Let's Support Our Latino Winemakers: Cellar

by: Jorge Ferraez

Although I need to confess that I’ve been drinking more wine in the past few months due to spending more time at home, the wine industry has suffered the impact of Covid-19 as well. Not only retailers, but thinking in all the consumption from bars, restaurants, catering and events, it is a huge amount of wine that has not been consumed.

As a wine enthusiast I want to support this industry and specially the Latino owned bodegas and wineries. The same way local communities have embraced the scarce business situation and are supporting the local restaurants and businesses, we all wine lovers need to support our wineries, and being Latino we need to support our Latino wine producers. By buying a couple of bottles here and there, we can support this industry that usually brings to us the best of their work and talent.

So, recently we registered for the Shafer Vineyards Fly-By, in which you buy their wines and they designate a rep from the winery to be in your Zoom meeting. This time we had the privilege to havec, the winemaker and it was a great experience to drink this wine while listening to his comments in each of them. For that occasion I pulled out from my cellar a long treasured Hillside Select 2013 which I decanted five hours before drinking and it opened beautifully: bold character, full bodied and complex. Fruit explosion with silky texture, berries and ripe plum. Delicious, elegant, chewy with chocolate and graphite hints. Just bold and delicious!

Another fantastic winemaker is Michael Trujillo, winemaker of Sequoia Grove in Napa, he also has his own label. Very talented wine grower and wine maker with a big reputation. He recently sent me his 2016 wines and I was really impressed on his quality; His Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon Gary Morisoli Reserve 2016 is a beautiful wine; showing complexity, ripe fruit and velvety texture. Dark berries, forest spice and some cocoa hints, it is an impressive, mouthwatering wine.

So, I strongly recommend you, host your wine party, virtual tasting and support the Latino wineries.

01

MONGEARD MUGNERET ECHEZEAUX GRAND CRU 2012

  • Region: Burgundy

  • Varietal: Pinot Noir

  • Price: $148

  • Aromas: Citric, floral, plum

  • Flavors: Cherry, cinnamon, rose petals

  • Impression: Silky, delicate

  • Structure: Full body, ample, balanced

  • Drink with: Duck, Lamb, Salmon

  • Why I loved this wine? Round and ever complex

My Rating: 97 pts.

02

ERNESTO CATENA SIESTA EN EL TAHUANTINSUYU 2014

  • Region: Argentina

  • Varietal: Cabernet Franc

  • Price: $39

  • Aromas: Berries, ripe fruit, pepper

  • Flavors: Red currant, fresh blackberry

  • Impression: Bold, succulent

  • Structure: Medium body

  • Drink with: Steak, Chorizos, Sausages

  • Why I loved this wine? Interesting rosemary and chocolate hints

My Rating: 90 pts.

03

THE PRISONER WINE COMPANY “BLINDFOLD” 2017

  • Region: Napa Valley

  • Varietal: White Blend

  • Price: $42

  • Aromas: Orange peel, white flowers, pineapple

  • Flavors: Vanilla, apricot preserve, kiwi

  • Impression: Fresh and very well balanced acidity

  • Structure: Rich, medium body

  • Drink with: White fish, shell seafood, avocado and crab salad

  • Why I loved this wine? Nice perfume

My Rating: 89 pts.

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