This is  our Four Wines episode for January 2018, our chance every couple of months to share recommendations with you for wines we’ve recently enjoyed but weren’t for an upcoming episode.

 

Wines featured in this episode:

Alvarez de Toledo Roble 2009

• 100% Mencia grape and aged for 10 months in American and French oak barrels
• Deep purple color
• Medium intense nose of black plum, blackberries, pepper and a hint of floral and smoke
• It’s dry, full bodied with medium plus acidity, light tannins and flavors of black plum, fennel, leather, and a little smoke
• This is a food wine and pair well with cured meats like hard salami
• With the amount of acid we think this could probably be aged longer
• Priced around $10

 

Domaine de l'Espigouette Vieilles Vignes Côtes du Rhône

• A blend of 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Carignan, 5% Cinsault
• This wine has a nose of black cherry, blackberry, dried prunes, dusty earth and a hint of floral like lavender
• It’s dry, with medium plus acidity, medium - tannins and medium bodied with flavors of blackberry, lavender, dried bay leaf, pepper and a hint of wood
• Really nice blend - complex but not overpowering
• Fruit forward and lots of acid but still can be enjoyed on it’s own.
• Great with a red pasta sauce or pizza
• Priced around $14

 

Smithereens by Skinner 2015 White Blend

• This wine was given to us for free at the WBC
• This is a blend of 50% Grenache Blanc, 21% Viognier, 19% Roussanne, 9% Picpoul and 3% Marsanne
• It was aged for 11 month, 60% in neutral french oak and 40% in stainless steel
• Aromas of white peach, white flowers, and golden apple
• It’s dry with medium acidity and body
• Flavors of crisp apple, flowers, and yeast
• The texture and body of this wine is perfect for colder months and has a beautiful balance between acidity and body
• We think this would pair well with lots of food - roasted root vegetables or Greek food but can still be enjoyed on it’s own
• Priced around $18
• you can purchase this wine here 

 

G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso 2014

• From Piedmont
• Blend: Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Albarossa, Freisa, and Pinot Noir
• This wine smells like a bouquet of flowers - mostly rose with a hint of sweet dried fennel/black licorice- almost like the Good and Plenty candies! The label features a bouquet of flowers.
• It’s dry with medium acidity, light tannins and ripe juicy red plum and blackberry flavors, candied orange peel and rose
• This wine is also fruit forward and floral and we loved the complexity in flavors this wine brings.
• It’s a little lower in acid compare to the other reds wines featured in this episode so if you are looking for a sipping wine to drink on it’s own, this is the wine
• Priced around $16

 

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