Lighter wines match well with summer foods
I heard Delaware has a $56 million revenue shortfall in the 2015 budget. Chez McDonald, when we have a “revenue shortfall” we cut back on spending. I would advise the Democrats, who control the spending in our state, to try a little of the same medicine. In a budget (2014) of $3,753,600,000, finding $56 million or 1.4919 percent should be pretty darn easy. Go here to see where your money is being wasted: http://budget.delaware.gov/fy2014/budget_presentation.pdf.
You may also wish to read this article on Fisker when Black Jack Markell and Pete and the Dems talk about enterprise zones: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/05/delaware-taxpayers-increasingly-on-hook-as-fisker-auto-plant-idles/. These are the same guys whose onerous budgetary and anti-business moves have driven the bank processing and auto businesses to more favorable climes. Remember the solar power boondoggle? More wine consumed.
Bodegas Trivento Decopas Sauvignon Blanc 2014 is worth a try. Jane Kettlewell from Creative Palate introduced me to it. It’s distributed by Excelsior Wine, which handles Concha y Toro, Little Black Dress and Five Rivers. It was delicious with our first crab cakes of the season. Connor caught, steamed and picked the meat and Page cooked it up. Yummy! Green-tinged, pale golden, it opens to grapefruit and some floral notes. On the palate, bright lemon acidity and stony minerality plus surprising persistence. Lovely with seafood, especially sushi, 87 McD points. The Malbec 2013s are also favorably priced. Garnet with purple rim, dark cherry nose, sweet cherry palate but dry, it finishes with smoky, toasty notes. The 2014 shows dark fruit, pepper and barrel spice nose with a medium body and soft tannins. I preferred the ’13 to the 2014. The labels on these are unique and very millennial.
Chappellet Cervantes Sonoma County Chardonnay 2012 is worth the search. I found one for $15. Opens to citrus, pineapple, vanilla and cloves. Concentrated palate with malolactic providing creamy complexity and subtle oak notes balanced with zippy acidity. The long, clean finish pleased me most with a mixed palette of citrus, pears and peach, 93 points, will cellar and 2 price points under$130/case. If you enjoy lighter porch-sipping Chard, check out Orbiter Carneros 2013. I sampled some at $12.50. Not really my cup of tea but a great value for those who prefer no oak, lighter style. Chappellet 2012 Signature Cabs are a touch better than the 2010, which I rated 93 points. You can find the ‘10s for $50 and the ‘12s for $46. Galloni and Tanzer loved them. Definitely vintage sensitive. The 2012s are dark ruby purple. The bouquet is Cab with floral notes.
On the palate cherries, plums nuanced with smoke, herbs, iron minerality. Blended of Cab, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot judiciously applied. Remember, in Cali, Cab must be at least 75 percent Cabernet Sauvignon or it will be named meritage. The 2012s were reviewed by WS, Parker, Galloni et al. As usual with the three, one would think three distinctly different wines were described. I most closely aligned with Tony Gallons.
Finally, a tip of my hat to some NY home boys. Billsboro Sawmill Creek Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2013 priced under $18 is worth the search. From Lake Seneca, the wines reflect cool-climate styles. However, the Sauvignon Blanc was reminiscent of the Loire Valley SB: fruit forward, crisp and flavorful. Gooseberry, grapefruit and anise nose, bright acidity, medium body with citrus, nuts and more gooseberry palate. Very clean finish with gravelly minerality, 91 McD. Interesting factoid: this NY Finger Lakes region is known by informed winos as the Banana Belt. Noted wino Dr. Konstantin Frank observed the milder temperatures in the microclimates in 1960 and began experimenting. Gold Seal Seneca Lake Vinifera Vineyards was set up a testing area after two Frenchmen, Guy DeVaux and Charles Fournier, were brought in to determine which French vinifera would thrive. They confirmed Frank’s research certifying the area around Standing Stone best for propagating wine and initially planted Chardonnay and Riesling.
The capper on the opening paragraph: if there are 900,000 people in Delaware, the government is spending $4,170 per head. Would you be willing to give up $59 in services per year to balance the budget or would you rather be taxed more? It really ain’t rocket science!
