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New Wine Releases May 2015

Aerial view of Benziger Family Winery, nestled in the Sonoma Mountains, 800 feet above sea level

New Wine Reviews - May 2015

Find tasting notes, prices and ratings for recent vintages in our selection of May 2015 new wine releases.

NORTH AMERICA

CALIFORNIA

NORTH COAST

Anderson Valley

Domaine Anderson
2012 Chardonnay; $37
14.5/20Domaine Anderson’s inaugural vintage has flavors of apricot, enhanced by caramelized apple, cinnamon and vanilla. A long finish hints of Meyer lemon and spicy oak.

Alexander Valley

Seghesio Vineyard
2007 Aglianico; $37
14.5/20 Aromas of rose petals and crushed berries suffuse this wine made from ancient Greco-Italian black grapes.

Napa Valley

Cairdean Vineyards
2011 Acquaintance Vineyard Cabernet Franc; $84
15/20 Cabernet Franc and Malbec grapes harvested the same day and fermented together make for a balanced wine with the varietal character of Cabernet Franc and the suppleness of Malbec. Aromas of cherry and cassis precede hints of tobacco and pepper. One the palate, there is a round lushness and a smooth finish, with a touch of spice. 190 cases.

Sequoia Grove Vineyards
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon; $38
14/20 A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, this offering is a luscious, easy-to-drink red.

Sonoma Valley

Benziger Family Winery
2013 Sonoma County Chardonnay; $16
13/20This creamy textured white has a lively acidity, with notes of lemon, pear and apricot, and a hint of meringue.

Arnot-Roberts Vineyard
2013 Trousseau; $31
13.5/20A wine is made from a dark-skinned, high-sugar grape originally from the Jura region in France, which also made its way into Spain and Portugal. Trousseau has a deep cherry red hue and berry flavors that pair well with hard cheeses, smoked sausages, and fowl like partridge.

Russian River Valley  

Dutton Ranch - Green Valley Vineyard
2014 Gewürztraminer; $30
14/20
A creamy, rich wine, exuding flavors of orange blossom, honeysuckle and grapefruit, with hints of key lime pie and spring flowers. A wine that pairs beautifully with Thai food, soft cheeses, and seafood. 262 cases.

CENTRAL COAST

Monterey County

Talbott Vineyards
2013 Audrey Chardonnay; $75

16/20 A complex white with a bright color and stone fruit aromas, this Chardonnay balances rich fruit, acidity and oak flavors. 250 cases.

Paso Robles

Hope Family Wines
2011 Liberty School Merlot; $16
13/20Fruit-forward with a clean minerality, Liberty School Merlot has flavors of plum, cherry and raspberry, with aromas of violet, black cherry and ripe strawberries. 10,065 cases.

SIERRA FOOTHILLS

El Dorado County

Skinner Vineyards
2011 Grenache; $24
14/20 Sappy and acidic with aromas of red fruit and flowers, this wine finishes sweet and spicy.

Arroyo Grande Valley

Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards
2012 Dolin Pinot Noir, Talley Rincon Vineyard; $45
14.5/20An earthy, deeply perfumed red with notes of cherry, cranberry and blueberry, and flavors of roasted fig, cardamom and white pepper. Deeper notes of earth and licorice round out this voluptuous wine. 172 cases.

AFRICA

MOROCCO

Doukkala

Domaine de Khmis
Boulaouane; N/A
12.5/20A fruity red from Morocco with notes of cherry.

EUROPE

SPAIN

Rioja

Etxeita
2012 Rioja Alavesa; N/A
13.5/20 A good table red from Rioja, this wine begins with licorice and finishes with an aroma of blackberry jam.

ITALY

PIEDMONT

Colli Tortonesi

Il Montino Vineyard
2009 Arché; $21
14/20An acidic and complex Italian red made from Croatina grapes, Arché is similar to Pinot Noir. Aged in stainless vats and in the bottle, it displays layers of cherry, plum, and wild berry jams with a hint of vanilla, black pepper and nutmeg.

TUSCANY

Siena

Olivi Le Buche
2009 Pugnitello; $60
14.5/20Pugnitello is Italian for "small fist," which is exactly what the tightly packed bunches of ancient red Tuscan grapes used in this red wine look like. The low-yielding fruit give rise to intensely colored full wines with sweet and savory aromas, good acid and tannins.

AUSTRALASIA

AUSTRALIA

Barossa Valley

Jacob's Creek
2013 Two Lands Shiraz; $9
13/20 California winecraft meets an Australian varietal in this full-bodied Shiraz, with aromatic notes of plum, blackberry and dried fruit and generous red berry flavor.

 

More New Releases

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