WIYG: A Review Of Our Recent Sips And Pours

WIYG? That’s a question we are often asked. Here’s a look at what's in our glass. 

Caizergues 2018 Les Magnarelles, Languedoc

Languedoc is a huge region in southern France previously known for bulk wine, but now reinvented and the producer of dynamic quality wines. Wines, like this wine, can be purchased at a steal. This blend is Syrah with Carignan, Cinsault and Syrah. The tannins are laid back, indicating this may have been aged in concrete.

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This is a fresh, medium-bodied wine with dark fruit and black currant notes accented with garrigue – a blend of herbs typical in the region. Lively, fresh, and elegant. About $15, although I snagged this at a sub-$10 closeout.

Castello di Torre in Pietra 2020 “Elephas” Bianco, Lazio IGT  

Did I just buy this because I thought the Green Dragon would like the elephant on the label? Perhaps. This Italian blend combines Trebbiano, Vermentino, and the southern grape of Fiano. These grapes can produce some unremarkable wines and combining them together doesn’t improve the situation much.

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There are fresh notes of lemon, some salinity, and peaches. Great for a sunny day, deeply chilled with some seafood. Organic with a price tag of about $14. 

Weingut Hillinger 2017 Hillside Red, Burgenland

After attending an industry tasting on Burgenland wine, my eyes were opened to this region that is the top producer of reds in Austria. Hillinger is a great producer and they do it with some uncommon (outside of Austria) grapes. This easy-to-love blend features 60% spicy Syrah, 30% fruity Zweigelt, and 10% supple Merlot. Dark ruby in the glass, it has aromas of fruit and spice. On the palate, blackberries come forth with cherries, smokiness, and black pepper.

The use of oak aging is restrained, allowing for a beautiful, laid-back finish. Highly recommended. Priced at around $24. 

Montes de Leza 2021 Limited Edition Leas, Rioja

This is an unusual wine for us. We regularly enjoy Spanish wines from Rioja, but they almost always are red and mostly Tempranillo. This wine flips the script and is a white Rioja made with 100% Viura. I’ve had a chance to tour Rioja and tried some whites and they can be quite enjoyable, as is this one.

It comes from the northwest DOCa Rioja Alavesa, which is known for producing some delicate wines. Indeed, this wine weighs in with a mere 12.5% ABV, which means you can pair it with a wide variety of lighter dishes without overwhelming them. In the glass, this is a pale greenish yellow. On the tongue, this has notes of citrus and white fruits. Perfect with salads, pasta, and seafood. I scored this for a mere $12.99.

Exploring Obscure Grapes Has Its Rewards

Break out of your comfort zone with an exotic exploration of unique grapes.

A number of years ago I decided to join the Wine Century Club. To join, you must document tasting at least 100 different grape varieties. Luckily for me, I was able to review my blog, which I’ve been publishing since 2009, and was able to generate a list of more than 150 grapes that I’d tasted. I was quite proud when my certificate (finally!) arrived.

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I’ve always had a soft spot for the underdog and that goes for many things, including sporting events and grapes. Finding and tasting a new grape is the equivalent of hacking your way through the Amazon jungle to find the ruins of an ancient civilization. OK, maybe it’s not quite the same, but it certainly is cool. We recently went exploring and discovered two fine wines sporting exotic grapes.

If it weren’t for the loss of life and property, I’d be applauding volcanic eruptions. That smoke and brimstone means more volcanic soil, causing the grapevines to struggle and produce truly sublime wine. A case in point is Italy’s Mount Etna. Mount Etna is an active volcano and it erupted last year. It is one of the world’s most active volcanos and injured 10 people and a CNN news crew in 2017.

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Mt. Etna also has some very unique grapes, including Carricante and Catarratto, which were blended in the Etna Bianco DOC Ayunta 2019 Piante/Sparse we recently tried. Carricante is the native and main grape in Etna white wines. White wines are less than 10% of the production of the Etna DOC, so this wine is a rarity. Catarratto is the most popular white wine in Sicily but traditionally plays just a supporting role in Etna white wines. The wine is golden in color and a bit lean. It has good acidity, fresh minerality on the nose, and subtle pear and chalk notes. Wine from high-altitude vines and volcanic soil is always unique and always a treat. The SRP is $32.99.

On the red side of the tasting table was Weingut Leo Hillinger 2019 Small Hill Red, from Austria’s Burgenland region. Burgenland is famed for its red wines and is in contrast to the rest of the country where white wines, particularly Gruner Veltliner, rule. St. Laurent is a highly aromatic dark-skinned grape. It is believed to have resulted from a crossing of Pinot Noir and an unknown second parent. St. Laurent also played a role in another grape we love: Zweigelt, which is a cross between St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch.

This is a velvety-smooth red wine which we could easily drink all day. It has ample blackberry flavors with juicy red cherries and just a dusting of earth. The tannins are polished. Quite a steal at $14.99.

Both wines were purchased at Great Grapes in Cary. Thanks to Arthur and Mary Barham for joining the fun.

If you’ve gotten in a rut, drinking the same old grapes, we encourage you to explore the wide and wild world of grapes.