Featured Wines - June 2017

Although Carmen is best known for Carmenère, the estate’s small production of Gran Reserva Petite Sirah often steals the show, garnering terrific press before disappearing quickly into the hands of savvy wine lovers. We hesitate to feature Carmen’s latest release of Petite Sirah for fear that it will make it even harder to come by in the future. Frankly, Carmen’s 2013 Gran Reserva may offer the finest quality and value today in Petite Sirah.

Only 216 cases of Josep Grau’s complex, sensual La Florens was produced in 2014, which is the average annual yield from the ancient century old Garnacha vines used for La Florens. The result is a Montsant of incomparable finesse and impeccable pedigree. The 2014 La Florens sports a brilliant ruby robe with flashes of violet, but more importantly, it possesses an alluring set of aromatics and flavors that offer a subtle but an entrancing...

Fournier’s 2015 Sauvignon Blanc Val de Loire may well be the best bargain in French Sauvignon Blanc on the market today, as it could easily be mistaken for a Sancerre from one of the top estates. The Fournier Sauvignon Blanc Val de Loire 2015 offers up an amplifying aroma of gooseberry, mineral, melon and herb. In the mouth, it delights the palate with a combination of ripe Sauvignon fruit, pinpoint minerality, and a crisp, long finish...

The newly released 2015 Casal Novo Godello is the progeny of the outstanding 2015 vintage in Valdeorras. Although it remains a mere infant, the 2015 Casal Novo Godello already shows its magic, beginning with a bright straw-colored robe, tantalizing aromatics, and beautiful fruit flavors with exemplary texture. Clean and focused in its bouquet, the 2015 Casal Novo offers up savory scents of melon, white fruits, and wild herbs. Casal Novo’s...

Casas del Bosque once again fashioned exceptional Carmenère in 2015 as the estate’s 2015 Reserva Carmenère will attest. The 2015 Casas del Bosque Reserva Carmenère easily merits the many accolades it has received. Deeply colored and packed with pungent aromas and flavors reminiscent of blackberry, mulberry, freshly cut tobacco, chocolate, and sweet bell pepper along with a light patina of oak, the elegant, flavorful 2015 Reserva Carmenère...

Priorat enjoys a reputation for turning out bold reds, and once again the serious, warm-hearted Albert Pasanau has fashioned an exceptional robust Priorat in his 2012 Pasanau Los Torrents. In classic Priorat fashion, the 2012 Los Torrents exudes a deep purple robe, an amplifying aroma and an intriguing array of explosive flavors to tantalize the senses. Redolent with the scents and savory flavors of ripe mulberries, forest woodlands, graphite...

The 2015 Losada Vinos de Finca Bierzo Godello is still in its infant stage, yet it has already begun to amaze those fortunate enough to find a bottle of Losada’s very limited Godello. Losada’s Godello offers a bright straw-colored robe, tantalizing aromatics, and plenty of flavors in a balanced, harmonious format. Clean and focused in its bouquet, the 2015 Losada Bierzo Godello offers up savory scents of lemon zest, white fruits, and spice...