June 25th 2011 Saturday Wine Tasting 1 - 7 p.m.
Oh boy do we have something for you!
Leo Hillinger, 2009 Pinot Grigio, $12.99
All the great Italian Pinot Grigio comes from the north, well, go over the mountains and through the woods to Austria we go, and they get even better. This one is not your typical watery Grigio, here we have fresh fruit with that varietaly correct almond character on the finish, light minerals, and a clean finish round this hit out!
Famega, Vinho Verde, $9.99
You may remember tasting Broadbent Vinho Verde when we had that early heat wave back in the Spring. Here's another that's a tad smoother due to the milder tannins - a hint fizzy, with just a bit of fruitiness.
Casa Marguery, 2008 Rose, Malbec, $9.99
The great thing about summer, if you are a red wine drinker there is hope in the form of dry rose; hey… this one is a Malbec to boot - Malbec makes everyone happy! Here is the chance to chill our reds. All of those who like white wine but are in the mood for something fuller give this a try. My wife and I enjoy this wine quite a bit every year. Yes, this is the current vintage; when you get into rose that's meant to be enjoyed when slightly aged, you know you're getting into something good! Ever want the taste of Malbec when it's hot outside, but said, "hey it's too heavy in this heat," well this tastes like Malbec and it’s not too heavy, and it IS Malbec, cheers!!!
Valle Las Nencias, 2008 Malbec Reserve, $16.99
Okay, for all those who still want the full Monty… of the Python variety that is, here is a full red, full bodied Malbec, and a reserve to boot. It's deep, dark, full of concentrated plums, blackberries, lavender, blueberries, and of course chocolate. There is a flower called Nencias growing near the vineyards and a glacier above this vineyard high in the Andes mountains; a floral characteristic can be distinguished in this elixir, enjoy!
Kingston Family Vineyards, Lucero, 2008 Syrah, $24.99 / Robert Parker 91 Points
There seems to be plenty of wine being made in Chile, but only so many being exported are truly great, well hunker down, strap in, and be prepared to be blown away. The best way to describe this wine is to take a 250lb middle linebacker and give that football player the artistic virtues, balance, refinement, and texture of movement equal to that of a ballet dancer. Pardon the long quote but the wine maker really says it best:
"One thing that I have learned about Syrah at Kingston Vineyard is that it does not like to be treated roughly. Although Syrah has the reputation as a sturdy grape that likes to be roughed up a bit, my experience suggests otherwise. My best results have been when I treat it gently—in fact, when I treat it like Pinot Noir. So each of the last two years we have been treating the Syrah more gently—fewer punch-downs and pump-overs, not quite so many stems in the fermentor, less new oak and a bit longer in barrel. We are trying to come up with a wine that is more about complexity and flavor than sheer power. I think we’ve made some strides in that direction with the 2008 Lucero, which although it likes some aeration upon first opening, is chock full of blackberry fruit and spice and is surprisingly fleshy and soft on the palate. It is still not for the timid, and it pairs well with hearty food and company."