Wine Guy picks JUN/JUL 2020

By JOHN WEBSTER |The Wine Guy

Though I’ve missed getting together with friends to taste newly-released wines, I still have some recommendations for you this month! Check with your favorite wine shop — many are doing home deliveries or curbside pickup for those of us who continue staying home. I wish you all good health and safety, and I look forward to attending wine tastes down the road! – John M. Webster

White and Rose Wines

• DiLenardo Pinot Grigio 2018. Classic Pinot Grigio fruit aromas of apricot and pear, followed by a crisp, clean finish. Accompaniment: appetizers, chicken. Origin: Fruili, Italy. Under $13.

• Nicolas Pinot Noir Rose 2019. Blend of 70 percent Grenache and 30 Cinsault. Apricot and citrus flavors, finishing with flowery jasmine on the nose. Accompaniment: appetizers, light fare. Origin: Ame du Vin, Provence, France. Under $22.

• Airlie 7 2017. Refreshing blend of seven white grapes, producing an off-dry tasty white wine for summer. Accompaniment: hors d’oeuvres, fish. Willamette Valley, Ore. Under $13.

• Ca’Momi Heartcraft Chardonnay 2018. Rich textbook Chardonnay flavors lead to a clean finish tinged with oak — great bargain. Accompaniment: chicken, salmon. Origin: Napa Valley. Under $15.

• Chateau de Saint Cosme D’Orange Les Deux Albions Blanc 2019. Tasty blend of Rhone white wines, mostly Viognier (40 percent), resulting in a crisp clean wine with a long finish. Accompaniment: fish, chicken, creamy sauces. Origin: Rhone region, France. Under $20.

Red Wines

• Ancient Peaks Winery Merlot 2017. Dark silky fruit flavors lead to a clean, lively finish. Accompaniment: steak, roast beef, roast pork. Origin: California. Under $20.

• Cesari Mara Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2017. A great blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes, producing a rich, round-tasting red wine. Accompaniment: red pasta sauces. Origin: Veneto, Italy. Under $25.

• Frey Vineyards Organic Agriculturist 2014. Tasty blend of Carignan, Syrah, and Merlot produces a plum and cherry-scented red. Accompaniment: steaks, burgers. Mendocino, Calif. Under $13.

• Basel Cellars Claret 2016. Great blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Textbook red fruit flavors lead to a Bordeaux-style finish. Accompaniment: roast beef. Origin: Columbia Valley, Wash. Under $16.

• Criss Cross Petite Sirah 2016. A bold blend of Petite Sirah (95 percent), Teroldego (4 percent), and Zinfandel (1 percent), producing a lush rich red. Accompaniment: grilled foods. Origin: Clarksburg Estate, Calif. Under $15.

Visit https://www.metromonthly.net for more wine recommendations. Key word search: The Wine Guy.