By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief
Sometimes wine geeks — myself included — overthink wine.
It's all too easy get caught up things like varietal typicity, age-worthiness and a wine's ability to taste fresh several days after being uncorked.
Fact is, unique blends are just that — unique, not wrong or odd. A wine doesn't always have to evolve and improve in our cellars for 20+ years in order to be good.
Not every wine has to be mind-blowing or awe-inspiring. Sometimes, wine need only be satisfying and delicious.
Take Channing Daughters Winery 2008 Due Uve ($20) for example. It's 68% merlot and 32% syrah — not a typical blend — all from the North Fork. I wouldn't recommend holding it longer than a year… but I would recommend you check it out.
The nose is earthy and meaty with juicy dark fruit, lightly grilled herbs and a lightly sprinkling of black pepper spice.
Medium bodied and fresh, the black pepper spice is a bit more pronounced on the palate, layered with ripe black cherry, cured meat and subtle herb character and mushroomy earthiness.
One one hand, it's fruity and juicy but on the other it's got this great savory/umami side to it. All with low tannins and crunchy, rustic acidity.
As with many of winemaker Christopher Tracy's wines, it shines brightest at the dinner table, where it was just about perfect with an assortment of grilled sausages and vegetables.
Producer: Channing Daughters Winery
AVA: North Fork of Long Island
ABV: 13%
Production: 227 cases
Price: $20
Rating:
(3 out of 5 | Recommended)