Overemphasizing

Borrowing from a song from one of my favorite bands (Big Wreck BTW), we met up with Chris Thomas from Vineyard Brands, who brought us a Whino’s dozen of wines to try (13)!  Vineyard Brands is a great portfolio of wines from all over the world, including France, South Africa and South America.

Check out this heavy lineup:

Hamilton Russell Chardonnay Cape South Coast 2016.  Far-and-away the best producer of Chardonnay in South Africa, and really one of the world’s best.  Doesn’t get any better than this elegant, full-bodied stunner.
Cono Sur Organic Sauvignon Blanc Aconcagua Valley 2016.  Crisp, clean white wine with brilliant notes of lemon curd, lemongrass and grapefruit.
MAN Vintners Brut Methode Cap Classique NV.  Pretty elegant sparkling wine from South Africa with a light creamy apple mousse and hints of vanilla and citrus.
Michel Briday Brut Rosé Cremant de Bourgogne NV.  Brilliant sparkling wine from Burgundy.  Pretty mousse of strawberry, blanched almond and lime zest.
Familie Perrin Rosé Cotes du Rhone Reserve 2016.  Dry blush with hints of mineral, red berry and watermelon.
Massolino Dolcetto d’Alba 2014.  Sweet red and black fruit tethered to a dry, minerally backdrop with hints of pepper and dried herbs.
Massolino Barbera d’Alba 2014.  Zesty red fruits and nuances of black peppercorns, spices and crushed violets.
Massolino Barolo Serralunga d’Alba 2012.  Hints of Chinese Five Spice, black cherry and leather come at you seductively.  One of those wines you wish you had a meal with, but you’re at work, so moving right along…
Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2012.  Herbaceous and dry with splashes of wild strawberry, raspberry, leather and tobacco.  A hearty wine that again, a meal, but alas…
Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 2014.  Loads of blackberry, currant, dried garrigue and pepper notes transfix you in a hazy daydream.  It’s youthful and demonstrative, yet hinting a little more in time.
TintoNegro Cabernet Franc Uco Valley 2014.  Really loving Cab Francs from Argentina.  This has got a lot of depth and concentration.  Surprising power too.
Cono Sur Organic Red Blend San Antonio Valley 2015.  Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Syrah.  Got a lot of guts for such an affordable wine.
Warre’s Otima 10 Year Tawny Port NV.  Finishing with a bit of decadence, this gorgeous fortified is all about the caramel-toffee-praline sexiness.  The alarm is going off in my head – ¡Siesta! ¡Siesta! – but again alas, duty calls…

The Whino’s dozen… something from back in my old blog days that was a bit easier when I was younger, and at the end of the day, but these days, I don’t know.  Thanks again to Chris Thomas from Vineyard Brands for bringin’ the noise, and Becki Ison, our SGW/D&E rep for instigating the madness as always.