Gold Medal, Jacuzzi Family VineyardsRosso Di Sette Fratelli Merlot 2015(Carneros, Sonoma) $25This wine was fashioned from 96% Merlot and 4% Aleatico grapes that were fermented over 7 days and aged in French oak barrels (35% new) for 15 months before bottling.Aroma: Bold cherry, dark ripe cherries, cherry juice, floral, slight vegetal, black pepper, cloves, funky Old World herbal, cocoa powder, milk chocolate, tobacco.Palate: Dark cherry, cherry juice, plum, strawberry, blackberry, currants, fruit bomb, earthy, farmland freshness, leather, graphite, cigar, Cameroon tobacco, oak, soft.Finish: Black plum, cherry, bright cherry, cherry juice, cumin, clove, old oak, tannic, musty, funky, big, edgy. There's also loads of cool stuff coming out of the Adelaide Hills, in South Australia — look for Manon Wine, Jauma, Gentle Folk Wines, and Ochota Barrels, for some tastes of this free-thinking, cool-climate region.
These wines are richly textured and practically demand to be paired with food, shining equally aside a winter pork preparation and summer's lobster.

Older bottles don't have to be very expensive, 2nd/3rd label Bordeaux offers value, and regions like Rioja and Piedmont are in the habit of holding back vintages, as are individual domaines like Couly-Dutheil and Mayacamas. See our 50 best wines of 2019 here. I am very much looking forward to drink what is coming from the new talents of Australia, in the hills of Adelaide or in the cooler parts of Victoria, as there is a lot of interesting things happening there. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. The majority of these wines are accessible young, but most of all, the quality from this this region simply over-delivers and it is wallet friendly.

I confess I've not worked much with Spanish wine in the past decade, so rediscovering Spain's exceptional diversity, quality, funky indigenous varieties and classic wines is at the top of my list. For example, I need more great Sangiovese from Tuscany in my life — Chianti, in particular, which offers such exceptional value — and more old-school Bordeaux. Veeder Estate Merlot 2015(Napa Valley) $75This wine, made from Merlot (99.2%), Cabernet Sauvignon (0.7%) and Petit Verdot (0.1%), underwent whole berry fermentation over 3 weeks in bins. Australia’s emphasis on new styles and regions in the past few years, New Zealand’s diversity beyond Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, South Africa’s development as a major new wave producer, and Chile’s exciting winemakers and wines make these some of the most interesting wine-producing countries. However at Entre-Deux-Monts, which may just be the top class of all of Belgian wine, winemaker Martin Bacquaert (who studied in Bordeaux), has taken on the classics of Burgundy with a Flemish provenance.

", Aged Bordeaux, Rioja and Piedmont — Lauren Dadonna, Sommelier at Les Sablons, "I'll be seeking out more wines with bottle age, wines that are about savory, more so than fruit. By Amy Glynn | May 31, 2017 | 9:55am. ", Burgundy — Jason Jacobeit, Wine Director Bâtard, "In our blitz-paced age, a glass of Burgundy is a chance to slow down, engage with something in a meaningful way, and emerge from the experience more present. And in the 1980s Grgich Hills pioneered the super ripe, buttery, oaky style of Chardonnay that found fans across the country. One of my favorites by her is the 2015 “Gavela” from Ribeira Sacra made from Palomino! One sip of the fascinating wines from Claus Preisinger, Slobodne Vinarstvo, Strekhov 1075 or Milan Nestarec, and you'll see what I mean. Double Gold Medal, GOLD MEDAL WINNERS BonterraMerlot 2016(Mendocino County) Certified organic. Works well with barbecued red meats, especially steak, and it can take a bit of spice and plenty of pepper, too.
Throughout the years, I began drinking more obscure wines, and my palate developed into wanting less oak — and the price for Bordeaux unfortunately became too unreasonable. In general we see a movement to small artisanal wine makers. And while 2018 has brought more fires to California, including this week's deadly blazes in Butte County to the north and Ventura to the south, Napa has been largely spared. WINERY DIRECT ® Olema Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County, 2017. I love the nuances of each wine, whether it expresses a single vineyard, or a blend of sites, thanks to its limited production and the care that goes into it. Each year, Wine Spectator editors select the most exciting wines we've reviewed for our Top 100 wines—based on quality, value, availability and an X-factor. The 2016 Estate Chardonnay and 2016 Estate Pinot Noir, while very young, show the potential of this Flemish region. Spain — Caleb Ganzer, Head Sommelier at Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, "In 2018 I hope to be drinking more singular wines from small plots all over Spain. DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERSMerriam VineyardsWindacre Vineyard Merlot 2014(Russian River Valley, Sonoma) $34This wine was made from a blend of Merlot (85%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) harvested from a vineyard on the eastern edge of Russian River Valley which experiences cool morning fog.