25 New Red And White Wines From 6 Countries
After enjoying the refreshing white and rosé wines of springtime, it's time to diversify our drinking by opening a mixed cache of wines, including just-released premium reds, mostly from California.
Locations "Corse" Corsican White Wine NV ($19). Pleasant drinking — floral with some fruitiness, especially pear, and good finish.
Swanson San Benito Pinot Grigio 2016 ($21). Typical pinot grigio flavors with good balance and closing acidity.
Groth Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($22). Crisp flavors of gooseberry and lime, pleasant and not severe.
Bird in Hand Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2015 ($25). Good balance of fresh fruitiness, crisp finish, and integrated oak — and a bargain.
Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2015 ($33). Quite good, with lots of flavors of apples and a crisp, minerally finish.
Sidebar Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2015 ($34). Full and herbal; a little slack in the middle, but with a good zip in the finish.
Graffigna Argentina Malbec 2015 ($10). A Côtes-du-Rhône-style red, easy drinking, with fresh fruit and savory notes.
Murcas Minas Douro Red 2015 ($10). A big wine with figs and raisiny fruit, best sipped and not quaffed.
Concha y Toro Ribera del Tinguiririca Marchigue Malbec 2014 ($17). Juicy, with red fruit flavors, considerable tannins, and a little tanginess.
Saved California Red Wine 2014 ($21). Forward purple fruitiness and a touch of brown butter — big, at 15 percent alcohol.
Sidebar Russian River Valley Red Field Blend 2015 ($27). Rich and long, concentrated but not heavy, with raspberry flavors and buttermilky tanginess.
Beaulieu Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 ($30). Smooth and creamy fruit, well-rounded, with notes of chocolate in the finish.
Bird in Hand Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2015 ($30). Complex purple fruits with a little floral lavender, earthy chocolate, a touch of garrigue, and some chocolate — complex and enticing.
Graffigna Santiago Graffigna San Juan Red Wine 2014 ($34). A malbec-cabernet-syrah blend that is a good food wine, full of blackberries, with tart edges yet a finishing creaminess.
FEL Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2015 ($38). Soft and powdery pastel with Bing cherry juiciness and moderate acidity at the end.
Dolin "The Blue Note" Malibu Coast Red Wine 2012 ($45). A Bordeaux-style blend with red and purple fruits, good concentration without being extracted, and hints of chocolate in the finish.
Jordan Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($52). Lots of appetite-stimulating tart fruit flavors with blackberry and assorted dried fruit flavors.
Beaulieu Vineyard "Tapestry" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($54). Rounded but firm ripe fruit and barrel toastiness with good tannins.
Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 ($70). Very, very rich and satisfying, although not heavy, with ripe, juicy blackberry character, integrated tannins, and long finish.
Stony Hill Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 ($70). Very good, resembling a classic Left Bank cru Bordeaux with lean, complex fruit flavors and a savory finish.
Bird in Hand "Nest Egg" Mt. Lofty Ranges Shiraz 2013 ($85). Complex and tannic with big and tight fruitiness — mainly dried blackberries — and some savory notes.
Gamble Paramount Napa Valley Red Wine 2013 ($90). A lean, charming wine with lots of purple fruit, chocolate tannins, and great length.
Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($145). A very smooth-drinking and sophisticated wine with ripe cherry flavors and a finish of well-integrated, chocolate-like tannins.