Spring release

While new wines are constantly available on the market wineries typically release their new vintages in groups in the spring, and again in the fall. As the spring of 2013 approaches these new release wines are being eagerly anticipated as many reds from the troubled 2010 vintage will start to hit the market. While the big names like Harlan Estate, and their second label Bond, as well as Pride Mountain Vineyard and Quilceda Creek garner much of the attention there is a host of other wines that are more meaningful to wine consumers as the mega names are simply not attainable or affordable for most of us.

The wines most of us drink daily and how they were affected by the cool summer and rainy harvest of 2010 will determine what we buy and consume in the coming months. The good news for all of us is that even though there were some truly tragic failures in the wine world that year, there remain some bright spots! Vineyard management, varietal selection, and simple grit all provided winemakers with the wherewithal to pull the proverbial "rabbit out of the hat."

Charlie Hoppes at Fidelitas winery in Benton City, Washington is one of the winemakers who really did a great job of impeccably managing vineyards and getting some great fruit from the Columbia Valley appellation allowing him to produce some fabulous wine in 2010. His M100 Bordeaux blend is delicious as always showing lovely fruit, good but not overbearing structure and balanced oak barreling to make a really great wine in this tough year ($22). His 2010 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($30) which is 100 percent varietal also shows all of the same attributes and like the M100 is an ode to Charlie's diligence in extracting great results from his fruit sources.

Concannon Winery is a fourth generation producer from California and with some fruit grown in the Livermore Valley in the East Bay appellation of Northern California the weather was slightly warmer and received just enough heat to get some ripe and lovely fruit they blended into their Crimson and Clover blend ($12). The wine shows lovely dark stone fruits in aromatics and on the palate and finishes with dry firmness making it a compelling drink for this great price.

Sean Boyd owner winemaker at Rotie Cellars in Walla Walla is another who found a way to get the most out of meticulously selected fruit in 2010. His Southern Red Blend ($45) named for its shared varietal composition to wines from the Southern Rhone valley in France is a show stopper and despite the Syrah component which is notoriously late ripening, the wine is lush with ripe fruit flavors and a firm back bone. No doubt why it won the "Belt Buckle" at the North Idaho Wine Rodeo last year.

Another tasty red blend in the value category is the Hey Mambo Sultry Red from the Sebastiani clan in California ($12). The wine is fruit driven and easy drinking, the perfect pairing for your mid-week pizza, with charming packaging to boot and sealed with a glass "Zork" providing some compelling conversation if you bring it to a friend's house.

Oregon Pinot Noir actually faired a little better in 2010 than many appellations, and while they won't be raving about the year in the Willamette the Rex Hill ($30) and the Archery Summit Premier Cuvee ($40) are both good choices. They are signature Willamette Valley Pinot though and will continue to develop for some time, with their firm acids and vibrant fruit flavors.

One final entry of eminently drinkable red in the value category is the Trim Cabernet ($13) from negotiant producer Ray Signarello in Napa. Ray searches the Napa Valley looking for great bulk cab that he then bottles under his series of labels. This was an even taller task for the 2010 growing year. The Trim is loaded with dark cherry and currant flavors and enough structure to make it a great selection, for those who like big muscular wines.

While we continue to emphasize trying wines from these tougher years prior to buying them we are encouraged that there are some wines that go beyond drinkable to very very good, even though there are many that should still be avoided. While trying the wine for yourselves is the best bet, if you see reds that are newly released this spring from the 2010 vintage ask your wine professional who has likely tried them for their advice on the best wine for you.

If there is a topic you would like to read about or questions on wine you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene by Costco. George is also the managing judge of The North Idaho Wine Rodeo, and writes frequently for the on line version of Coeur d'Alene magazine at www.cdamagazine.com you can learn more about the dinner party at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com. You can get all of these articles as well as other great wine tips by friending us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop.