Folio Fine Wine Partners: A portfolio of prestigious red wine

Who could resist a wine tasting of luxury wines, a dilemma that I think we all know the answer to. Case in point occurred when I attended a Folio Fine Wine Partners Wine Tasting at Stanley’s Wet Goods in Culver City. Impressive accurately describes the wines sampled. The wines featured represented mostly red wine from France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, and California.

With a price range between $45 and $240, I discovered some favorites that I considered special finds. I highly recommend the following wines:

Champagne:

Considered the smallest house in the Champagne region, Charles Heidsieck began production in 1851. The Non-Vintage Rosé Reserve displayed and a more rounded and fuller style. Find a flavorful wine that blends equally Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier.

White Wine:

Although the only white available at this tasting, the Palacios Remondo PLÁCET 2013 stood out as an outstanding representation of a Viura from the Rioja Baja region of Spain. This wine represents the only white wine produced by Alvara Palacios. The wine is aged in stainless steel although it seems aging might include some neutral oak. One finds viscosity and balance in this vibrant wine exhibiting flavors of peach and other stone fruit.

Red Wine Italy:

Barbaresco Falletto Asili 2012: A light feminine wine with some nice light spices on the finish. A versatile wine because its refreshing qualities make for a great summer wine.

The counterpart to the Barbaresco is the Falletto Barolo 2011, a more masculine sharper wine that grows on you.

My very favorite, Ornellaia 2014 Bolgheri Superiore, an Italian Bordeaux blend composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Bolgheri is ideally situated to grown the Bordeaux Varietals. I found the wine bright with soft silky textures on the palate making this a smooth and balanced, yet very drinkable wine.

Also from Ornellaia, the Le Serre Nuove Dell’ Ornellaia 2014 Bolgheri Rosso is a lighter version of the Superiore wine because of the larger percentage of Merlot in the wine.   Like its counterpart, the softer qualities form a rounded lighter yet appealing wine.

Red Wine Spain:

Another wine from Palacios Remondo, the 2011 Propiedad, a Rioja Baja Garnacha that combines grapes from 5 different vineyards. The elegance of this wine shines through giving a flavorful balance. This wine was the most together and drinkable at the tasting.

Porrera Vi de Vila de Vall Llach 2013, blends old vine, 60 – 90-year-old vines of both Cariñena and Garnacha.   This Priorat wine delivers balance with balsamic flavors, nice spices, and silky tannins.

Red Wine Argentina:

Paving the way for change in this South American country, Susana Balbo became the first woman enologist in Argentina. The Susana Balbo Brioso 2013 features a new world style Bordeaux blend. From Agrelo region in Luján de Cuyo of Mendoza, this wine blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec, Cabernet Fran, and Petit Verdot. Like many Argentine wines, the wine delivers a more fruit-forward quality. The wine is full-bodied with a rich texture of dark fruits and pepper.

On this particular day, these were my favorite wines from the Folio Portfolio. Each wine has a unique quality but also represents its country of origin in a profound way.