We all love to explore with a glass in hand, and sometimes with wine and spirits it is especially enjoyable to explore the past – the heritage regions of Europe, with such names as Madeira, Rioja, Porto and Speyside. What do these historic regions offer us that is new and exciting?
In this issue, The Dozen gives a glimpse of what is old but still new.
Let’s start with the spirits. Above is a view of the Speyburn distillery in northern Scotland, a place I well remember from a visit there a few years ago.
Speyburn “Bourbon Cask” Speyside Single Malt ($29). The Bourbon cask provides added vanilla notes to the malty smoothness, and there is a good, pleasant bite at the finish. (40% ABV).
Speyburn “Rum Cask Finish” Speyside Single Malt ($31). The rum finish offers more of a pleasing caramel finish, although it overrides the grain flavors a bit. (40% ABV).
Speyburn “10-Year-Old” Speyside Single Malt ($32). Smooth, creamy, lightly peated with ground-grain flavors and a hint of sweetness. As with the other two, affordably priced. (40% ABV).
2023 Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($25). A few dollars less than the Russian River Valley version, it is enjoyable, mostly crisp and apple-ly with some toastiness in the finish.
2021 Symington “Altano” Douro Red ($13). Very granular red fruit with a pleasant earthiness and a little tang in the finish – a value wine.
2020 Marqués de Caceres Rioja Reserva ($20). A lighter wine with mellow fruits, lots of almost-neutral wood notes and a hint of tanginess in the finish.
2021 The Prisoner Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($50). A Pinot that needs some time to open up, it has lots of lush cherries – almost mouth-filling – with a few savory hints and dusty tannins.
2022 The Prisoner California Red Wine ($52). Somewhat fruit-forward with cherries and blackberries and dusty tannins – very enjoyable, though a tad fruity sweet.
2021 The Prisoner Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($60). Attractive price for a premium Napa Cab – firm structure, yet lively on the palate with ripe purple flavors of cassis and blackberry, some dried herbal tastes and leathery and walnut-tannin notes in the finish.
2019 Del Dotto “Connoisseurs Series” St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon ($251). This is the French oak version – very enjoyable, very smooth, with rich fruits and blackberry flavors and a floral uplift and light woodiness in the finish.
NV Miles Rainwater Madeira ($17). With its nutty, lightly sweet, tangy flavors, Rainwater is the ideal wine, even at 18% alcohol, for a charcuterie plate, as it pairs so well with deli meats and cheeses.
NV Warre’s “Warrior Finest Reserve” Porto ($24). Rich purple flavors and crisp taffy notes – but still a “fresh” taste in spite of its richness.
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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