July 4th Wine Recommendations…from a Brit.
July 2, 2011July 4th (from what I understand) is a U.S. holiday commemorating the day England, willingly and completely of our own accord, decided to give back America to, well, itself. At least that’s what they taught me in history class in England…and I see no reason why it would be a biased opinion.
History lesson out of the way, lets move on to the wine. What follows are some of my personal wine recommendations for this 4th of July holiday. They are all (of course) products of the United States; anything else would be just wrong!
~ Whites ~
Conundrum
Tasting Notes
The wine is smooth and rich, with tastes of apricot, citrus, pear, and lychee among many other notes. The Muscat certainly adds complexity, Viognier adds a floral component, with Sauvignon helping to keep it crisp.
Average Retail
$22.99
Availability
Most wine stores.
Click here for my interview with Conundrum winemaker Jon Bolta.
Groth Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes
The Groth showed rich and ripe peach, melon and honeysuckle on the nose, with just a hint of yeast. Crisp, but not in a full-on New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc kind-of-way. Melon continues with a hint of lime and yellow grapefruit. The acidity is present, and balances nicely with the creamy texture. Medium in body, finishes long and elegant.
Average Retail
$22.99
Availability
Limited to larger wine stores, and selectively at smaller retailers.
Click here for my review of Groth Sauvignon Blanc.
Gewurz by Alexander Valley Vineyards
Tasting Notes
A little effervescence upon pouring into the glass as you’ll find with a number of screw-cap wines.
The Gewurz definitely delivers for the money. The stereotypical lychee, nutmeg, cinnamon, peach and apricot on the nose. All these flavors really come together on the palate, with pear, a little honey, nectarine and rose petals. No oak. A smidge of residual sugar, but maintains a great balance with the acidity.
Average Retail
$12
Availability
Limited to larger wine stores, and selectively at smaller retailers.
Click here for my review of Gewurz by Alexander Valley Vineyards.
Layer Cake Virgin Chardonnay
Tasting Notes
No big surprises on the nose, crisp lemon, Granny Smith apple, and wet stone.
The taste was actually a very big surprise! I expecting just a very stereotypical un-oaked Cali Chard, but then again I forgot Jayson Woodbridge was making it! The palate shows a little banana, pineapple and pink grapefruit, plenty of lime, lemon and green apple, and a touch of yeast and anise. Finishes dry and with a medium-lengthy finish.
Average Retail
$12.99
Availability
Readily available from most large wine stores.
Click here for my review of Layer Cake Virgin Chardonnay
~ Reds ~
Three Wine Company Old Vines Field Blend
Tasting Notes
Full in body with a mixed bag of red and black fruit, complex, showing savory notes of dried herbs, tobacco and spice.
Average Retail
$18
Availability
Limited to restaurants and some smaller wine stores.
Click here for my video review of Three Wine Company Old Vine Field Blend
Hedges C.M.S. Blend
Tasting Notes
A mixture of red fruits with a little earth, wood and spice on the nose. I actually expected the CMS to be a lot more fruit-forward than it is, quite a nice surprise actually. The palate shows puckery sour-cherry, over-ripened blackberry, cranberry, a little toasty oak, dried herbs, cracked peppercorns and enough tannin to give a surprisingly lengthy finish.
Average Retail
$13
Availability
Most wine stores.
Click here for my review of Hedges C.M.S
Petite Petit
Tasting Notes
Tons of upfront flavor, the wine manages to be big, but at the same time fairly medium-bodied.
Hugely jammy and rich with blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, and a whole heap of vanilla thrown in for good measure! The oak is well-integrated and doesn’t show through too much. The finish is fairly dry and medium in length.
Average Retail
$18.99
Availability
Most wine stores.
Click here for my review of Petite Petit
Landmark Steel Plow Syrah
Tasting Notes
The wine was fairly subdued on the nose, needing a little time to open up. The taste was big in the way of plum, blackcurrant, pepper, spice, tobacco and leather. Full in body and very chewy on the extensive finish. Certainly benefits from decanting and another year or two in the bottle to show what it can really do, with potential for even longer cellaring.
Average Retail
$27.99
Availability
Higher-end restaurants, and limited wine stores.
Click here for interview for Landmark Vineyards owner Mike Colhoun
~ Sparkling ~
Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blancs
Tasting Notes
100% Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley. The wine was everything I expected it to be, offering a slight yeasty/bready quality (as found in a lot of Champagnes), lemon, pear, Granny Smith apple and good acidity.
Average Retail
$24.99
Availability
Limited availability.
Click here for my review of Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blancs
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