It’s only August, but harvesters across the Northern Hemisphere are beginning their return to the vineyards, some with baskets and shears, some on tractors before daylight to take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures. Global warming keeps pushing harvest dates earlier and earlier.
The photo above is from a recent harvest in the vineyards of producer Hubert Bouchard in the Loire Valley.
This edition of The Dozen has both sparkling and table wines from the Loire, including Bouchard and Bouvet, the Rhone Valley whites of M. Chapoutier and Malbecs from Argentina.
So grab a bottle and cluster up.
$2022 M. Chapoutier “Belleruche” Côtes du Rhone Blanc ($19). Lovely wine – peaches and stone fruit with a touch of citrus and a tangy finish.
2023 Oberon Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($20). More kiwi fruit than lime, with soft green flavors, could use a little more acidity.
2023 San Leonardo “Vette” Dolomiti Sauvignon Blanc ($25). A Bordeaux-style Sauvignon from the south side of the Alps with green, lean and tart flavors, but with a nice fruit oils finish.
2023 Hubert Bouchard Sancerre ($34). Good green flavors of Sauvignon Blanc with some savory notes, though not very long on the palate.
2022 M. Chapoutier “Petite Ruche” Crozes-Hermitage Blanc ($34). Nicely spicy with some good aging potential.
2020 M. Chapoutier “Les Granilites” St. Joseph Blanc ($52). Substantial, with full-bodied apple, quince and exotic fruits flavors, some minerality and a full yet crisp finish.
2022 M. Chapoutier “La Bernardine” Châteauneuf-du-Pape” Blanc ($76). An outstanding and complex wine with floral and baking spice aromas and flavors with silky, light textures yet still substantial.
NV Bouvet Ladubay “Signature” French Sparkling Wine ($19). Pleasant mellow apple flavors with good bubble intensity and hints of honey.
NV Bouvet “Excellence” French Sparkling Brut Rosé ($19). Light strawberry flavors with good intensity of bubbles and crisp finish.
2021 Bouvet Ladubay “Saphir” Saumur Brut ($20). Some hints of strawberries and creamy with a touch of peppermint – very nice.
2021 Kaiken “Ultra” Mendoza Malbec ($22). Smooth without being overly creamy and with ripe berry flavors and good intensity.
2019 Duriguti “Proyeto las Computeras” Lujan de Cuyo Malbec ($29). Good intensity of red fruit flavors, mildly tart at the beginning but creamier in the finish.
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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