be enjoyed all by itself. Hints of grapefruit and tropical notes dot the wine as it opens, making it one more of the stunning 2019 rose wines.

That’s why, the 2019 Habit Grenache Rose is today’s Winesiders Wine of the Day.

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2019 Domaine de Marquiliani Rose de Pauline

If there is a lighter colored rose than the Domaine de Marquiliani Rose de Pauline on the planet,  it has yet to be found. This almost translucent pink wine is pure dynamite in a bottle. Made from a combination of Sciaccarellu, Syrah and Vermentino and grown on a combination of schist and gravel, the almost white colored rose has since its USA debut been one of the most consistent wines around.

Light in color, big in body, fresh in flavor, the more pale colored pink wine of the two made by this small producer never disappoints. It has depth, with blackberry and blueberry notes, surrounded by an almost saline like quality captured from the vineyard’s proximity to the sea.  Perfume like in aromas, but feather light on the palate, the Rose de Pauline is a can’t miss hit when it comes to Rose.

That’s why the 2019 Domaine de Marquiliani Rose de Pauline is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day

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