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Briaco Primitivo Salento IGP Rossa 2013

Origin:  The providence of Salento, Puglia, Italy

Grape:  Zinfandel

Year:  2013

Alcohol:  14 %

Price point:  $15

Year Reviewed: 2019

Such an exquisite find at an Italian wine tasting.  Exceptional wine in for this pricepoint.  This ruby red wine won me over.  Smells of red pepper and strong cherry are on the nose.  Upon sampling this wine from hand harvested grapes, some rich intense flavors of red cherry and blackberry arise, with a bit of smoky flavor, possibly hickory, and cloves and a bit of pepper.  The finish is medium.this wine is aged 1 year in American barrels and 1 year in bottles.    Will definitely be purchasing this wine again.  Primativo/Zinfandel lovers……try this one!!!

In the Apollonio wine you will find the story of four generations living for, producing and dreaming of wine, inspired by the ancient musty smell. The cradle of this story is the land of Puglia, whose territory and climate make it one of the best Italian regions producing excellent wine. The grapes used, grown in endless vineyards, are carefully chosen and worked, and then let age in barrels and bottles in the fresh air of a winery in Monteroni. Apollonio’s story is long and intense. It’s 1870 when Noè starts producing and marketing wine. His son, Marcello, modernizes the firm during the belle époque. His excellent nose for business and the help of his large Family allow him to make the qualitative leap: Marcello sets up the factory, plants the vineyards, harvests, makes wine and sells it. His farmhands, both men and women, work for him every day, even at night. Marcello’s personal participation lightens their work and he often shares a lavish meal with them for a refreshing break. Thanks to his uprightness, passion and tenacity, he is considered a point of reference by other local wineries. During the economic boom, the winery is run by Salvatore, who marks a turning point in the business management. He aims to produce high-quality wines, starting the bottling process in 1975, using labels with the Apollonio brand. His sons, Marcello and Massimiliano, inherit the winery and begin an ambitious expansion policy beyond national borders. Massimiliano is the wine expert and, after studying oenology, he trained in Italian, French and Spanish businesses and is a member of O.N.A.V. (National Wine Taster Organisation). Marcello is responsible for marketing and export.The Apollonio brand is distributed all over the world , synonymous of quality and reliability. The two brothers buy new lands and vineyards, and use cutting- edge technologies to make, bottle and age wine. Without forgetting their traditions.

https://www.weinbaule.de/red-wine-italy-apollonio-rocca-dei-mori-briaco-primitivo-salento-p-1452.html?language=en

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Lescomes Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Origin: Deming New Mexico

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Year: 2016

Alcohol: 15%

Price Point: $24

Year Reviewed: 2019

This late September harvested cab from Deming, NM is quite impressive. Aged in French oak for 24 months, I think you will be impressed by this 5th generation wine maker.

This winery, formally called St. Clair winery, is one of my most favorite places on earth.  Take a look at these pictures under the Winery section of my website.

Deep ruby rich red color.  The last drips from the bottle are rich and thick like drops of red blood.  An amazing nose of Menthol, caramel, coco and smells I naturally get out of NM wines; Also get smells of  Violets, gentle smokiness and cherry.  On the palate you get some earthy strong tannin’s.  I left this wine unrefrigerated and after 24 hours there was no degradation it it one bit.  Some acidity, but balanced with nice tannins to the luscious long  finish,  CA cab drinkers……match this up against some of your favorites.  New Mexico soil, climate and this amazing wine maker bottles this cab for around $24.00; you can’t beat that price for this amazing interesting complex cab.

Pair with rubbed meats, prime rib, other roasts, steak and ribeye and give me some chocolate mousse for dessert with this glass.  New Mexico and this winery will continue to grow and be heard of around the US. 

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Villa Graziella Chianti D.O.C.G. 2017–organic

DOCG Chianti blend from organic grapes
14% Alcohol

90% Sangiovese
5% Cabernet Sauvignon
5% Colorino ( a blending grape

So I really appreciate a wine that gets better after an hour of getting some air exposure to it. DOCG certified and certified organic for around $20, you cannot believe the value of this wine. On the nose, this deep ruby colored wine gives fragrance of red cherry, black currant and a hint of mint or eucalyptus. I was worried that this would be a lighter wine due to being mostly Sangiovese, but pleasantly surprised with a medium bodied wine with flavors of cherry, vegetal and vanilla. The tart cherry is from that Sangiovese but the Cab comes through nicely to give it a nice blending with tannis that linger on the top of your upper lip. I am pretty hard on Chianti’s that are really light weights, but the Colorino is contributing to some lovely color and structure in this wine and the Cab is giving it some great body. You can pair this wine with heavier pasta dishes and red meat dishes. You don’t find organic grapes that are handpicked from Italy for this price point. You must try these

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Santa Rita 120 Carmenere 2010

Origin:  D.O. Valle Central (Maipo Valley), Chile

Grape:  Carmenere

Year:  2010

Alcohol:  13.5%

Price point:  $8

Year Reviewed: 2019

Another great find for under $8.00.  This deep ruby colored red wine starts off with some amazing aromatic qualities.  Was a bit concerned buying a 2010 red, as lately I have had some bad experiences with dates back this far, but pleased with this Carmenere.  Aromas of some Bordeaux, as you know the Carmenere grape did originate in France, but does so outstandingly well in Chile.  On the palate, I get great flavors of a bunch of stuff:  sour cherry, black luscious plums, blackberries, green peppers, bell peppers, spice and herbs.  This is what a just clean normal Carmenere should taste like.  Other wonderful flavors of cigar box, smoky tobacco and mocha rule this wine.  This is what a Carmenere should taste and smell like. Tannins are gentle and softer.  Try this with some hard cheeses, Bolognese sauce, some ribs or some meats with a rub on it.  Amazing, for the price point!!!!

Check out Santa Rita winery, as this is not the only wine they make.  They also make a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Merlot, a Red Blend, and some other Reserve Carmeneres.  Watch for their wines.

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Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo 2013

Origin:  Riojo, Spain

Grape:  Tempranillo

Year:  2013

Alcohol:  13.5%

Price point:  $13

Year Reviewed: 2019

Such a great find.  Not a wallet breaker and such a good representation of what a Tempranillo is.  This is a simple basic Tempranillo, but I love it and love the price.  Licorice, spice, with plum and raspberry, I am going to purchase this again and bring it to some summer parties this 2019!!!

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Minuty 2016 Rose

Origin: Cotes de Provence, France

Grape:  Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah

Year:  2016

Alcohol:  13%

Price point:  $19

Year Reviewed: 2019

This wine was listed in an article for the top 20 Roses under $20.  Known as a global leader in the Cotes de Provence, this winemaker has had over 80 years in wine production.  The Cotes de Provence AOC is the largest appellation of the Provence in Southern France.

This Rose has a wonderful bouquet of strawberry, peach, melon and water melon.  A nice blush color in the glass makes you want to pair this with light summer foods and salads.  I found this to be a great accompaniment to appetizers also.  Upon tasting, I experience a dry and slightly acid wine.  Interestingly enough I pick up some tannins, rarer in the Rose family.  I experience sour strawberry and white stone fruit’s, maybe some hints of sour apples.  The finish of this wine really stands out as here is where you pick up the acidity on the sides of your cheeks and those tannins.  This wine has a long finish to it, again a rarer find in a Rose blend. 

The grapes from this winemaker are 100% hand harvested and sustainably farmed, with no chemicals used on the grapes.  I found a rating of 87/100 on the internet, but that seemed a bit low when compared to other reviews and the accolades this Rose has achieved.

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Friuli Isonzo Cabernet Franc 2016

Origin:  DOC Friuli Isonzo, Italy

Grape:  Cabernet Franc

Year:  2016

Alcohol:  12.5%

Price point:  $11

Year Reviewed: 2019

Crazy day, but had to stop and comment on this wine so I would remembered to keep it on my favorites list.  I just love Cab Francs, and this wine is one perfect reason that I do.  This wine is smooth and velvety with flavors of ripe raspberries, subtle pepper, red liquorice and grass.  Found this on another tab at a wine tasting I was offering. 

This wine is 6-8 days is skins before malolactic fermentation begins.  Then it goes to oak for 6 months and aged in the bottle for 2 more months.  DOC Friuli Isonzo is a small DOC region that received its classification in 1974.  One of the best Cab Francs I have ever had.  Will purchase again.

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CA’ de’ Rocchi La Bastia Amarone Della Valpolicella 2015

Origin:  Veneto,  Italy

Grape:  Valpolicella Blend, Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara

Year:  2017

Alcohol:  15%

Price point:  $40 in stores, $65 in restaurants

Year Reviewed: 2019

Every day I learn something additional about wine.  Enjoying this $65 Amarone at a little Italian restaurant in Bartlett, IL, I was interested in the labelling of protetta on the bottle.  Most of us have heard of DOC and DOCG Italian wines, but what about DOP?   Well come to know that the DOP consists of all 408 DOCs and DOCGs together. 

https://italianwinecentral.com/denominations-designation/

 This elegant structured Amarone has flavors of raisins, figs, mocha and some subtle sweetness.  This wine is very intense with a richness.  Someone who prefers sweet wines actually enjoyed this Amarone…..growth for everyone.  Recall that Amarones are actually the process of drying the grape berries to a concentrated state prior to fermentation.   After drying, the grapes in this Amarone are fermented around 20 days.  Most of these grapes are hand-picked for the perfect ripeness.   Most Amarones are from the Veneto region and consist of a blend of the following three grapes:  Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella.  This wine is not very fragrant, but I have to tell you that this is the heaviest glass I have ever seen used in winemaking.  I actually had to weigh this empty bottle on my scale and it was over 3 lbs of glass. 

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Tortoise Creek Pinot Noir 2017

Origin:  Clarksburg and Monterey, CA

Grape:  Pinot Noir

Year:  2017

Alcohol:  13.5%

Price point:  $11

Year Reviewed: 2019

Married wine maker’s story from https://www.martysfinewine.com/sku74695_TORTOISE-CREEK-PINOT-NOIR-MISSION-GROVE-750ML

Mel and Janie are from England but both now US citizens. Mel has been in the wine business ever since leaving school and he met Janie when they were only twelve and thirteen (she played the piano and he played the guitar!) and as they grew up together, they shared a passion for food and wine. They married at 19 and 20. The couple left England to live in France in 1970 and started a company called Master Wines and began selling little known French wines in the USA. Mel was a pioneer in bringing great wine values to the USA from France.

Winemaker’s notes

Pinot Noir is a grape variety that demands optimum growing conditions. Sixty percent of our blend comes from vineyards in the Clarksburg region where the clay and loam soils combined with a cooling effect from the Sacramento Delta, balances the acidity in the ripening of the fruit. The other forty percent is grown from vineyards in the Monterey region that benefits from direct sunshine and shelter from the Pacific winds by the Santa Lucia Mountains. This is where the low temperature during the nights and the warm days are just perfect for Pinot Noir.

Where does the name “Mission Grove” come from?

Mission Grove” refers to the native Californian Olive cultivar, originally planted at the San Diego Mission by Franciscan monks. Mission olives grow throughout California, close to areas we source our Pinot Noir.

What is Tortoise Creek and where is it?

Tortoise Creek was created by Mel and Janie master, a British couple who have lived most of their lives in the wine business in both France and California. “Tortoise Creek” comes from the translation of the name of the couple’s home in Provence named “Le Riseau de Tortue” after the Tortoises who flourished in the creek alongside their vineyard.

The concept with Tortoise Creek is to work with small farmers who focus on sustainable farming, whether it is from the Languedoc Region or California. Tortoise Creek is handcrafted, small-batch wines selected and blended from growers who understand this philosophy. In 2008, Mel and Janie Master joined forces with the Sager family who own the national importing company, Winesellers, Ltd., and together they have extended the range to consists of top quality Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc. They are all blended to create the best possible representation of the varietal and offer remarkable value.

https://www.wine.com

So have lots of info on this wine and winemaker, as I learned about this wine when I had to do a demo.  Found the history and background very interesting and when I featured this value Pinot Noir, folks truly loved it and purchased it.  I had to purchase a bottle myself to blog on it.

This ruby colored wine has some great aromas for a Pinot Noir.  I get floral—white flowers and violet, lavender and eucalyptus.  This heavier Pinot, which I like a heavier style Pinot, has some well-blended fruit with tastes of cherry and plum.  I also get forest floor, spice and black pepper, and vegetal of mushrooms.  The finish is interesting and long with pepper, clove and spice.

I recently received some flowers that smelled just like what I tasted in this wine….Funny…Right?  There is a spicy and clove smell to this lovely lavender spring cut flower.

https://www.po.flowerscanadagrowers.com

You can’t beat the price of this Pinot Noir and I can guarantee this is going to be a “crowd-pleasing” wine with any meal that has the weight to carry a heavier Pinot Noir with it.  Try with pasta or a mushroom and spinach dish, lamb or beef.  The spice in here is very tantalizing on your mouth and made me think of all the dishes I cook that would pair eloquently with this wine.  Very versatile and will purchase again.  Price point is great for a party crowd.  ‘