Top 10 wines in the US press

Summer appears to be on the mind of many wine writers in the US, with Dave McIntyre, John Mariani and Bill St John picking summer wines and Will Lyons revealing a wine that he’ll “be sipping on this summer.”

In the Washington Post, Dave McIntyre picked out five summer wines for his readers to try, describing them as “refreshing recommendations hail from France, Italy, Portugal and Germany.”

Bloomberg’s John Mariani was featured in the Miami Herald writing about Spanish wines, he said: “With growth in global wine sales waning, Spanish wine makers have introduced better quality and more attractive pricing to woo customers.”

He recommended a number of Spanish wines that he has ” been enjoying recently and plans to drink through summer.”

The impending warm weather is certainly a common theme running through many wine columns in the US press this week, so click through the following pages to find out which wines these and other writers have recommended over the last week.

Waterstone Merlot Napa Valley 2010

In the Detroit News, Sandra Silfven recommended this wine, which she called “a steal” at the vineyard’s suggested retail price of US$18.

She added: “Wow. It has great weight and is packed to the brim with dark plum, blackberry and cherry fruit. It’s concentrated and complex with spice and smoke off the oak integrated into the fruit. Acidity makes the whole package work. What a great pairing with lamb chops! If you see this brand, give it a test drive.”

Domaine Pfister Cuvee 8 2009

This wine was one those picked out by Dave McIntyre in the Washington Post as a wine “worth trying for early summer enjoyment”.

He added: “Melanie Pfister is the eighth-generation winemaker at her family’s domaine, which was established in 1780 at the height of the French Revolution. She created this delicious blend of Riesling, pinot gris, Gewurztraminer and muscat as a modern expression of Alsace. It is flowery and slightly off-dry, with some tropical flavours, and is available primarily at restaurants.”

Conde Villar Vinho Verde Rosé 2012

This is another summer recommendation from McIntyre, which he called “great value”.

He wrote: “Here’s an unusual rosé, effervescent enough to show a bead of bubbles, which makes it refreshing and balances the wine’s slight sweetness. Think of this for spicy dishes.”

2006 Pio Cesare Barolo

According to Irene Virbila in the LA Times, “when looking for a special bottle to bring to a dinner party, you can’t go wrong with a Barolo — unless, that is, the main course is fish. But for anything else, especially braised meats or roasts, a Barolo can hold its own with the best of California, France or Australia.”

In writing about this wine, she added: “This one comes from the grand old house of Pio Cesare, founded way back in 1881, one of the first to bottle in Piedmont, Italy. The firm is now run by Cesare’s great-grandson Pio Boffa.

It’s a fine example of classic Barolo and at a very good price for the quality. Fresh and round, it has a chiseled structure and wonderful balance. No need to wait on this one unless you want to: It’s drinking beautifully now, superb with a roast duck or brasato (beef braised in red wine).”

Luis Canas Crianza 2008

John Mariani of Bloomberg, writing in the Miami Herald, suggested this wine, he wrote: “A red crianza from Rioja must spend at least 12 months in oak and not be sold until its third year, which allows for mellowing before release.”

Mariani added: “Five percent Garnacha added to 95% Tempranillo with a spark of bright fruit helps balance the tannins, while the acids that make this Rioja Alavesa wine wholly pleasurable to drink with anything on the grill this summer.”

2012 Clos Cibonne Tibouren “Cuvee Speciale”

Bill St John, in the Chicago Tribune, picked out this wine, writing: “Unique to Provence, a light red that resembles Jura’s Trousseau for its highly aromatic, earthy tones and scent of herbs; super-delicious and lively, moderately tannic and a great treat with grilled summer fare because it can take a chill.”

2011 Chateau Roubine Blanc

Keeping on the theme of wine that works well with summer food, St John also recommended this wine, writing: “A mix of four different white wine grapes common to Provence, for a juicy but snappily edged quaff perfect for summer fare such as sandwiches, cold fried chicken or salads.”

Heitz Cellar, Napa Valley, Chardonnay 2011

This wine is recommended by Rebecca Murphy, in the Dallas Morning News, who described Joe Heitz as “a pioneer of modern Napa Valley.”

She added: “Though Heitz is best known for its Cabernets, the winery also makes an exquisite Chardonnay. It’s not the rich, buttery, oaky style you might expect from a California Chardonnay. Instead, you will find a graceful, harmonious fusion of citrus, apple and pear fruit with chalky mineral notes. In the mouth, these refined flavours are creamy and supple, and heightened by racy acidity. Enjoy it with seared scallops or a roast chicken.”

2011 Pittnauer Pitti

This Austrian red comes recommended by by Will Lyons in the Wall Street Journal, who wrote that the country’s cool climate “lends itself to taut, fresh reds.”

He added: “In recent years, its winemaking has improved immeasurably and this wine is a god example of that development. A blend of Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch, it has a spicy, dark fruit smell with a light, juicy finish on the palate. A red I’ll be sipping this summer.”

2011 Seghesio Zinfandel

Robert Scheer in the Indianapolis Star wrote that his this week was pretty straight-forward: “buy this wine.”

He wrote: “This wine tastes like Bing cherries, blackberries, black pepper and vanilla. It’s a little less ripe-tasting than some, especially the 2007 version, which explodes with ripe fruit and is too sweet for some.

“If I were opening this with friends, I’d crack this in the morning, plop it into a decanter or clean coffee pot, and pour it in the evening, so it mellows a little and some of the alcohol smell blows off.”