December 2010!

For a little festive spirit, we did a split theme with half of us bringing sparkling wine and half of us bringing pinot noir. The pinots won the night, with an additional pleasant surprise of LC's finger lakes wine at the top of the list as well.

We had quite the delicious spread we well:

And a special welcome to Magda, who joined the group this month (at least through pictures on Laura's phone)!

The BIG Winner
3.45
Laura's 2009 Sonoma Coast Head Snapper Pinot Noir
Look for the pretty lady with a big glass of wine on the label to
purchase this one again.
We thought this had a taste of cola, tart cherry, and spice.
The facts:
$23 discounted to $9
14.2% alcohol by volume

2nd Place
3.3
Lauren's Finger Lakes surprise wine - Frost Curvee
It was a blend of pinot noir and chard and was very yummy!
It was creamy and smooth and "tasted like a viognier"
Look out for it when you're wine touring in upstate NY.

3rd Place
3.25
Blair's Estancia Pinot Noir from Monterey County
This one had a tobacco and dry taste and was fuller than most other pinot noirs.
The facts:
$12.99
13.5% alcohol

4th Place
2.91
Kate's Sterling Vintner's Collection Pinor Noir from the Central Coast
We thought this had silky raspberry and cherry tastes and was "fruit forward".
The facts:
$13.50
13.5% alcohol

5th Place
2.83
Lauren's Lambrusco Grasparossa Di Castelvetro from Italy
This was a frizzante red wine that we thought was fruity and floral.
Although I remember liking this red wine version of champagne,
apparently we all didn't like it all that much.
The facts:
$13
10.5% alcohol

6th Place
2.67
Ricki's Pink, by Yellowtail
This was an Aussie sparkling wine with a "delicate mouth feel".
The facts:
$13.99
11.5% alcohol

The Bottom
1.58
KAK's Beelgara Brute curee from Australia
This was VERY carbonated and finished with a hint of "yeasty" flavor...yum
The facts:
$15.99
10.5% alcohol

The ceremonial photo:

I tried to crop and zoom so we could actually see the bottles:

November 2010: Chilean Wines

The Spread:

(Not pictured: freshly baked empanadas!)

WINES OF THE EVENING:

1. Cousino-Macul Sauvignon Gris: 3.166667 stars, 13.5 % alcohol, $9.99

Sauvignon Gris: We learned that sauvignon gris is a clonal mutation of the Sauvignon blanc grape. Sauvignon Gris has a pinkish hue to its skin (though the wine we had was white). The grape is primarily found in Bordeaux and Chile, where it was imported with Sauvignon blanc and Sauvignon vert cuttings. The grape produces less aromatic wines and is often use for blending. Sauvignon Gris produces fruit with higher sugar levels than its cousin, which contribute to greater aromatics and a more rich and round feel to the wines. At one point these wines were highly prized yet due to the ridiculously low yields that the grape produces it almost became extinct.

Observations:

• Strong, dense wine
• Tasted citrus, fruits
• Stands up to food
• Some thought it tasted like it had been aged in oak (the bottle didn't have any information on this point)
  

2. Cono Sur Pinot Noir Pinot Noir: 3.1666667 stars. 14%, $12.

Observations:

• Aroma of blackberries and bell peppers.
• Not dry.
• Taste cherries.
• Tastes more like a malbec – earthy flavors on the finish.

**We all LOVED this wine when paired with Dubliner Irish Cheddar. The cheese softened the acids and mellowed the earthy factor.

3. Antu Ninquen 70% Cab, 30% Carmanere: 4.33333 stars, 14.2%; $14.99.

Carmerere: Carmenere was widely planted in Bordeaux in the early 1700s, but disappeared from French vineyards in the late 1800s due to its declining popularity (growers began pulling it because of problems with ripening) and phylloxera. When replanting began, the French turned to more promising varietals and eventually forgot Carmenere.

Meanwhile, just before phylloxera hit France, growers in Chile were busy planting vines they imported from Bordeaux--including plenty of Carmenere. Over the years, Carmenere became mixed in with Chile's Merlot vines, and growers later mistook it for a Merlot clone. French ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursiquot set the record straight during a visit to Chile in 1994, when he identified the country's mysterious "Merlot clone" as Bordeaux's long-lost grape. DNA profiling confirmed his theory, and in 1998 the Chilean Department of Agriculture officially recognized Carmenere as a distinct variety.

Since then, marketers have been promoting Carmenere as Chile's flagship varietal, akin to Malbec in Argentina. Its story is certainly a compelling one, and at their best, Carmenere wines show intriguing characteristics of blackberry, coffee and spice. But the variety does have its drawbacks. The grapes are notoriously slow to ripen--Carmenere is picked even later than Cabernet Sauvignon, which exposes it to Chile's April rains. If the grapes are not ripe enough, the wines can have a green, vegetal smell (some would call it downright funky). The variety also suffers from set problems, poor rootstock and a lack of acidity.

Observations:

• Aromas of pepper, cherries, and coffee
• Taste explosion immediately in your mouth
• Red fruits
• Very dry
  

4. Root:1 Pure Carmenere; 3.83333333333 stars; 14%; $12.

Observations:

• Aromas of cherry/blackberry, pepper (spice)
• Taste of plum, spice
• Dry

THE FINAL RANKINGS (with highest rated wine on the left, lowest rated wine on the right*):

*The Sauvignon Gris and Pinot Noir tied for last place.

Next Stop: Chile!

October 2010: Food and Wine Pairing

1. Spicy food with off dry (slightly sweet) wine

Ex. Mexican, Thai or Chips and Salsa with with Moscato, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer KS.

Slightly sweet wines help to cool the heat of spicy food (think: margarita and Mexican food.) Also, off-dry wines are lower in alcohol, which is good b/c alcohol tends to emphasize spicy heat. To contrast with a bad pairing, try spicy food with a full-bodied/high alcohol Chardonnay and you'll find that it's not refreshing at all and the food will taste even hotter.

2. Acidic food with acidic wine

Ex. Goat cheese, Salad with Sancerre/ Sauv Blanc

This seems counter intuitive, but actually acidic wine and acidic food tend to tone one another down, making for a mellow pairing.

3. Creamy dishes and acidic wines

Ex. Sauvignon Blanc - dishes with cream sauce, mild cheese, cream based dips - other KAKViognier - poultry, mild cheese, cream based dips - RK

Acidic wines help cut the richness of creamy dishes.

4. Fat and protein with big tannic reds

Ex. Steak, Parmesan cheese with Cabernet or Barolo
malbec and meat - ADPinot Noir - strong cheese - KAK.

My former boss used to call big tannic red wines like Cabernet and Barolo "Fat Strippers". It's sort of a hilarious joke, because he's Italian and was always going on about how much he loved fat strippers, but when we're talking about wine, it's true: tannic wines cut the fat, making the food better. Foods high in fat and protein coat your mouth and mellow the astringency of tannins, making the wine better. It's a classic pairing.

5. Regional pairings

Sangiovese or Barbera with dishes with tomato sauceTempranillo - dishes with tomato sauce, strong cheese TLW

Regional pairings - from good wine regions - are always a great idea. Italian reds Sangiovese and Barbera have sort of an earthy cherry flavor which pairs well with tomato sauces. Spanish Tempranillo and Sherry both pair well with tapas - fatty salty earthy foods - (toasted almonds, olives, vegetable tempura.)

6. Dessert wine always sweeter than the dessert

Some dessert pairing classics:

• port and blue cheese
• cabernet and chocolate
• sherry and vanilla ice cream

September 2010: NZ Sauv Blanc / Aussie Shiraz

the sauvignon blanc:

• Oyster Bay, New Zealand - $13.99, rated 3.5, the winner
• Walnut Block, New Zealand - $11.99, rated 3.3, runner-up
• Nobilo, New Zealand - $11.99, rated 2.9

A little about NZ sauv blanc:  they're famous for the stuff.  Why?  Because theirs has more acidity than most new world (CA) sauv blancs (NZ has cold nights even in the dead of summer, keeping the acidity in the fruit high) and is more flavorful than old world (FR) sauv blancs, aka sancerre.

the shiraz:

• Peter Lehmann Clancy's, blended with cab sauv and merlot, Australia, $15.00, rated 3.78, the winner
• Stump Jump, blended w grenach, Australia - $10.00, rated 3.5, runner-up
• Molly Dooker, The Boxer, Australia - $26.00, rated 3.4
• Yalumba, blended with viognier, Australia - $11.99, rated 2.8
• Little Roo, Australia - $8.99, rated 2.3

A little about Australian shiraz:  I think it's irresistible, with its luscious, rich flavor and spicy aromas.  Sort of savory and sweet.  Australian shiraz is usually riper, higher in alcohol and more fruit driven than its French counterpart, syrah.  I also find that the spicy characteristics in FR syrah are more distinctly like black pepper, while AU shiraz can have some sweeter spice - cinnamon, clove, allspice - too.  Try a comparative tasting sometime :)


the take-home lessons:


We can make a flavor map of the wine world based on climate.

Cool climate wines have crisp and tangy acidity, lighter body and "green," lean and tart flavor (white think: apples, pears; red think: cranberry, cherry.)

Warm climate wines have soft and smooth acidity, fuller body and over ripe and luscious flavor (white think tropical and lush: pineapple, mango, banana; red think: fig, prune.)

Moderate climate has kind of moderate everything - ripeness, intensity, acidity, body.  think of ripe and juicy flavors (white think: peach, melon; red think: berry, plum.)
__

Rhone Rangers are winemakers who grow Rhone varietals (syrah/shiraz and blending grapes: grenache, mourvedre, viognier) outside of Rhone, FR.  It was the name originally given to the Californian winemakers back in the 80s, but is now casually used for all new world winemakers who grow Rhone wines outside of FR.

Where it's at

Rodman's Food & Drug Store

"Between Harrison and Garrison there is no comparison."
- Fontaine Marcoux's dad

Rodman's is unparalleled in its bizarre selection of 

beer/wine/international food/odds and end/ pharmaceuticals/soaps/watch batteries/tupperware/pretty cocktail napkins/candles/halloween costumes/etc.

Check it out: 5100 Wisconsin Ave, NW

coming next... wines from down under

I'll post some pre-session info soon.  

Blair: thanks for the blog posts, and for hosting our Aussie/Kiwi wine club next week.

August 2010 - South Africa - Wines of the Night!

Tara - 1, Wineo's - 0

And we'll being w/ the winner:

1. Tara's '07 Pinotage received 3.83 stars, had low tones of dark fruits - plum & mulberry. $17.99, 14% alcohol
2. Blair's Shiraz received 3.5 stars and was described as full bodied, with hints of dark berry, cinnamon & spice, and tobacco. $10.00, 14% alc
3. Ricki's Herding Cats blend of 80% Chenin blanc/20% Chard was awarded 3.33 stars. Its nose of green apple and figs also came with drinking instructions: "pour and purrr" . . . . $9.00, 13.5%
4. Kirsten's '08 Pinotage from the western cape had a VERY distinctive flavor and received 2.75 stars. This cinsaut(sp?)/pino noir grape blend was vegetal and given a wine term of "foxy" which can include earthy and gamey flavors and is often used to describe american grapes used to make jam. Cherry and other unripe red fruits created hightones. $14.50
5. Katherine's yummy '08 Chenin Blanc racked up 2.33 stars with an acidic mix of banana and grass. $15.00, 13.5%
6. Laura shared an '09 Cab Sav a bit on the fruity side, receiving 2.33 stars. 14% alc

8/19/10 South African Review:

After an evening in our personal, South African Shangri La (thanks again LA), the ballers and funk nasties of the evening were determined.




The spread:










For those unable to attend on any given week, don't fret! Our clubs will now include rankings for each bottle from one to five stars. One star being the lowest and five being the highest possible ranking. And, in true WC form, we've added our own personal flare to truly eliminate any confusion regarding exactly how we felt about each variety.

1 star: I don't want to finish my glass aka "funk nasty"
2 stars: I'll finish my glass but don't want another (unless I'm at a wedding and it's the only beverage available)
3 stars: I like, and will drink again if under $10
4 stars: Enjoy and will spend $15 or more again
5 stars: "Baller" (somehow this was way funnier at the time ;)

Below is our ranking of highest to lowest bottles from left to right









Detailed descriptions to arrive shortly!

Wines of South Africa: Pre-Session Tips

South Africa's quality growing regions are clustered around Cape Town in what is known as the Coastal Region.  The best Coastal Region subdistricts are Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Constantia.

 The Coastal Region is one of the most beautiful wine regions / places in the world.  

Wine club fieldtrip anyone?  The above photos are from the iconic Buitenverwachting winery in Constantia.

 
GRAPES
South Africa grows all of the major varietals well (esp. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet), but Pinotage is the poster child of South Africa [like Shiraz is to Australia and Zinfandel is to California.]  

PINOTAGE is a cross between two French grapes: Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (San-SEW)
It is a medium- to full-bodied red wine, with a spicy, gamy character.
It does not age particularly well, so look for a recent vintage (2007+)


WINE BUYING TIPS

• a few terms you may need help translating from Afrikaans:
• Hermitage: "Cinsaut" aka "Cinsault"
• cultivar: "varietal" or grape
• Stein: a semi-sweet style of wine that is normally Chenin-based
• semi-soet: "semi-sweet"
• South Africa's appellations (DOCs in Italy, AOC's in France, DOs in Spain) are called Wine of Origin districts (WO.)
• get familiar with your favorite wine importers.  when you find an international wine you like, check the back label for the importer and seek out another of their selections.  the best import companies are very discriminating and take great pride in their selections.  here are two of the best importers of South Africa: Cape Classics and Cape Ventures.

June 2010 Wine Club

SPANISH WINES!

June 10, 2010

This month was a lot of fun. It was the picnic version of wine club so we began the night outside enjoying the weather and mosquitoes (well, maybe not enjoying the bugs . . .) and then headed inside as the night wore on. And we were very classy using a decanter and aerator. Now to the recap of the evening. . .

The appetizers:

• Gazpacho
• Spanish Ham & Manchego Cheese
• Pea puree on crostini
• Pesto Popcorn
• Queso with chorizo
• Artichoke, cheese, and egg bars
• Goat Cheese

Here are some of the left over yummy apps!

Here is the wine! You'll notice 9, but we only drank 8. Blair and I both decided to bring 2 bottles each . . . not sure what we were thinking.

We didn't have Kirsten this time so I will try my best to do the Grape, Producer, Location and Vintage. But each wine does have notes from our comments. Thanks Blair for being the note taker! I think you have a permanent position. :)
In order consumed:

Grape, Producer, Location and Vintage

1) Blend (Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo), Segura Viudas, Cava, ??

• A brute reserva with 11.5% alcohol. The entire group was a fan. And it only cost $8.99

2) Vinho Verde, Espiral, Portugal, ??

• From TJs! And only $3.99. 9% alcohol. Semi sparkling and we were fans.

3) Garnacha, Terraplen, Navarra, 2009

• A rose made solely from the granacha grape which we discovered was the most common red grape in Spain. Not very sweet. Only one person liked it. 13.5% alcohol and cost $13.99.

4) Blend (Tempranillo, Granacha, and Graciano), Marques de Caceres, Rioja, 2006

• Crianza rating. 13% alcohol and it cost $13.99. Aged in oak and it had a spicy aroma and berry finish.

5) Granacha, Tapena, ??, 2007

• Spicy taste. 12.5% and it cost $11.99. It had the most fun description on the back of the night!

6) Tempranillo, Camp Viejo, Rioja, 2005

• Reserva rating. Vanilla finish and the club was a fan.

7) Tempranillo, Montecillo, Rioja, 2003

• Reserva rating. Complex flavors, very goooood. 13.5% alcohol and it cost $20.

8) Tempranillo, El Circulo, Rioja, 2006

• Crianza rating. We thought it had a butter and chocolate finish. 13.5% alcohol and cost $21.

9) Tempranillo, Darien, Rioja, 2008

• This was the one we did not get to, but the label says it has a nose of ripe red berries with a rich black cherry and blackberry fruit taste.

My favorites were the Camp Viejo and the Monticello! What were yours??

Ideas for Wine Club

Courtesy of Kirsten . . . .

tasting dry, crisp, oaky and tannic (we can also taste for butter, grassiness, spice, floral, or any other wine characteristic you guys want to hone in on.)
-dry riesling v sweet riesling
-crisp high acid sauvignon blanc v low acid sauvignon blanc
-un-oaked chardonnay v oaky chardonnay
-low tannin pinot noir v high tannin cabernet sauvignon

old world v new world styles

or we can get familiar with certain regions, which lend themselves to super thematic parties :)

france
italy
spain
argentina
chile
california
oregon
virginia

i don't know if we can stomach all sweet wines, but i know at least some of us have a sweet tooth...
dessert wines

and i think this could be fun..

food & wine pairing
-goat cheese and sancerre
-parmigiano cheese and cabernet sauvignon
-blue cheese and dessert wine
-chips and salsa (or other spicy food, mexican or thai) with off-dry wine (riesling or moscato) - taste with also w chardonnay for contrast (example of a bad pairing)
-olives, almonds (or any other salty tapas) with dry sherry
the above should be enough, but if we want to get fancy, here are a few more classics:
-foie gras and sauternes
-oysters and chablis
-steak and any big red wine

before we go to Spain... part I

Here's a little info that might help at the store before June wine club at Laura's.

HOW TO READ SPANISH WINE LABELS (click image to enlarge)

When you are trying to decipher the Name, here are a few helpful hints:

• anejado por ("aged by")
• bodega ("wine cellar")
• criado por ("blended by" and/or "matured by")
• criado y embotellado por ("blended and bottled by")
• elaborado por (as criado por but may also mean "made by")
• embotellado por ("bottled by")
• vina or vinedo (literally "vineyard" but often merely part of a brand name and nothing to do with a specific vineyard)

...

When you are browsing for wine at the liquor store, and you don't know the grape well, or you're trying to decide between two similar wines, such as two different Chardonnays, look at the alcohol content as a helpful indicator of body style.

Light body: 7-10.5%; Medium body: 10.5-12.5%; Full body: above 12.5%.

...

Knowing the grape varietal will be an even better indicator of style.  Spain plants over 600 different kinds of grapes, but most of their wines come about 20 different grapes, the most common being Tempranillo (red), which is traditionally blended with other grapes, and Albarino (white.)  See blog post, "before we go to Spain... part 2" for a breakdown of grape styles.... coming soon. :)

...

In Spain, wineries have three quality levels often indicated on the label, with the amount of body, flavor intensity, and barrel and bottle aging increasing as you go up the ranks:

• Crianza: soft, medium-bodied, a little spicy, good for everyday drinking / house wine 
• Reserva: fuller more complex, more concentrated 
• Gran Reserva: only made in the best years, and traditionally aged for a long time in barrel and bottle. 

...

Here are Spain's wine appellations, so you can recognize them on the label: Rioja and Navarrra, Catalonia, Jerez, Cava, Ribera del Duero, La Mancha, Valdepenas, Valencia, Montilla, Bullas, Vinos de Madrid, Campo de Borja, and Chacoli de Bizkaia.

We can learn about the different areas and their nuances at wine club.  I'll bring a map.

...

Spain's appellation wine laws control the authenticity of regional styles.  They are divided into two categories, QWPSR and table wine.  These laws control:

• permitted grapes
• boundaries of the growing region
• maximum vineyard yield -this is a form of quality control.  we can talk about it later if you like
• minimum alcohol content - helps ensure the grapes reach a minimum level of ripeness before they are picked.  the sugar in the grapes is what turns to alcohol.
• viticulture - controls some vineyard practices
• vinification - controls some winery practices, like minimum aging requirements 

Here is Spain's complete appellation hierarchy, from highest regard to lowest: 
But first, a caveat: appellation laws help regulate style and maintain a general standard of quality for wines from each appellation.  Wines that are not made in the traditional style can still be excellent (see: Italian supertuscans), so don't be dissuaded from trying a wine seemingly low by the above aging or the below quality standards.  Do feel confident when you're buying a Gran Reserva with DOCa status, but don't limit yourself.  :)

[list from wikipedia]

• Quality Wines Produced in a Specified Region (QWPSR)

(Vino de Calidad Producido en Región Determinada (VCPRD) in Spanish)

·       Denominación de Origen de Pago (DO de Pago): these wine regions aspire to the very highest standards with extremely strict geographical criteria, centering on individual single-estates with an international reputation. There are currently only 9 estates with this status: 6 in Castile-La Mancha and 3 in Navarre.

·       Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) (Denominació d'Origen Qualificada (DOQ) in Catalan): regions with a proven track record of consistent quality. There are only 2 wine regions with this status: Rioja and Priorat.

·       Denominación de Origen (DO) (Denominació d'Origen in Catalan, Denominación de Orixe in Galician and Jatorrizko Deitura in Basque): mainstream quality-wine regions. There are 66 wine regions with this status.

Note: every current DO and DOCa possess its own stamp, which usually appears somewhere on the label, offering a guarantee of authenticity.  It looks like this:

·        Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica. A 'starter home' for wine regions climbing the quality ladder. There are 2 wine regions with this status.

• Table Wine (Vino de Mesa in Spanish)

·       Vino de la Tierra (VdlT) "Country wines" which do not have EU QWPSR status but which may use a regional name. There are currently 46 Vino de la Tierra regions in Spain.

·       Vino de Mesa (Table Wine) is bulk-grown, usually drawn from a wide variety of regions and hence has no vintage or area designation on the label, apart from "Produce of Spain". Production of this low grade of Spanish wine is falling year on year.

... 

stay tuned for Part 2, where I will introduce Spain's grapes.

RECAP: Judgment of Paris

I thought I would post Lauren Calhoun's notes from our April wine club.

Judgment of Paris: battle of the whites! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgment_of_Paris_%28wine%29

We didn't strictly follow the historical challenge of burgundy v california chardonnays, but we stayed true to the spirit of the tasting with france v california whites. 

Here are the wines, in the order consumed:

Grape, Producer, Location, Vintage

• Viognier, Val de Salis, Pays D'Oc [Languedoc-Roussillon], 2009 FRANCE  
• Chardonnay, Glory Days, Central Valley - Lodi, 2007 CALIFORNIA  
• Chardonnay, Domaine Le Dieux Murs, Pouilly-Fuisse - Burgundy, 2007  FRANCE
• Sauvignon Blanc, Smoking Loon, (from a variety of CA appellations), 2007 CALIFORNIA
• Chenin Blanc, ??, Vouvray - Loire 2008 FRANCE
• Sauvignon Blanc, Three Candles, Black Mountain, 2007 CALIFORNIA

And the winner is ....
(drum roll)

...  the viognier!  vive la france!

TRADER JOE'S SESSION

A success!  May 12, 2010

Appetizers:

• wasabi peas
• hummus, red pepper and spicy
• pimento cheese
• pizza, cheese and caramelized onion
• cheeses, assorted goat
• cheddar cheese, jam and crackers
• salami
• spanakopita, mushroom and spinach and feta
• arancini bites, rice and cheese poppers :)
• cake love cake by laura andersen

Here is the wine, in the order consumed:

Grape, Producer, Location, Vintage

• Malbec, Santa Julia, Mendoza - Argentina, 2009
• Aglianico, Epicuro, Beneventano - Italy, 2008 
• Nebbiolo, La Loggia, Barbaresco - Piemonte - Italy, 2006
• Syrah, Trader Joe's Coastal, Central Coast - California, 2007
• Sauvignon Blanc, (120) Santa Rita, Valle Central - Chile, 2009
• Riesling, the Little Penguin, South Eastern Australia, 2008
• Sauvignon Blanc - Pinot Grigio - Muscat Canelli - Chardonnay blend (Synergy Blanc), Novella, Paso Robles - California, 2008
• Lambrusco (white), Le Grotte, Emilia-Romana - Italy, NV (non-vintage)

Post comments about your favorites!