Wine & Spirits - June 2017 - 48

BROOKS WINERY
While Brooks's Willamette Valley pinot noir is
one of the deals of the valley, winemaker Chris
Williams hit it out of the park with whites in
2015. Check out Amycas, a flower-scented,
savory mix of five varieties inspired by Alsace's
edelzwicker blends, as well as the Oak Ridge
Vineyard Gewurztraminer, a racy, bracingly dry
take on the spicy grape-both at $18.

CANTINA DI CALDARO
In Alto Adige, where hundreds of small growers tend tiny
plots, cooperative wineries play a prominent role. Cantina
di Caldaro is one of the best, producing fresh wines with
real varietal character at bargain prices. Try the Classic
line for crisp, steely pinot grigio and richly textured pinot
blanc (both $16), while the 2015 Pinot Nero ($18) stands
out for its lively red-berry flavors trimmed with just enough
tannins for grilled chicken. Enotec Imports, Denver, CO

COMPAÑÍA DE VINOS DEL ATLÁNTICO
Compañía de Vinos del Atlántico produces wines from all over
Spain, from the sunny lands of the Levante to Galicia, offering
a wine for every occasion. Kick off a party with the Totus Tuus
Cava, a radiant sparkling wine for $17; pour the plump, juicy
2011 Rioja Graciano with grilled sausages. Meanwhile, cellar
the 2012 Rioja Calma ($17): It has the structure and richness
to improve with age. Olé Imports, New Rochelle, NY

CASTLE ROCK
When prices for Napa and
Sonoma fruit started
to rise, this Californiabased brand simply
headed north, to the
Pacific Northwest.
Seek out the lean and
smoky 2013 Columbia
Valley Merlot ($11),
and the vinous, chillable 2015 Willamette
Valley Pinot Noir ($14)
for summer drinking.
48

WINE & SPIRITS

JUNE 2017

ALVARO CASTRO
From the foothills of the Serra d'Estrella-home of queijo de Serra, Portugal's answer to Vacheron Mont d'Or-the Dão wines Alvaro Castro and
his team grow at the family domaine are equal to Serra in their worldclass funky deliciousness. His reds, from local varieties, smell like red
roses and taste like rock, if it were suffused by light red fruit. Domaine
Select Wine Estates, NY

DOMAINE DE LA CHANTELEUSERIE
If you love fresh reds with depth of flavor, Chanteleuserie is a
great source of affordably aristocratic cabernet franc. Named
for the singing larks at this limestone plateau in Bourgeuil, the
domaine consistently puts out fragrant, red-fruited franc from
vines dating back to the 1970s. The exuberant Cuvée Alouettes
($16) grows on sand and clay, the spicy, black-peppercornscented Cuvée Beauvais ($18) on clay and limestone. Kermit
Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA

CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year,
Chateau Ste. Michelle has been defining
Washington State wine since they put their
first vines in the ground. Its wines have
earned the winery a place on our Top
100 list of best-performing wineries 22
times-more than any other in the US.
It's also a regular on this list, putting
out a range of great buys at $18 and
less. Whites are a particular strength,
especially the lean, brisk sauvignon
blanc off the Horse Heaven Vineyard
($15) and a range of riesling, including a remarkably pure, juicy 2015
Cold Creek Riesling for $16.

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