Hartford Velvet Sisters 2022 Pinot Noir
The first of the November wines I’ll note here comes from Hartford Court vineyard in Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley. With a deep garnet color, it possesses a medium body for a Pinot Noir. Juicy blueberries and huckleberries and a warm summer tan shine on the nose and palate. It gives a hint of vanilla as it breathes. Fine, light, plush tannins make it very even from start to finish.
Woodville’s Virginia Cabernet Franc 2021
The next wine takes us into the Thanksgiving meal, with this Virginia wine from an estate south of Charlottesville, near Scottsville. As expected, a light to moderate weight for a pure Cab Franc, colored deep aubergine with garam masala spice on the nose plus blackberry fruit. Pure blackberry juice sings on the palate with fine, moderate tannins.
Gruner Veltliner, Liechtenstein 2022
We picked up this treat while on our trip through southern Germany and into Liechtenstein in April. Though I hadn’t expected much in the way of wine given the principality’s diminutive nature, its proximity to Austria and the Baden region of Germany made a Grüner Veltliner make a lot of sense. From Hoffkellerei des Furstein, this 12% abv shows off as a sprightly bright white, with moderate to high acidity. Oyster shell, white peach, and Meyer lemon feature on the nose and palate.
Mandoon Shiraz, Swan Valley, WA 2018
On the second of my trips down under, we struck out from our family base in Perth this time to Swan Valley, which is but an hour drive away, up the Swan River from the port town. We tasted a series of lovely wines, and brought back this Shiraz to enjoy with the family meal. Deep garnet color gave way to medium tannins and weight, with a leathery edge overall. Red currant, and a hint of cranberry in its aromas, and on the palate, a brambly front evolving into a red currant fullness.
Hartford Family Old Vine Zinfandel 2022
Back home from the Thanksgiving visit, we decided to roast another turkey and make again all of our favorites at home, mostly so we could craft great leftover sandwiches, piled with turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, and stuffing. Yum. For the main meal, we popped open a treasured Hartford Court Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard Zin from the Russian River Valley. The beast clocked in at 15,6% abv but stayed nimble with its vest of fruits from a vineyard planted up to 100 years ago. An opaque deep eggplant color met us, with moderate tannins and the anticipated moderate to heavy weight. Great legs, with sublime anise, tobacco leaf, and black currant aromas. Menthol, cassis on the midpalate, and blackberry juice on the finish made for a stunning trio. We wanted more.
