With Valentine’s day this month, these wines are undoubtedly sure to help spark that loving feeling. Regardless of whether you are celebrating with that special someone or just enjoying a great wine in a less romantic setting, this month’s picks are surely ones that can remind you of why you fell in love (with your partner or with wine itself) and help create a special moment
Salute-
February
NV Laherte Frères, Champagne ‘Rosé de Meunier Extra Brut'
Champagne, France
Composed of 60% Meunier (white), 30% Meunier (macerated) and 10% Meunier (still red wine). Dosage is 2.5 grams per liter.
A gorgeous color in the glass. The nose offers up fresh fruit flavors that are accompanied by florals, minerality and a slight touch of funk and earth. Raspberries, red berries, stone fruits, watermelon, orange, orchard blossoms, peonies, chalk, almond meal and hints of spice, earth and funk.
Rich and full bodied. This fully textured wine has great balance between its structural components. A fleshy mouthfeel meets a fine mousse, above moderate acidity and dryness that is not in excess. Flavors of red fruits, citrus zest, flowers, chalk and saline. The fleshy finish lingers with a nice freshness. 03/21 disgorgement.
2019 Keplinger, Eldorado
Sierra Foothils, California
57% Viognier, 26% Roussanne, and 17% Grenache Blanc. The Viognier was fermented and aged in a concrete egg; the Roussanne was fermented and aged in a once-used 300L French Oak barrel. The Grenache Blanc was pressed to neutral oak for its fermentation. After native fermentations, the wines were aged sur lees for 18 months.
Aromas show high intensity with scents of apricot, quince, guava, papaya and nectarine that are perfumed with notes of lanolin, honeysuckle, chamomile and yellow wildflowers and finish with notes of river stone, rocky earth and hints of spice.
The palate shows richness alongside above moderate acidity. The mouthfeel is fleshy with an almost waxy feel. Flavors of apricots, quince paste, tropical fruits and hints of citrus that come with florals, stone and mineral and finishes with spice that linger through the long finish.
2017 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir The Convivial Feast
Oregon
In the glass aromas showcase notes of wild raspberry, cherry, cranberry and pomegranate that come evenly with sea spray, mineral, spice, bramble, rose bouquet and hints of lilac and earth.
Racy on the palate with high toned acidity and plenty of minerality alongside the balanced tannin structure and fruit density. Flavors display a core of red fruits, raspberry, cherry, pomegranate and cranberry sauce with floral pastilles and spice with touches of bramble, earth and rooibos tea. The finish is balanced and begs for more.
2018 Merum Priorati, ‘Destí’
Priorat DOQ, Spain
A blend of 60% Garnacha, 30% Carignan and 10% Syrah that is aged 18 months in oak and further time in bottle prior to release. the wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The nose is coated in rich scents of dark cherry, cassis, jammy strawberry, boysenberry, blueberry and membrillo alongside notes of mountain herbs, licorice, spice, violets, mineral and rocky earth.
The palate shows bright acidity and dense fruit with a polished, sweet yet firm tannin structure and a pronounced abv presence. Flavors are rich and offer up cassis, dark cherry, membrillo, strawberry jam, piercing boysenberry and blueberry reduction that come laced with violet pastilles, spice, licorice, shisha, minerals and earth. The dense finish lingers. Young and has a very long life ahead of it.
2019 Quilceda Creek, CVR
94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot from Champoux, Galitzine, Mach One, and Palengat vineyards and aged 20 months in 100% French oak.
On the nose this wine is not as concentrated and rich as the '18, which is not a bad thing. Aromas come through with a combination of cassis, blackberry, plum and dark cherry accompanied by notes of graphite, pencil, rubbed herbs, chocolate, purple flowers and hints of tobacco, suede and earth.
The palate reveals more intensity and shows a serious, precise wine. Upon entry the wine is youthful but carries itself with poise. Tannins are suave and fine and in harmony with the acidity. Flavors coat the palate in notes of cassis, muddled blackberry, dark cherry, floral pastilles, herbs, cocoa, cigar, no. 2 pencil and hints of pepper, leather and earth. The finish lingers on and on.
Showing a lot of poise for its youth and with a touch more restraint than the '18. A well-made wine consistent with this bottling.