Jul
16
Summertime Wine Gems
Wondering what wines are worth sipping into during these long, hot, dog days of summer? Whether it’s a crisp, cool white to savor over a sunset or a juicy, ripe red to accompany a cookout, Michael’s Wine Cellar has a wine for every occasion and budget. These are our favorite Summertime Gems - cheers!
WHITES
2008 Lurton Pinot Gris, ARG $8.95
Satiny-textured with thick layers of yellow fruits, citrus peel, butter, floral and peach, and a round clean finish. If you’ve never tried a Pinot Gris you’re missing something - it’s a wonderful grape.
2007 Albet I Noya Xarel-Lo Classic, SP $11.95
Light, fresh aromas. Peach, some zingy fruit, a lot of sherbet lemon. The palate is nice and simple of crisp apples with a touch of cucumber.
2007 Two Angels Sauvignon Blanc, CA $12.95
Vibrant, complex fruit characteristics of melon, citrus blossom, fennel and honeysuckle. Elegant and balanced with a clean, crisp, long finish.
2008 Morgenhof Estate Chardonnay, ZA $14.95
The nose is expressive of lime, kiwi and pineapple fruit flavors. These zesty flavors follow through onto a crisp palate with subtle wood integration and a rich velvety long finish.
2007 Hartenberg Riesling, ZA $16.95
The spicy richness on the nose gives way to a taut yet floral and fruity mid-palate that has both richness and complexity. The sugar is barely noticeable and if anything it contributes extra fullness and richness to the palate.
2007 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris, OR $18.95
This is a fruit powered wine, with fresh pear, melon and tropical flavors. Ripe with perfect acidity, and a streak of vanilla and coconut wrapping up the finish.
REDS
2005 Falesco Vitiano, IT $10.95
A dark-purplish/crimson red with a slightly fuchsia-colored rim. On the nose, there are massive amounts of black cherries, blueberry jam, raspberry coulis, some licorice and intense notes of crushed black currant. In the mouth, there is serious upfront black fruit with cherry, brambleberry, sweet cranberry crush, raspberry jam and a multitude of flavors held together by great concentration and superb structure. A wonderful long finish permeated by supple yet solid tannins and good extraction.
2007 Bodega Lurton “Grande Reserve” Malbec, ARG $11.95
This grape variety reigns supreme in Argentina. A spicy wine, rich in aromas, with an extraordinarily dark purple color which immediately catches the eye. On the palate it is very supple with mellowed tannins and spicily rich, fat fruit. A highly individual and very appealing wine.
2005 Seven Hills Merlot, WA $12.95
A ripe, food-friendly Merlot exhibiting a broad array of flavors and aromas - toffee, violets, herb and vanilla accent ripe red and black fruit, with generous depth and length. 83% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, it’s perfect with barbecued chicken or steak on the grill.
2006 Dead Letter Office Shiraz, AUS $19.95
Deep crimson red color. Juicy rich aromas immediately strike the nose with a wide spectrum of fruits including raspberries, cherry and plum intermingle with milk chocolate, vanilla bean and roasted coffee. The layers of creamy tannins form the foundation of this wonderfully opulent, fleshy and fruit driven wine. The palate is succulent with subtle, spicy integrated oak and traces of black pepper.
2006 Bertrand Ambroise Bourgogne Rouges, FR $19.95
Amazingly dark in color, smells and tastes of raw blackberries and graphite, saturates the palate with formidable, bitter-sweet intensity of fruit, and finishes firmly with persistent flavors of blackberry and roasted meat.
2005 Avontuur Estate “Minelli” Pinot Noir, ZA $19.95
Typical red cherries and strawberries on the palate with aromas of lead pencil and cedar wood on the nose. Light-bodied with soft tannins and well-balanced fruit and acid.
