TASTETASTEOF OF WINEWINEBy Frank MangioBy Frank MangioWeek of July 1, 2018Week of July 1, 2018Top Ten Tastes – First Top Ten Tastes – First

Half of 2018Half of 2018The bounty of fine wine is never more evident than in our top ten The bounty of fine wine is never more evident than in our top ten wines. Up and down the price ladder it’s all about flavor, value, wines. Up and down the price ladder it’s all about flavor, value, quality, cost and availability.quality, cost and availability.The first 6 months of 2018 came in with a blowout birthday for me in The first 6 months of 2018 came in with a blowout birthday for me in front of 26 friends and family at Vigilucci’s in Carlsbad and wound up front of 26 friends and family at Vigilucci’s in Carlsbad and wound up on the shelf with a blown vertebrae disc. That’s how fortunes change on the shelf with a blown vertebrae disc. That’s how fortunes change in life, and in wine.in life, and in wine.This time around we have: 3 red blends, 1 Pinot Noir, 1 Zinfandel, 1 This time around we have: 3 red blends, 1 Pinot Noir, 1 Zinfandel, 1 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 Chardonnay, 1 Malbec, 1 Shiraz, and 1 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 Chardonnay, 1 Malbec, 1 Shiraz, and 1 Gewurztraminer.Gewurztraminer.All wines are rated equally excellent and ranked alphabetically. PricingAll wines are rated equally excellent and ranked alphabetically. Pricing is the best I could find.is the best I could find.

Banfi ASKA Red Blend Tuscany Italy, 2014. $34. Banfi ASKA Red Blend Tuscany Italy, 2014. $34. Banfi sets the standard for Tuscan wine greatness and this Banfi sets the standard for Tuscan wine greatness and this newest entry, from the Bolgheri coast is a small productionnewest entry, from the Bolgheri coast is a small production blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Compares favorably with some legendary Tuscan collectorsCompares favorably with some legendary Tuscan collectors wines from Gaja and Antinori, but at a price that is way wines from Gaja and Antinori, but at a price that is way less. Don’t miss this “Super Tuscan” wine. Visit banfi.com.less. Don’t miss this “Super Tuscan” wine. Visit banfi.com.

Boen Pinot Noir Russian River Sonoma, 2016. $19. Boen Pinot Noir Russian River Sonoma, 2016. $19. Boen is a Norwegian word meaning “the Farm” and Joe Boen is a Norwegian word meaning “the Farm” and Joe Wagner, the 36 year old winemaker and owner, chose it to Wagner, the 36 year old winemaker and owner, chose it to remind himself that he is a farmer first, a tiller of the land andremind himself that he is a farmer first, a tiller of the land and contributor to his family’s legacy with this expression of contributor to his family’s legacy with this expression of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. He learned well from his Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. He learned well from his respected father who still operates Napa Valley’s Caymus respected father who still operates Napa Valley’s Caymus Vineyards ( see below), famous for their Cabernet. Joe’s heartVineyards ( see below), famous for their Cabernet. Joe’s heart and passion was with Pinot Noir and after extraordinary and passion was with Pinot Noir and after extraordinary success, he’s now building a cadre of Pinots with rich, ripe success, he’s now building a cadre of Pinots with rich, ripe fruit flavored wines, led by Boen. See boenwines.com.fruit flavored wines, led by Boen. See boenwines.com. Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla WA., Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla WA.,

2015. $85. 2015. $85. In recent months there has been a wake-up In recent months there has been a wake-up call on just how good Washington wines are especially call on just how good Washington wines are especially Cabernets. Deeply intense flavor and stunningly delicious ICabernets. Deeply intense flavor and stunningly delicious I believe are appropriate descriptors when the focus is on believe are appropriate descriptors when the focus is on Leonetti. It was the first winery in the Walla Walla Valley Leonetti. It was the first winery in the Walla Walla Valley and a treasure for the premium wine consumer. Visit and a treasure for the premium wine consumer. Visit leonetticellars.com.leonetticellars.com.

Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz, Australia, 2016.Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz, Australia, 2016. $50. Dense in color with vibrant dark purple hues….”like $50. Dense in color with vibrant dark purple hues….”like drinking fruit pie.” Full bodied well-defined tannins. drinking fruit pie.” Full bodied well-defined tannins. Surprising but smart to see a twist cap in this price point. ItSurprising but smart to see a twist cap in this price point. It lengthens time in the bottle once opened. Packs a 16% lengthens time in the bottle once opened. Packs a 16% alcohol punch but balanced flavors make it a plus. Visit alcohol punch but balanced flavors make it a plus. Visit mollydookerwines.com.mollydookerwines.com.

Opolo Mountain Zinfandel, Paso Robles, 2015.Opolo Mountain Zinfandel, Paso Robles, 2015. $22. $22. Often called “America’s most decadent red,” Zinfandel’s Often called “America’s most decadent red,” Zinfandel’s birthplace is Croatia and the southern Italian countryside. birthplace is Croatia and the southern Italian countryside. Opolo does a masterful job with its mountainside style. Opolo does a masterful job with its mountainside style. Plenty of black cherry, plum and spice. Forget fish and Plenty of black cherry, plum and spice. Forget fish and chicken with this one, go for BBQ beef and spicy food. chicken with this one, go for BBQ beef and spicy food. Could be the best value wine in the group. Lean more at Could be the best value wine in the group. Lean more at opolo.com.opolo.com.

Prisoner Red Blend, Napa Valley, 2016.Prisoner Red Blend, Napa Valley, 2016. $38. $38. Most in-Most in-demand of the wines in the group. Traditional French demand of the wines in the group. Traditional French Bordeaux blend with a healthy injection of Zinfandel to Bordeaux blend with a healthy injection of Zinfandel to make it pop. Luscious taste, powerful from start to finish. make it pop. Luscious taste, powerful from start to finish. Recent wine dinner at Seasalt in Del Mar sold out 3 Recent wine dinner at Seasalt in Del Mar sold out 3

consecutive nights with the Prisoner. See consecutive nights with the Prisoner. See theprisonerwinecompany.com.theprisonerwinecompany.com.

Red Schooner, Wagner Family Napa Valley, 2014.Red Schooner, Wagner Family Napa Valley, 2014. $50. $50. The latest creation coming out of the vineyard that The latest creation coming out of the vineyard that gave us the venerable Caymus Cabernets. This Malbec gave us the venerable Caymus Cabernets. This Malbec ships in a special technique from grapes grown in the high ships in a special technique from grapes grown in the high Andes mountains of Argentina. Scents of ripe plum and Andes mountains of Argentina. Scents of ripe plum and cherry, with a powerful yet supple flavor. Tradition and cherry, with a powerful yet supple flavor. Tradition and innovation have served many generations of Wagners innovation have served many generations of Wagners helping to bring fame to Napa Valley. helping to bring fame to Napa Valley. Wagnerfamilyofwine.com.Wagnerfamilyofwine.com.

Jenny, Chuck and Charlie Wagner of Caymus Vineyards and the Wagner Jenny, Chuck and Charlie Wagner of Caymus Vineyards and the Wagner Family of Wine in Napa Valley.Family of Wine in Napa Valley.

Robert Mondavi Winery Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Robert Mondavi Winery Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2015. $24. 2015. $24. Welcome back to the summit of wines Robert Welcome back to the summit of wines Robert Mondavi. I like its winemaker quote on this wine: “For our Mondavi. I like its winemaker quote on this wine: “For our Napa Valley Chardonnay, it is the unified voices of both Napa Valley Chardonnay, it is the unified voices of both fruit and oak, that allow the terroir to speak,”…Genevieve fruit and oak, that allow the terroir to speak,”…Genevieve Janssens, Director of Winemaking. Lots of fresh acidity and Janssens, Director of Winemaking. Lots of fresh acidity and toasty flavor with a rich finish. Robertmondaviwinery.com.toasty flavor with a rich finish. Robertmondaviwinery.com.

Robert Renzoni Sonata Blend, Temecula CA, 2014. Robert Renzoni Sonata Blend, Temecula CA, 2014. $50. $50. A return wine to our select group, this “Super A return wine to our select group, this “Super Tuscan” style wine is a blend of 50% estate Cabernet and Tuscan” style wine is a blend of 50% estate Cabernet and 50% estate Brunello di Sangiovese. A dominant flavor that50% estate Brunello di Sangiovese. A dominant flavor that floods the palate with cherry, cranberry and spice, and a floods the palate with cherry, cranberry and spice, and a hint of coffee at the finish. Aged 20 months to perfection. hint of coffee at the finish. Aged 20 months to perfection.

The signature brand for this traditional family name in The signature brand for this traditional family name in wine, since 1886. Details at robertrenzonivineyards.com.wine, since 1886. Details at robertrenzonivineyards.com.

Stolo Vineyards Gewurztraminer, Cambria CA, 2017. Stolo Vineyards Gewurztraminer, Cambria CA, 2017. $25. The winery is located $25. The winery is located on California’s Central on California’s Central Coast. This is a cool climate wine producer just 2 ½ miles Coast. This is a cool climate wine producer just 2 ½ miles from the rugged coastline with moderate 60 to 70 degree from the rugged coastline with moderate 60 to 70 degree temperatures. This is perfect for the thinner skinned temperatures. This is perfect for the thinner skinned grapes like Gewurztraminer, a white wine from the grapes like Gewurztraminer, a white wine from the German district of northern Italy. Bouquet includes mango,German district of northern Italy. Bouquet includes mango, apricot and orange blossom. Flavors are rose petal, apricot and orange blossom. Flavors are rose petal, tangerine and honeyusuckle. It’s the perfect warm tangerine and honeyusuckle. It’s the perfect warm weather summer wine. Other new release wines produced weather summer wine. Other new release wines produced include Pinot Noir and Syrah. Visit include Pinot Noir and Syrah. Visit stolofamilyvineyards.com.stolofamilyvineyards.com.

Wine Bytes will return next week.Wine Bytes will return next week.

Frank Mangio is a renowned wine connoisseur certified Frank Mangio is a renowned wine connoisseur certified by Wine Spectator. He is one of the leading commentatorsby Wine Spectator. He is one of the leading commentatorson the web. View his columns at on the web. View his columns at tasteofwineandfood.comtasteofwineandfood.com Go to Recent Columns. Reach him at Go to Recent Columns. Reach him at frank@tasteofwineandfood.comfrank@tasteofwineandfood.com to comment or unsubscribe. to comment or unsubscribe.