Wine & Cheese Tasting
August 18th & 20th
Thursday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Saturday 12 PM – 5:00 PM
Truchard The Shepherd Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Origin: Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes: Aromas of passion fruit, honeysuckle, and lime are highlighted with notes of lychee and jasmine. The mouthfeel has subtle richness, filled with intense flavors of grapefruit, white peach, and melon. Bright acidity provides a zesty finish of citrus, minerality and spice that makes “The Shepherd” Sauvignon Blanc irresistibly crisp and refreshing. Only 1,010 cases produces.
Food Pairing: This wine can be enjoyed on its own, or accompanying baked seafood, roasted vegetable salads, and even Thai food.
Hugel Cuvee “Les Amours” Pinot Blanc 2009
Origin: Alsace, France
Varietal: 100% Pinot Blanc
Tasting
Notes: Youthful
color, fresh and bright, with very bright pale green reflections.
It has quite an expressive, fruit-driven bouquet of gooseberry, citrus and
elderflower, nicely fresh and vivacious.
A joyful wine, crisp and dry, lively and spirited, it titillates the
taste buds but finishes with a touch of softness that gives perfect balance.
Wine
Spectator – 88 points
Food Pairing: Serve at 50 degrees. Pairs
with asparagus, frogs’ legs, freshwater and saltwater fish, shellfish, sushi or tempura.
Newton Napa Valley Claret 2007
Origin: Napa Valley, California.
Varietal: 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Syrah
Tasting notes: This wine is a dark garnet color with lovely ripe aromas of cherry, black plum and blackberry with subtle hints of dusty spice. The same aromas carry over to the palate, which leads with red fruit flavors later revealing clove and brown spices on the finish. The creamy mid-palate and silky tannins make this medium-weight wine an approachable, appealing choice. 14.5% Alcohol
Food Pairing: This well-balanced wine
complements grilled meat dishes nicely, but will also prove versatile with a
wide variety of foods from hearty pasta dishes to braised beef. Let’s not forget about the classic pairing of
Bordeaux and Lamb, after all this is an American Bordeaux style wine.
Elements by Artesa 2006
Origin: 65% Sonoma County & 35% Napa County
Varietal: 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Tempranillo, 20% Merlot, 18% Malbec, 11% Garnacha, 2% Petite Sirah, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Graciano, & 1% Cabernet Franc.
Tasting Notes: This finely crafted blend of varietals of three famous wine regions – Bordeaux, Rhone and Rioja – is brimming with lively dark cherry, ripe plum, cassis and juicy blueberries wrapped in a spicy bouquet of cinnamon, white pepper, clove and faint hints of black truffles. The flavor is true to the aromas and the texture is silky and supple. The wine is ready to enjoy now, yet has the structure to age gracefully for several years. Aged in French oak for 24 months. Wine Enthusiast Editor’s Choice 90 points - “A very nice red wine for drinking now with foods from all sorts of ethnicities and styles. Made from a bunch of varieties, including Cabernet, Grenache and Tempranillo, the wine is dry and tannic, with deep flavors of blackberries, black currants, anise and sweet, smoky sandalwood.” —S.H.
Food Pairing: This is a very versatile food wine. It should pair well with beef, pork, lamb, chicken and heavier fish such as salmon. It drinks well with appetizers and hard cheeses or on its own.
Owen Roe Sinister Hand 2009
Owen Roe is located in in the Willamette Valley in Newburg, Oregon. The winery was opened in 2000 by winemaker David O'Reilly who co-owns the winery with Peter Rosback (Sineann). The winery makes a diverse lineup of wines from both Oregon and Washington.
Origin: Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington State. On this label the family crest depiction of a severed left hand tells the story of a rowing competition among the O'Neill's & the O'Reilly's (Owen Roe was an ONeill). Whoever touched land first after rowing across the lake was rewarded with the land he touched. Lagging behind, one of the kinsfolk grabs his sword to cleave his hand and pitches it ashore to touch land first. He won the land and eventually ruled over it as king.
Varietal: 62% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 3% Mourvedre. Similar to Southern Rhone blend.
Tasting Notes: This Rhone-styled wine has very dark fruit flavors and pepper, with an excellent texture. It's ripe, bold, with a clean black pepper aroma and palate note. It's very supple and rich, and has a solid structure.
Food Pairing: This should work well with a variety of foods especially spicy fare and dark meats.
Mooiplaas ‘‘The Bean’’ Pinotage 2009
Origin: Stellenbosch, South Africa. Mooiplaas, meaning beautiful farm, is situated high in the Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch, heart of the Cape Winelands. Here the Roos Family produce a range of acclaimed and award winning boutique style wines that reflect their unique terroir.
Varietal: 100% Pinotage
Tasting Notes: The French oak barrels used for fermentation were first roasted with coffee beans which gives this surprisingly silky wine captivating aromas of coffee and cocoa and hints of coffee on the palate. Since it only spends three months in oak, the tannins on the finish are very smooth.
Food Pairing: This
should pair well with antipasto, grilled meats, dark chocolate or just sip on
its own
.