As the warm weather continues in earnest, noted below are several more wines that are quite suitable for summertime quaffing or as accompaniments to a variety of items hot off the grill.
I’ve noted several excellent white wines in the posts below… On the other hand, if you’re incurably carnivorous, and decide to throw a New York strip on the grill, there are two recently tasted red wines that I can heartily recommend…
The first is the 2013 La Massa “La Massa” Toscana. This full-bodied Italian red is produced in the Chianti Classico region of Panzano. It is comprised of 60% Sangiovese and 30% Merlot; the remaining 10% a combo of Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouschet. This dark, almost jammy wine is intense & complex and superbly rich on the palate. So if you want something on the hefty side to stand up to that steak, this is definitely a suitable candidate. Best of all, it’s reasonably priced. A bargain at its usual $21.00 mark, I’ve seen it online for as low as $18.98.
But if you’re looking for something with a bit more savoir-faire, the 2011 Tenor 2:2 Columbia Valley Red Wine is just what the doctor ordered. A product of Washington State’s Matthews/Tenor Winery, this sumptuous red is dressed to impress.
Since 1992 the family-owned and operated Matthews Winery has been crafting excellent Bordeaux style wines. And their winemaker, Aryn Morell, sports a résumé that reads like a Who’s Who of impressive Napa Valley wineries. Mr. Morell has honed his significant winemaking skills at the likes of Joseph Phelps, Quintessa, Hartwell, Chimney Rock, Caldwell Vineyards, Vineyard 29, Chappellet, Rutherford Hill, Spring Mountain Winery, Stags Leap Winery, and Turnbull. He became head winemaker for Matthews in 2007 and, in 2008, launched Tenor Wines with a focus on ultra-premium red and white Bordeaux style wines.
Mr. Morell’s 2011 Tenor 2:2 Columbia Valley Red Wine, which received a 93-point score from the Wine Enthusiast, is a blend of 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Malbec. Typical of Bordeaux-like blends, the nose catches an initial intoxicating whiff of cordovan shoe polish followed by aromas of coffee, wood & spice. A stunning combination of power and finesse, the palate is all about dark fruits and a finish that seems to go on forever.
The 2011 Tenor 2:2 is a stunning wine and worth every penny of its $55.00 price tag. As luck would have it, however, it is currently on sale at Pennsylvania State Stores for a modest $29.99. A wine of this quality and price point does not come along every day. ‘Nuff said?
Cheers & Bon Appétit!
TAD
{ 0 comments… add one now }