Top 10 wines in the US press

Domaine Monier St Joseph Terre Blanche 2012, Côte du Rhône, France

Eric Asimov, writing for the New York Times, sampled a selection of wines from St Joseph, a northern Rhône appellation that he said can “capture and convey the elemental aromas, flavors and emotions” of wines from regions such as the Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Cornas, but with a “more open, easier-going manner.”

“That is to say, the top wines don’t require as much aging before they can be enjoyed, perhaps five to seven years rather than the eight to 12 for a Cornas or the 15 to 20 for a Hermitage or Côte-Rôtie”, said Asimov. “And they are not as expensive, though that, too, is a relative question.”

Asimov recommended 20 of the best wines from this region, describing this “classic” example from Domaine Monier as being “well structured, with earthy, spicy, floral aromas and peppery mineral flavors.”

“The Monier grapes come from the granite slopes above the town of St.-Désirat, a little north of the original St.-Joseph zone, yet very much a lovely, distinctive wine.”

Price: $49

Domaine Faury St.-Joseph 2012, Côte du Rhône, France

This 2012 vintage from Domain Faury was Asimov’s best value wine from St Joseph. Coming in at around $32, Asimov said it had “firm tannins, with peppery, spicy flavors of black olives and herbs.”

“Our no. 5 wine, the 2012 Domaine Faury, came from the town of Chavanay at the northern end of the appellation, far from the original six communes”, said Asimov. “Yet because the grapes are also from granite hillsides, it displayed the signature peppery, spicy, olive and herb flavors. At $32, the Faury was our best value, which is both far cheaper than top wines from Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie but also suggests that good wines from all over the northern Rhône are very much in demand.”

Price: $32

2007 CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja, Spain

Lettie Teague, writing for the Wall Street Journal, unpicked a perennial dilemma for wine lovers – when you’re buying a bottle, what matters more: the vintage or the talent behind the wine?

“Can a great producer overcome the odds of a poor vintage or will a year of bad weather trump even the most talented woman or man?”, asked Teague.

Selecting her pick of good wines produced within a bad vintage, Teague first picked out the 2007 CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja, which she said was “concentrated and lush with a smoky, savory note”.

“Although the 2007 vintage wasn’t great, this wine was made from small plots with excellent fruit”, added CVNE director Victor Urrutia. “The result is an impressively concentrated and lush wine.”

Price: $50

2011 Dunn Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California

“The Dunn Vineyards was outstanding, with remarkable depth, concentration and richness”, said Teague. “Randy Dunn has long been one of Napa’s best producers, and he did a terrific job in this difficult vintage.”

Teague described this 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon as a “supple, well balanced wine” from the “much maligned 2011 vintage.”

Price: $90

Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages 2013, Beaujolais, France

With this year’s Beaujolais release around the corner Sandra Silfven, writing in Detroit News, recommended Louis Jadot’s 2013 Beaujolais.

“Expect smooth tannins and nice fruit with flavors of cherry, cranberry, spice and a touch of rose petal. It’s an ideal pairing with grilled red meats, seafood and goat cheeses. It needs air time in the glass for all the flavors to knit together. Even the second day after opening, this wine holds together well. It’s 100% Gamay.”

Price: $13

Barefoot Cellars Chardonnay, California

Silfven also took the opportunity to mark winemaker Jen Wall’s 20th anniversary as winemaker at Barefoot Wine & Bubbly by recommending its Chardonnay.

“With just a kiss of oak, this wine has plenty of fruit braced with acidity to keep you passing the bottle around the table”, said Silfven. “Think flavors of green apple, pineapple, citrus and apricot made in an approachable dry style. It doesn’t cheat with sweetness.”

Price: £6.99

2013 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, California

Barbecued ribs were the order of the day for Irene Virbila writing for the LA Times, who recommended a selection of wines for pairing with barbecued meats.

“It should be something big and burly, with some spice and heft to stand up to the smoke, the rich, fatty meat — and that sticky sweet hot sauce”, she explained. “This is a case for Zinfandel or a Zinfandel blend”.

Recommending this bottle, Silfven said: “When Bedrock’s Morgan Twain-Peterson and Chris Cottrell say old vines, they mean old, averaging 80 years old from small vineyard sites scattered across Northern California. Some of the oldest come from Bedrock Vineyard, planted in 1888 — and that was for the second time. The wine is deep and complex, loaded with intense dark berry flavors plus a good dose of black pepper, spice and earth. Full-bodied is an understatement.”

Price: About $25

2013 The Prisoner Wine Co. “The Prisoner”, Napa Valley, California

“Italian immigrants who originally settled in the Napa Valley planted field blends of what’s known as “mixed blacks”. That’s the inspiration behind winemaker Jen Beloz’s take on the Prisoner’s proprietary red blend”, said Silfven of her next wine recommendation.

“The dominant grape is Zinfandel, but there’s also Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah and more in the blend. The result is a lush, rich red with the character to stand up to those smoke-laden ribs. Great with a burger too.”

Price: From $32 to $40

2012 Raúl Pérez Mencia Vico, Bierzo, Spain

Completing a trio of barbecue wine recommendations, Virbila highlighted this Mencia from Raúl Pérez in the up and coming region of Bierzo.

“Spanish wine aficionados are always on the prowl for Raúl Pérez wines, but of all the many wines this extremely talented winemaker makes — most in minuscule quantities — this red may be the best value”, said Virbila. “That doesn’t mean it’s inexpensive, but for the towering quality, it’s a buy. Made from vines close to a century old, the 2012 Raúl Pérez Mencia Vico Bierzo is a big, juicy red with tightly woven dark berry flavors, pepper, spice and wild herbs. If you can’t snag this bottle, keep an eye out for anything else from the Spanish winemaker. The wines don’t tend to stay on wine shop shelves very long.”

Price: About $36

Mark West Pinot Noir 2013, California

Finally Dennis Sodomka, writing for the Augusta Chronicle, recommended this Pinot Noir from Mark West, who has been making Pinot Noir for nearly 40 years, and founded his winery in 1978 with the goal of making quality wine at an affordable price.

“The wine is a beautiful, bright cherry red in the glass with pleasant cherry and strawberry aromas with hints of spice”, said Sodomka. “This is a very approachable wine, full of ripe fruit and soft tannins. It has a great, silky mouthfeel with tastes of plum, strawberry, cherry and cola. The taste lingers pleasantly in your mouth. The tannins balance the ripe fruit perfectly, so this doesn’t become one of those unpleasant California fruit bombs.”

Price: $9 to 12