Ravenswood Zinfandel Surprises…

This Rampant Oenophile typically thinks of Ravenswood as a supermarket wine. I enjoy tremendously their $12-$15 Cabernet for grilling out with friends, or their excellent $14 Merlot as a great wine for parties because it always pleases guests.

Imagine my surprise, then, tasting a truly exceptional Ravenswood Zinfandel that was anything but value priced. The Ravenswood Dickerson Vineyard Zinfandel 2006 delights the passions of Zinfandel mavens. It’s big and very ripe, but the fruit doesn’t assault the tongue. The red berries and cherry flavors are bright and refreshing and a perfect compliment to the spice and zest of peppercorn mixed with mineral textures. The color is as rich a red as the best Cabernet, and the bouquet offers unique floral tones that are tough to describe precisely.

Ravenswood works with Dickerson Vineyards to source the grapes for this fine Zinfandel, and the story behind their partnership reads like a California western. Dickerson is something of a maverick wine maker who has grown much magic from discarded farms. I am much impressed with this exceptional wine and intend to split a case with friends to savor this excellent Zinfandel for years to come. It’s modestly priced at $35-$40 locally, but offers more flavor at that price than most Zinfandels can ever hope to offer.

A Chard Above...

This Rampant Oenophile enjoys many wonderful values from Joseph Drouhin, and often finds wonderful, highly rated wines at budget prices under $35. Little did I know that Joseph Drouhin also produces several luscious white wines at very exclusive prices.

Through the generosity of friends, I enjoyed a remarkable Chardonnay, the 2006 Joseph Drouhin Clos des Mouches Premier Cru Blanc. This stellar Chardonnay offers by far the smoothest, most mature, and most luscious experience I’ve yet to encounter. It’s long, full, rich, and silky. Enjoy the bouquet. Breathe deeply and note a heady concoction of lemon, ripe grapefruit, and moss. Sip to discover the citrus and vanilla. Drink more deeply and the Drouhin Chard offers smoky oak and rich honey. Let it breathe slightly to notice roasted nut overtones as the wine opens.

Don’t waste this wine with a cheese course. Enjoy it with fish and grilled white meats, lusty sauces over pasta, and warm Caesar salad for the best pairings.

Not an everyday wine at $80-$100 locally, but a necessary extravagance for those of us who appreciate the old-world style of true Chardonnay.

A Tale of Two Rieslings

The heat of the Florida summer helps this Rampant Oenophile derive special pleasure from the occasional departure from red wines to the sweeter, more light-hearted whites, so this week provided 90+ degree temperatures and an opportunity to enjoy two 90+ point Rieslings from very different parts of the world.

First, from Barossa Valley, Australia, the Yalumba Y Series Riesling, a 2008 vintage full of light fruit, pleasant spice, and the subtle tang of lemongrass and grapefruit. I enjoyed two glasses with cold salads and steamed fish at dinner this week. The Yalumba Riesling is best served slightly chilled, and paired very well with food to cut a bit of the sweetness. I found it a soothing counter to the spices of the chilled peppercorn mango slaw and spicy noodle salad with dinner. For around $11 a bottle nearly everywhere, you can’t go wrong with this value. Find it online at Wine.com, who ranks it 91 points.

Next, a bigger and more refined Riesling left from my journey to the Pacific coast. Poet’s Leap from Columbia Valley, Washington, 2007, offers a very different Riesling experience. The Poet’s Leap is ranked from 90-92 points on Wine.com. Swirl the glass to enjoy the deeper yellow hues and pinkish tones of this very pleasant summer chiller. Pour a first glass and enjoy citrus, spice, and melon flavors. As the wine warms slightly, so do the acidity and flavors adjust to provide more balance and maturity. I notice pear, and the scent of freshly cut lawns on the second taste. Find it locally for about $22, or online for $20.