5 Killer Wines to try..that I enjoyed in 2016 and recommend

These are five great wines that come to mind as I think of some of the best I've tasted this year. They are not value wines. They are serious and all of them can be cellared for enjoyment. The Domaine Serene Chardonnay is a special one to point out because it has a cerebral quality to it that is not often found in whites as well as the Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz which is diverse enough to be served with fish and Chinese food. Seek them out and enjoy!

 

Sierra Cantabria 2010 Reserva -Rioja  Excellent baked spices and toasty notes, herbs, plums, big flavors

 Domaine Serene 2013 Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay -Dundee Hills  Big fruit, really creamy exudes a mouthfeel that is very sensuous, nice long finish.

Glaetzer 2013 Bishop Shiraz  -Barossa Valley  Nice strong chewy Shiraz the way they should be; meaty with eucalyptus, glycerin and dollops of berry fruit.

 Château Calon Ségur 2013 -Saint Estèphe  Great fresh black fruits, vivid with integrated tannins; layers and a tautness in it that says ‘lay me down’.

Château Haut-Monplaisir 2012 Prestige Malbec – Cahors  Great concentration with mouthwatering acidity and black plums, complex, intense fruit and dry tannins

You’ll have to hurry if you want to scoop up any remaining 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon...2012's too 2012 if any left on the shelves

By Ralph Del Rio, Wine Correspondent

As 2016 ends and 2017 begins; You’ll have to hurry if you want to scoop up any remaining 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon certainly any 2012 left on the shelves. So I mean hurry!

On the West Coast in 2013, most winemakers reported a great year, a matching to the promising 2012. In many parts of France, though, it was another year of challenging conditions and lower yields. So the best Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely in the states.

By almost every account I looked into; it was one of the highest quality, most successful harvests in decades. Only a little smaller than the giving 2012 harvest, the 2013 harvest also saw just somewhat cooler temperatures heading into harvest, which led to a touch of higher acidity levels than 2012.

Hence, the only real debate about the quality of the 2012 and 2013 vintages in Napa Valley is which one might be better. Both are fantastic years. 2012 is a little more open, cheery and ready, and 2013 a bit more structured and intense. I prefer the 2013, but for Cab freaks they both present a wealth of great wines..

If you haven’t jumped in with both feet already; what does the best of 2013 Napa Cabernet taste like? In a nutshell… Magnificent. I love the cooler flavors and lower alcohols and for sure that the 2013 superior growing conditions across the board. The utmost fruitful wines have an unbelievable intensity thanks to super-juicy acidity, and their tannins are structured refined and smooth; with a very fresh character. Rich, ripe and fresh with structure.

It’s interesting that in the ones I’ve had; the tannin content of the 2013s was about the same as the top wines of 2012. But, the difference for me is the 2012s show much more fruit and delicacy than the 2013s. The 2013 Napa Valley Cabs are at tad heftier while The 2012s Cabs are delicious to drink right now and will be through their life. Both are really outstanding vintages so seek the remaining 2013s and 2012 if you are lucky – By the way the Zinfandels in Napa and Sonoma are very good as well.

I recommend these three...

2012 Mount Veeder Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)

Lots of dark blackberry and cassis here, great acidity and with a light minty edge; an imposing mountain Napa Cabernet at a good price

2013 Turnbull Wine Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($50)

Nice and big with teeth gripping and tannin; great match to a medium rare Delmonico steak....and a nice cigar and port right after...

2013 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars CASK 23 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($250)

Massive level of complexity, blueberries and baked spice, rich and dense. Magnificent floral notes melded with the blueberry

A list by Wine Correspondent Ralph Del Rio of Great Red Wines to be on the lookout for $25 and under... with a few exceptions.

By Ralph Del Rio, Wine Correspondent


I was asked by a friend to put together a list of red wines, short of notes, that I thought were a good buy to put in his wine cellar. The idea is to come up with some age-worthy wines under $25. So I took a crack at it and while I was putting the list together I realized that there were a lot of great wines on this list. These wines not only are great to drink today but could go 4-5 years and maybe a whole lot more. I hope you enjoy this shopping list. I have had the opportunity to taste all of these wines wines

It is 2016 and these are the wines to be on the lookout for. The majority are available for under $25 and under. There are a few exceptions because I wanted to get some very tasty French wines on this list…all wines are under $40

Good Luck, Enjoy and Happy Shopping!

2011 Abadia Retuerta Seleccion Especial Sardon de Duero, Ribera del Duero (750ml)

2014 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles (750ml)

2012 Bodega Norton Privada, Mendoza (750ml)

2010 Castello di Bossi Berardo Chianti Classico Riserva, Chianti (750ml)

2013 M.Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem, Cotes du Roussillon Villages (750ml)

2013 Villacreces Pruno, Ribera del Duero (750ml)

2012 Montes Alpha Syrah, Colchagua Valley (750ml)

2012 Fattoria Poggiopiano Chianti Classico, Chianti (750ml)

2011 Frescobaldi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva, Chianti (750ml)

2012 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa (750ml) $32

2013 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa (750ml) $29

2013 Newton Cabernet Sauvignon Unfiltered, Napa (750ml) $34

2012 St. Clement Cabernet Sauvignon Oroppas, Napa (750ml) $39

2012 Chateau Haut Bergey Rouge, Pessac-Leognan (750ml)

2006 Chateau La Vieille Cure, Fronsac (750ml)

2012 La Fleur de Bouard, Lalande de Pomerol (750ml) $29

2012 Chateau La Tour Carnet, Haut-Medoc (750ml) $33

2012 Saint Damien Les Souteyrades, Gigondas (750ml) $29

2013 Saint Cosme, Gigondas (750ml) $34

2010 Domaine Pallieres Gigondas Les Terrasse du Diable, Gigondas (750ml) $36

2013 Chateau Saint Roch La Chapelle, Côtes du Roussillon (750ml) $29

2012 Ridge Zinfandel Three Valleys, Russian River (750ml)

2012 Condado de Haza Tinto, Ribera del Duero (750ml)

2011 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre, Veneto (750ml)

2012 Tikves Bela Voda, Tikves (750ml)

2014 Turley Wine Cellars Juvenile Zinfandel, California (750ml)

2013 Duorum Colheita, Douro (750ml)

2012 Zolo Reserve Malbec, Uco Valley (750ml)