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Blame it on the snow and frigid temperatures, but I’ve been popping the cork on many delicious red wine wines of late. As you may know from past posts, I enjoy white, rosé, and sparkling wine all year round. However, this winter, I’ve been indulging my palate with some very expressive red wines.  Photo credit: Max Tutak Unsplash Here are eight reviews of red wines that will surely have your palate singing! Australia McGuigan Wines, ‘The Plan’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 McGuigan Wines is a major wine producer in Australia. Their family roots date back to 1880 in Hunter Valley with Perc McGuigan, who set the standard for future generations. Grapes for this 100% Cabernet are sourced from top-quality vineyards in South Eastern Australia, including McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, and Barossa Valley. The fruit is harvested at night, and after fermentation, it is matured in stainless steel tanks and oak before final blending.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Aromas of blackberry, cherry, chocolate, and hints of baking spice segue onto the palate with a hint of cranberry and herbs. This fruit-driven wine has refreshing acidity and firm tannins with hints of warm toasted oak. It is a steal at this price! Serve with roasts, grilled tuna, and dark chocolate desserts. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $10.99 Italy Bertani Valpolicella DOC 2018 Bertani has been producing wine for over 150 years and has an impressive 200 hectares of vineyards in the most ideal areas of Verona province in the Veneto region, which is famous worldwide for wines such as Valpolicella, Soave, and Amarone. This wine is a blend of 80% Corvina Veronese and 20% Rondinella. Grapes are harvested from the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area and the Valpantena vineyards near the municipality of Grezzana. The wine is aged for eight months in concrete vats covered with glass bricks to allow slow and gradual aging. It is then further aged for a minimum of three months in the bottle.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Aromas of plum, sour cherry, red berries, pepper, and baking spice continue onto the palate. This wine has nice acidity and a good balance between juicy fruity and savory. Sour cherry and raspberry linger on the finish. Pair with hearty stews, braised meat, pasta, and semi-aged cheese. Alcohol: 12% SRP: $16.49 Spain Bela, Ribera del Duero DO 2017 One of Rioja’s most iconic wine producers, CVNE (pronounced coo-nay), is an acronym for Compania Vinicola del Norte des Espana. CVNE has expanded its territory to include a 182-acre estate in Ribera del Duero in northern Spain with the focus of bringing their Rioja elegance to the rugged Ribera del Duero region. Grapes for this 100% Tempranillo are sourced from Ribera del Duero region. The climate here leans toward continental with a complexity of soils throughout the region. This wine is aged for six months in American and French, new and one-year-old oak barrels.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Intense aromas of dark fruit, floral, baking spice, and a touch of earth set the stage for this terroir-driven wine. The palate is layered with dark berries, dark cherry, plum, spice, anise, and a hint of minerality. Vanilla and pepper linger on a long finish. This is a graceful wine with soft tannins and brimming with character. It is an easy wine to pair with a wide range of cuisine. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $19 Portugal Esporão Reserva Red 2016 Alentejo wine region is situated in the southern half of Portugal and covers one-third of the country. It is one of Portugal’s largest wine production areas. Herdade Do Esporão, whose history dates back over 750 years ago, first introduced this wine in 1985. It is a blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Alicante Bouschet. Grapes are sourced from vineyards with soil of granite/schist origin and clay/loam structure. This wine is aged for 12 months in American oak (60%) and French oak (40%) barrels, and then an additional six months in the bottle.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss It begins with a rich bouquet of cherry, raspberry, blackberry, plum, and baking spice. The palate is entertained with lush dark fruit jam, spice, and a hint of plum. Smooth tannins and a long berry finish add to the richness of this wine. Pair with grilled or braised meat and game, stews, tapas, and codfish. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $24 Sicily Donnafugata Sherazade Sicilia DOC 2018 The Rallo family owns the iconic Donnafugata, and their family history of winemaking dates back to 1851. They have several wineries and over 405 hectares of vineyards located throughout Sicily, including historic aging cellars at their Marsala winery. Nero d’Avola is an indigenous grape that is considered Sicily’s most important red wine grape. Sherazade is 100% Nero d’Avola and the grapes are sourced from Donnafugata’s Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby vineyards, which are located in the southwestern part of Sicily. The wine is aged for about four months in tanks and then a minimum of three months in the bottle.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Delectable aromas of violets, red fruit, and spice open to a lovely palate of cherry, plum, berries, and spice. Well-balanced tannins and acid add to the character of this fresh and lively wine, along with a touch of pepper and tartness on a long finish. Serve with mature cheese, pasta and red sauce, seared tuna, and calamari. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $25 California Au Contraire Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2019 Sonoma County’s Au Contraire winery was inspired by Taub Family vineyards company founder, David S. Taub. The grapes for this Pinot Noir are sourced from top Sonoma Coast vineyards, from Sebastopol to the Fort Ross Seaview AVA. Although these are warmer vineyard sites, they sit above the fog line generating a cool-climate style Pinot Noir with highly concentrated fruit flavors. The wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 35% new.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Juicy aromas of cherry, red berries, plum, and a hint of floral segue onto the palate with strawberry and cherry leading the parade of flavors. This is a silky wine with lots of ripe fruit and bright acidity. Serve with roasted meat, fowl, spicy Asian cuisine, and soft cheese. Alcohol: 14.2% SRP: $26.99 Argentina Bodegas Salentein Numina Gran Corte 2016 Bodegas Salentein is located in the Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina. Many of their vineyards are situated at some of the highest elevations in the world. This privately-owned estate was established in the late 1990s and boasts almost 5000 acres, of which 1,124 acres are planted to vine. The Numina Gran Corte is a blend of 61% Malbec, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Grapes are hand-harvested from small selected plots. Fermentation takes place in 7000-liter oak casks and then aged for 16 months in French oak barrels.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This wine opens with subtle violet aromas, plum, dark berries, spice, and a trace of vanilla. The palate offers a fresh and elegant layering of blackberry, raspberry, plum, baking spice, and a touch of earth. This is a beautifully integrated blend with a silky mouthfeel and a long finish. Pair with grilled meat, seared tuna, hearty stews, and casseroles. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $40.99 France Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas “Terres Brûlées” 2018 Jean-Luc Colombo winery is located in the northern appellation of Cornas in the Rhône Valley, France. Cornas is the smallest appellation in the Rhône Valley, consisting of approximately 325 acres, and is dedicated to producing only red wine from the Syrah grape. The Mediterranean climate and decomposed granite soils contribute to the richness and character of these wines. Terres Brûlées means “burnt earth”, which refers to the long hot days here that are balanced by the cool nights. Grapes are hand-harvested from 30+ -year-old vines. The wine is aged for 21 months in oak barrels (10% new, 90% one-to-five-year old barrels).  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This 100% Syrah wine has enticing aromas of dark cherry, dark berries, dark plum, spice, and hints of baking spice. The palate is rich with blackberry, plum, and black cherry, reminiscent of exotic jam. Notes of vanilla, cocoa, spice, and a trace of minerality linger on a long finish. A truly noteworthy wine! Pair with white meat, game, seared tuna, and hearty stews.
Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $63.99 No matter what time of year,, these wines will pair beautifully with any season! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com If wondering what wine to serve at holiday time, you might want to add this lovely Tempranillo from Spain to your shopping list. This wine makes a bold statement, but it is light enough to pair with traditional holiday fare.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss CVNE (pronounced coo-nay) is an acronym for Compania Vinicola del Norte des Espana, one of Rioja’s most iconic wine producers. CVNE expanded their territory to include a 182-acre estate in Ribera del Duero in northern Spain with the focus of bringing their Rioja elegance to the rugged Ribera del Duero region. The Bela winery was built here in 1999 and is located in the village of Villalba del Duero, in the province of Burgos. Vines were planted with mostly Tempranillo in 2002 at an altitude of 2674 ft. The climate leans toward continental with a complexity of soils throughout the region. Soils for this wine are calcareous clay and sandy loam.  Map courtesy of wine-pages. Bela, Ribera del Duero DO 2017 is 100% Tempranillo. This wine is aged for six months in American and French, new and one-year-old oak barrels.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Intense aromas of dark fruit, floral, baking spice and a touch of earth set the stage for this terroir-driven wine. The palate is layered with dark berries, dark cherry, plum, spice, anise and a hint of minerality. Vanilla and pepper linger on a long finish. This is a graceful wine with soft tannins and brimming with character. It is an easy wine to pair with a wide range of cuisine. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $19 I served this wine with mustard and brown sugar-crusted salmon, roasted brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. It was a beautiful pairing and my palate was very happy!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  Alejandro Fernández Photo credit: Grupo Pesquera The story begins in a small village called Pesquera del Duero located on the banks of the river Duero in northern Spain. It was here in his hometown where he was born and raised that Alejandro Fernández turned from beet harvesting to winemaking. As a young boy, Alejandro’s father taught him how to make wine from the grapes of the surrounding vineyards and it became a lifelong dream to follow his father’s passion. It was Alejandro’s wish to someday make excellent wines that spoke of his homeland and in so doing, inspire the world to take notice. The beginning of Alejandro’s dream was finally realized in 1972 with his own bodega, a 16th century stone winery in the province of Valladolid where most of the winemaking took place.  Alejandro’s first grape planting was Tempranillo and he produced his first vintage in 1972 called Tinto Pesquera. By 1982, Alejandro along with a few other wine pioneers founded the D.O. Ribera del Duero, establishing official recognition for the region. And now, almost five decades later, Alejandro, his wife Esperanza and four daughters own and manage an impressive little empire under the name Grupo Pesquera.  Alejandro Fernández with his wife Esperanza and four daughters. Photo credit: Grupo Pesquera Grupo Pesquera consists of four bodegas: Tinto Pesquera, Condado de Haza, Dehesa La Granja and El Vínculo. All the bodegas are dedicated to exclusively growing Tempranillo except for El Vínculo in Campo de Criptana (D.O. La Mancha), which also produces Alejairén, a white wine.  Ribera del Duero has a high elevation and spans from the east of Aranda del Duero to Valladolid in the west. The major source of water for the vineyards in this region comes from the Duero River. The climate leans towards continental with a complexity of soils throughout the region. All the grapes for Grupo Pesquera are harvested by hand and Alejandro doesn’t let the calendar determine the harvest, only the grapes dictate when they are ready to be harvested. He feels that the harvest is the most significant element in winemaking. Alejandro uses a combination of French and American oak barrels for aging, making certain that the original character of the grapes is present and doesn’t allow the wood to define the grape. The Fernández family is dedicated to natural winemaking. Wines are neither filtered nor fined prior to bottling. Alejandro has been given the title of “Master of Tempranillo” and deservedly so. In following his intuition and not the rules, Alejandro has helped to establish Tempranillo as a fine wine in Ribera del Duero. His wines are rich and complex with an abundance of fruit-driven character. As per the rules of the D.O. Ribera del Duero, 75% of all red wines must be Tempranillo. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec can make up the balance or up to 5% of Albillo or Garnacha. I recently received four samples from three of the bodegas.  2015 Condado de Haza Crianza – Ribera del Duero The Condado de Haza vineyards were planted in 1987 on a 200-acre estate located right next to the Duero River. With a focus on sustainable farming and maintaining the area’s biodiversity, chemicals are never used and an onsite purifier recycles all water. The soil is rocky and the estate experiences a cooler climate than that of the other three bodegas.  This wine is 100% estate-owned Tempranillo. After 18 months of barrel aging, the Condado de Haza Crianza is then aged for a minimum of 6 months in the bottle. The color is deep red, bordering on purple. Aromas of dark fruit, plum and sweet spice give way to a savory and understated dark fruit palate with hints of fennel, spice and chocolate. This is a straightforward wine with no pretention. It is nicely balanced with a long finish. Serve with grilled meat, hearty stews and spicy pasta. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $24 2013 El Vínculo Crianza – La Mancha After Alejandro discovered high-quality 100-year-old Tempranillo vines in the historic village of Campo de Criptana in La Mancha region, El Vínculo became the fourth estate. He signed a long-term lease in 1999 with the town’s best grape growers and assumed control of the yield of 50% of fruit dropped per year and harvest time. La Mancha is in the warmest region of the four estates and is exposed to more sun, heat and less moisture, but does experience an extreme continental climate. The vineyards have a combination of sandy and clay soil.  This wine is 100% Tempranillo and aged for 18 months in American oak barrels and 6 months in the bottle prior to release. The color is deep red with wonderful aromas of ripe red fruit, plum, spice, violet and vanilla. Intense flavors of berries, plum, cherry liquor, earth, spice and toasted wood greet the palate. Round tannins and acidity are perfectly balanced with a long and persistent finish. Serve with grilled meats, poultry and stews. This is a lot of wine for the price tag! Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $19 2015 El Vínculo Alejairén – La Mancha This is Grupo Pesquera’s first white wine with the first vintage released to the market in 2007. It is made from 100% Airén grapes; an indigenous white grape planted throughout central Spain and in particular the La Mancha region. It is drought-resistant and adapts well to hot, dry conditions and poor soils. The grape juice has mostly been used to make brandy and fortified wines such as port and sherry. The grapes for this wine are harvested from old vines in the Paraje la Golosa vineyard. It is aged 24 months in American oak barrels and a minimum of six months in the bottle.  This wine is a tantalizing honeyed orange color with apricot, floral and oaky notes of vanilla and coconut on the nose. The palate is laden with hazelnut, apricot, baking spices and brioche. This is a dry wine with bright acidity and lots of character. Serve with an array of appetizers, light pasta and fish. The name Alejairén is derived from both Alejandro and the grape, Airén. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $30 2014 Tinto Pesquera Crianza – Ribera del Duero This 100% Tempranillo is produced from their flagship bodega covering 200 hectares of vineyards near the Duero River. The grapes are harvested from 40-year-old vines that grow in sand, gravel, clay and limestone. Aging takes place for 18 months in American oak barrels and then 6 months in the bottle.  The color is reminiscent of black cherries with lots of dark berries, dark cherry and sweet spice aromas. A succulent layer of flavors envelops the palate with ripe fruit, dark cherry, plum, nutmeg and chocolate. It is beautifully balanced with silky tannins and a long finish. Hands down, this is a rich and elegant wine. Pair with meat, game, stews and an assortment of hard cheese.
Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $35 I fully understand now why Alejandro Fernández is called the “Master of Tempranillo”! His bond and respect for the land upon which his grapes grow are apparent in every bottle of these expressive wines. Cheers to Alejandro and his family! Until next time… Cheers! Penny To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  Summer is not officially over until Friday, September 22nd, but the leaves are already turning vibrant colors and the flowers seem to be giving up their desire to bloom. Sadly, my hummingbirds have begun their long migration south, signaling that autumn is indeed lurking around the corner. With the temperature falling into the low 50 degree range the other evening, I decided to open a Spanish red wine to pair with a hearty vegetable soup that I was serving. The Ribera del Duero 2012 Vina Valera Vinas Viejas hit the spot!  The Virgen de la Asunción Winery is a cooperative that was founded in 1957. It is located in the heart of the Ribera del Duero, in Spain’s northern plateau and is one of 12 founding wineries of the Denomination of Origin Ribera del Duero. The vineyards are comprised of 70, 80 and 90+ year old vines that produce high-quality Tempranillo based wines, known locally as Tinto Fino.  The Vina Valera Vinas Viejas 2012 is 100% Tempranillo (Tinto Fino). The grapes are harvested from 90+ year-old vines and the wine is aged for 14 months in new French oak barrels. The color of the wine is deep purple with seductive aromas of blackberry, cherry and spices. This is a smooth full-bodied wine that is rich with dark berries, spice, plum and hints of tobacco. Round tannins and a long fruit jam with a spice finish is heavenly! Alcohol: 13.5% About $25  If you haven’t tried wines from Ribera del Duero, pick up a bottle the next time you’re shopping for wine. You’ll be happy that you did!  And now it’s time to pick the last of the tomatoes from my garden. Have a great day!
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com |
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