Wine industry marketing lives and dies by the calendar. Wines are promoted as ways to celebrate this and that season or that and this holiday. Every wine variety and style has its special day, and every social cause has its week or month.
Even not drinking has its month, and I celebrate that, too, by continuing to drink.
Presently, we are in a quiet period, the interregnum between New Year’s and Valentine’s Day. So here we have a dozen wines. The only reason for drinking them is that perhaps you like them.
2021 Angeline California Sauvignon Blanc Reserve ($15). Refreshing, with apple and tropical fruits and a touch of Muscat-life taffiness but with good minerality and freshness.
2021 Duckhorn “Decoy” California Sauvignon Blanc ($19). Medium-bodied with a little spritz, lightly fruity sweet, and a tad heavy with lots of savory notes.
NV Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut ($29). A lovely string of descriptors – toasty, creamy, vanilla bean, moderately intense bubbles, full-bodied.
2020 Lievland Vineyards “Bushvine” Paarl Pinotage ($19). Some Pinotage can be contrary, but not this one – cherry/berry flavors blended with savory walnut notes, well-balanced with light tannins, and a bright finish.
2020 Stark-Conde “Kara Tara” Western Cape Pinot Noir ($21). A lighter-style Pinot with good flavors of cherry and cola, though a little light on the finish.
2018 Henri Bourgeoise “La Porte du Caillou” Sancerre Rouge ($26). They are more like currants than Pinot Noir cherries in fruitiness with good savory notes.
2019 St. Francis Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve ($47). A lovely wine – rich, almost jammy, with very ripe cassis and blackberry fruits and a touch of blueberries, good oak notes, a few savory herbs, and integrated tannins.
2016 Tabarrini “Campo alla Cerqua” Montefalco Sagrantino ($58). Almost meaty aromas with lean and leathery structure, nice cherry flavors, some savory hints, and a puckery finish – a great wine for bloody steaks.
2017 Luce Brunello di Montalcino ($150). Big, dark, rich berry fruit, generous oak flavors, well-balanced tannins, and nice bitters around the edges. Give it plenty of time to open up.
NV Bodegas Hidalgo “La Gitana” Manzanilla Sherry ($22). Very nice – smooth flavors of walnuts and hickory nuts, almost creamy in texture although dry, a little light on finishing acidity.
NV Bodegas César Florido “Cruz del Mar” Cream Sherry ($32). Enjoyable, but with mixed messages – the savory, vegetal notes and a touch of bitters clash a bit with the nutty creaminess.
NV Feudo Montoni Terre Siciliane Passito Blanco (375 mil/$83). Garrigue spiciness, including lavender with sorghum caramel flavors – very much like a liqueur.
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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