2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage
2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage, Napa Valley
$50 at the winery website (tasted January 30, 2013)
This is what I call a sipping (or nibbling) wine. It takes me a few days to drink a wine like this because of its richness and size. Josh Stein of Stein Family Wines described wines like this as a “wine-as-food.” I love the velvety mouthfeel, teeth-coating tannins, and chewy, lush berry and cocoa flavors. Good enough to eat.
2010 Trentadue Winery La Storia Cuvée 32
2010 Trentadue Winery La Storia Cuvée 32
$32 at the winery website (tasted February 1, 2013)
I can’t do this bottle justice with my own camera, so I snagged the pic from the winery’s website. This Sangiovese-based, Sonoma County, Super Tuscan-like blend possesses a nice balance of acidity, tannins, and blueberry-cranberry-cherry flavors. It’s food friendly and pairs well with pizza and other Italian dishes.
2011 Gorman Winery Big Sissy Chardonnay
Gorman Winery 2011 Big Sissy Chardonnay, Connor Lee Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington
$35 at the winery website (tasted February 6, 2013)
This is one of the least sissy wines I’ve ever had. It’s fermented in 100% new French oak with 100% malolactic fermentation (ML) and has 14.3% alcohol. This Chardonnnay retains complex, layered fruit flavors in harmony with with rich oak flavors and a creamy mouthfeel that lingers for a long finish.