Best Wines I Tasted in September 2021

November 26, 2021 0 By Alan Evans

In September 2021, I tasted and rated a total of 29 wines. The 4 wines I have choose to share with you are the ones that were special to me, that when I tasted them I knew they were great. They made feel something beyond just a delightful taste. They have character, depth, balance and great flavors. These are also wines that can be found at a good value for their style and quality. These 4 wines are what I suggest you to go try for yourself, right now. Especially if any of these styles or varieties are ones you know you like. Or if you have never tried this type of wine before, then these examples are great entry points into something new and awesome!

Out of the 4 great wines I want to share with y’all from September, 1 of them earned a perfect 5 star rating, which is very rare (only 6 ever!), while the other 3 were right on the edge, rating them 4.5 stars on Vivino. My favorites this month featured mostly lower priced wines, with 3 out of the 4 being found in that $20-$30 range. This is partially because 2 of these great values are white wines made from lesser used grapes, and the other is a unique red wine from Portugal. You can commonly find amazing wines at great values if they are made from less “popular” grapes or from less “popular” growing regions. Every wine I loved this month happened to be a different varietal (including some really interesting ones like Baga from Northern Portugal and Gros Manseng from Southern France). They are each also from a different growing region, with two US wines: one from Napa Valley, California and one from Willamette Valley, Oregon; along with unique wines from France and Portugal.

I hope you heed my recommendations and seek out a few of the below wines to try for yourself and let me know what you discover!

1. Domaine Castera 2015 Jurancon Sec from Jurancon, France – I will start with the rare 5 star wine, one of only 6 that I have ever rated 5 stars far on Vivino, out of my over 300 ratings. Another amazing find from Drew at Satellite wine bar in Santa Barbara! This wine is blend of 95% Gros Manseng & 5% Petit Courbu which are both grapes only typically found south western France. Gros Manseng is commonly used to make sweet dessert wines, but in this case Domaine Castera has crafted a superb dry white blend.

This wine is really special. It hits your palate with so much flavor and complexity. It kinda takes you on a journey of flavors, through what a crisp white wine is could be, and yet it has 6 years of age on it. Amazing that it has developed a subtle and delicious complexity, while losing none of the brightness and crispness that sets this wine apart. And it is an amazing value at around $20. This wine is not widely available, but if you can get your hands on one with some age on it, give it a try!

My Vivino notes: 5 stars – Very refreshing and complex wine. So much depth and yet the brightness is intoxicating. All at a stellar value. Lemon and green apple on the nose. Medium plus acid with a hint of sweetness. This is a perfect full bodied unoaked white wine. I get peach, citrus, dry honey and pear notes with a long crisp finish.

2. Maloof 2019 Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Gris from Willamette Valley, Oregon – An outstanding example of Pinot Gris. I don’t drink to many wine of this varietal, but this is the best I have ever had. Delicious tropical and sweet flavors that really blended together into something special. Something about the flavor combination and the perceived sweetness of this wine (despite the dryness on the palate) really stood to me as fascinatingly tasty. You can find this wine at a great value under $30 and should be fairly accessible on the west coast.

My Vivino notes: 4.5 Stars – This is the best Pinot Gris I have ever tasted. Light on the nose but I get hints of coconut, apple, honey and orange peel. Very dry with medium plus acid and some sweet tropical flavors. Very light and delicate, with Flavors of honey, apple and sweet tangerine dominating the palate.

3. Niepoort 2020 Nat Cool from the Duoro region in northern Portugal – This is a totally delicious and super fruity natural wine from northern Portugal that is a fantastic VALUE! It is a red blend primarily of Baga grapes, along with other varietals common to region. The wine has an alive quality that sets it apart from other super fruity wines and yet is better balanced than most natural wines in this price range. I think the Nat Cool walks a tightrope of flavors so well, coming across one’s palate as both distinct in flavor and showing high quality through balance. This wine is great for occasions, as it can be drank alone or paired with all cheeses or even meaty dishes. It is Very versatile and yet it is an absolute steal, available around $25 for a larger format 1 liter bottle. A must try if you are a fan of natural wines or enjoy fruity and tart style wines.

My Vivino notes: 4.5 Stars – Super fun fruity and alive wine. Great value. Super fruity nose with maraschino cherry, blueberry and white pepper notes. Fruity, tart and funky. Cherry cough syrup, fruit punch and dry blueberry dominate with a bit of earthy lime mixed in with a feel of effervescence on the tongue. High acid and medium low tannins.

4. Flora Springs 2014 Out of Sight Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California – A classic, BIG BOLD Napa Cab with dark flavors and lots of complex oak. This wine punches above its price point. As good as other $200 bottles of this style, but is available under $100. I really enjoyed sitting down with this wine and working through the complexity and depth that it brought to the palate, from the initial fruity notes through the long oaky finish.

Flora Springs is one of my favorite Napa wineries and is a place I visit for a tasting almost every year. They have some of the best quality to price value Napa Cabs and red blends you can find, with the Out of Sight as a perfect example. This is not a subtle or delicate wine, instead this thing is a beast of a Cabernet, and still, the flavors and feels are well balanced across the palate; allowing for one to enjoy a glass on its own, or a bottle with some fatty bold flavored foods! If you like this big, fruity, oaky style of cabernet, then this wine from Flora Springs is a must try.

My Vivino notes: 4.5 Stars – A great wine. Very smokey though! I got black currant, cheese, hickory, smoked meats, dark chocolate and black olive on the nose. Flavor is fairly sweet, with medium plus acid and medium tannins. Well balanced and super smooth. Lots of charred oak flavors along with black fruit, hickory, black olive before a dry oak and chocolate finish. This napa cab is delicious to sip on and great with a steak.

A note to put “BEST” into context: I am judging all the wines I drink based on their quality (flavor and balance) to value ratio, which is aligned with how I rate wines on Vivino.

Each wine I score is based on a 5 star scoring system, and I take into account the wine’s quality, uniqueness and deliciousness compared to other similar wines within a similar price range.

Only wines for which I have scored 4 stars or greater, and I deem worthy of sharing with others are included in my monthly favorites.

You can find all of my other favorites wines from past months here.

Cheers!

– Alan Evans