June WinesWines of the Month

For the wine snob: Spring was early and warm, and it rolled straight into a hot summer. Harvest began early. The intense heat contributed to smaller, more concentrated berries with less tonnage to go around. The wine has a dense color and concentration. It was aged 12 months in barrel using European upright oak tanks.

For the rest of us: Beguiling nose of vanilla spice, dried fruit, herb and raspberry candy. Straightforward plum, cherry and orange fruit on the palate. Round and approachable with a supple texture.

For the wine snob: Located in Boutenac, just south of the village of Corbières in the Languedoc region, Ollieux Romanis is now one of the largest privately owned wineries in Corbières, spanning some 130 hectares. First planted to vine in the 11^th century AD, Ollieux Romanis actually came into existence as a farm producing grains, olives, and mutton in Roman times, some eight centuries earlier. It was the Durban-Latreille family who saw its potential and began planting it to vine. Soon, a priory was formed and the domaine flourished, as tending to the vine was part of the monks’ daily religious ritual for production of the holy sacrament.

For the rest of us: A pale golden in color. Look for aromas of tropical fruits and white flowers. Medium-bodied on the palate with an ‘oily’ mouthfeel. Flavors of apricots and bananas with a spicy backbone. The finish is refreshing.

For the wine snob: Located in Boutenac, just south of the village of Corbières in the Languedoc region, Ollieux Romanis is now one of the largest privately owned wineries in Corbières, spanning some 130 hectares. First planted to vine in the 11^th century AD, Ollieux Romanis actually came into existence as a farm producing grains, olives, and mutton in Roman times, some eight centuries earlier. It was the Durban-Latreille family who saw its potential and began planting it to vine. Soon, a priory was formed and the domaine flourished, as tending to the vine was part of the monks’ daily religious ritual for production of the holy sacrament.

For the rest of us: Luscious dark berry fruit, ripe cherry, plum and lavender, rosemary, bay leaf & black pepper. It is unoaked, organic and vegan. It pairs with Beef Vol au Vent or Grilled Sausage & Peppers.

For the wine snob: The Estate Grown Sauvignon Blanc was meticulously hand picked and sorted before undergoing a native yeast fermentation and aged in 22% concrete egg and 78% neutral French oak.

For the rest of us: Medium-bodied but luscious with notes of green papaya, key lime pie, green melon and nectarine skin. Beautiful acidity from to back with hints of fresh thyme and a savory, chalky element that makes this a delicious partner for food.

For the wine snob: The 2021 season started off with very little rain, leading to the second consecutive year of drought conditions in Northern California. The result is a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The grapes are packed full of flavor. Winemaker Sara Fowler is excited about the prospects of the 2021 vintage, as it is likely the smaller yields per vine and smaller berry size will result in more concentrated flavors and hence, another amazing year.

For the rest of us: This stunning wine boasts an expressive nose that immediately captivates the senses. On the palate, the wine opens up with complex layers of dried red fruit and hints of cigar box. A subtle hint of wet stone adds a unique touch to the overall experience. The wine’s medium to full body creates a beautiful balance between the fruit and tannin structure. The finish is simply divine, with a touch of cocoa dust that lingers on the palate long after the last sip.

For the wine snob: The proprietors have worked diligently during their time to covert the domaine to a fully Biodynamic estate (they have been farming biodynamically since 2005). A certified Vin Bio grower, the domaine holds both Demeter and Agriculture Biologique certifications. All of their wines are produced naturally, that is to say, no chemicals in the vineyard/winery, native yeast fermentations, no filtering and only a minimal amount of sulfur added at bottling.

For the rest of us: Nice ‘warmer’ nose; citrus, tropical fruits, a whiff of almond. Med acidity, mild spicy. Clean mouthfeel, balanced and with a light petille.

For the wine snob: The wine is made with 100% Tempranillo grapes from a selection of vineyards located in the DO Ribera del Duero. Clay soils with limestone striations in the hillside areas, and with stony soils in the lower valley areas. The grapes were manually harvested , and cold pre-fermentation maceration then occurred. Aging occurred in French oak barrels for at least 18 months, after which aging continued in the bottle.

For the rest of us: This wine has a beautiful red cherry color with ruby rim. It has a very elegant nose with some mineral notes, balsamic, blackberry, raspberry, a background of spicy notes from the wood. Lively on the palate with a very good structure. The wine has a long finish and it shows fleshy and elegant.

For the wine snob: The vineyard is located at an altitude of 820 feet on a steep east-facing slope. The soil is clay and limestone rich in iron oxide. Pressing was very slow so as to respect the fruit, and the juices from the last pressings are not retained. Aging took place partly in stainless steel vats and partly in oak barrels for 6 to 8 months.

For the rest of us: Pale yellow color with numerous bright green reflections. Intense persistent flavors of peach and white flowers harmoniously meshed together. On the palate, the wine is ample, fresh, intense, with reminiscent notes of ripe grapes, almond, fresh hazelnut and cinnamon. The mouth reveals an elegant wine endowered with a good structure.