I have been truly neglectful. I haven’t been recommending many wines available through the bi-weekly releases at our mother ship. It’s not that I don’t care. It’s just that I have been distracted by other things. Well, to be honest, I’ve been lazy. I’ve started about 5 different times to talk about releases and just stalled. There’s no good reason except that it’s my blog and I can do what I want. And, I’ve wanted to travel and then get home and write about it.
But, I thought that I would do a quick post on some of the wines that I’ve found recently that I like a lot. These are not necessarily from the October 31st release but are still available.
Let’s start with the reds.
I’d say that I have recommended the Château Saint-Roch Chimères maybe five or six times over the years. The 2013 vintage #119354 $19.95 is like the ones preceding it. Only better. It is a healthy, round blend of primarily Grenache and Syrah. It’s a Côtes du Roussillon that smooths out some of the rough edges that you might see with these wines. It is a beaut. Cherries, spicy (Syrah), earthy – Love it! It would be perfect with some kind of roast dinner in this fall season.
Another great red from the south of France is the 2013 Famille Perrin Vinsobres Les Cornuds #566854 $17.95. This is from the Perrin….famille. They are the family that creates Château de Beaucastel, an iconic wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These guys do know wine. This is a very gentle but medium-bodied handful of cherries with a bite. I’m thinking if it’s cherries then a cherry match – Muscovy duck breast, pork tenderloin or something else like that. This is from a village in the Côtes du Rhone that warrants villages designation. Top drawer.
If you’ve been reading these pages, you know that The Director does love her Chardonnay. And, contrary to current trends, she likes it oaked. The past few weeks, we’ve been enjoying the 2013 Dunigan Hills Match Book #205492 $20.95. This is oaked but not that much. It allows the typical apple scents and flavours through without adding any tropical fruit stuff. Vanilla on the finish but, need I say, not too much. It’s a Goldilocks Chardonnay – Just Right.
I’ve spoken of my love for wines from Washington State – Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Mark Ryan and my fave Andrew Will. Love the Will! And, I have written about the quirky, inventive, yet delicious wines from Charles Smith. We have been grabbing a Chardonnay from the – gasp – General Listing aisles. I know. It’s unimaginable that yours truly would linger with the plebes but I am not a snob (he says, with tongue firmly planted in cheek). In any event, Charles Smith has a great chard – 2013 Charles & Charles Chardonnay #394734 $15.95. This is a mid-weight, slightly oaked white with a bit more vanilla than the one above. It’s a keeper. A perfect sipper without food after a long day writing about wine, hanging at your local pub, watching the Blue Jays lose in six. Yes, that means we’ve had a bunch of it. And, it’s a Stelvin twist cap meaning that you can actually open this as a third bottle of the night without incurring cuts and stabs.
Wines previously recommended that are still available in number:
2008 Rivera Cappellaccio Riserva #305276 $17.95 – a full-bodied and well-aged Anglianico – meaty and lip smacking good.
2012 Talamonti Tre Saggi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo #204016 $15.95 – a full-bodied, round fruit sandwich. OK, a bit too weirdly descriptive. It’s just a good sipping wine. I’d say pizza if it’s got lots of cheese and not too much tomato sauce.
Cheers.
Bill
Remember: If you want to know what inventory your local has, click on the link associated with the stock number and choose your city or town from the drop down menu. I can tell how often that’s done and it isn’t done enough to make me comfortable that people know how to use it.
Duff's Wines 