Category:Red wine

Labor Day wine 2023

by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On

people sitting in front of table talking and eating
“I told you the WC’s wine recommendations were super good.”

Enjoy these four bottles for Labor Day wine 2023

Labor Day traditionally marks the end of the summer in the U.S., which will be most welcome this year. Even the WC, who vowed never to shovel snow again, was getting overwhelmed by 105-degree temperatures. And then some more. And then some more.

So bring on fall, cooler weather, some chilled reds, and relaxing on a shaded place on the porch. And maybe some lemon roasted chicken?

These four bottles will give you a start — and don’t forget the blog’s porch wine guidelines:

• Jolie Folle Sauvignon Blanc 2021 ($13/1-liter, purchased, 11.5%): This French white is more New Zealand in style this vintage, with grapefruit instead of lime and less minerality. But it’s still a fine value. Imported by T. Elenteny Imports

• Umani Ronchi Podere 2021  ($13, purchased, 13%): A surprisingly fresh and berryish Italian red from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, though it’s not as light as some. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be chilled slightly and served with bacon cheeseburgers.  Imported by Vineyard Brands

• Castle Rock Rose 2022 ($12, sample, 13%): A California pink that is crisp, fresh, and enjoyable — and dry, dry, dry. Look for rose petals on the nose (honest), plus barely ripe berry fruit and a very pleasant stony finish. I’m told it’s available, so its Wine-Searcher entry is probably wrong.

• Campo Viejo Cava Brut Rose NV ($11, purchased, 11.5%): This Spanish bubbly is made with trepat, which is a good thing. But it’s a little less crisp than it could be and it’s not quite up to the standards of what great cheap Cava once was. But it has nice wild berry fruit with decent bubbles, so it will do. Imported by Pernod Richard USA

Photo: Priscillia Du Preez on Unsplash

More about Labor Day wine:
• Labor Day wine 2022
• Labor Day wine 2021
• Labor Day wine 2020
• Wine of the week: Zestos Blanco 2021

Wine to drink when it’s 107 degrees

by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On

tire tracks in desert soil
The WC’s backyard doesn’t look like this — yet.

Because even the WC — who never wants to shovel snow again — is almost worn out

Dallas’ record heat this summer (including a brutal weekend) has been wearing, so I keep telling myself that at least I’m not in Phoenix and that I put up with this because I never want to go through a Chicago winter again. So, as long as the Texas electricity grid holds out, I’m OK.

Meanwhile, three wines to drink while I’m waiting for fall:

• Bonny Doon Vineyard Vin Gris de Cigare 2022 ($18, sample, 13.6%): Prices for this are all over the place — as little as $12.  This year’s vintage isn’t as stony and as French-like as in the past, so more ripish strawberry fruit and richer in the mouth.

• Bodegas La Cana Albarino 2021 ($16, purchased, 13%) Professional and competent Spanish albarino that’s more savory than fruity and almost salty. Some floral aroma and light citrus and very clean on the back. Imported Fine Estates from Spain

• Apaltagua Pinot Noir Reserva 2019 ($14, sample, 13.5%): Well-made and pinot noir-like Chilean effort. Soft tannins, reserved berry fruit, and balanced. Not complex, but that’s not the goal here. Imported by Global Vineyard Importers

Photo: Dennis Kralik via Pexels

More wine to drink. …
• … when you’ve had quite enough of spam phone calls
• … when you’re waiting for an ice storm
• … when everyone (and it does seem like everyone) wants to buy your house

Wine of the week: The Curator Red 2021

by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On

The Curator Red bottle
The Curator Red 2021/$10-$16

There’s a reason why so many South African wines keep showing up on the blog

In the blog’s first decade, it was rare to see a South African wine. Maybe a sauvignon blanc every once in a while, but that was about it. These days, though, they show up all the time.

So what changed?

Quality and value both improved, as The Curator Red ($13, sample, 14%) demonstrates.

This South African red blend isn’t quite as well done as previous vintages – there are some rough edges, though they may go away in time. But it’s still another professional, fairly-priced wine that tastes like wine. And we know how difficult those are to find these days.

The blend is mostly cabernet sauvignon and shiraz (about one-third each), which explains why it tastes the way it does — some spice, some dark fruit, and more tannins than I expected. But it’s not heavy or hot, and it won’t overwhelm dinner.

Pair this with end of summer barbecues or even a smoked pork shoulder (or, for those without a smoker, a slow cooker). If it’s not quite Hall of Fame worthy (as the white blend is), it’s still a fine cheap wine.

Imported by Broadbent Selections

Wine of the week: Zestos Garnacha 2020

by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On

Zestos garnacha bottle
Zesto Garnacha 2020/$10-$15

Trust importer Ole & Obrigado to produce a fine wine in trying times

Regular readers know how much I respect importer Ole & Obrigado – I don’t know that I’ve ever tasted one of its wines that didn’t offer value for what it cost.

And this wine may demonstrate that better than any other.

The 2020 vintage in Spain suffered a double whammy – the pandemic and the Trump wine tariff, which slapped an extra 25 percent on red wines less than 14 percent alcohol. Many produces and importers responded by raising the alcohol to more than 14 percent, even if the result was crummy wine.

But not Ole & Obrigado.

The 2020 vintage of the Zestos garnacha ($12, purchased, 14.5%) is not the best ever. But given the bump in alcohol, which can turn this style of wine into frat party jungle juice, it’s an amazing wine.

Garnacha – Spain’s version of the grenache grape – can be jammy and ripe, even at lower alcohol levels. And the 14.5 percent here makes it a little more ripe than I like. But, somehow, it’s still varietally correct, it’s not hot, and you don’t feel swacked after a couple of glasses.

Look for red fruit (black raspberry and cherry?) and even a tiny hint of pepper at the back. The wine is mostly balanced and not too jammy, though it does need food. Burgers, anyone?

Would that all producers cared as much about their wines as this one shows it does with this wine.

Imported by Ole & Obrigado.

Wine of the week: Santa Julia Malbec Organica 2022

by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On

Santa Julia Malbec label
Santa Julia Malbec Organica 2022/$8-$15

This red wine from Argentina is a spot on $10 effort

Most of the malbec I taste for the blog comes from samples; it’s just not a varietal I much care for. Unless, of course, the wine is made by Familia Zuccardi.

Then I buy it all the time.

Hence the Santa Julia Malbec Organica 2022 ($10, purchased, 13.9%); $10 malbec doesn’t get much better than this.

What impresses me the most about this Argentine red wine is not just its consistency, in that it’s top-notch from vintage to vintage, but that it’s so well made that it appeals to those who prefer something a little sweeter as well as the rest of us. Most inexpensive malbecs only bother with the first group.

This vintage is soft and fruity (berries? cherries?), but it isn’t sweet; that’s not always easy to do. In addition, it’s so well balanced that the soft tannins and lower acidity aren’t overwhelmed by the fruit. Finally, it’s food friendly, but not too heavy for the summer.

Highly recommended, and a candidate for the Hall of Fame next year.

Imported by Winesellers Ltd.

Fourth of July wine 2023

by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On

super hero miniatures
Yes, using this picture again — how could I not, what with superheroes battling premiumization?

Fourth of July wine 2023: Four bottles offering value and quality for Independence Day

It will be a hot Fourth o July in Dallas this year, and not just because of the holiday. We’re in one of our 100 degree stretches as I write this. So enjoy these selections, as well as the blog’s summer and porch wine guidelines in mind since it’s so hot.

These four wines will get you started:

• Castello di Gabbiano Chianti 2020 ($8, purchased, 13%): Old-fashioned Italian red —  both in style and price — that is heavy in the mouth with sour cherry fruit and dry tannins? What more does one need for smoking pork? (And a tip o’ the WC’s fedora to Frankie Celenza, who reminded me about this wine. Imported by TWE Imports

• Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc 2021 ($13, purchased, 13%): if you can find this French sauvignon blanc for $10 or $12, buy a case. It’s a classic everyday wine — crisp, fresh, and stony. Highly recommended. Imported by Virtuoso Selections

• Cote Mas Aurore Rose 2021 ($9/1-liter, purchased, 12.5%): This French pink is past inconsistent; some vintages taste like bad red wine, and some are as terrific as this one. Provencal in style, so barely ripe berries, stony, and crisp. Highly recommended. Imported by Taub Family Selections

• Charles de Fère Cuvée Jean Louise NV ($9, purchased, 11%): Simple, enjoyable French charmat bubbly that offers tremendous value. Given the silly prices for even the most ordinary sparkling wine, this is a tremendous value. Decent bubbles, some stone fruit and lemon. Imported by Boisset America

Photo: TFNY18_074c” by BAS Photog is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

More Fourth of July wine:
• Fourth of July wine 2022
• Fourth of July wine 2021
• Fourth of July wine 2020
• Wine of the week: Bieler Père et Fils Rose 2022

Wine of the week: Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Rouge 2021

by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On

Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Rouge bottle
Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Rouge 2021/$9-$15

This French red blend illustrates what weeknight dinner wine should be

Moulin de Gassac makes a red, white, and rose. All are especially impressive — $10 or so, varietally correct, and decent availability

The red, though, has always impressed me the most. That’s because it does something seldom seen in red wines at this price – it tastes like it’s supposed to taste.

Consider the 2021 vintage ($12, purchased, 13%): It’s a Rhone-style blend from southern France (50 percent syrah, 30 percent grenache, and 20 percent carignan), but it’s not too jammy or too soft despite all that syrah and grenache. Even more impressive: The three wines are made for export, and could have tried to appeal to the so-called American palate. Instead, they taste like wine.

That means the red has some spice, some berry fruit, and soft tannins — all in balance. It’s dry and not smoooth; rather, it’s the kind of wine for a summer barbecue (or a pot roast in the winter). In this, it’s weeknight dinner wine, a concept Europeans have understood for more than a century but which Americans have always struggled with.

Highly recommended, and a candidate for the 2024 Turner award for cheap wine of the year.

Imported by Palomar Imports