Labor Day signifies the end of summer, al fresco dining, and barbeques. As we say goodbye to summer, we often ponder which red wine will go best as a send-off of the season. Here are my Labor Day 2021 red wine selections to help celebrate the holiday barbeque fanfare.
Labor Day 2021 Pinot Noir
Landmark Vineyards 2018 Grand Detour Pinot Noir: With California Wine Month off to a start, it is befitting that we start with a California wine that represents the Sonoma Coast AVA of Sonoma County. This area strives to be nearly 100% sustainable. Landmark is one of the older wineries in the area, dating back to 1974. They strive to produce handcrafted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and in this case, for Labor Day 2021, Pinot Noir
The grapes come from Landmark’s Hop Kiln Estate. The wine aged in French oak, 33% new for ten months. I found a medium-bodied fruity wine with aromas of cola, strawberry, and earth. On the palate, the wine delivered flavors of strawberry and cola with some lovely spices on the finish.
Labor Day 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Sinegal Estate 2018 Details: Napa Sinegal Estate is spreading its wings into Sonoma with Details Wines. The grapes are sourced from Moon Mountain in the Sonoma Valley. The soils in this vineyard are volcanic with good drainage. Round out the details of this Cabernet Sauvignon; the blend includes Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot from Sonoma Valley, Knights Valley, Alexander Valley, Dray Creek, and Chalk Hill. The wine aged 16 months in 55% new French Oak.
On the nose, I found aromas of plum, cedar, and allspice. The wine delivered a fruit-forward demeanor on the palate with flavors of plum, dark cherry, mocha, and spices. This wine shows the quality of Cabernet produced in Sonoma at a more reasonable price.
Labor Day 2021 Wine Sipping in Montalcino
Lucente 2018: Lucente represents the secondary label of Luce, a winery located in Montalcino, a region of Tuscany in Italy. This wine blends Merlot and Sangiovese and ages for 12 months in both new and neutral oak. In the past, I sampled both the 2014 and 2017. Weather conditions and increased rainfall in 2018 affected the character of the wine. My first comment after tasting the 2018 was the prominent taste of Merlot. The earthy and herbal qualities in this wine lend themselves to barbequed foods. Delivering flavors of plum, I also found hints of mocha and tobacco.
Labor Day 2021 with Domaine Bousquet’s Argentine Wine
Domaine Bousquet 2018 Gran Malbec: Malbec is the perfect accompaniment with beef, which ideally pairs with barbeques on Labor Day. This wine blends 85% Malbec with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. I found a very smooth, balanced wine with flavors of blackberries accented by mocha with hints of pepper on the finish. The wine ages ten months in French oak.
Domaine Bousquet Gaia Cabernet Franc 2018: Another wine that reflects the altitude of wine from the Uco Valley. The wine ages from eight to ten months in French oak. The wine displays earthy qualities of cedar and savory notes on the nose. Lingering chocolate flavors accent the dark fruit flavors on the finish.
Enjoy Labor Day
All of these wines would make a perfect accompaniment to a Labor Day meal. If you are looking for something that expounds on earthiness, then go with the Domaine Bousquet wines that are known for their high altitude. If you are looking for a prettier wine, by all means, choose either of the wines from California.
Note: Common to the wine industry, this writer received hosted wine samples. While it has not influenced this review, the writer believes in full disclosure.