I don’t need to go into any detail to tell you all that it’s going to be a perfect weekend to be out on the patio, in the backyard or on the water. Get that grill fired up and put some ice in the cooler…but don’t forget to put some nice wines in there, first!
To begin with, I’d like to change it up a bit with an area I don’t go to too often, Bordeaux. One vineyard that always delivers is Chateau Loudenne. Their Ch. Loudenne Bordeaux Blanc, 2015, Medoc, ($28.99), is perfect for the warmer weather we’ll be having this weekend. Built in the 17th century, Chateau Loudenne is one of the oldest Crus Bourgeois properties in the Medoc. The value of this location was evident 400 years ago and remains equally so today. For a light summer meal, pour a glass and serve up a classic Salade Nicoise. Not a common starter, but delicious with the brightness of this Loudenne, is rabbit raviolis with a mustard cream. Pan-roasted skin-on chicken with lemon herb butter will delight too, as will seared scallops over a warm Tuscan bean salad with fennel.
A little closer to home, the McManis Family 2016 Viognier, River Junction, California, ($12.99), is worth having. Founded in 1990, McManis Family Vineyards is owned and managed by Ron and Jamie McManis, fourth generation winegrowers committed to sustainable farming. Located in the rich agricultural region of the northern California interior, the McManis family is credited with the 2001 successful petition for the 1300-acre River Junction AVA (American Vineyard Appellation), just west of the city of Ripon, at the cool confluence of the Stanislaus and San Joaquin Rivers. The river basin, consistently 2-5 degrees cooler than the surrounding farmlands, combined with the sandy loam soils unique to the area, is ideally suited to growing premium quality Viognier grapes. The fruit for this 2016 Viognier came from Estate Vineyards and the juice was cold fermented in Stainless Steel with no oak aging to retain the unique fruit character. Light straw in color, this wine has aromas of peach, apricot and violet. Rich and velvety on the palate, it’s full of the fruit flavors promised by the aromas and the long fruity finish has a slight note of minerality. Viognier is so unique and this one’s a super value! Awarded a Gold Medal and Class Champion in the 2018 Houston Rodeo International Wine Competition!
One of my favorite summer wines is Chenin Blanc; originally from the Loire Valley in France, this grape is grown all over the world. One of the nicer iterations I’ve had lately is blended with the varietal just mentioned above. The Terra D’Oro 2015 Chenin Blanc / Viognier, Clarksburg, California, ($17.99), is a vibrant, refreshing blend; grapes for the Terra d’Oro Chenin Blanc & Viognier are handpicked from select vineyards. The Chenin Blanc, a versatile white grape variety that can range from dry to very sweet and typically offers high acidity, comes from the Clarksburg appellation in the Sacramento Delta. This region is well-known for producing Chenin Blanc thanks to the rich soils and maritime influence. The Viognier is from the Voteau Vineyard in Amador County. The high elevation, warm days and cool nights bring intense varietal character to the fruit. Wine Enthusiast Magazine liked this so much they made it an Editors’ Choice. With a score of 90 points they said “This is an elegant, intricate wine that’s fresh and lively while layered with attractive green apple, white pepper and thyme flavors. Light bodied, it makes a great aperitif or pairing with fish and fowl.” They’re absolutely right!
Thinking about some Asian Fusion this weekend? If so, try a bottle of Fox Run 2014 Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, ($17.99), from just over the border in upper New York state. I’ll tell you that with every vintage it becomes clearer that New York’s Finger Lakes region Rieslings are world class. The similarities to Germany’s Mosel are numerous; both are cool climate regions, both have slate-filled soil which provides good drainage and a distinct mineral character to the grapes, both have the warming effect of a body of water. 2014’s growing season was a classic nail-biter. Cool and wet conditions predominated through the spring and summer, giving growers little hope of a high-quality crop. But as summer turned to fall, rain stopped falling and they enjoyed a prolonged dry and sunny end to the season. As a result, they were able to make some of the tastiest wines of the last decade. This Riesling is vinified dry and pairs with foods beautifully-especially spicy Asian foods.
So, get out there and enjoy the weather and pour out some good wine!
Talk To The Wine Guy at jdris8888@gmail.com
