Wine Wednesdays is a new bi-weekly column where we’ll discuss wines we’ve recently enjoyed, or not enjoyed, as the case may be. Because we are not wine experts, these “reviews” will be written in the typical B.S. style. We don’t take ourselves, or our wine, too seriously but hope you’ll enjoy our perspectives and maybe find a new bottle of wine to enjoy. We‘ll probably play with the format a bit as time goes on, so feel free to make suggestions if you have them.
New York State Wines at Monument Lane in NYC
Up first this week we have two New York State wines we tasted while in New York City last month. I am dying to visit upstate New York and its various wine regions, but this was a nice introduction in the meantime.
Tom had a glass of 2014 Bellangelo Seyval Blanc from the Finger Lakes while I opted for a 2016 rosé of Cabernet Franc from Bridge Lane on Long Island. Neither wine blew us away, but they were fun and affordable. Seyval Blanc is not a grape I seek out, but this sweet white was nice enough on a hot day. The rosé was pretty tasty, though a bit flat on the finish.
B.S. Bottom Line: I wouldn’t go out of my way to drink these again, but I’d still love to visit some New York wineries soon.
2015 Medlock Ames Lower Slope Chardonnay
Medlock Ames is one of our all-time favorite California wineries, and the only wine club we’ve kept over the years. They make extraordinary wines, and this Lower Slope Chardonnay is no exception. This wine has a beautiful, round mouth feel and luscious notes of pear, peach and melon. Two-thirds of the wine was aged in new French oak, lending a nice full-bodied texture without an overpowering oak finish. The remaining third was aged in stainless steel on the lees, punching up the fruity aromas and finish.
B.S. Bottom Line: outstanding. Chardonnay is far from my favorite grape, but I would drink this any day. If you ever see Medlock Ames at your local wine store or on a restaurant’s wine list I highly recommend trying it. And if you ever get the chance to visit their beautiful property in Sonoma, do it!
2013 Orbelus Hrumki
This bottle of Orbelus Hrumki was the first bottle of Bulgarian wine I’ve ever purchased, but it won’t be the last. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of trying wine from lesser-known regions. We stumbled upon this wine during a Bulgarian wine tasting at Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits and have been saving it for a special dinner. We had it with herb crusted lamb chops this past weekend – a fantastic pairing. The red blend is slick with a nice tannic structure, but approachable enough that we could enjoy a glass by itself after dinner.
B.S. Bottom Line: Definitely worth a try! A little pricier than we typically buy, but great for a special date night dinner. I have a lot to learn about Bulgarian wine, and I can’t wait to do so.
Pato Frio Wine Tasting at Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits
Last, but not least, two Portuguese wines from another wine tasting at our Cleveland Park shop. We made a point of showing up for this tasting based on our trip to Portugal several years ago, when we fell in love with Portuguese wine. These two Ribafreixo Pato Frio wines are perfect summer sippers. We were unable to visit the Alentejo region during our trip, so it was a pleasure to taste wines from the area. The 2015 Selecçâo, a blend of Portuguese grapes (50% Antão Vaz, 25% Arinto and 25% Síria), is crisp and clean with notes of citrus and pineapple. The 2016 Cashmere Rosé is a beautiful pink wine made from indigenous Portuguese grape Touriga Nacional. It was suggested that this wine would pair well with sushi, and now I can’t get the idea out of my head.
B.S. Bottom Line: I have a feeling we’ll be reaching for these bottles over and over again throughout the summer. For $10 a bottle – why not?
That’s all for this week! What have you been drinking lately? Do tell. Cheers!
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