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Slideshow
Top 10 wines in the US press
We round-up the top 10 wines featured in the US press last weekend.
In the New York Times, Eric Asimov chooses “12 Great American Wines, $20 or less”, and admits that “finding good value in American wines is not easy. Unlike in the Old World, the wine industry in America did not evolve to make intriguing, inexpensive wines”.
Eric Pfanner, in the International Herald Tribune, sings the praises of Soave. Rather like Pinot Grigio today, he says, “for a few years in the 1970s and ’80s, the default white was Soave”, but suggests it’s now ripe for a comeback.
Meanwhile, Lettie Teague in the Wall Street Journal acts as cheerleader for all the wines so often labelled as “miscellaneous” on restaurant wine lists. Such a wine, she writes, “is likely to be one that a sommelier loves and feels personally connected to, especially since it’s a wine that’s not likely to sell itself.”
Qupé Santa Barbara County Marsanne 2011 (US$20)
Eric Asimov in the New York Times chose this as one of his “12 Great American Wines, $20 or less”: “79% Marsanne and 21% Roussanne. Pleasantly weighty and harmonious with persistent floral, nut-like flavors.”
Hermann J. Wiemer Finger Lakes Dry Riesling 2011 (US$17)
Asimov also highlighted this value winner: “The label says ‘Dry Riesling’, but in fact it’s slightly sweet, like an old-school German kabinett Riesling from the days before global warming”.
Heitz Napa Valley Grignolino 2009 (US$17)
Napa Valley Grignolino? You bet, says Asimov: “Heitz has held out and continues to make this ruby-colored red, bone dry with dark, spicy flavours and a refreshing bitterness”.
Ameztoi “Rubentis” Rosé Getariako Txakolina 2011 (US$20)
Irene Virbila of the LA Times urges us to try what is “essentially a pink Txakolina made with a blend of white and red grapes. Ever so slightly pétillant, it has the minerality and a bright citrusy quality that makes it ideal with spicy foods.”
Pieropan Calvarino Soave 2010 (US$20)
Eric Pfanner in the International Herald Tribune looks to Soave: “While Pieropan considers La Rocca its top Soave, I think I prefer the clean, direct, yet subtly complex style of this wine”.
Suavia Monte Carbonara Soave Classico 2010 (US$17)
Pfanner continued his nostalgia trip to Soave with this wine that is “broader and a bit fruitier in style, but still showing good freshness.”
Zepaltas La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2010 (US$42)
Jon Bonné in the San Francisco Chronicle looks to this Pinot, “evoking a damp forest on a rainy day, with sweet umeboshi plum, currant and a licorice accent”.
2010 Hirsch Vineyards Bohan Dillon Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2010 (US$32)
Bonné chose this “tension-filled and pleasingly leafy” offering, “full of wet flowers, bergamot and the minerality that marks the Hirsch site”
Domaine Ostertag Les Vieilles Vignes de Sylvaner 2010 (US$22)
Lettie Teague in the Wall Street Journal – “This wine is a zesty dry white that’s wonderfully fresh and bright.”
Dr. Frank Rkatsiteli 2010 (US$18)