With spring in full swing, this month’s picks highlight this fresh, new, wonderful time of year. Even amidst these challenging times, it is important to be able to take a break and enjoy the small things. Easter is also on the horizon and each of these wines would work perfectly with Easter fare. This time of year also signifies the spring release of new wines from the northern hemisphere. Be on the lookout for all the upcoming reviews from the latest vintage.
Salute-
April
NV Helfrich Crémant d'Alsace Brut
France
100% Pinot Blanc. 24 months on the lees. Approx. 8g/l dosage.
Light and playful on the nose with bergamot, pear, apple, melon, orchard blossoms and hints of almond pastry, slate and minerals.
The palate shows a fine mousse and full-layered textures. Acidity is crisp and moderate-plus. Phenolics are moderate. Flavors are enticing and show notes of citrus, melon and pear with floral qualities, almond and minerals that come with a slate-tinged finish that lingers pleasantly.
2020 Zarate, Albariño ‘El Palomar’
Rías Baixas, Spain
From the oldest, pre phylloxera Albariño vineyard in Rias Baixas. The wine is fermented and aged in a large, old 22 HL foudre and encouraged to finish its malolactic fermentation. The wine sees time on both its gros lees as well as the fine lees during its 9-month aging.
The nose displays notes of preserved lemon, crunchy white raspberry and white peach, apricot, kumquat, sea mist, crushed rock and hits of lavender, lanolin and Spring flowers.
The palate shows a lovely entry with nice viscosity and weight. Fresh and piercing acidity provides tension. Lovely fruit play on the palate with notes of lemon, white peach, apricots, kumquat and quince that play in concert with notes of saline, orange blossom water, honeysuckle, and subtle notes of pink peppercorn and herbs. The zesty, stony finish lingers.
2018 Lingua Franca Pinot Noir The Plow
Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon
Scents of crushed raspberry, cherry and strawberry notes integrate with rhubarb, tea, sea mist, minerals and light hints of rose petal.
The palate is medium bodied and shows a good density and texture. Drying tannins play against the high-toned acidity. Flavors show crunchy red fruits, tea, minerals and rose. Elegant through the finish that is moderate in length.
2017 Alain Graillot, St. Joseph
France
Gorgeously detailed aromas show a well-integrated mix of muddled blackberry, plum, black pepper, dried violets, black olive, herbs, earth, and hints of stone and smoke.
The palate shows elegance and poise. A medium bodied frame comes with above moderate acidity and moderate tannins. Flavors coat the palate in pure, cool-climate Syrah notes. Blackberries and plum notes are met with pepper, herbs, olive, bacon fat and earth with a streak of violets and lavender that are effortless and long through the finish
2016 Losada, Vinos de Finca Mencía ‘Altos de Losada’
100% old vine Mencia aged 15 months in new French oak.
On the nose this shows rich notes of cassis, sweet dark cherries, and Chambord come laced with notes of floral pastilles, vanilla, oak, spice, earth and hints of worn leather and cigar box.
The palate shows a rich and ripe style of Mencia that comes with density and weight as well as warmth from the ABV. This feels very modern in style with suave tannins influenced from the oak usage, a core of ripe fruit bordering on liqueur. Flavors follow suit from the nose and reveal layers of oak spice in between the cassis, Chambord, deep cherry, vanilla and floral pastilles notes that bring in cedar, leather, earth and mountain herbs. The finish is long with the tannins gaining in intensity