I just unpacked in anticipation of the coming summer and as usual part of our ‘gear’ included wine.
This got me thinking about the favorites we will most likely be drinking during this most wonderful of seasons. So here’s what we’ll be uncorking:
Bubbles: As a family we once were big Prosecco fans, but found our taste for it waning as many of our favorites began to lose their luster and flavor. BUT we still need bubbles on hand especially during pre-meal preparations and here are our bubbly choices:
JCB Infinity: This has become our ‘go to’ summer bubbles. It’s a crémant de Bourgogne from Burgundy, France. Jean-Charles describes it as having “Alluring aromas of white flowers and almonds, a generous mouth feel and beautiful harmony between freshness and fruit make this a delectable magnetic wine.” We really enjoy the lighter bubbles of the crémant style.
JCB #69: This is a dry rosé and is a great sip! Again, Jean-Charles describes it as “not a dainty pin thing. It’s a flamboyant, profound mouthful of serious bubbles. The vibrant crispness of No. 69 is thirst quenching. Yet the flavors, evocative of pinot noir – are beautifully sensual.”
Del Dotto 2013 Bubbles Brut Cuvée: (Sonoma Coast, Cinghiale Vineyard). A very nice, light, and flavorful méthode champenoise bubbly!
Whites: We aren’t white wine drinkers. Nothing wrong with them, we just prefer drinking reds all year around. This probably has something to do with the wonderful Italian ancestors who very early on plied us with fabulous, hearty, dry, red wines. That said lately we have found some decidedly wonderful Sauvignon Blancs lately. This summer we will focus on:
Titus Vineyards vintage 2017
Vineyard 29 vintage 2016
and
Melka Estates Mekerra vintage 2015
I’ll let you in on a little secret here too. We’ll be hiding the Melka. It is truly outstanding!
Reds: All summer long there is no such thing as too many reds in our cellar! We keep them lightly chilled and they all disappear quickly and with much gusto. A few of our favorites we went extra heavy on when we order are:
JCB Passion: This is one of our all-time favorite Napa red blends and we will be drinking flights this summer of the ’14, ’15, and ’16 vintages. If you can find any the ’14 is amazing!
Grounded Wine Steady State: Brought up the 2015 and 2016 of this Napa red blend. We will probably let the ’16 rest this summer, especially since the 2015 is drinking beyond amazing!
Burgess: Burgess is another of those small, lesser known, but spectacular wineries in Napa. We really admire their wide array of offerings, but we are especially partial to their daily drinking Topography, Reserve Cabs, and their super Haymaker Vineyard Petit Verdot!
Tudal: John Tudal of Tudal Vineyards and Cerruti Cellars makes a lovely array of Cabernets as well as red blends. Attractively priced we think every one is a winner. That said his Pablo’s Pick Cuvée, Cabernet 50/50 blend (half Napa grapes and half Sonoma), as well as his Napa Valley Cuvée 2015 are guaranteed to disappear early!
For Special Sipping and Meals: Our best wines this summer will only see the light of day (or evening) for special sipping and/or to accompany those special meals usually showing up around Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Then again with all the superb chefs in the family many other meals will be equally special. For these times we’ll be uncorking:
Titus Vineyards: Lot 1 This Napa red blend is a wonderful wine and once again we will be drinking it as a vertical of several vintages.
Michael Mondavi Family Estates: Emblem ’09 Rutherford Cabernet. I know they aren’t bottling this wine any longer, but this is one of the smoothest Napa Cabs I have ever had. The Rutherford dust did these grapes proud and Michael Mondavi and his team did an awesome job on this wine!
Levy & McClellan: Martha McClellan is one of our favorite winemakers and we will be sure to enjoy the Napa Valley red blend, vintage 2009, will blow our sandals right off!
Sodhani: Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon We have lots of Napa Cabs in our cellar and one of our very favorites is Sodhani! We came late to this party so we only will be able to choose between their 2013, ’14, and ’15. What a great dilemma!
Raymond Vineyards: Red Room Salon Privé 2014. When we tasted this red blend at the Raymond Estate during our most recent visit to Napa we couldn’t believe how wonderfully smooth and flavorful it was, but the aromas were what stood out most. This is a truly special wine and once again the hand of Jean-Charles Boisette is evident in every aspect.
Roy Estate: Mr. Evans 2015. There is no mistaking we are huge fans of the work of Philippe Melka and his wines from Roy Estate is stellar. This Bordeaux style red blend is single vineyard, estate grown and the blend is right in our bullseye at 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 11% Petit Verdot.
Naturally there will be several other wines uncorked as our favorite thing to do is to simply ask our guests to pick whatever they’d most like to drink from the cellar.