Malbec and Merlot with Sausage and Spaetzle
Fall is a great season for
enjoying rich sausages with German style spaetzle dumplings. Check these
favorites preferred by my tasting panel.
DeLille Cellars 2016 Quintessence, Red Mountain - $54
 |
| The new DeLille Cellars winery in Woodinville. |
The Quintessence Vineyard
on Red Mountain was developed beginning in 2010 and has become a favorite of
respected winemakers throughout the region. The large vineyard is on the
eastern edge of the AVA and is planted to a wide selection of clones of the
most popular red grape varieties. My tasters found this blend of Malbec (71%)
and Cabernet Sauvignon (29%) to be superbly structured and offering the best
aromas and flavors of the flight. Look for dark blueberry and black currant
with notes of spicy oak, earthy tar and hints of violets. Delillecellars.com
Amancaya 2017 Reserve Red, Mendoza - $20
This is one of two wines
produced in Argentina by a partnership of Domaines Barons de Rothschild
(Lafite) and the Catena family of the Mendoza. A blend of 72% Malbec with 28%
Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine has gained a fabulous reputation for quality and
value. Aromas of dark cherry, white flowers and dried dark fruits lead to a
rich palate of dark berry wrapped in toasty oak and baking spices.
CARO 2016 Red Blend, Mendoza, Argentina - $55
The partnership of
Catena/Rothschild described above is abbreviated in the brand name to Bodegas
CARO for the names of the principals. In
this vintage, the blend was predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (83%) and shows
elegant aromas and flavors of cassis, blackberry, earthy olive, spicy oak and
hints of vanilla and violets.
Santa Julia 2017 Malbec, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina - $13
The Zuccardi family planted
their first vines in Mendoza over 50 years ago and has been a protagonist in
improving the Argentine wine industry. Julia Zuccardi represents her family’s
fame with this eponymous Reserva Malbec of great quality. Look for ripe aromas
and flavors of cherry, blackberry and plum with toasty notes of spicy oak and
flavors of dark chocolate on the finish.
Abacela 2015 Malbec, Reserve, East Hill Block - $42
Abacela winery is known for
producing wines of Old World style with balance and structure, minimizing
overripe fruit and excessive oak. My tasters were somewhat surprised to find
ample new oak character in this powerful reserve wine. After breathing time
(recommended for this selection) allowed the complex fruit of cherry, plum and
blackberry to show through with wood notes of vanilla, baking spice and toast. abacela.com
Aruma 2017 Malbec, Mendoza - $15
The name “Aruma” was chosen
for this wine as the word for “night” in the language of the native indian
population of the Mendoza. The producers (Bodegas CARO) believed this to be an
appropriate expression of the dark Andes nights and clear air of the region. A
lovely wine of pure Malbec, one appreciates aromas and flavors of plum, red fruits
and hints of oak with great affinity for pairing with food.
Thurston Wolfe 2017 Malbec, Horse Heaven Hills - $25
Wade Wolfe and Becky Yeaman
started their small family winery in 1987 after Wade had spent a decade helping
grow the Washington wine industry through vineyard management and winery
operations. This flavorful Malbec comes from the McKinley Springs Vineyard in
the Horse Heaven Hills. Look for aromas of French and American oak wrapping a
core of blueberry, plum and baking spices. thurstonwolfe.com
Rolling Bay 2016 Malbec, Snips Mountain, Upland Vineyard - $36
Grapes for Rolling Bay
wines came from Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain in the central Yakima
Valley. Grapes were first planted here
in 1917 and are the oldest wine grape vines in Washington State. Alphonse de
Klerk makes Rolling Bay wines at his small winery on Bainbridge Island in
Washington’s Puget Sound region. My tasters enjoyed aromas and flavors of dark
cherry, earthy plum and berry with notes of caramel and vanilla and hints of
tobacco on the finish. rollingbaywinery.com
No comments:
Post a Comment