Top 10 wines in the US press

Cadaretta “SBS” Columbia Valley Washington 2012

Writing in Detroit News, Sandra Silfven highlighted two wines produced by the boutique Cadarette winery in Washington State which has been in business since the 1980’s. It not runs three wineries; Cadaretta (Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Valley in Washington), Clayhouse (Paso Robles and Central Coast in California), and Buried Cane (Washington).

Of this white blend she said: “This beauty is 70% Sauvignon Blanc and the rest Semillon. It’s topnotch: tart and dry, rich, structured, complex. On the nose, you catch citrus, grapefruit, herbs and every tart fruit you can think of. In the mouth, the Semillon gives it a honeyed richness in the midpalate. The finish is dry and crisp, and seems to last forever. It’s 100% fermented and aged in stainless steel. The “SBS” stands for Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.”

Price: $23

Cadaretta Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Washington 2010

Another of Cadaretta’s wines, this $40 Cabernet Sauvignon, came highly recommended by Silfven, a wine she she said was worthy of collectors.

She said: “Terroir, terroir, terroir. This wine does not taste like California and for many wine fans its origin could be a mystery. Well, it’s from Washington and it’s its own thing — dry, complex, rich, concentrated. This baby is still young and closed in. It’s got acidity to give it edge, lush fruit, oak for spice and mouthfeel, supple tannins off the skins. It’s 75% Cabernet Sauvignon filled out with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. It was aged 26 months in French oak, 75% new!

“Wow — that’s some kind of fruit to stand up to new oak for that period. All those new barrels and all that time holding an investment is why it costs you 40 bucks at the store. Like I said, this wine is still only showing a fraction of what it has to offer after further aging – but if you can’t wait it’s delicious now. Here’s further proof the wines of Washington occupy a special niche in U.S. wine production. Wines like these are worthy finds for collectors.”

Price: $40

Forrest Botrytised Riesling 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand

Dave McIntyre, writing in the Washington Post, recommended five wines for “summer sipping” this week including John Forrest’s Botrytis Riesling.

He said: “Honeyed and lush, yet not over-the-top sweet, this lovely Riesling is fine by itself as dessert or as a foil for funky blue cheese.”

Price: $26, 375 ml

Louis Konstantin Guntrum Louis Dry Riesling 2012, Rheinhessen, Germany

Another of McIntyre’s Riesling recommendations was for this “vibrant” Riesling from Germany.

He said: “My most-ignored New Year’s resolution each year, besides exercising and eating better and avoiding road rage and just all-around being nicer to people, is to drink more Riesling. This one helps get me back on track. Vibrant, fruity, mineral and refreshing, with a nice balance of acidity and sweetness — the hallmark of a good Riesling.”

Price: $14

Château de Paraza Minervois, 2013, France

Tina Danze, writing in the Dallas News, listed this French rosé as her “panel pick” having sampled 25 dry rosés from the 2013 vintage from countries including France, Spain, Italy, South Africa and Portugal, as well as the US, over the course of the month.

She said: “This rich blend of Syrah and Grenache comes from one of the oldest vineyards in the Minervois, an appellation in Southern France’s Languedoc region. It shows floral aromas and fresh red fruit flavors with mineral notes. “It’s steely dry, and has almost a meatiness — a marrowy richness,” Flynn said. Houser agreed, noting “an iron quality” that would make it a good partner for rare steak. Panelists agreed that this rosé could play well with a wide variety of foods: from seafood paella and shellfish to garlicky dishes and steak with fries. It’s a versatile wine, and a great value too.”

Price: $12.99 

Gruet Brut Rosé, NV, New Mexico

This sparkling rosé from New Mexico was also highly commended by Danze and her team of tasters.

She said: “This well-made sparkler offers more than you’d expect for the money. It’s dry and fruity, with red berry and cherry flavors. Michael Flynn praised the wine’s elegance, velvety texture and length on the palate. “It delivers a little of the red fruit rosé character that you don’t always get in sparkling rosés,” he said. Chad Houser liked the wine’s balance: “No one thing dominates; it’s not overwhelming the palate with bubbles or with fruit.”

Price: $13.15 to $16.99

2012 A Proper Claret, California

Michael Dresser’s wine recommendation, writing in the Baltimore Sun this week, was for this Californian red, a skilful take on a Bordeaux blend using blend of Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah and Tannat, which comes with a good dose of humour.

He said: “Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyards brings us his playful take on the style of red Bordeaux enjoyed in a fine old London club. It’s a liquid repudiation of the huge, highly alcoholic blockbuster California cabernet sauvignons that Grahm apparently finds improper. This Claret starts from a Cabernet base, but skillful blending of Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah and Tannat to achieve a most proper Bordeaux-like balance and a restrained alcohol level of 13.2%. It’s not heavy-handed, and it even has a little of that lead-pencil flavor found in fine Bordeaux. The label is typical Grahm humor, providing a good laugh with a very good wine.”

Price: $16

2012 Wine & Soul Branco “Guru,” Douro, Portugal

Bill St. John picked a selection of “Iberian whites to watch” writing in the Chicago Tribune this week, hailing Portugal and Spain as two of the best places in the world to find today’s great value white wines.

Of “Guru”, from Portugal’s Douro region, he said: “Jump over the hipster name for a killer white aged in oak and made of no grape you’ve had before; like a warmer-site premier cru white Burgundy, really; Voisinho, Rabigato, Codega and Gouveio.”

Price: $35 to $45

Great American Wine Company Red Blend 2012, California

Dennis Sodomka, writing in The Augusta Chronicle, recommended this Californian red which he described as a “beauty of a bargain red blend from Rosenblum Cellars, one of the top producers of Zinfandel.”

He said: “It is lush, rich, smooth, full of red fruit flavors. This is one of the easiest drinking wines I’ve had in a long time. It starts with dark cherries, black raspberries and vanilla on the nose. The taste is velvety, with huge fruit flavors and muted tannins, fruit forward without being jammy. The finish is medium and extremely pleasant.

“The blend starts with 74% Zinfandel then adds 20% Petite Sirah and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Each varietal is fermented separately and then added to the final blend. It is barrel aged for 12 months. The Zinfandel gives the wine its lush flavor while Petite Sirah and Cab add deep color and bold structure. As I was drinking this I thought this might be a good entry wine for people who don’t think they like red wine. The tannins and oak are gently integrated and don’t leave any harsh flavor spikes.

He added: “The smooth, fruity wine paired well with the spicy, smoky sausages and sweet sautéed vegetables. We enjoyed the meal on our back porch and loved sipping the wine after dinner. The blend will go well with most any grilled meat, such as steaks, ribs or pork chops, and with pasta and tomato sauce.”

Price: $12-14

2013 Trivento Amado Sur Chardonnay Blend, Mendoza, Argentina

Finally, Colette Bancroft, writing in the Tampa Bay Times, recommended this Chardonnay blend from the Trivento winery in Argentina’s “famed Mendoza region”, an area known for its “highly rated and well-priced Malbec and Torrontés wines”.

She said: “All three of this wine’s component grapes — 78% Chardonnay, 12% Pinot Grigio and 10% Viognier — are grown in vineyards in the Andean foothills of Mendoza. (Its name, which translates roughly as “Beloved South,” is a nod to the region.) After harvest, each varietal is aged separately in stainless steel tanks for several weeks before blending, to preserve aromatics and flavor.

“On the nose, this pale, straw-colored wine offers a touch of apple along with the flowers characteristic of Viognier. On the tongue, ripe pear dominates, along with flavors of apricot and tangerine and a hint of ginger on the longish finish. The blend is fruit forward and nicely structured, with a lush but refreshing mouthfeel. Amado Sur makes a fine summer sipper, a cool antidote to an overheated day. It’s food-friendly as well, and we would pair it with a Florida Cobb salad with lots of shrimp, mango and avocado, or with mojo-marinated chicken fired on the grill.”

Price: $12