Top 10 wines in the US press

Fine wines feature prominently in the US press this month as Barolo and even Lafite-Rothschild 1990 rank among the recommendations, along with a Russian River  Trousseau Gris.

As the US begins the countdown to holiday season many of the wine experts are looking to wines that work with turkey.

Beppi Crosariol in The Globe and Mail said: “It’s a flexible bird, a relatively neutral canvas for pretty much any variety you like. Some people prefer jammy Zinfandel or Shiraz, which resonate with sweet cranberry sauce. Others – me included – prefer lighter Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which match the meat’s weight and get to show off their subtle complexity.”

In the San Francisco Chronicle Jon Bonné has been searching for something different from his white wines. He wrote: “In an era when wine is more diverse than ever, these bottles provide a frontier – helping grape growers to rediscover the unappreciated plantings of the past and to retrace the promising leads that yield-minded 20th century vineyard poobahs shrugged at.”

2011 Jolie Laide Fanucchi Vineyards Russian River Valley Trousseau Gris ($22)

Jon Bonné in the San Francisco Chronicle wrote: “This barely qualifies as white: juice sat on the ruddy skins of this rare grape, creating a slight copper tint. This is still young, so a bottle bought now will reward you even better toward Thanksgiving”.

2011 Adelsheim Ribbon Springs Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Auxerrois ($22)

Jon Bonné’s view of this wine was that “David Adelsheim has produced a pedigreed effort, with an intensity of ripe fruit – pear and mandarin – hitched to mineral freshness and a white-pepper bite”.

2009 Oddero Barbera d’Alba ($19)

S Irene Virbila in the Los Angeles Times is a fan of this red wine, writing, “Piedmontese winemakers aren’t drinking Barolo and Barbaresco every day; they’re drinking Barbera. And this Barbera d’Alba from the Barolo house Oddero (founded in 1878) is a beauty. It’s everything it should be: ruby red, lush and velvety, with soft tannins and the bright taste of cherries and dark berries.”

2000 Quinta do Noval ($100)

Yes, this is a Port, but Elin McCoy at Bloomberg, was very impressed, she said: “Port producers ‘declare’ a vintage several times a decade, when they decide the quality of wine from a particular harvest is superior. I like the plummy, licorice-and-black velvet 2000 Quinta do Noval ($100) as much as I did when it was first released years ago.”

Château Lafite Rothschild 1990 ($920)

Will Lyons in the Wall Street Journal was delighted with this drop, he said: “When I tasted this at the Institute of Masters of Wine in February, I found it a sublime experience. 1990 was a vintage that took place amid excellent conditions, with a good crop of high-quality grapes.”

NxNW 2011 Wallula Benches Riesling ($12)

Taking on Riesling in the Seattle Times, Paul Gregutt wrote this vineyard is “the source for this outstanding, steely-dry Riesling. It’s vivid and gin-like, with citrus fruit and botanical highlights”.

2009 Moulin-a-Vent Beaujolais ($30)

In the Huffington Post, Gregory dal Piaz is very excited about this red. He wrote, “a nice cru Beaujolais from Moulin-a-Vent, for example, that combines sappy fruit with an easygoing style. 2009 is a spectacular vintage too, so this year might be the right year for Beaujolais”.

Tenuta Costa Lahnhof Pinot Bianco Alto Adige

Del Piaz is also complimentary about this white, writing, “this is really attractive in the mouth, delivering rich white peach, pear and lime fruit”.

Carrick Pinot Noir 2009 ($37.95)

In the Globe and Mail Beppi Crosariol is preparing for Thanksgiving and recommends this red for readers who might not be going for turkey, writing, “Carrick is a top Pinot Noir estate in the southern region of Central Otago. Here’s a fine example from the region, with bright berry fruit, creamy tannins and tight structure. It’s a fine choice for Thanksgiving duck”.

2010 Legado Reserva Maipo De Martino ($16.90)

Finally a nod to Canada and Bill Zacharkiw in the Montreal Gazette, who recommends this Chilean red. He said: “One of Chile’s most innovative wineries has finally have dialed down this cuvée. Lean and focused Cabernet that doesn’t overwhelm you with ripe fruit and oak, rather intrigues you with its elegance, caresses your mouth with its rich tannins, and has just a hint of Chile’s characteristic eucalyptus.”