Recent Sips: Alta Vista, Pagos del Moncayo, and Weingut Schröck
Hello Friends,
Just about every day, as wine o'clock approaches, you can find me uncorking or unscrewing a new wine adventure. Being a wine enthusiast, a wine writer, and someone who appreciates the liquid expression of place, a person’s vision, and Mother Nature’s influence, I find wine to be one of the most intriguing beverages out there. It is an area of interest where you never run out of great people to meet and new things to taste and learn.
The wines selected for this post represent good value in their respective category: rosé, red table wine, and dessert wine. This is a trio that can easily get you through a 3-course dinner. And you will be representing Argentina, Spain, and Austria on the table. I suggest pouring the rosé with starter dishes, the Garnacha with the main course, and the Spätlese with the dessert course. For further information and where you can find these wines, please see my tasting notes below.
Alta Vista 2015 Malbec Rosé (SRP $12.99): This juicy, ruby red colored Argentinian rosé is made from 100% hand-harvested Malbec grapes. Light, vibrant, and well-balanced, flavors are redolent of ripe cherries, raspberry pulp, and white flowers. A pleasant beam of citrusy acidity carries the wine through the short-to-medium long finish. This wine is satisfying on its own, diverse on the table, and good value for the money. The feathered friend on the front label is the Tijereta (Tyrannus Savana) bird. This scissor-tailed flycatcher migrates to the region in spring; just in time to enjoy the new rosés of the season! Region: Mendoza, Argentina. Other info: ABV 12.5%, all stainless, cork enclosure, cork enclosure, imported by Kobrand Corporation, NY. Click here to find this wine.
Pagos del Moncayo 2013 Garnacha (SRP $26): This pleasing bottle of Garnacha delivers good value for the money. The fruit is hand-picked and foot-crushed. It is medium-to-full bodied, well-balanced, and offers good depth and appealing nuance. Grown in Campo de Borja, a wine appellation in the Aragón region of northeastern Spain, this Garnacha pours a beautiful deep ruby color. Ripe dark cherries, blackberry preserve and anise flavors lead the way, and are nicely accented by smoke, white pepper, baking spice, and cedar tones. The flavors continue to gain momentum through to the richly textured, supple finish. Enjoy this bottle with just about anything hot off the grill. Region: Campo de Borja, Spain. Other info: ABV 14.5%, Crianza: matured 10 months in American oak barrels, bottled unfiltered, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
Weingut Schröck 2013 Spätlese (SRP $30 / 375ml): This wine comes from the Schröck estate in the historic village of Rust. Renowned for its botrytized sweet wines, this small town in Burgenland, Austria, is where Heidi Schröck cultivates approximately 24 acres of vines and crafts well-balanced dessert wines. This year marks her 28th harvest after taking over the family business. The 2013 Spätlese is composed of equal amounts of Welschriesling and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc). It pours a pale-yellow color, offering ripe stone fruit, tropical fruit, and floral perfume aromas that also extend to the palate. Light-to-medium in body, a nice lift of acidity balances the sweetness and keeps the wine relatively light on its feet. The pleasing, medium-long finish is tinged with hints of honey and marmalade. The producer recommends pairing a bottle with lobster or smoked catfish, which serves as quite the contrast when you think about it. I enjoyed this wine on its own and with blue-veined cheeses, dried apricots, figs, and a nice assortment of raw nuts. This wine is rather delightful and definitely worth seeking out. Region: Burgenland, Austria. Other info: ABV 12%, fermentation and aging in large acacia barrels, screw cap enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
Just about every day, as wine o'clock approaches, you can find me uncorking or unscrewing a new wine adventure. Being a wine enthusiast, a wine writer, and someone who appreciates the liquid expression of place, a person’s vision, and Mother Nature’s influence, I find wine to be one of the most intriguing beverages out there. It is an area of interest where you never run out of great people to meet and new things to taste and learn.
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| Reminder: You should be drinking rosé year-round! |
The wines selected for this post represent good value in their respective category: rosé, red table wine, and dessert wine. This is a trio that can easily get you through a 3-course dinner. And you will be representing Argentina, Spain, and Austria on the table. I suggest pouring the rosé with starter dishes, the Garnacha with the main course, and the Spätlese with the dessert course. For further information and where you can find these wines, please see my tasting notes below.
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| Alta Vista 2015 Malbec Rosé |
Alta Vista 2015 Malbec Rosé (SRP $12.99): This juicy, ruby red colored Argentinian rosé is made from 100% hand-harvested Malbec grapes. Light, vibrant, and well-balanced, flavors are redolent of ripe cherries, raspberry pulp, and white flowers. A pleasant beam of citrusy acidity carries the wine through the short-to-medium long finish. This wine is satisfying on its own, diverse on the table, and good value for the money. The feathered friend on the front label is the Tijereta (Tyrannus Savana) bird. This scissor-tailed flycatcher migrates to the region in spring; just in time to enjoy the new rosés of the season! Region: Mendoza, Argentina. Other info: ABV 12.5%, all stainless, cork enclosure, cork enclosure, imported by Kobrand Corporation, NY. Click here to find this wine.
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| Pagos del Moncayo 2013 Garnacha |
Pagos del Moncayo 2013 Garnacha (SRP $26): This pleasing bottle of Garnacha delivers good value for the money. The fruit is hand-picked and foot-crushed. It is medium-to-full bodied, well-balanced, and offers good depth and appealing nuance. Grown in Campo de Borja, a wine appellation in the Aragón region of northeastern Spain, this Garnacha pours a beautiful deep ruby color. Ripe dark cherries, blackberry preserve and anise flavors lead the way, and are nicely accented by smoke, white pepper, baking spice, and cedar tones. The flavors continue to gain momentum through to the richly textured, supple finish. Enjoy this bottle with just about anything hot off the grill. Region: Campo de Borja, Spain. Other info: ABV 14.5%, Crianza: matured 10 months in American oak barrels, bottled unfiltered, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
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| Weingut Schröck 2013 Spätlese |
Weingut Schröck 2013 Spätlese (SRP $30 / 375ml): This wine comes from the Schröck estate in the historic village of Rust. Renowned for its botrytized sweet wines, this small town in Burgenland, Austria, is where Heidi Schröck cultivates approximately 24 acres of vines and crafts well-balanced dessert wines. This year marks her 28th harvest after taking over the family business. The 2013 Spätlese is composed of equal amounts of Welschriesling and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc). It pours a pale-yellow color, offering ripe stone fruit, tropical fruit, and floral perfume aromas that also extend to the palate. Light-to-medium in body, a nice lift of acidity balances the sweetness and keeps the wine relatively light on its feet. The pleasing, medium-long finish is tinged with hints of honey and marmalade. The producer recommends pairing a bottle with lobster or smoked catfish, which serves as quite the contrast when you think about it. I enjoyed this wine on its own and with blue-veined cheeses, dried apricots, figs, and a nice assortment of raw nuts. This wine is rather delightful and definitely worth seeking out. Region: Burgenland, Austria. Other info: ABV 12%, fermentation and aging in large acacia barrels, screw cap enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
