Wine & Cheese Tasting
June 21st & June 23rd
Thursday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM,
Saturday 12 PM – 5:00 PM
Greetings to all Wine Steward friends,
A special thanks to all who voted for us in this years New Hampshire Magazine's "Best of New Hampshire" readers poll. For the third time in 4 years we were chosen as the #1 Wine Shop in New Hampshire.
(We are in the process of planning a customer appreciation celebration in late July - more info to follow in next weeks news letter
This week we have selected 6 wines that should prove to enhance many a summer backyard gathering. We begin with the last of the Lot 40 Ninety Plus Cellars Chardonnay from Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma, California. This wine drinks like a big Chard and is priced to please beyond the normal 90+ wines regular value. Our second white is a great Sauvignon Blanc from the Colchagua Valley in Chile which you can chill like a cold beer on a hot summers evening. The third wine being tasted this week is a wonderful dry French Rose which is sure to add another dimension to your summer evenings and dinners. Our next two red wines are from Cameron Hughes; their Russian River Pinot Noir and their 2002 Tempranillo Gran Reserva. We have tasted these wines in the past and they are fantastic. We are offering these wines at a special price as we near the end of their availability. Our last wine of the tasting is a new red from Portugal that is an easy drinking summertime picnic and barbecue must have bottle at a great price.
This week's "Cheese of the Week is a Rambol Fume (Hickory Smoked) delight from France. This is very versatile cheese that makes a fantastic gourmet Mac & Cheese.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our tastings.
Thanks,
Rocco
Concha Y Toro Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Origin: Colchagua, Chile.
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes: Color: Bright straw-yellow. Nose: Citrus fruits and mineral notes. Palate: Fresh, long, and intense. Aged 6 months in stainless steel tanks.
Food Pairing: This Sauvignon Blanc is a great food wine that should
pair well with shellfish, fish, poultry and pork dishes as well as spicy Asian
food and Sushi (harmonizes well with the salty taste with soy sauce and
the spice of wasabi). There are also those that would prefer to sip this
wine on the back deck on a warm summer’s day.
Ninety+ Cellars Lot 40 Reserve Chardonnay 2010
Origin: Dry Creek Valley, California
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Pacific Ocean breezes gently cool the vineyards of southern Dry Creek Valley producing Chardonnay fruit that is refreshingly juicy. The result is a wine that's full bodied with a twang of cool acidity. Fermentation in oak barrels and a second malolactic fermentation give it a delicate, creamy texture. This is one well pampered Chardonnay. Vibrant aromas of melon, pear, and lightly baked apples hover above notes of vanilla bean and flaky pastry dough. The wine's plump texture is balanced by flavors of fresh orchard fruit and a dose of minerality.
Food Pairing: This is great served alongside grilled scallops,
creamy pasta, or roasted chicken, but is equally happy hanging out by itself at
a party.
Villa Des Anges Old Vine Rose 2011
Origin: "Villa des Anges" is crafted by winemaker Jeff Carrel at the Espitalet des Anges domaine in Capestang. Situated on the ruins of an ancient Roman villa, the domaine is owned by Jaqueline Menard de Ginestous, who married-into and is herself from a prominent Languedocienne wine-growing family. France
Varietal: 100% Cinsault
Tasting Notes: This wine is very fresh and clean with aromas of strawberry and red cherry. On the palate you will find strawberries and red currants, with a hint of quince.
Food Pairing: As an aperitif it is the perfect warm weather gulper
and also pairs well with a wide range of salads, seafood, lighter dishes and
grilled white meats and poultry.
Cameron Hughes Lot 271 Pinot Noir 2009
Origin: Russian River Valley, California
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: Intense aromas of dark plum, fresh cherry, red raspberry and toasty spice dominate the bouquet. It shows a bold mid-palate and complex acidity. Beautiful oak couples with rich playful fruit for a smooth and elegant wine that boasts a long, velvety finish.
Cameron Confidential: Lot 271 is sourced from vineyards grown in sites indicative of the appellation’s best attributes for growing Pinot Noir – sandy, loamy soils within reach of the maritime influences of the Pacific Ocean. This wine is a classic representation of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir of the 2009 vintage. A long cool period during fruit ripening allowed delicate fruit flavors and aromas to develop with grace and elegance. This wine is seamlessly integrated with pitch-perfect balance and is just a great value all the way around. 14.4% Alcohol. Drink now through 2017. 90 points Wine Enthusiast. 2011 GOLD Long Beach Grand Cru.
Food Pairing: Pinot Noir is well-suited to pair with poultry, beef,
fish, ham, lamb and pork. It will pair well with creamy sauces, spicy
seasonings and may just be one of the world's most versatile food wines.
Cameron Hughes Lot 263 Tempranillo Gran Reserva 2002
Origin: Ribera del Duero, Spain
Varietal: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting Notes: Time has served our Lot 263 2002 Ribera Del Duero Gran Reserva well, revealing an incredible nose of cassis, graphite, licorice, white pepper and sweet cigar smoke. It has incredibly pure plum fruit and a silken opulent texture paired with a powerful structure built for aging – this wine will go another 20 years easily. Fruit and earth meld seamlessly here and you can actually smell the minerality that runs the length of this beautiful wine. 13.5% Alcohol
Cameron Confidential: “Sam and I have often wondered about the Spanish propensity to bottle wine and sit on it for years on end. It struck us cash flow types as unbelievable. That said, the historical reasons for the Spaniards cave ageing their wines for so long really have to do with their tannin structures – the wines were typically hard edged and needed time in the cellar to soften. Sourced from 40 to 80 year old vines, the wine undergoes 40 days of maceration before a hot, fast fermentation to maximize aromatics before going down to barrel for 36 months of ageing in oak.
This is one of Spain’s larger wine companies and this is their best wine. Trust me – I tasted through the entire portfolio. The wine would retail here for $65+ a bottle and probably more now with the weak dollar. At this price it’s an incredible deal.”
Food Pairing: This wine will pair well with just about any meat,
more flavorful fish, or poultry dish; including venison and tuna steaks.
It also pairs well with traditional Italian foods such as Lasagna and
Antipasti.
Altano Douro Red (Organic) 2008
Origin: Douro Valley, Northern Portugal
Varietal: 60% Tinta Roriz 40% Touriga Franca
Tasting Notes: On the noseyou will find ripe cherry and ahint of smoky oak. Black pepper, spicy bay leaf and dried herbs come through on a juicy palate, together with toasty oak. 80% of the Altano blend was kept during four months in 400 litre French and American oak barrels. Wine Spectator - This medium-bodied red shows plum and berry flavors that feature some spicy notes, with a supple finish.
Food Pairing: Drink with red meat dishes, cured ham, spicy dishes or savory-tasting hard cheeses.