I’ve found that it’s easier just to section these blog posts out because let’s be honest, this list is just going to keep growing the longer we are ordered to stay home. If you were wondering, there are three previous articles with several bottles I’ve enjoyed while staying at home. You can find those tasting notes through these links.
Quarantine Bottles 1 (Italian wines, Argentine Malbec, Cherry Pie Pinot Noir, and more!)
Quarantine Bottles 2 (my new favorite Sicilian, sparkling wines, Burgundy, and Spanish wines)
Quarantine Bottles 3 (lots more sparkling and Ribera del Duero)
As we are into our fourth weekend in quarantine, here are a few more bottles I’ve been enjoying!
Claude Riffault “La Noue” Sancerre Rosé, 2015
Sancerre, France
I just fell in love with this rosé. Could it be perfect? I’m not sure, but it’s pretty damn close. On the nose, it’s complex with ripe cherry aromas perfectly blended with some toasty notes and fragrant dried flowers. Smooth and inviting on the palate, the flavors mirror the aromas, with ideal integration all the way through a nice, long finish. 100% Pinot Noir.
This bottle was a gift, but it can be purchased in Miami on the Vinya website marketplace.
Hall Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014
Napa Valley, California
Bold, bold, bold is the best way to describe this wine. Hall does bold best, and this Diamond Mountain District Cab is no exception to their rule. Decant it hours before dinner if you want to enjoy it at its best. With very high alcohol, you’ll need to let the wine settle unless you want your senses to burn.
After it breathes, the wine is extremely lovely and rich with many Cabernet nuances. Dried black and red fruits, spicy oak notes, and polished tannins. This is a wine that is to be taken seriously and paired with an equally inspiring meal. We chose steak, but a mushroom-heavy dish would also be appropriate for you vegetarians.
Folie de Chauvin Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, 2015
Bordeaux, France
For a five-year-old Bordeaux baby, this wine is drinking fine, but it’s not at its best. Merlot dominant at 95% with 5% Cabernet Franc, the Folie is full of green “vegetal” aromas and flavors that need to mellow out a bit. Dark fruits, cassis, and baking spice flavors are also present with young, noticeable tannins. If you choose to drink it, let it breathe for a couple hours, or save it for 3-5 more years. There is definitely potential here, but give this wine its time.
Château Phélan Ségur Saint-Estèphe , 2012
Bordeaux, France
Given the few extra years that this 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend had in the bottle, it’s showing a bit better on the palate than the previous wine. Big, bold, black fruit and dark chocolate flavors are the main attraction, but there are also some blueberry and vanilla spices. Definitely not a wine for the timid, as this is a beautifully bold Bordeaux bottle. Even with the eight years, it could have a few more and will drink well into the 2020s. Decant for at least a couple hours to let those tannins breathe, and then, enjoy.
Château Guiraud Sauternes, 2015
Bordeaux, France
Ah, Sauternes. Is there a better wine? This wine is just about perfect. Lots of gooey tropical flavors like roasted pineapple, apricot, and honey. It coats your mouth in pure sweetened wine gold with every sip. If you haven’t had a Sauternes wine or want one to enjoy while in quarantine, this bottle will surely give you a break from your mundane indoor life.
History & Wine 
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