Wine With Wanda

Something "New" from Spain: Say Sí to the Wines of Somontano

So you've never heard of Somontano? Don't worry, you're not alone - I lived in Spain for two years and knew nada about this wine region in the country's north east, south of the Pyrenees, on the natural border with France. Somontano may not have the name recognition of Rioja but the word is getting out about the quality, diversity, and affordability of their wines produced from indigenous and international grape varieties. Somontano D.O. (Denomination of Origin) was established about 30 years ago but wine has been produced in the region for centuries and the region sells 14 million bottles a year. 



I recently had the chance to take my palate on a wine adventure to Somontano over a fantastic selection of tapas at Amada restaurant in New York City. From jamón to croquetas, the wines were incredibly food-friendly. Here are four of my favorite vinos from the evening --  they are a great introduction to the Somontano style.


Pirineos Alquézar Rosado 2015 ($13)
This fizzy and fresh rosé is a fruit-forward blend of Tempranillo & Cabernet Sauvignon. An eye-catching shade of deep pink, it has juicy cherry, strawberry, and raspberry flavors. A perfect springtime sip! 


Viñas del Vero La Miranda de Secastilla 2015 ($15)
This elegant expression of Garnacha Blanca (white Garnacha) has gorgeous texture and lively flavors of white peach, pear, and a subtle hint of hazelnut. 


Enate Chardonnay 234 2016 ($20)
This award-winning wine shows how beautifully unoaked Chardonnay can express terroir. Full and vibrant, it has great acidity and lively flavors of green apple, peach, and passion fruit that are balanced by a hint of mountain herbs and minerality.  

Sommos Premium 2009 ($40)
This single-vineyard blend of Tempranillo, Merlot, and Syrah beautifully displays Somontano's capacity to produce bold wines that balance power and finesse. Robust with deep flavors of ripe red & black fruits that are enhanced by a touch of toast, minerality, and velvety tannins; this vino is superb. 

Visit the Somontano website to learn more about the Somontano region and its wonderful wines. Salud! 

A Wine Worth Waiting For: Beaulieu Vineyard Rarity 2013

Mother Nature is a winemaker's most influential collaborator. A forceful and fickle colleague, year after year her tempestuous changes in mood challenge even the most talented vintners. It is a relationship that requires tremendous patience but all of the angst is worth it when Mother Nature rewards a winemaker's tenacity with an extraordinary vintage. Winemaker Jeffrey Stambor of Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa Valley waited more than two decades for the perfect moment to craft their iconic wine Rarity.

Jeffrey Stambor, Winemaker, Beaulieu Vineyard

The newly released Rarity 2013 represents just the fifth-ever vintage bottling of the Rarities Collection and the first release since 1990. First bottled in 1968 by legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff (aka "The Maestro"), Rarity is only bottled in remarkable vintage years. A protégé of Tchelistcheff, Stambor joined Beaulieu in 1989 and became director of winemaking in 2009 -- only the fourth person to hold this prestigious position since its founding in 1900. 


Beaulieu Vineyard holds a storied position in the history of Napa Valley. In 1900, when Georges de Latour's wife, Fernande, first laid eyes on the land that would become their original Rutherford vineyard, she named it "beau lieu," or "beautiful place." De Latour founded Beaulieu Vineyard with the vision of making Napa Valley wines that would rival those of his native France. That connection to France remains intact-- Stambor collaborated with legendary winemaking consultant Michel Rolland to perfect the blend for Rarity 2013. Rolland has also consulted on the blending of Georges de LaTour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon since 2007. 


Rarity 2013 clearly has a fascinating legacy but the proof is in the sip and this superb wine lives up to the hype. Cabernet Sauvignon with a kiss of Petit Verdot (10%), Rarity 2013 strikes that desirable balance between power and grace. Stambor said, "This limited release wine celebrates the rarity granted to us by Mother Nature. 2013 was a spectacular vintage, with the earliest onset to harvest that I recall in my 28 years of winemaking at Beaulieu, and gave us some truly special Cabernet Sauvignon. By bottling Rarity only in magnums, we better ensure that this magnificent wine can reach its full potential with bottle aging and can be enjoyed for decades to come." Vibrant and voluptuous, Rarity 2013 has seductive aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, and violet with subtle touches of vanilla and spice. Stambor describes winemaking as "a blend of art and science, and I tend to rely more on the artistic." His artistry is evident in this spectacular wine. Rarity 2013 is a once-in-lifetime wine and the price of $1000 reflects that. Each magnum is individually numbered and delivered in a bespoke box. 

For a more accessible, but also superb, taste of Beaulieu Vineyard, I recommend the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($145). Since its inaugural vintage in 1936, it has been widely recognized as the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford. A beautiful expression of the exceptional 2013 vintage, it has layers of rich, dark berry and black cherry flavors with hints of bittersweet chocolate and toasted oak spices. 


I tasted through several older Georges de Latour vintages with Stambor, including a phenomenal 1970, and was impressed by how elegantly these wines age -- maintaining vibrancy and freshness as they develop the depth of flavor that maturity brings. These wines are investments but Beaulieu wine is a powerful connection to Napa's history that provides an authentic and gratifying wine drinking experience. 


If you're planning a trip to Napa, Beaulieu Vineyard welcomes guests for tastings. 

Let the Vineyard Speak: The Wines of Quinta dos Murças Eloquently Express Portugal's Douro Valley

José Luis Moreira da Silva, Resident Winemaker, Quinta dos Murças

There's a reason why Portugal keeps popping up in conversations with fellow wine geeks - they make fabulous vino! Portugal may share the Iberian Peninsula with Spain but the country has its own rich legacy of winemaking. In fact, Portugal's famed Douro Valley is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world and is recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Celebrated for their fortified Port wine, Portugual also produces a wide variety of white and red wines from indigenous and international grapes.

I've yet to visit Portugal but I took my palate on a Portuguese wine adventure with José Luis Moreira da Silva, resident winemaker of Quinta dos Murças in the Douro Valley. Quinta dos Murças is owned by Esporão; founded in 1973, they are a leading family-owned producer of wines and olive oils in Portugal. Their flagship estate, Herdade do Esporão, is located about 100 miles southeast of Lisbon in Alentejo. 

image courtesy of Esporão

A native of Porto, José Luis joined Esporão in 2015 and as the resident winemaker at Quinta dos Murças he believes that "the vineyard should speak to you in some way." In his opinion, "less intervention leads to more balanced wines" and his philosophy is to "interfere as little as possible with the process and uncover the real identity of each vineyard to obtain the truest expression of the terroir." Quinta dos Murças provides many opportunities for authentic expression - it has 8 unique terroirs influenced by factors such as mountains, altitude, climate, and soil. 

Assobio White 2015 ($13)
Grapes for this fresh, light, and fruity blend of Viosinho, Rabigato, Verdelho, Gouveio, and Arinto are sourced from the Assobio vineyard - the highest and steepest hillside at Quinta dos Murças. Perky acidity and minerality add texture to its flavors of lime, passionfruit, and honeydew. The name Assobio refers to the whistling sound made by the wind as it travels through the hilltop vineyards. 


Esporão Reserva White 2015 ($20)
A blend of Arinto, Roupeiro, and Antão Vaz, Esporão Reserva White is from Portugal's southern Alentejo region. The terroir's combination of intense heat with cool Atlantic breezes produces grapes with robust flavors and refreshing acidity. If you're looking for a delicious alternative to Chardonnay, this exuberant white wine is a great choice. It has flavors of ripe stone fruits and orange that are balanced by a subtly creamy texture and a touch of minerality on the finish.


 Assobio Red 2015 ($13)
This robust red wine blends together three of Portugal's signature grapes -- Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Franca. Dry but juicy with flavors of ripe strawberries and hints of black pepper and mint. An impressive red at a great price!  


Quinta dos Murças Minas 2015 ($25)
Cool water springs near the vines for Minas help the grapes (Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Cão) maintain ideal levels of acidity and freshness. This is a well-balanced vino with flavors of ripe red fruits, a touch of balsamic, and a hint of slate. Firm but luscious, it has a long and fresh finish. 


Quinta dos Murças Margem 2015 ($65)
A big and balanced blend of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, Margem (margin) is named for the vineyards' location on the edge of the Douro River. The vines have an average age of 33 years - making these parcels some of the oldest on the estate. Margem is a big wine that balances its power with impressive grace and freshness. Concentrated flavors of rich blackberries and black currant are imbued with a touch of levity thanks to vibrant acidity and sultry hints of spice and balsamic. Fermented with natural yeasts, Margem is a holistic expression of the terroir. 

Prior to my tasting with José Luis, I was familiar with just a few Portuguese wine grapes. I am still struggling to pronounce some of the names but the beauty of the wines does not get lost in linguistics. Concentration of fruit, balanced by freshness is the link that connects the wines in the Quinta dos Murças portfolio. If you're in a wine rut, try something new and start exploring the wines of Portugal with Esporão and Quinta dos Murças. And if your travels take you to Portugal, why not add a visit to Esporão? 

Taste the Grape: Sequoia Grove Crafts Expressive & Balanced Napa Valley Wines

Napa Valley certainly needs no introduction for wine lovers. A craze for California wines was largely fueled by Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from Napa Valley but sometimes we forget that Napa is home to a diverse group of wineries with distinct styles. Napa has no shortage of fans, but for the detractors I advise exploring wines from different producers to find the style of Napa wine that is right for you. If you like carefully crafted and balanced wines that emphasize varietal expression, give Sequoia Grove a swirl.

"With all of our wines, we want richness and balance, from start to finish. We believe in varietal expression; we want you to taste the grape." -- Michael Trujillo, President & Director of Winemaking, Sequoia Grove Winery

Founded in 1979, Sequoia Grove is located along Napa Valley's esteemed Rutherford bench which is renowned for producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines in the world. Michael Trujillo, head winemaker at Sequoia Grove, has more than 30 years of winemaking experience in Napa Valley and says "Rutherford is king of Cabernet."

Sequoia Grove Estate Vineyard
image courtesy of Sequoia Grove

Trujillo describes Sequoia Grove Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($39.99) as a "quilt work of all the vineyards we source from." Supple and silky, this full-bodied beauty has rich flavors of cherry and blackberry with a subtle pop of spice and earth. This wine beautifully shows that lushness and balance can co-exist in a California Cabernet Sauvignon. ( I sampled 2013 but the 2014 vintage has recently been released.)


Sequoia Grove Napa Valley Cambium 2011 ($124.99)
Sequoia's flagship wine, Cambium is a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that showcases the best of the vintage with some of the finest grapes found in Napa. Named for the layer of cells in trees and grapevines that allows the plant to grow and imprints the quality of each vintage on its fruit, Cambium is complex but not pretentious. Voluptuous with a finish that seductively lingers, this wine wows the palate with exuberant and nuanced flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, and cherry that are enhanced by subtle hints of cocoa, graphite, and coffee. Deliciously drinkable now with velvety tannins, Cambium has the structure to age for 10-15 years.

 Sequoia Grove Napa Valley Chardonnay 2015 ($27.99)
This vibrant sip will make you reconsider your request for "anything but Chardonnay!" Fresh and vivacious with plenty of personality, this elegant Chardonnay's citrus flavors are bolstered by touches of almond, a hint of cream, and crisp minerality.  


image courtesy of Sequoia Grove

If you would like to sip these lovely wines among Sequoia Grove's namesake majestic trees, the winery welcomes visitors for tastings. Cheers! 

 

Make Everyday a Celebration with Moët & Chandon Champagne

"Don't be too serious when drinking Champagne!"
- Benoît Gouez, Chief Winemaker, Moët & Chandon

Being the chief winemaker of one of the world's most celebrated Champagne houses is no easy task but Benoît Gouez brings tremendous talent and energy to his important role as Chef de Cave at Moët & Chandon -- a position he has held since 2005. Founded in 1743, Moët & Chandon is one of the most recognized luxury brands in the world but the company doesn't rest on their laurels. Each bottle of bubbly must consistently reflect superior quality and sophistication. 


"NV is consistency,"said Benoît. Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut NV (non vintage, $39.99) is a superb example of the house style. Created in 1869, it is the House's iconic Champagne and year after year it delights drinkers with its fine bubbles, vibrancy, and elegance. This level of consistency is challenging but Benoît meets it with aplomb. Impérial Brut is a classic blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay and tastes like the very fine grapes from which it is made. It is undeniably Moët & Chandon. In fact, Impérial is always blended from the three classic Champagne grapes because they are viewed as a legacy that reflects complete balance and harmony. Aged 24 months in the cellars, Impérial is a wine with energy and texture -- rich and crisp with lively citrus, pear, peach, and apple flavors that are bolstered by hints of brioche and minerality. Benoît encourages us to "celebrate everyday and don't just keep Champagne for rare and special occasions." Of course, Champagne pairs beautifully with luxury foods like caviar and oysters but Benoît advises not to be afraid to pair bubbly with simple foods like french fries and fried chicken. Champagne and fried salty foods are a decadently delicious combination. 


While non vintage Moët & Chandon is a consistently elegant option, a vintage  bubbly allows the winemaker to showcase the unique qualities of an exceptional year. The highly anticipated 2008 vintage is Benoît's creative interpretation of that year's harvest. Moët & Chandon 2008 Grand Vintage Brut ($64.99) skillfully balances freshness with rich complexity. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, the 2008 vintage was aged 7 years in the cellar and has layers of flavor - citrus, brioche, white pepper, vanilla, white peach, and almonds. Lively acidity and crunchy minerality add a sinewy structure to this impressive vintage. 


One of Champagne's many charms is that it ages magnificently. And perhaps that quality transfers to the drinker - when I told Benoît that he looked quite young he laughed and replied, "I'm older than I look. Champagne preserves." I had the opportunity to taste the 1998 and 1988 vintages with Benoît and was impressed at the nuances that the Champagnes revealed over time. The vibrancy and acidity remained intact but hints of smokiness and spice had elegantly emerged. Definitely try older Moët & Chandon vintages if you see them on wine lists - you won't be disappointed. And why not buy a few bottles of the 2008 - some to enjoy now and a bottle or two to rediscover a few years from now? You can never have too much Moët & Chandon!