Wines for your summer feasts
Summer is officially upon us.
Mother Nature has proven herself to be merciless as she introduced summer with our first official heat wave. Covid-19 and social distancing have limited our socializing, but as our world begins to open, small intimate backyard barbecues can once again become a reality for you, your family and close friends. We have been kept inside for so long that a simple barbecue can seem like a banquet! To that end the following wines are worthy of consideration for that great meal to be enjoyed out of doors.
Nicholson Ranch 2012 Sonoma Estate Chardonnay (originally priced at the NH Liquor and Wine Outlets at $44.99, and reduced at the Price Busters shelving to $22.99) won 86 points by Virginie Boone of Wine Enthusiast, who describes it this way: “oak, ripe pear and caramel dance to the fore of this wine’s bouquet, followed by thick, textural layers of lingering vanilla cream. The oak remains pronounced throughout the glass, giving the wine a sweetness on the finish.” I agree with this assessment, but I would add the wine has a bit of a citric note to it, with a full mouth taste of apricot, or peach. This wine is indeed very creamy; a friend described it as “buttery.” The oak combined with the “cream” allows this wine to become an excellent dessert accompaniment to summer fruit: strawberries, apricots, peaches along with soft, young cheeses. A true delight.
According to their website, Nicholson Ranch is a small family-owned winery of 40 acres located between the Sonoma and Napa valleys with panoramic views of these valleys but also Carneros, situated just north of San Pablo Bay. The cool breezes from the Mayacamas mountain range, just to the north, combined with the cooling effects of the Bay, combine for ideal conditions for pinot noir and chardonnay vineyards, the plantings of Nicholson Ranch.
Hierogram 2016 Vineyard 8 Block N Old Vine Zinfandel (Lodi) (originally priced at the NH Liquor and Wine Outlets at $45.99, and reduced at the Price Busters shelving to $22.99) got 86 points from Jim Gordon of Wine Enthusiast, who wrote, “…full bodied and quite ripe in flavor, this wine has a smoky, grilled veggie aroma followed by a mix of savory and jammy notes.” This aptly describes this wine that has an incredibly high alcoholic content of 15 percent and that is dry, yet surprisingly not “hot” from the alcohol. The wine has a deep, deep purple color; it is floral and prune-like at the same time. It has notes of blackberries and dark chocolate to the tongue, with a very pleasant and long finish. The tannins are there, but subtle. It is ideally suited to a variety of grilled foods such as ribs and hamburgers or to pairing with a red-sauced pasta. And what you do not finish over the meal, you can walk over to the fire pit with and just kick back.
The wine comes from Lodi, in California’s Central Coast, halfway between San Francisco and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is a prime example of old-vine zinfandels: 100-year-old vines, with some dating back to 1888! Lodi has warm, sunny days and cool evenings, and is home not just to zinfandel but also a vast array of other red wines. Zinfandel has an interesting history. Originating in Croatia, it made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. It came to America in the first half of the 19th century and landed in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. These ancient vines, located near Sacramento, languished during Prohibition, and today produce exceptionally concentrated and complex wines. They are a treat!
So head out to your backyard this evening to a great meal, paired with a robust red, followed by a delightful white paired to a seasonal dessert. And don’t forget to continue to savor these rich flavors, seated by a small fire in the firepit. Enjoy our all-too-short summer to its fullest.
