Top 10 wines in the US press

Dave McIntyre recommends “an excellent rosé for summer” while Eric Asimov sticks to the current season with his favourite wines for spring.

Writing in the Washington Post McIntyre picks out five wines, which he encourages his readers to try. He wrote: “I recommend these wines totally on their own merits, without knowing or implying whether they contain Brettanomyces . Or not.”

He wrote about Brettanomyces in a separate feature, adding: “Have you ever opened a bottle of wine and thought you’d stepped in something? That pungent aroma, politely called ‘barnyard,’ is a telltale sign of Brettanomyces, a microbial spoiler of wine. Brett, as it is commonly called in wine circles, is also responsible for wet dog, sweaty horse and band-aid, among other unappetising aromas and flavours.”

Meanwhile in recommending wines for spring, Asimov wrote in the New York Times: “Seasonal moods and customs dictate the clothes we wear, the foods we prefer and, perhaps in a more subtle way, the wines we select.

“More subtle because wine choice extends beyond mere temperature in a way that woollen sweaters do not. Even though rosés and gossamer whites are ordinarily associated with summer, powerful reds still appear. Why? Because thick steaks and the wines that love them are never more than a grill away.”

He added: “Remember: it’s not the weather that dictates the wine so much as the food.”

Click through the following pages to fine out which wines these and other US writes have recommended over the last seven days.

Domaine Vincent Delaporte, Sancerre AOC 2011

Writing in the Dallas Morning News, Rebecca Murphy recommends this wine, writing: “This is a particularly expressive and tantalising example of Sancerre. It has Sauvignon’s distinctive herbal, lemongrass, lime zest and grapefruit aromas and flavours, with notes of white chalk.

“In the mouth, it is gracefully round and ripe, yet it practically hums with crackling, citrusy acidity. It will be an elegant companion for a baked fillet of sole or, of course, a Crottin de Chavignol.

Möet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2004 Brut Rosé

In the Detroit News, Sandra Silfven highlights the prominence of Möet in Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest movie The Great Gatsby. Silfven picked out this rosé for his readers, writing: “Exciting, palate-tingling — a romance of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. This aged Champagne from France’s top sparkling house glimmers in its chic coppery pink colour.

“The aromas are dark cherry, blackcurrant and blackberry. On the palate, it’s dry, toasty, and packed with flavours that coat the midpalate and linger on the finish, which is dry and tart.”

Kendall-Jackson Proprietor’s Reserve Zinfandel Mendocino 2011

Silfven also recommends this wine, writing that it “seems to have escaped unscathed” from many of the problems that made the 2011 vintage “a tough one for California”.

She added: “Fruit is bold and expressive, tannins are smooth, acidity gives the package structure. Think raspberry, blackberry, solid tannins and clove. It has 14% Petite Sirah added, which makes it even more serious with a much deeper colour and black peppery notes.”

Altesino Rosso di Montalcino 2010

This is one of the wines recommended by Dave McIntyre in the Washington Post, he wrote: “Rosso di Montalcino is sometimes described as ‘baby Brunello’ and is usually made from grapes grown on younger vines.

“This is at least a teenage Brunello, thrashing at the chains of youth and eager to show its potential. It’s cheaper than Brunello, which usually starts at $40 or higher. Sangiovese at its best.”

Kir-Yianni Akakies Rosé 2012

This is the wine that McIntyre described as “an excellent rosé for summer,” he added that it is “better than many French rosés from 2012.”

McIntyre went on: “This one is ripe yet racy, with good acidity to balance the fruit flavours.”

2011 Domaine Goisot Exogyra Virgula Saint-Bris

Elin McCoy, writing for Bloomberg, attended the Burgundy seminar La Paulee de New York, which “kicked off this year with something new: affordable wines.”

McCoy wrote: “One of my top discoveries at the seminar was the 2011 Domaine Goisot Exogyra Virgula Saint-Bris, which tastes of minerals, warm stones, grass, and a hint of pepper, and is amazingly complex for the price.”

François Pinon Vouvray Les Trois Argiles 2010

This is one of the wines for spring recommended by Eric Asimov in the New York Times. He wrote: “If not the world’s single most underrated grape, Chenin Blanc is certainly among the contenders. Pinon’s wines are among my favourite Vouvrays, and the 2010 vintage was particularly good.

“Les Trois Argiles is off-dry, with a bright spot of residual sugar, but the sweetness is balanced out by lively acidity. Juicy, earthy, honey-touched with ripe mineral flavours.”

Las Orcas Rioja Crianza Decenio 2006

With Asimov recommending 20 different wines, there was a wide range to his choices. Asimov picked this for spring’s “cooler moments” writing that “this intense Rioja is just right for sweater-weight evenings.”

He added: “The Las Orcas Crianza is 100% Tempranillo, and, though it’s already seven years old, it’s still young and slightly tannic. The wine is deep and rich with spicy, potent flavours of red fruit and a lovely, herbal edge that lingers.”

2010 Fritz Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

Mark Tarbell, in the Arizona Republic, recommending this wine, writing: “This is centre-of-the-target Chardonnay. It has toast, warmth and richness, with appropriate levels of tartness, which are very much in the background.”

2010 Mercer Sauvignon Blanc

In the Indianapolis Star, Bob Scheer focused on organic wines, writing that this is “not labelled as organic but as sustainable, which is a catch-all for practices that are believed to have minimal impact on the environment.”

He added: “I tried this one with some wine-tasting buddies; it was runner-up for best wine of the evening. It’s not too sweet, and the zesty flavours would be great chilled and sipped on warm days.”