Syrah, Hey, you Never Know …

Newbies no more, the happy group shows off their stellar collection of Syrah’s.  From L to R, Michael, Laura, John, Kim, Alex, Morgan, & Francine.     (Photo credit: Tommy Vine)

No need to bring blindfolds to our blind tasting … we just brown bag it.

Tommy Vine hosted another fun and informative blind wine tasting recently with a new ensemble of first time participants.  But these nouveau wine enthusiasts certainly did not let inexperience get in the way of contributing insightful input on each wine, not to mention them entering 5 wines that all earned good scores.  As Tommy V would say, not a clunker in the group.

The theme this time was Syrah.  Well, you say “Shiraz,” I say “Syrah” – it’s the same grape none-the-less. In France it is known and grown as Syrah, and responsible for some of the Northern Rhone’s big, bold red wines. However, in Australia and South Africa it goes by “Shiraz.”

Shiraz wines generally display firm tannins (although they are typically ripe and smooth, not abrasive like younger reds can be), a medium to full body, and the rich round flavors of black cherry, blackberry, plum, bell pepper, black pepper, clove, licorice, dark chocolate and smoked meat.  In terms of food pairings, Shiraz is great for grilled meats or veggies, wild game, richly flavored red meats, beef stew and meat lover’s pizza.

The wines that were entered into the competition were all from various regions as hoped, and included:  Northern Rhone, Barossa Valley, California and Washington.  Each wine displayed typical characteristics of their respective regions, and did not disappoint.

The roster of wines enjoyed at the tasting, starting with a Chenin Blanc.

In 5th place was the biggest surprise of the night – Ex Umbris, by rock star wine maker Owen Roe captured this dubious distinction.  This Washington state wine was rated a WS Top 100 wine (actually 25th).  In addition, it also won a previous Tommy Vine hosted blind wind tasting with stellar scores (click on the wine for previous post link).  For it to wipe up in the rear this time is confounding, even yours truly ranked it 5th after previously giving it the top score.  Go figure.

In 4th and 3rd place was a Barossa Shiraz and a Northern Rhone Syrah, both good wines but not capable of touching the top.  The runner up was a very respectable Syrah, St Joseph, which was a typical French with earthy, mineral like flavor and non-fruit nose.

But the clear star of the show was 6th Sense from Lodi, Ca.  This wine was presented by Michael & Kim, who did their homework and it paid off not only for our palettes to enjoy, but also for the beaming couple who looked like proud parents whose child just won the Olympics when their wine was unveiled as the winner.  (Of course they did earn a legacy since their bottle does get displayed among the others in our Wine Wall of Fame.)

Tasting notes for the 6th Sense … a dark ruby colored Syrah that opens with a very fragrant bouquet with hints of black cherry, blueberry, and red currant. On the palate, this wine is very balanced, mouthwatering, and very juicy. The flavor profile is a ripe red cherry with mixed in notes of vanilla. There were also hints of red currant jam and black pepper.  I absolutely loved this wine, and the fact that it was the first to be tasted simply set the bar very high for the others to follow.  Another little factoid to love about this wine is the price – it is a steal at an average price of $17, but can even be found for less if shopped.

Overall everyone had a good time, meshed well, satisfied their palettes, and got home safe.

Till next time, cheers!

Kirby, our white (wine) dog, handled security upon entering.

Grenache – Not All Are From the Rhone

In the Hudson Valley artsy town of Beacon, NY, there is a terrific wine shop called Artisan Wine, located at 180 Main St, just off I-84.  They have regular wine tastings that are not just wine suppliers coming in to sell, but events planned around a theme meant to educate the wine enthusiast about pairings and value.  The proprietors are both Culinary Institute grads and actually have a kitchen in the store for cooking demonstrations and pairing samples.  I love their concept!

View of the Mid-Hudson River Valley

Below is an example of their recent tasting based on the grenache varietal, which is commonly associated with Chateauneuf du Pape in the Southern Rhone region.

One can’t deny there is something about grenache that make the wines very appealling. Typically, the wines are based on red fruit and are soft in tannin structure, surely that’s enough to make the grape popular. However, there seems to be something more here, capable of attracting the masses and alienating few. This Saturday we’re offering you a peek into the national/regional differences expressed by the singular grape. Taste versions from Italy, France, and Spain; compare & contrast and learn about this emerging grape variety.

Cantina di Mogoro Cannonau di Sardegna DOC “Nero Sardo” 2010
Country: ITALY / Region: SARDINIA / Appellation: CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA DOC / Varietal(s): CANNONAU — From the oft-forgotten island of Sardegna, we offer an unusual red made from the cannonau grape. This is in fact the same grenache that is planted throughout southern France. The island is also home to the nuraghe, ancient edifices that are typically conical, made of large stones with no foundation or mortar, using an interlocking system and standing by the weight of its stones. The Il Nuraghe cooperative is located in the town of Mogoro, known both for its agricultural tradition and making tapestries and carpets. This wine is a soft, gentle introduction to cannonau, easy drinking red fruit flavors without a lot of harsh tannins. Drink this with pasta and your favorite red sauce or with simply prepared chicken or pork.
Regular Price: $14.99     Tasting Sale Price: $13.49

Bodegas Ateca Calatayud DO “Atteca” Old Vines Garnacha 2010
Country: SPAIN / Region: ARAGON / Appellation: CALATAYUD DO / Varietal(s): GARNACHA — Spanish reds are so consistently enjoyed by consumers, the country has become a default region for those seeking fruitful, softly textured wines with complexity. This wine is a perennial favorite among critics, typically scoring high marks, but also among many of our faithful customers. Founded in 2005 by the Gil family who have been running Bodegas Juan Gil in Jumilla since 1916, Ateca was a venture into the Calatayud region, further north from the Jumilla region. This is Bodegas Ateca’s top wine. These vines are about 80 to 120 years of age. The yields here are low, 1 ton/hectare; this concentrates the fruit flavors and produces a more elegant wine.
Regular Price: $15.99     Tasting Sale Price: $14.39

Looking down Main St, in the shadow of Beacon Mt., the town has attracted art lovers and the hiker/biking crowd.

Anne Pichon Grenache-Grandiose Reserve Niels Vin de France 2010 – ORGANICALLY GROWN
Country: FRANCE  / Region: RHONE VALLEY / Appellation: VIN DE FRANCE / Varietal(s): GRENACHE — The Rhône is home to some very big wines, but this may be one of the most intense we’ve found. Marc Pichon purchased this old property in 2008 and was able to quickly produce wines to his liking. The vineyards have been treated organically and intense work is done each year to manage the vines. Fermentations are done in small cement tanks with native yeast. The grenache for the wine was harvested quite late, allowing the fruit to hang longer and ripen completely. The result is a richer, fuller expression of grenache. The wine has never seen oak, but is capable of sitting alongside strong cheeses and roasted or braised dishes as well. Aromas lean to floral violets, but with a restrained black fruit note. A great bottle for a cold night.
Regular Price: $15.99     Tasting Sale Price: $14.39

New Year’s Work-Out Routine

Beaujolais Best Buys

I’ve always felt that Beaujolais is one one of the best bargains and most versatile out there in the wine world.  I recently came upon an article by Richard Fadeley, who I thinks hits it spot on.  I hope you enjoy his writings, insights and reviews below.

When Philip the Bold banned the gamay grape from Burgundy in 1395 (not a typo), he not only defined and refined the home base for pinot noir, but he also unwittingly did the same for Beaujolais, a hilly region between Lyon and Macon in southeast central France. It turned out that gamay was better suited for the granite soils of Beaujolais where it is one of the few places it is grown with distinction anywhere in the world. This turned out to be a win-win situation for both sides.

Technically part of Burgundy, Beaujolais accounts for about 50% of that famous region’s production, mainly known for its pinot noir and chardonnay. You are familiar with Beaujolais Nouveau – it will be released worldwide on the third Thursday in November each year (the 15th this year) – a fruity quaffable wine with few distractions, hanging on the vines just five or six weeks ago it is the first wine from the 2012 vintage in the northern hemisphere. It is simply a fruity celebration wine to be enjoyed with Thanksgiving dinner, burgers or maybe a tailgate, not aged at all, but basic wine from this years juice.

Unfortunately most people think of Nouveau when they think of Beaujolais (or remember some awful hangovers from overindulging in Beaujolais-Villages while in college, and dismiss some really interesting wine. Beaujolais-Villages and the even better Cru Beaujolais, which can stand in for pinot noir from Burgundy, will show the serious side of this colorful hilly region. Gamay is only ordinary when grown in the limestone soils of the Cotes d’Or, but when subjected to lower yields and from better-situated granite slopes gamay can produce very interesting food-friendly wines that can age for 2-5 years. Beaujolais-Villages comes from 39 villages well positioned in the northern part, just below the 10 “Cru Beaujolais” from the best vineyards in the area. The Crus are found in an area only about 15 miles long by 7 miles wide and helps explain the French concept of terroir, the overall effect that soil, climate and aspect have on the eventual outcome of the winemaking process. Here we find wines that pair well with a variety of food, perfect with picnics, and can stand-in for its “city-cousin”, pinot noir. That means pairing with salmon, chicken, portobello mushrooms, burgers, etc.

We tasted these wines blind, over several nights, with a wide variety of food. They were nice with grilled salmon, perfect with chicken, delicious with a vegetarian pizza, and if you find me at a football game, you will also find a Beaujolais (and most likely a rosÈ and a white wine). These reds like a little chill so throw one in the cooler and by the time you get there it will be just right. Keep it cool; on hot days they warm-up fast.

George Duboeuf has been the champion of Beaujolais for most of his life – he is 79 and still going strong and largely responsible for making Beaujolais a household name. He will also bottle wines under the Dubeaune label for different retailers. Duboeuf and Jadot account for most of the Beaujolais that we see here, but anything else you find should be worth a try. As an everyday red these sturdy wines can stand in for pinot noir at a fraction of the price, and a Cru Beaujolais is my first choice with escargot! These are no-non-sense wines with no fuss, no decant, or extended aging requirements. All with moderate alcohol and at a price that puts a smile on your face. Look for the crus, the ten villages that are allowed to put only their name on the label, such as Brouilly, Morgon, Moulin-A-Vent, Cotes de Brouilly, Fleurie or Chroubles. Where else can you explore the top wines of a region for under $20. It looks as though 2011 was another good year so take advantage of the lower Euro to enjoy some of France’s finest wines. As you can see by our results, Beaujolais can age and improve with a year or two in the bottle.

So enjoy a bottle of the Nouveau, then get familiar with the more serious side of Beaujolais and expand your wine horizons. We’ve provided a few good examples of these wines, and if you find smaller producers, they are worth a try.

Beaujolais Review

Beaujolais-Villages & Crus
Henry Fessy ’09 Morgon	****	Best Cru Beaujolais!	France	$ 14
Jadot ’09 Chateau des Jaques, Morgon	****	Delicious & Will Age!	France	$ 18
Duboeuf ’09 La Chaponne, Morgon	****	Another Winner!	France	$ 14
DeBeaune ’11 Beaujolais-Villages	****	Good Value & Best Buy!	France	$ 12
Duboeuf ’09 Brouilly, Flower Lable	****	A Best Buy!!	France	$ 11
Duboeuf ’11 Jean Descombes, Morgon	****	Elegant & Stylish!	France	$ 14
Duboeuf ’11 Beaujolais-Village	***1/2	Another Star, Best Buy!	France	$ 11
Jadot ’11 Beaujolais-Villages	***1/2	Easy to Enjoy!	France	$ 11
Beaujolais Nouveau
Haven’t tasted yet, but make sure you do soon!

Our four-star rating system and how it might compare to the WS 100-point scale:
* Decent (80-83)
** Good (86-87)
*** Very Good (87-89
**** Excellent (90+)

All ratings are only the opinions of our tasters and not meant to offend your personal favorites.

To contact Richard Fadeley, write him at webwineman@hotmail.com

Port: Strong, Sweet & Red

Port is grown in the Douro region, then shipped down river to Porto.

It’s time for a Port posting, and for that I turn to one of my favorite wine critics, Robin Garr from the Wine Lovers Page.

I’m one of those people who was apparently born without a serious case of sweet tooth. Put something salty and crunchy in front of me, and you’d better get out of the way. But when it comes to dessert, while I can take it, I can generally just as easily leave it. (With the possible exception of chocolate-chip cookies or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.)

So when it comes to sweet wines, I’m pretty much the same way. Sauternes? Barsac? Beerenauslese? I’ll take a taste, probably, if someone else is pouring, but the “stickies” that make many wine lovers swoon don’t really jump up at me and yell “Drink me!”

But I’ll mark an exception here, too: Open a bottle of Port, and I’ll be right there, glass in hand, awaiting my ration like a baby bird opening wide for a treat.

What makes the difference? Well, I love red wines, complex, interesting and tannic; and Port, after all, is one of the few sweet wines that is indisputably, deeply and unmistakably red.

The Douro Valley is one of the most scenic wine regions in the world…on my bucket list.

Port – the real stuff from the Douro Valley in Portugal, that is – ranks as one of the world’s great wines, dry or sweet, and collectors clamor for the Vintage Port style, made with such respect that it’s only issued in years when nature cooperates to create a wine that’s up to the region’s high standard. Accordingly, while Vintage Port may not be the world’s most expensive wine, it can get right up there in price.

But for those of us who love Port and want to be able to enjoy it without making a major investment or waiting years for it to mature, there’s a reasonably close alternative at a fraction of the price: Late Bottled Vintage Port.

Often nicknamed “LBV,” this is a Port made from a single vintage, but held in oak barrels for four to six years, long enough to soften and mellow the wine without fading it to tawny. This makes a relatively affordable wine with a lot of the style of a Vintage Port and some age worthiness, but it can be drunk young and needs no decanting.

Take care not to confuse LBV with “Vintage Character Port,” which is sort of an upscale non-vintage Ruby. It, too, can make decent drinking, but it rarely approaches LBV quality and offers little or no price advantage over LBV, which generally sells in the $20s and is well worth it.

You won’t be finding any of these classic Port vintages in my cellar, unfortunately.

For today’s tasting, I picked up a bottle of Porto Kopke 2005 LBV Port, a fair buy at a penny under $25. From one of Port’s oldest producers, it offers a good sample of Port style without the price or the wait of the traditional vintage version. In fairness, it lacks the gravitas of Vintage Port, but affordability and accessibility make it more than a fair trade.

It was fine for after-dinner sipping, good with sharp cheese, and – I’m a little embarrassed to add this – it was amazing with a mini Reese Cup, creating an explosive combination of sweet fruit, milk chocolate and peanut butter. PB&J in a glass? Maybe.

Wine Lovers Page

Prevent Frankenwine From Frankenstorm

With Hurricane Sandy (aka Frankenstorm) about to crash on the east coast, I thought it would be a good time to learn about what steps to take to preserve you wine when the climate control (in your cellar or storage unit) is no longer controlled.

Below is a recent article left over from Irene that offers some tips.

Residents of the East Coast recently experienced the wrath of Hurricane Irene.  For the fortunate individuals who did not incur serious property damage and flooding, there were other issues to contend with: power outages.  Some storms can leave areas without power for days, meaning your wine cooling units will not operate.  And who wants to see a multi-thousand dollar investment ruined because of a power outage?

Aside from hooking your wine cooling units up to a generator, which is an option only if your personal survival is not dependent upon the same generator, there are a few things you can do to keep your wine safe (if you can still access your cellar!)  If you own a wine cabinet, like the Vinotheque Wine Reservoir, or a  N’Finity two temperature cooling unit, obtain a large block of dry ice and, while wearing work gloves, wrap it in clear cellophane (plastic wrap.)  Position it just above the top of the unit, and your wine will remain cool for about two days.

If most of your bottles are racked and you don’t have a wine cabinet, choose your most valuable wines and stand them upright in a large cooler or plastic storage tub.  Fill the container with ice.  Drain and re-ice as necessary. (Standing the bottles upright is okay in this emergency situation.  It helps minimize water/ice damage to labels, and also keeps the corks from being exposed to a fast temperature change.)

In addition to using dry ice for wine preservation, it also can create some “cool” effects in jack-o-lanterns, post Frankenstorm.

If your wines do happen rise above their typical storage temperature, they will age a bit quicker than anticipated.  This may mean that some will be ready to drink much sooner.  Keep this in mind when restocking them after the disaster, and consider using bottle tags to mark any questionable wines.  This way, you’ll remember to enjoy them before it’s too late.

Tasting Time – Merlots go Toe to Toe

This past weekend was another installment of wine tasting competition, and Merlot was the varietal of choice in the ring fighting each other for bragging rights of being the best, and winning a place on the shelf in the Tommy Vine Wine Hall of Fame.

Entering the competition were 7 wines, including 2 (right bank) Bordeaux, and 2 coming from both Napa Valley in Cali and 3 from the Columbia Valley in Washington.  Wines that were entered include:

– ’09 Roc du Manoir

– ’08 Chateau St Michelle

– ’09 Chateau Fluer de Jean Gue (from Pomerol)

– ’08 Waterbrook

– ’07 Napa Cellars.

They were all good, some better than others, but none were voted as high as the 2 finalists which were runner up:

– ’07 Woodward Cellarsfrom Columbia Valley and,

Won the night.

– ’10 Angels Landing from Napa which took top honors!

Congrats to Nina for bringing the winning Merlot, and thanks to all who participated – hope you had a good time and learned something along the way.

Cheers, from

Tommy Vine

Pictured above is an expereinced ensemble of wine tasters, including (from left to right) Kyle, Emily, Bruce, Francine, Kay, Peter, Amy, Alyssa & Nicole. Tommy Vine, who hosted the panel takes a knee with Nina behind him holding her winning wine, the ’10 Angels Landing. (Photo credit: Joanne Anderson) (click on photo)

Long Island Red – Out of the Blue

For those of you who will be traveling out on the east end of Long Island toward Montauk Point, there is a treasure of a wine shop along the way called Amagansett Wines, located in the heart of its namesake town on Main St.
The owner proprietor, Michael Cinque (MC) might be there to greet you, but if not it is because he is tending to his other complimentary wine businesses.
MC is part of the new breed that has cropped up on Long Island in the wine business.  In addition to his successful base retail business, MC has leveraged his knowledge, relationships, energy and entrepreneurial spirit and is now creating his own wine line at Red Hook Winery in Brooklyn. 

The Red Hook Winery produces wine from grapes grown in the North Fork region of Long Island, specifically at the vineyards of Macari, Jamesport, and Ackerly Pond.  Currently available varietals include five whites (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Riesling) and three reds (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon).  It is also worth noting that MC has brought in some serious talent to make his wine, notably Bob Foley and Abe Schoener from Napa.

So with that as background, it was out of the blue I stumbled upon this shop and a red wine called La Famiglia (translates in Italian to the family), which was named as a tribute to MC’s family roots.
This wine is what I consider a ‘keep it real’ Long Island red by surprisingly capturing the best of the typical characteristics from this still fledgling region.  It features Cab Franc with 63%, with Merlot and Cab Sauvignon  at 25% and 12% respectively, all grown on the North Fork at Palmer Vineyards.

So when I tried this wine, the  setting was an informal wine tasting of 5 people with La Famiglia going up against some more formidable labels.  It should be noted, however, that this red from Long Island held its own rather nicely with 4 of the 5 saying they were impressed enough with it to buy it.  They estimated the price range at $18-24, which would give it a good QPR (quality price rating).

The nose started with tart, blackberry, a hint of plum and alcohol.  Once in the mouth some complexity came through with black pepper as the dominant spice on the front and back end, with blackberry and black fruit being balanced with good acidic level and a hint of nutmeg.  The impression was that of an old world Chianti style that may still needs some time.  The spicey sharpness definitely mellowed as this wine opened up in the glass and seemed to smooth out significantly, leading one to wonder that this wine would do even better decanted.

The final consensus was that although it is young, this can be a very nice winter wine … images of enjoying this in front of a fireplace rang true for everyone.  Being served sliced steak on cristini bread with dabs of horseradish and a cheese & fruit platter on the side would certainly enhance La Famiglia even more.  This wine was a pleasant surprise.  It is also encouraging to see the North Fork region continue it’s climb up the quality ladder.

Cheers,

Tommy Vine

Is $20 the new $10?

Hello again my fellow wine enthusiasts, Tommy Vine here and yes, it’s been awhile since my last posting. Certainly not because I have slowed down in drinking wine, only writing about wine as everyday life gets in the way … can’t do it all.

But I jump back in the game, prompted by 4 separate friends who coincidentally sent me the same article by Eric Asimov, of the NY Times which is referenced below.  But this popular article was made even more relevant when I received word that one of my other favorite wine writer, Robin Garr (@Robin_Garr), also picked up on the trend in wine prices.  So it is his edited posting in his words that I present you below.

Since I started writing about wine in the early 1980s, about the only fluid I can think of that has increased in price as much as wine is gasoline; and that, now that I think about it, is a fairly close race.

In my early years writing, a local merchant once told me that only the most remarkable wines would persuade most consumers to part with more than $6 for a bottle. Later in the decade, that “threshold of resistance” price rose to $8, then $10; by the end of the millennium people who had objected to $6 wine were now willingly paying $25 or $30 or more for the good stuff.

More significantly, perhaps, from a world in which a wealth of excellent wine could be had for $5 or less, the minimum point for pleasurable vino gradually went up to $7 or $8, then $10, and nowadays – even in the grip of an enduring recession – it’s hard to find really excellent wine under $10 or perhaps even $15.

I’ve always tried to push back against this tide. While I’m never willing to sacrifice quality for the sake of a buck or two, I’ve largely devoted this newsletter and its parent website, WineLoversPage.com, to the quest for what wine “geeks” like to call “QPR”: Quality-Price Ratio, that sweet spot where the lines of quality and value cross at what might be called a bargain or best buy. 

It’s no coincidence that I launched this publication in 1993 as “The Wine Bargain Page,” a concept that endures even if I later changed it to “WineLovers Page” to reflect a broader reach that might take in wine at any level, but still focused on value and a special celebration for the elusive bargain bottle.

With this as background, you can imagine that I clicked right through when Eric Asimov’s New York Times wine column, “The Pour,” came out this week with the headline “Wine’s QPR “sweet spot” around $20?”

Asimov asked, “What’s the right price for a bottle of wine? Silly question, I know. All sorts of prices are right, depending on the quality of the wine, the scarcity, the demand and other economic, social and psychological imperatives. Strictly speaking, a wine can be a great value at $10 or $200, though for most of us, a steal at $200 is small consolation, like a $5 million apartment deemed an excellent deal because its price has dropped by half.”

So far I was right there with him. But then he caught me up short: “Beyond the realm of the theoretical, though, there are wine bull’s-eyes where high values intersect with low prices. On the low end, that sweet spot ranges from $15 to $25; practically speaking, let’s call it $20.”

That jerked me up short. I’m still laboring under the opinion that $10 is doable and $15 easy. But $20? That’s starting to sound like real money. I posted the question on our WineLovers Discussion Group and, somewhat to my surprise, found general agreement with Asimov.

Several wine forum participants pointed out that favorites they consider QPR values have gradually risen from $12 or so to $20 over the past decade, including such goodies as Baudry La Grange and J.P. Brun Beaujolais from France, Donnhoff’s QbA from Germany and Edmunds St. John’s entry-level wines from California.

Yes, you can still find palatable wine for less. But is “palatable” good enough? Asimov thinks not. “Not for me,” he wrote. “I want wine that excites me, that feels so good to drink that one sip urges on the next and the next after that. I want a wine that tells a story of a place and a people and a culture, that is not the predictable equivalent of a franchise restaurant but more like a little mom-and-pop’s, where you’re not always sure what you’ll find but you know it can have the capacity to inspire.

“You might be able to find a bottle like that for $10. But it’s rarer than you think. At $15 to $25, though, the odds swing decidedly in your favor. With a little experience, you can find dozens of joyous bottles, plucked carefully from the ranks of the routine.”

I couldn’t improve on Asimov’s advice for finding those elusive bargains: Avoid the pricey, sought-after styles, Napa Cabernet, Barolo or genuine Champagne; even quality Burgundy is largely off the list, he says, although I’m still an advocate of Bourgogne Pinot Noir from the more reliable shippers.

Rather, look for the regions off the beaten track – this is a drum I’ve been beating for years – looking to the less-sought-after wine regions and grape varieties, or those that shun formal appellation in favor of “vin de table” and its cousins.

Here’s Asimov’s list of “20 memorable bottles for $20.” “To read his full column, click here. (May require a New York Times print or digital subscription).

20 MEMORABLE BOTTLES FOR $20
Francois Pinon Vouvray Brut NV
Domaine de l’Octavin Arbois The Peteux NV
La Clarine Farm Sierra Foothills Rose 2011
Doennhoff Nahe Estate Riesling 2011
Nusserhof Vino Rosso Elda 2009
Edmunds St. John El Dorado County Bone-Jolly Gamay Noir 2009
Josep Foraster Conca De Barbera Trepat 2010
Burlotto Langhe Freisa 2010
Guy Bossard Domaine de L’Ecu Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine Expression d’Orthogneiss 2010
Gilbert Picq et ses Fils Chablis 2010
La Rioja Alta Rioja Reserva Vina Alberdi Seleccion Especial 2005
Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo 2010
Olivier Lemasson Vin de France Poivre et Sel 2011
Argyros Santorini Assyrtiko 2010
Domaine Vico Corsica 2010
Denis Jamain Domaine de Reuilly Les Pierres Plates 2009
Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees Cote de Brouilly 2010
Gunderloch Rheinhessen Riesling Kabinett Jean-Baptiste 2010
Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina 2011
Tablas Creek Vineyard Paso Robles Patelin de Tablas Blanc 2010

Asimov has the advantage of working in New York City, with access to perhaps the world’s best selection of retail wine. If you’re in a wine desert, you might try using Wine-Searcher.com’s search engine to plug in a key word or two from each wine name to find vendors.

Wrapping things up, I sought out a $20 bottle of my own for this week’s featured wine, and came home with an excellent pick from Oregon, Van Duzer 2008 “Vintner’s Cuvée” Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($20.99). Cutting to the chase, this appealing Pinot showed the kind of delicious, intriguing complexity that helps justify the difference between a $10 wine and a $20 wine.

I’ll keep looking for the occasional exceptions. Meanwhile, I’d love to know what you think. Drop me an Email at wine@wineloverspage.com to let me know where you find the sweet spot between quality and price.

Nouveau Winemakers #4

See text for photo caption, click on photo to enlarge. (Photo credit – Tommy Vine)

The nouveau winemakers group met again last Friday for stage #2 (BTW, what a great way to spend a Friday night).  We gathered around the vat where our crushed grapes from the previous week sat as we watched them bubble with CO2 escaping, happily fermenting into alcohol.  Our creation was taking shape.

After stirring the fermented grapes, the buckets came out and we scooped them into the basket press.  The grapes then started to be “pressed” by the inflatable bladder which slowly pressed, or squeezed the juice from the grapes into another vat.  When the free run juice was finished, it was then pumped into our American oak (from Kentucky) barrel, where it will sleep for about 4 months before we come back to taste the progress.  In the meantime, Gianni and Vincenzo will be working our barrel by filtering out the sediment a few times and transferring it into another (brand new) barrel.

So the group will now take a hiatus while our organic creation naturally matures into a fine wine suitable for pleasant consumption by the most stringent and critical wine experts in all the land.

Photo Caption: (from left to right) Chief winemaker Vincenzo showing chief architect Guiseppe how to stir the pot, while John Mac and Nancy keep a safe distance from red grape staining.  Diane with a big lean over not wanting to miss a photo opp, while Carl (who was a shy middle child as a lad) barely getting in the action.  The always affable Rick at center stage with our wine ringer Lady Zin on his wing.  And Dr. Peg looking pretty but taller than usual standing behind a budding bro-mance with Scott and Sebastian touching each other, while Beth appears secure and not threatened.