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Time 2020-10-27 09:03:45

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Agricola Punica, Isola del Nuraghi IGT (Sardinia, Italy) "Barrua" 2015 ($46) Agricola Punica is a collaboration between Tenuta San Guido, the Bolgheri producer responsible for Sassicaia, and Sardinia s Cantina di Santadi. The late Giacomo Tachis, who was a genius at sensing the utility of the so-called Bordeaux varieties in selected Italian locales, suggested the blend of Carignano, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for their wine to be called Barrua. It turned out to be an outstanding recommendation. Despite the stated 15 percent alcohol, the 2015 Barrua does not come across as ripe or overdone. Quite the contrary. Lush fruitiness gives way to savory and herbal elements amplified by a lively freshness in the finish. The tannins are present for support, but they are refined and supple, not aggressive. Yum! 93 Michael Apstein More Reviews... A Rogue in Oregon One definition of rogue is something out of the ordinary. It is fitting, then, that the Naumes Family Winery is located in Oregon s Rogue Valley, because they certainly do something out of the ordinary. Ordinary, in terms of Oregon wine, is pretty clear: superb Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and notable Pinot Gris. While Naumes produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, they also produce out of the ordinary wines, both in varietal composition Barbera, Grenache, Syrah, Malbec, Mourv dre, Viognier, Tempranillo and most importantly, in quality.The Rogue Valley, located in southern Oregon, bordering California, is named for the river that runs through it. (French fur traders supposedly named it La Rivi re aux Coquin [rogue] because they regarded the native tribes located there as coquins.) Although the Willamette Valley is currently Oregon s best-known wine producing region, the Rogue Valley was home to Oregon s first official winery, Valley View Winery, established in 1873 by Peter Britt, according to the Oregon Wine Board.The east-west orientation of the river and the surrounding valleys could explain the diversity of plantings because cooling Pacific breezes in the western-most part of the appellation allow varieties that prefer cooler climates, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, to thrive. The warmer and drier environment in the eastern areas are well-suited for varieties that need warmer conditions to achieve full ripeness. But that broad generalization doesn t explain the plethora of varieties of grapes Naumes Family Winery grows and wines it produces. The varying elevations of the valleys hillsides also give growers flexibility for adopting plantings to local climatic conditions.Corey Schultz, Naumes Winery Director, explains that it not as simple as the east-west orientation suggests. They ve been able to plant new varieties, Malbec, Barbera, Mourv dre, Syrah, Viognier, Tempranillo, in addition to their existing ones, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Grenache and Pinot Gris, all within a 15-mile radius because of the variation of elevations, temperatures, and wind flow patterns, according to Schultz. As an example, he told me that one day in August the temperature on the valley floor hit 106 F while at the same time it was 64 F in the vineyards on the slopes.Naumes Family Winery Syrah 2017 ($35): This big, bold Syrah has beautiful balance and bright acidity that keeps it fresh and lively. It conveys a splendid combination of savory, almost bacon fat-like nuances, spicy black pepper notes, and dark fruitiness. Though youthful and forceful, it is not overdone or boisterous. Instead, there s an appealing elegance to accompany all that muscle. 93Naumes Family Winery Malbec 2017 ($35): Full disclosure: Malbec is not my favorite wine because too often it is just a big monotonic red wine. So, I was shocked when I tasted this one. There s lots going on fruit, to be sure, but smoke-y and earth-y nuances peek out as well. Uplifting acidity keeps you coming back for more. Glossy tannins are especially appealing and allow you to enjoy it now. 93Naumes Family Winery Tempranillo 2017 ($30): As much as I liked their 2016 Tempranillo, their 2017 struck me as even better. Its firmness and minerality presents a great contrast to the fleshy and fruitier Malbec. It s structured without being aggressive or hard. Its stature is apparent in the long and attractive hint of bitterness in the finish. With air, its focus on minerality rather than fruitiness becomes more apparent. You could sip the Malbec by itself. This serious Tempranillo needs a grilled steak. 94Naumes Family Winery, Tanto Manta 2017 ($40): This fifty-fifty blend of Tempranillo and Grenache marries the two beautifully. The Tempranillo provides structure and minerals while the Grenache contributes a floral fruitiness. More approachable than the straight Tempranillo at this stage, it would be a good choice with a hearty pasta dish tonight. 92Naumes Family Winery, Pinot Noir, 2017 ($40): Captivating herbal notes are immediately apparent in the nose and later on the palate. A blend of several clones of Pinot Noir, this is a delicate and airy example of the varietal, displaying a wondrous mixture of savory and fruity flavors. Its focus is on elegance, not power or concentration. A perfect choice for grilled salmon. 92Naumes Family Winery Pinot Noir Clone 667 2017 ($40): I won t get into the scientific definition of a clone as it relates to grape varieties. Suffice it to say that in this case it s a Pinot Noir with unique qualities. The wine certainly is very different from their blended Pinot Noir, showing more fruit, more concentration and fewer earthy flavors. In short, those who prefer more muscular Pinot Noir will embrace it. 90Naumes Family Winery Pinot Noir Pommard Clone 2017 ($40): If the Pinot Noir Clone 667 was the weight-lifter, this one is the ballerina. Light in color and on the palate, it dances on the palate. It s a captivating lighter style of Pinot Noir. If you prefer the Clone 667, you won t be enthralled by this one and vice-versa. I m enthralled by both because it shows that clones matter. 90Naumes Family Winery Viognier 2018 ($30): The Viognier grape is tough to translate properly into a wine. Ripeness is necessary to release its inherent floral character, but over-ripeness results in a heavy wine. Naumes strikes the balance. Lovely floral apricot aromas predict the stone fruit flavors that follow. In a less well-crafted version, those stone fruit flavors would be heavy. In this one, they re bright, despite the 14.5% stated alcohol. 92Read wine columns: Michael ApsteinConnect on Twitter: @MichaelApstein VIK Wines: A Story Like No Other Miranda FrancoThe story of VIK begins with Norwegian entrepreneur Alexander Vik. In 2004, he envisioned a luxury retreat and vineyard that would produce world-class wines. The pursuit led him about two hours south of Santiago to 11,000 acres in the Millahue Valley, between the Pacific Ocean and the high-altitude Andes Mountains. For those fortunate enough to visit, it is an unparalleled experience.more Dutton-Goldfield Winery: Pinot Noir Specialists Ed McCarthyDutton-Goldfield, in California's Sonoma County, began making wines from grapes in the cooler vineyards of northern California in 1998. Steve Dutton, a fifth-generation farmer in Sonoma, looks after the vineyards that the winery uses; his friend, Dan Goldfield, is the winemaker. Dutton-Goldfield produces many different wines that perform well from grapes in cool-climate vineyards, but the winery specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.more WINE WITH…Mujadarra Mujadarra is an ancient Arab/Mediterranean dish most often associated with Lebanon. It is a deliciously rustic, meatless creation that turns simple lentils & rice into a uniquely tasty feast. Spice is the signatory soul of Mujaddar…not tongue-burning peppery spice, but the warm, intensely flavorful spiciness of cinnamon, cumin, coriander and the like. Mujaddara's crowning glory is its tasty topping of fried onion rings. I have a slight preference for white wine with this dish, but some tasters found soft, flavorful reds equally appealing. Big, tannic red wine did not fare as well here, nor did white wine with too much oak. Gentle fruity whites with a good crisp finish are ideal with the dish.more A Virtual Finger Lakes Tasting Room Visit Mary Ewing-MulliganThis column, like so many recently, opens in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic which has prevented us all from meeting face to face. A fellow Master of Wine, Charles Curtis, announced he would organize a Zoom tasting with the owners of Ravines Wine Cellars, a fine Finger Lakes winery. The winery would make a discounted three-pack of wine available to participants and we would taste the wines together in a live-remote wine tasting. Seven months ago, I would have declined an invitation to participate in a remote tasting, because in-person tasting opportunities abounded in New York City. These days, I saw a real opportunity. The quality of the wines made the experience pure pleasure. The three wines included a 2012 sparkling Brut that spent six years aging on its lees in the bottle; Ravines' signature, single-vineyard Dry Riesling from 2016; and a Pinot Noir / Blaufränkish blend from 2017 - every one of them impressive and highly recommended.more

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Wine Review Online is the web platform for top U.S. wine journalists: Mary Ewing-Mulligan, Robert Whitley, Michael Franz, Linda Murphy, Ed McCarthy, Michael Apstein, Paul Lukacs, Marguerite Thomas, Rebecca Murphy, James Tidwell, Wilfred Wong and Rich Cook.

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