Mistress Lauren dropped in on a ridiculously summer-like early March day yesterday with a bunch of wines from Chile, Sonoma and Spain (which were courtesy of J.O.S.):
Aves del Sur Sauvignon Blanc Maule Valley 2011. Grade=Very Good. Crisp, light, with nice lemon and grapefruit notes.
Dreyer-Sonoma Chardonnay Sonoma County 2010. Grade=Very Good. The quintessential sub for KJ on any given day, this creamy, buttery Chard shows off nice tropical fruit and vanillin oak undertones.
Aves del Sur Carmenere Maule Valley 2010. Grade=Very Good. Dry, medium-bodied with black fruit, herbs and hints of mineral.
Aves del Sur Merlot Maule Valley 2010. Grade=Outstanding. Blue fruits, soft tannins and dried spices. Medium-bodied and fruit-driven, this would be the standout of this lineup.
Compass Merlot Sonoma County 2010. Grade=Outstanding. I really dig this Merlot; soft but lush blue and red fruits, a hint of cedar and graphite, a bit of baking spice and touches of black cherry to wind it up.
Aves del Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Maule Valley 2010. Grade=Very Good. Typical Chilean herbaceousness here, but in a good way; some bell pepper with black cherry, eucalyptus, tobacco and earth.
Dreyer-Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2010. Grade=Very Good. Medium-to-full-bodied red with firm tannins, nice display of black fruits, pepper and spice, finishing up with a touch of cigar box and mocha.
Monte Oton Garnacha Campo de Borja 2009. Grade=Outstanding+. The winemaker at Bodegas Borsao is a serious rockstar/prestidigitator and the proof is right here. This ridiculously good medium-to-full-bodied Garnacha is just smoking good. Red and blue berry fruits, spices, mocha, pepper and even a touch of bacon fat – it is a very sexy wine for around $8.
Campos Reales Tempranillo La Mancha 2009. Grade=Outstanding. Dark cherries, spices, mocha and hints of cigar box mix it up in this medium-bodied beauty. A really great value.
Rio Madre Graciano Rioja 2010. Grade=Outstanding. The first 100% Graciano I think I have ever had; this usually minor blending grape gets center stage. It’s spicy, with black currant, dragon berry and Açai berry notes, clove tobacco, spicy chocolate and a touch of mesquite.
Codice Tempranillo Tierra de la Castilla 2008. Grade=Outstanding+. I hadn’t had this wine in a very long time, and wow! This is an awesome wine for the money. A bit different than the Campos Reales, this one is bolder, richer and more muscular than its cousin, strutting very chewy black fruits, cedar smoke, bitter chocolate and chai notes.
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