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By Manos Angelakis
 

Summer Libations

It is hot and humid again this summer, and we are drinking mostly lighter, aromatic whites and rosés wines.

Our preferences this year have included

Whites from Germany:

The 2005 Fitz-Ritter Gewürztraminer, Spätlese. Even though it is an older white, it has fared very well being cellared. A QmP bottle; I consider it Fitz-Ritter’s signature wine. As Gewürztraminer fans know many vintners shy away from this grape as it is often idiosyncratic with low and irregular yields. This Pfalz wine is spicy, with rose-petals and lychee aromas. Good balance with great acidity and structure. Low alcohol (9.5%)

From the Mosel, Saar, Ruwer, Rudolf Müller’s Riesling Auslese. Another low alcohol (8.5%) QmP wine that is a treat to drink with summer fare. A classic demi-sec wine, very aromatic, with apricot, herbs, pear and spice cookies on the nose, with prevailing flavors of apricot and Roma apple. The price is also very right for the quality.

White from Australia:

Château Tanunda’s Grand Barossa Riesling. This is a much drier Riesling, not as aromatic as the German wines. The wines are made from hand-picked grapes that are basket-pressed. The nose is fruity and slightly floral with lemon, apple and subtropical fruits predominating. Slightly elevated acidity, good with charcoal grilled fatty fish. (12% Alcohol).

Whites from Italy:

Centine Bianco. An IGT wine from Tuscany. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay. Fresh, fruity nose with pear, apricot, lime and a hint of herbs. Brilliant yellow color, dry with very crisp acidity. (12% Alcohol).

Bianco di Caprolace is another IGT wine, this one from Lazio. This is a 100% Chardonnay grown in hillside-hugging vineyards near the town of Sabaudia. We found this wine on our trip to the area southeast of Rome called Lazio – from the Latin Latium. The winery is located 6 km from the sea and the vineyards surround it produce grapes influenced by the cooler Mediterranean climate. Yellow hue with green highlights. Medium aromatic, with hints of kiwi and lychee. Fresh with good acidity. Long finish.

Whites from Chile:

Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc, from the Leyda Valley. A classic Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, aromatic, crisp and fresh. Great with fresh cheeses, grilled seafood and lighter fare. An unoaked cuvee with an expressive nose of spring flowers, citrus, and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied, it exhibits white fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and excellent balance. (13.5% Alcohol)

2008 Xplorador Sauvignon Blanc from Concha y Toro. A light greenish-gold hued wine that sees no oak as it is aged in stainless steel. Made from a blend of hand and machine harvested grapes from Chile’s Central Valley. Fresh and crisp, with lemon and herbal flavors. Slightly less aromatic than other Chilean Sauvignon Blancs. (12.5% Alcohol).  

White from Spain:

Verdeljo is an indigenous white grape variety in Spain’s Rueda DO. In the past, it had been used to create sherry-like wines, and is also used in Portugal as part of white blends. It is a terrific food wine with lemon, grapefruit jest, and green apple on the nose. The 2009 Palacio de Bornos is a yellow colored with greenish highlights wine, with a lemony nose and hints of honey and honeysuckle. The palate is replete with green apples, black pepper and has a very distinctive mineral and toast flavors. A light, creamy finish. Very well priced for the quality it represents. (13% Alcohol)   

Rosé from Spain:

Rosado Joven Monte Ducay. A blend of Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon. Very brief maceration of the must with the skins, followed by fermentation in stainless steel at controlled temperature. Brilliant raspberry red color, with intensely fruity nose. Good acidity makes it very food friendly. Long finish (13% Alcohol).

Rosé from Chile:

Another excellent rosé is the Montes Cherub. A fresh, 100% Syrah, from the Archangel Estate in the Colchagua Valley. The brilliant cherry red color is the result of very brief maceration of the must with the skins (just overnight). Very dry, with a pronounced nose of roses, orange peel, and honeysuckle. Long, pleasing aftertaste. Great with Chilean dishes, like empanaditas, congrio frito, machas alla parmigiana and, of course, curanto. (13.5% Alcohol)

Rosé from Italy:

Centine Rosé is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with a salmon pink color, a wine from Tuscany. We opened a 2008 bottle, which is a year older than the 2009 that was recently shipped to us, because the 2009 was left in a FedEx truck to bake all day long (when it arrived the bottle was very hot with bubbles formed inside). The 2009 was flat and lacked any detail; obviously baking all day in a Fed Ex truck is not good for the wine. The 2008 in contrast was light, crisp, a bit shy on the nose, with flavors of red forest berries and enjoyable when served chilled. (12.5% Alcohol)

Á votre santé.

Editor’s Note: In our very busy lifestyles, few individuals have the time or budget to personally taste and evaluate the thousands of wines a typical wine merchant offers or has access to every year. By necessity therefore, people look to us, the “professionals”, to guide them in their selections. Professionally evaluating wines is a very subjective exercise. Each critic’s personal preferences and prejudices play a major factor in their recommendations. We at The Oenophile Blog, taste wines every day and describe them in our stories. These suggestions are only a starting point for you, the consumer. Ultimately, it is your decision to either purchase or not our recommendations.

Other wine articles and reviews you might enjoy: The Oeno File on LuxuryWeb

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