Wine & Spirits - June 2021 - 41

Top 100 Values
Barão de Vilar

$13

2016 Douro Proeza (Portugal, 91 points) ^
Álvaro van Zeller makes this wine from
Douro Superior grapes, a blend of touriga
franca, tinta roriz, tinto cão and tinta barroca. The flavors burst with blueberry freshness and a crush of strawberries, the fat
sweetness of the fruit tended by green notes
of peppercorn and basil. A supple and happy
Douro red. -J.G. (W&S 2/21) § Regal Wine
Imports, Moorestown, NJ
524894

2016 Madiran Petit Torus (France, 90
points) ^ This tannat includes 20 percent
each of cabernets sauvignon and franc, providing some of the red-fruited tannins and
spice that give it lift. It's broad, and a bit
funky, with the scent of an artisanal leather
shop; it might find a home next to roasted
fall mushrooms with a vegetable jus. -C.W. §
Regal Wine Imports, Moorestown, NJ
525714

Pareto's Estate

$15

2019 Montevideo Tannat (Uruguay, 90
points) ^ Robed in purple fruit, this combines
plum and dark raspberry flavors with salty
Atlantic freshness. Ripe and soft (for tannat),
this is a clean red to pour with charcuterie.
-J.G. § American Estates Wines, Summit, NJ
278181

2019 Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (California, 91 points) ^ Classic warm-region zinfandel from Lodi, this wine is juicy and bright
from the moment it's poured. A simple darkberry scent carries over to its flavors, all delivered with a rich core of fruit that is in no way
baked, and a tangy finish for grilled chicken.
-P.J.C. (1,225 cases) §
125896

Aniello

$17

2017 Patagonia Riverside Estate 006 Malbec (Argentina, 91 points) ^ From an estate
in Mainque, in the upper Rio Negro Valley,
this grows in two sandy parcels: one with
loam, the other with alluvial stones. They
produced a fine-boned malbec in 2017, with a
salted-licorice note to the black-cherry fruit,
and sinewy tannins. -T.Q.T. (W&S 10/20) §
Global Vineyard Importers, Berkeley, CA
125718

Montes

$17

2017 Colchagua Valley Twins (Chile, 91
points) ^ Tempranillo makes up only ten percent of this blend, syrah 30, but together they
tip the balance toward a Mediterranean feel,
taking cabernet and carmenère in a ripe, floral direction. A fresh herb character and an
earthiness, like pressed flowers, highlights
the fragrant red fruit of the wine, keeping
it high toned and spicy. -J.G. (W&S 10/20) §
Kobrand, Purchase, NY
126128

Pikes

$17

2018 Clare Valley Los Compañeros Shiraz
Tempranillo (Australia, 91 points) ^ Here's
a steal: Plump tempranillo adds fruit to the
spicy black-pepper notes of shiraz, giving
this wine the feel of a ripe Rioja. There's a
lovely umami gloss to the tannins, taking it
to Logroño for a plate of wild mushrooms
sautéed with garlic, or to Adelaide for seared
tuna over a salad of avocado, arugula and
orange slices. -J.G. (W&S 2/21) § Winebow
Imports, NY
523315

523315

Fournier

$18

2019 Vin de France F de Fournier Pinot
Noir (France, 91 points) ^ This pinot grows
in clay soils in Touraine, where it produced
a rather austere, pretty 2019. The fruit-
crunchy cherry and cherry pit-frames
savory flavors of black tea leaves and earthy
morels. Light enough to drink on its own,
it would be comfortable next to mild cured
meats. -C.W. (W&S 4/21) § David Milligan
Selections, Ridgefield, CT
279125

Sauska

$18

2016 Villany Cuvée 13 (Hungary, 91
points) ^ A blend of cabernet franc, cabernet
sauvignon, syrah and merlot, this is brisk
and herbal, with tobacco scents to its blackcurrant fruit. Fine-grit tannins give it the
muscle to pair with duck breast or hanger
steak. -T.Q.T. (W&S 12/20) § Trinity Beverage Group, NY
279658

Duorum

$11

2018 Douro Tons de Duorum (Portugal,
90 points) ^ This is a stainless steel-fermented
blend of estate-grown fruit, half of it touriga
franca, the balance touriga nacional and tinta
roriz. It spends three months in American
and French oak barrels, yielding a wine with
strawberry-ripe sweetness and rosemary
scents to its tannins-a simple red marked by
the schist terroir of the Douro. -J.G. (W&S
2/21) § Winebow Imports, NY
125806

Alta Vista

$12

2019 Mendoza Vive Malbec (Argentina,
90 points) ^ This is a bargain at the price, a
smooth, lush malbec with summery brightness to its red fruit. Notes of anise and green
pepper bring it freshness, while the bitterchocolate tannins give it the edge to stand
up to slow-roasted pork shoulder. -T.Q.T.
(W&S 10/20) § Kobrand, Purchase, NY
525790

Brumont

$12

Familia Traversa

$12

Feudi di Santa Tresa

$13

Waterbrook

$13

Domaine d'Aussières

$14

$15

2018 Cerasuolo di Vittoria (Italy, 90
points) ^ This blend combines cask-aged
nero d'Avola with 40 percent frappato aged
in stainless steel. The result is a tasty wine
with a generous core of mixed berry flavors
accented by notes of licorice and crunchy
herbs. A serious value proposition for weeknight roast chicken. -S.J. (W&S 10/20) § Vias
Imports, NY
521961
2018 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington, 90 points) ^ This cabernet totally overdelivers in its succulent
red-berry fruit and firm, slightly herbaceous
phenolic notes, grippy but ultimately balanced. It's an excellent foil for lamb chops.
-P.J.C. (W&S 12/20) §
525417
2017 Pays d'Oc Château d'Aussières
(France, 90 points) ^ Bordeaux meets the
Mediterranean in this red from the Corbières estate of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). A blend of syrah, marselan,
merlot, cabernet sauvignon, franc and other
varieties grown on the lower altitudes of the
estate, it's earthy and elegant, with notes of
black currant and pencil lead, olive and herb,
and fine tannins. -T.Q.T. § Taub Family Selections, Boca Raton, FL
521971
2018 Horse Heaven Hills (Washington,
90 points) ^ Smooth in all facets, this blend
of syrah, merlot and cabernet sauvignon has
scents of warm raspberries and strawberries,
with a mentholated tobacco-like spice. It's
sapid and persistent, the dark-cherry flavors
delivering a mineral tang. For barbecue.
-P.J.C. (W&S 12/20) §
522947
WINE & SPIRITS

JUNE 2021

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Wine & Spirits - June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - June 2021