Wine & Spirits - June 2017 - 62

TOP 100 VALUES
214953

87 | Mezzacorona

$15

87 | Murphy-Goode

$15

2014 Vigneti delle Dolomiti Cliffhanger
Vineyards ^ A blend of teroldego and lagrein,
this is spicy and sappy, its smoky notes lending the black cherry and plum flavors a
savory edge. For pork shoulder. (W&S 10/16) §
Prestige Wine Imports, NY
446560
444213

87 | Castle Rock

$11

2013 Columbia Valley Merlot ^ This is a
smoky red, with scents of cranberry and bay
leaf; for a ham panini. (W&S 8/16; 3,789
cases) §
119179

87 | Concha y Toro

$11

2013 California Cabernet Sauvignon ^
This is simple, hearty California cabernet,
its chewy blue-black fruit ripe and flavorful
but not ponderous, lasting on a pleasant cassis aroma. Try it with lamb shanks braised
in red wine. §
444087

87 | Primarius

$15

2015 Central Valley Casillero del Diablo
Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ^ A subtle, gentle cabernet, this has enough red fruit and
spice to match venison stew. (W&S 2/17) §
Excelsior Wine & Spirits, Old Brookville, NY
213070

87 | Armas de Guerra

2014 Oregon Pinot Noir ^ Simple, clean
and fresh, with a light strawberry scent and
slightly darker red-cherry flavors, this is wellpriced pinot noir with a mildly grippy finish.
(W&S 8/16) §
220665

$12

$9

2014 Bierzo Mencía ^ Clear in its expression
of mencía, this is lively and full of ripe raspberry flavor, spices and herbs. The texture
is soft, juicy and tender. For roasted veal.
(W&S 8/16) § Olé Imports, New Rochelle, NY
444811

2016 Pays d'Oc Cabernet Sauvignon ^ Fresh,
grapey and bright, this has just enough
tobacco-leaf scent and spice to keep it varietally correct. § DHI, Manhasset, NY
218432

87 | Parducci

$13

2015 Chianti Cetamura ^ Vinified in stainless
steel, this is a fresh and lively Chianti, with
tart cherry flavor and light fruit-skin tannins
for a simple salumi plate. (W&S 4/17) § Dalla
Terra, Napa, CA
447071

2013 Mendocino County Small Lot Blend
Merlot ^ Where most inexpensive California
merlots lean on sugar, this leans on acidity.
It's dry and curranty, and though the tannins
feel a touch green, overall it's mouthwatering and clean, more a fit for roasted chicken
thighs than steak. (W&S 8/16) §
446687

87 | Waterbrook

$13

2014 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ^ This generous red has a lush dollop of
purple fruit at its dark red center, marked
by modest acids. A great buy for barbecued
pork. (W&S 12/16) §
447574

87 | Girasole Vineyards

$14

2015 Mendocino County Sangiovese ^ "A
very appealing wine," said Peter Steiner of
San Francisco's Sens, comparing this to a
simple Chianti. It's light in color and texture, with a leafy strawberry flavor that's
clean and varietally true. (540 cases) § Barra
of Mendocino, Redwood Valley, CA
447705

87 | Kirkland Signature

$15

2014 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ^ As rich
as a chunk of chocolate, this broad pinot noir
has a ripe red plum flavor; it can stand on its
own without food. (W&S 4/17) §
62

WINE & SPIRITS

JUNE 2017

86 | Wild Pig

86 | Coltibuono

$10

86 | Bogle

$12

2014 California Petite Sirah ^ Bogle's reliable and inexpensive petite is lush and juicy
in 2014, with bold purple fruit flavors that
darken toward fig and cocoa powder at the
end. Buy it by the case for barbecues. (W&S
2/17) §
446867

86 | Tortoise Creek

$12

86 | Tenute Rubino

$15

2015 California Mission Grove Pinot Noir ^
There's varietal typicity and some restraint
to this inexpensive pinot, a blend of Clarksburg and Monterey fruit aged in French oak.
Its red fruit flavor is soft and sweet, carrying
light scents of rose and incense. (W&S 2/17) §
220911
2013 Salento Marmorelle Rosso ^ Hints of
licorice and smoke add dimension to flavors
of raspy red berries and black figs in this
blend of negroamaro and malvasia nera. It
shows just enough grip and acidity to balance
the ripe fruit. § Soilair Selection, NY

221132

85 | Vini

$9

2015 Thracian Valley Veni Vidi Vici Pinot
Noir ^ Light, fresh and crisp, this has red
cherry and sour plum flavors underlined by
bitter notes of black tea. Absorb that astringency with a creamy mushroom pasta. § Bulgarian Master Vintners, Sonoma, CA

DESSERT
444818

92 | Pacific Rim

$14

2014 Columbia Valley Vin de Glacière
Riesling ^ This is a dessert wine defined more
by energy than weight. Its scents of apricot
and peach are driven into a fresh, linear beeline of flavor that's pleasantly salty, the texture in focus for foie gras. (W&S 8/16; 1,087
cases) §

214411

90 | Achaia Clauss

$15

87 | Qta. Seara d'Ordens

$15

Mavrodaphne of Patras 601 ^ There's a lovely
transparency to this wine, both in its pale caramel color and the way the spice and fruit
show through the sweetness. The acidity
invigorates the flavors, turning the fruit from
dried cherries toward fresh ones, the cinnamon shifting toward mint. It would be delicious with cheese, or even roast duck. (W&S
8/16) § Stellar Importing, Whitestone, NY
217269
Porto Fine Tawny ^ This is warm and nutty,
with salted caramel flavor lasting in a tight
finish. Chill it to serve after dinner with raw
almonds. (W&S 12/16) § Sarmento's Imports,
Fall River, MA n
http://www.bulgarianwine.com/vipino201.html http://www.castlerockwinery.com/ http://www.stellarimports.com/brands/achaia-clauss/mavrodaphne-of-patras/
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - June 2017
