Summer is finally winding down, but is it? Aside from the days starting to get shorter the warm weather has no sign of letting up. This months picks feature five spectacular wines that should be sought out by all! Try these wines and make a toast to the late summer.
Salute-
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September
2017 IZAR-LEKU
Hondarrabi Zuri, Spain
Izar-Leku means place of stars in Basque. The wine is aged for 12 months in stainless steel tanks with 30% of the juice that was kept in barrel. The secondary fermentation in bottle spent 18 months with its lees. No dosage
The nose is expressive with notes of green apples, cider, white nectarine, white flowers, almond, biscotti and English biscuits with hints of seaside minerality.
The palate shows a persistent bubble structure. The wine is dry with focused acidity without being overly austere. Flavors mimic the nose perfectly with notes of green apples, white nectarines, cider, white flowers, almond, biscotti, sea mist and minerals. The finish lingers on with intensity.
Pouilly-Fumé, France
Grown on the 3 central communes of the appellation: Tracy sur Loire, Pouilly sur Loire and St Andelain. Fermented in stainless steel followed by 6–12-month fine lees ageing (with weekly bâtonnage).
Aromas of green apple, guava, kiwi, and hints of grapefruit zest alongside nuances of chalky minerals, earth and hints of flintlock. The palate shows juicy acidity and a mouth filling almost fleshy texture that comes with a core of fruit. The palate is bursting with notes of guava, kiwi, apple and grapefruit zest that are accompanied by the more subtle notes of sea mist, mineral and finishes with a hint of a steel quality. Absolutely spectacular. This is 100% Chardonnay that sees 18 months in French oak on the lees with frequent stirring.
Intoxicating on both the nose and palate with rich brioche, gingerbread and crème brûlée with touches of apricot, white fig, quince and herbs on citrus, honey and butterscotch aromas. The palate deliver creamy textures and rich flavors of white fig, lemon curd, apricot sautéed in almonds and butter, vanilla bean, clove and gingerbread, crème brûlée and honeyed notes. The result is an elegant and finesse driven Chardonnay that embodies Meursault with a California accent.
2015 Antica Terra, Chardonnay ‘Aequorin’
Willamette Valley, Oregon
Only produced in certain vintages and in miniscule quantities.
Incredibly intense and incredibly complex on both the nose and the palate. Acidity, alcohol, phenolics and weight all perfectly balanced. Mouth filling textures are suave and sleek. You can feel the power of this wine, but the power is so precisely executed with elegance and poise. The finish lingers endlessly. Perfection!
Odyssée, France
A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, 8% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot; The Bordeaux varieties come from the Northern Médoc and the Rhone varieties are all from Châteauneuf Du Pape.
Saturated on the nose with notes of muddled blackberry, cassis, plum and blueberry with scents of violets, cracked black pepper, baking chocolate, herbs, dried meats, leather and a faint bruised mint quality.
The pallet shows firm tannins that fill the mouth alongside moderate-plus acidity and alcohol. Balanced between the flavors of blackberries, plum, over-ripe blueberry and cassis that mingle with velvety herbs, black pepper, leather, jerky, violets, baking chocolate, and bruised mint. Long through the grippy finish. Should cellar exceptionally well. 65% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, from low-yielding old vines dating back to 1928; aged for 16 months in new Taransaud oak.
Bursting with aromas once in the glass strutting notes of plum sauce, Luxardo cherries, cassis and balsamic that bring in notes of herbs, cigar box, leather, vanilla, floral pastilles, earth and hints of toasted anise.
The palate shows rich concentrated fruit with polished firm tannins and juicy above moderate acidity. Flavors on the palate show balsamic soaked dark cherries, plum sauce, cassis, black licorice, candied violets, vanilla, spice, oak spice, new leather, tobacco, sweet herbs, mineral and earth. Lots of tension on the still youthful palate.