Hi Everyone,
We’re back from our week in Napa and Sonoma and what a great time we had! We met so many wonderful people who are very passionate about winemaking (I even got to meet and chat with Mike Grgich!!). I have lots of stories (and eventually photo’s) and some new, delicious wines for all of us to enjoy. As you can see by the list of new wines, I really enjoyed lots of great wines. The only exception to the California wines is a new one from South Africa. I think you’ll like that one as well.
I want to thank Sheila for taking good care of Bella Vino while I was gone. She seemed to enjoy herself, she said she’ll be back on Thusday!
For Thursday’s wine tasting, Sandy Razek from RP Imports will join us and pour 4 of her wines – 3 French wines and 1 California wine. We look forward to her knowledge and her wines.
2006 Denis Jamain – Reuilly – Sauvignon Blanc – Loire, France - Denis Jamain owns a generous chunk of the central Loire appellation of Reuilly . ‘Les Pierres Plates’ is a single vineyard of old, low-yielding Sauvignon, whose superior fruit is reserved for this prized wine. Floral aromas and fresh, apple flavors. ($17.99)
2006 Domaine du Poujol – Rose – Languedoc, France - Robert and Kim Cripps are masters at producing this delicious rosé with its ripe, red fruit character and excellent structure. Ideal for sun-kissed picnics, light lunches or just when you feel like pretending it’s summer. ($15.99)
(NEW WINE) 2006 Domaine Diochon Moulin-a-Vent – Cru Beaujolais – Burgandy, France - Old vine Beaujolais (Gamay grape) from the Burgandy Region. The aroma is of vibrant cranberries with a floral component. Intense flavors of ripe/sour cranberries. Medium body, this is a red wine that pairs great with white fish. ($21.99)
(Wine of the Month) Morgan - Syrah – Monterey, California - On the nose and the palate, the wine exhibits aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry, with bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, white pepper, and spicy notes. The density of the fruit in this wine makes for a great solo performance. ($21.99 WoM (August) $19.80)
NEW WINES
2005 Warwick – Three Cape Ladies – Stellenbosch, South Africa - Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz and Merlot. Ripe red and black berry flavors as well as mocha on the nose. On the palate the Pinotage is soft and sweet while the Merlot and Shiraz offer subtle spiciness. The Cabernet Sauvignon is the backbone of the blend with well balanced, smooth tannins that will do well with cellaring. Full on the palate with good length on the finish. This blend brings the best of Pinotage to the classic French varieties. ($24.99)
BR Cohn Silver – 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon – Sonoma – California - Aged in French Oak this wine displays rich flavors of berry, cassis and black cherry with hints of vanilla. ($21.99)
Acorn Winery – 2005 Medley – Russian River Valley – California - A single-vineyard blend of 29% Zinfandel, 24% Syrah, 9% each Cinsaut, Sangiovese, & Cabernet Franc, 8% of six muscat varieties, 3% each Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, & Mourvedre, 1% Viognier, and 2% other varieties. Spicy fruit aromas mingle with smoky oak and delicate floral notes. Well-integrated flavors of spicy red cherry, plum, vanilla, and toasty oak caress your palate. Hints of baking spices and juicy strawberry mix with orange peel essence to round out the flavors and linger into the delicious finish. Balanced and smooth, the ’05 Medley offers a harmonious match with an array of cuisines to enjoy with friends. Great tasty blend I know you’ll enjoy. ($28.99)
Robert Young - Chardonnay – Alexander Valley – California - 92 Pts. WS – The wine’s aromas include honeysuckle, dried apricot and sweet apple rounded out by toasty oak undertones. Rich in flavors, marrying tropical fruit with a range of sweet spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. The body is well structured with good acidity and a slight buttery taste which complements the silky texture. The finish is delicate but complex with a hint of fruit, some spice and a delicate toast. I found it to be an elegant, delicious Chardonnay! ($35.99)
Grgich Hills – Fume Blanc – Napa – California - The grapes are organically and Biodynamically grown. In the glass, the wine offers a whiff of the tropics with kiwi, grapefruit, pineapple and a hint of minerality. On the tongue, this full-bodied wine has a crisp, refreshing texture and a long finish. This versatile, flavorful white wine is a great companion to a wide variety of food flavors and textures. I tried this wine while at Grgich Hills and loved it! ($35.99)
Grgich Hills – Merlot – Napa – California - Estate grown means the grapes came entirely from Grgich Hills own vineyards, so they have total control of the quality from the vine to the bottle. This is a full-bodied Merlot with rich aromas and flavors of ripe cherry and black berries with hints of cedar and spice. A Cabernet lovers’ Merlot, the wine’s solid structure promises it will gain in complexity and silkiness with age. Again, I tried this wine and loved it. ($49.99)
RETURNING WINES
Vinedo De Los Vientos – Tannat – Uruguay - Made from 100% Tannat grapes. Tannat is considered to be the national grape or Uruguay. Earthy and rustic flavors with some big tannins that mellow with decanting. This wine is recommended as an accompaniment to big meats. ($19.99)
Our wine tasting on Thursday is from 4:30 to 7:00.
Until then – Cheers!
Paula