By Don Nunn
Let’s pick some interesting wines for our 2016 Top Ten choices. It is an impossible task, but an enjoyable one! To be rational, let’s say these are my Top Ten for non-special occasion evening dining, without any order of preference. It would be easy to go wild with expensive cult wine choices, but we’ll keep our list affordable.
White Oak Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, 2014, $26.00. Founded in 1981, this Vineyard has grown from its roots as a tiny winery to several hundred acres spread out across the Sonoma, Napa, and Alexander Valleys, with a Mediterranean style estate in the Alexander Valley. The preference for oak or unoaked in Chardonnay is a matter of one’s personal taste buds, but one of the many things that makes for interesting conversation. This Chardonnay is fermented in French and Hungarian Oak Barrels, resulting in light oak notes, along with tropical fruit and melon, and butterscotch on the finish. whiteoakwinery.com.
Wild Horse Viognier, Central Coast, 2013, $17.00. For those looking for an alternative to Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc, or a little experimentation with a white varietal, Viognier is crisp and refreshing. This Viognier is fermented in neutral French oak barrels and aged for six months. Citrus and stone fruit will greet your nose and palate. wildhorsewinery.com.
Walter Hansel “North Slope” Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, 2013, $39.00.
A fuller bodied Pinot, it is both rich and muscular, having great cellaring potential, but showing nuance and texture at present. Dark berries, with shades of licorice and terroir predominate.
This wine is named after the father of current proprietor, Stephen Hansel, who has developed a reputation for placing quality above quantity, while his highly rated wines remain affordable.
walterhanselwinery.com.
Pierre Paillard, Blanc de Blancs – Acte 1, Grand Cru Brut Champagne, $69.99.
This Champagne is 100% Chardonnay, all 2009 Harvest, but not declared as a Vintage. Bright, clear, crisp lemon zest, and just the right minerality. Tight, tiny bubbles endlessly rise by the thousands. From the small village of Bouzy in the heart of the Champagne region of France. One of my two favorite Champagnes of all time. klwines.com.
Rombauer Zinfandel, 2013, $30.00. Grapes from Napa, Sonoma, and several surrounding counties. All fruit hand-picked at night and sorted in the vineyard. Fifteen months in American and French oak. Deep purple color with raspberry , cranberry, spice, and anise. Not everyone is a Rombauer fan, but if you like your wine aged in oak, you will like Rombauer. Rombauer fans are loyal. Their Zin in always a big mouthfeel of jammy goodness, that goes down smoothly and leaves you waiting for the next mouthful. rombauer.com.
Cambria Chardonnay, Katherine’s Vineyard, 2013, $22.00. Cambria Vineyards is located in an east-west valley at the northern end of Santa Barbara County. Approximately fifteen miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the wines benefit from a long, cool growing season due to coastal breezes and morning fog. This Chardonnay is bright and crisp, with citrus and stone fruit. A good quality wine at a reasonable price, suitable for a weekday dinner. cambriawines.com.
William Hill, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012, $45.00. Located at the Southern end of Napa Valley, 2012 offered relatively mild weather during the growing season. A Bordeaux style blend, but with 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, and small amounts of Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, it was aged in French Oak. Cassis colored, it is full bodied, with spice and vanilla. williamhillestate.com.
Willamette Valley Vineyards, Estate Pinot Noir, 2014, $30.00. From one of the older Oregon wine estates in the heart of Pinot Noir country. Smooth, medium bodied, an elegant nose, tasting of raspberry, cherry, and spice. wvv.com.
Masi, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera, 2010, $49.99. Good Amarone is hard not to like. There is a lot to learn about Amarone to insure that you are getting one of good quality, but you’ll never be sorry you made the effort. Ripe dark fruit, spices on the nose like nutmeg and cloves; bold yet balanced. Rich and complex are descriptions that I associate with Amarone. A good one like Masi always tastes more mature than its actual age. finewinehouse.com.
Trefethen, Dry Riesling, 2014, $25.00. Trefethen Vineyards 41st vintage of Dry Riesling. Riesling in the US is a very much underappreciated wine. It still carries the burden of its past when thought of purely as a sweet wine. There are still sweet style Riesling’s on the market, but I am not a fan. A good dry Riesling, on the other hand is an entirely different thing. Lots of acidity, crisp, clean, and flavorful, it pairs well with an amazing variety of foods. This winery obviously has a long history with “Dry” Riesling. Lime zest, citrus blossom, and crisp golden apple nose and flavors. A great new taste to explore if you haven’t tried or paid attention to Riesling. trefethen.com.
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