Wine & Cheese Tasting
June 7th & June 9th
Thursday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM,
Saturday 12 PM – 5:00 PM
Greetings to all Wine Steward friends,
It doesn't rain in our tasting room!!!! Join us this week for another great selection of wines from California, Austria and Australia. We begin the tasting with a great unoaked Chardonnay from Meeker Vineyards which should pair well with most summer fare - especially lobster. Our second wine is a very versatile white (Gruner Veltliner) from Austria in a one liter bottle (33% more than a standard 750ml bottle). After the two whites, we move onto three great reds. The first is a great summer red wine from Austria (Zweigelt), which pairs with many different types of food and is smooth enough to drink on its own. The second red is a beautiful Rhone style blend from Paso Robles made from 4 different grapes, which is sure to be a hit at any BBQ. The third red is a good example of what the Barossa wine region in Australia can produce besides shiraz - a great Cabernet Sauvignon. Put the steaks on the barby and let the fun times roll.
On Saturday we will be adding a special wine which we have sold out in the past. We were told that it was gone and nothing more was available. As luck would have it, our distributor found 2 cases in another region and secured them for us. The wine we are talking about is the Cameron Hughes Lot 300 Cabernet Sauvignon!!!!!
This week's "Cheese of the Week" is 5 year aged Vintage Gouda. You haven't tasted Gouda until you have had a 5 year aged!!!!!!!
Next Saturday we will be doing "Beef and Big Reds and a very special Port for Fathers Day . More details in next weeks letter.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our tastings.
Thanks,
Rocco
Meeker Lobster Cove Chardonnay (Unoaked) 2009
Origin: Mendocino County, North Coast, California.
Varietal: 98% Chardonnay, 1% Muscat, 1% Gewurztraminer
Tasting Notes: Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: “Refreshing,” “crisp,” and “fruity” are the perfect words for this non-typical California Chardonnay. Loads of tropical fruit aromas and flavors. No oak. Only 14% malolactic. This is a Chablis style Chardonnay.
Food Pairing: Great with seafood or any light summer dish, or for sipping beside the pool.
Paul D Gruner Veltliner (1 Liter) 2011
Origin: Wagram, Austria
Varietal: 100% Gruner Veltliner
Tasting Notes: Golden straw color with delightful perfume & bright spice aromas, surprisingly ripe Grüner varietal flavors, crisp spicy fruit and a full yet dry finish. Very clean & fresh, this is a great party wine. There is 33% more wine in a 1 liter bottle, which makes this an exceptional value.
Food Pairing: Outstanding with almost any food. Perfect with fish,
seafood, chicken, pork, ham, sausages, and highly recommended for spicy foods
(Asian, Mexican, etc.)
Paul D Zweigelt (1 Liter) 2010
Origin: Wagram, Austria
Varietal: 100% Zweigelt
Tasting Notes: Very aromatic with lively violet and red raspberry aromas, soft jammy red berry fruit up front and a lush mid-palate of fresh prickly berry fruit. Very clean, spicy and pure with fresh acidity through the finish. This wine is reminiscent of a young Cru Beaujolais, only with more fruit and tannins. There is 33% more wine in a 1 liter bottle, which makes this an exceptional value.
Food Pairing: This is a great red with beef dishes, including spicy beef
dishes, BBQ, and cheeses such as Cheddar and aged Gouda. This should also
pair well with your favorite comfort foods such as meatloaf, spaghetti and
casseroles, or bring a bottle to your next party and turn your friends onto the
new wave of Austrian red wines – Zweigelt!!
Westside Red “Troublemaker” Blend #3
Origin: Westside Red is a Rhône blend made from grapes grown in the Hope Family Vineyard, located in the western hills of Paso Robles. There isn’t a vintage on the label; it simply states Blend 2. Why? Westside Red is a troublemaker - it doesn’t play by the standard tradition of vintage dating. By blending 3 vintages, it has broken a rule. But there’s good reason; it is utterly delicious. Paso Robles, California
Varietal: Inspired by the blends of the southern Rhône, Troublemaker consists of 55% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 5% Petite, Sirah and 20% Mourvèdre.
Tasting Notes: Troublemaker is a Rhône-inspired blend made by Austin Hope and crafted with Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre. The wine shows uncanny complexity and depth while still emphasizing its lush and rich body. Wine is best made when a winemaker has choices. This philosophy is evident in the Troublemaker, a blend crafted from multiple varietals and vintages. The selected lots of wine come from the 2008, 2009 and 2010 vintages, but the majority (65%) is 2009. Aged wine from 2008 (15%) adds complexity and structure while the bright, young wine from 2010 (20%) brings forth a freshness that helps complete the finished wine. Syrah is the backbone of the wine, setting the stage with a fruit-forward style and full body. The bright and sweet flavors of Grenache further enhance the blend. Petite Sirah brings color and tannin, while Mourvedre adds texture and additional rustic flavor. The 2009 wine was aged in French oak barrels (30% new) for 12 months. The final blend was crafted in early 2011 by adding the aged 2008 wine and freshly fermented 2010 vintage, which had been about three months of oak barrel aging. Troublemaker combines elegance and power with bright aromas of black cherry and licorice that evolve into a stronger bouquet reminiscent of smoked meats. The wine shows amazing depth and intensity with a rich and textural mouthfeel. Complete with bright red fruit flavors along with hints of leather and cocoa, it is a well-balanced wine that culminates with an extended finish.
Food Pairing: A great wine for a special dinner, a backyard BBQ with friends, or just sipping at home after a long day’s work. It pairs well with roast beef, aged cheddar, grilled chicken, chicken korma, eggplant, baked or grilled fish, barbecued meat, gorgonzola, lamb shank, mackerel, mushroom dishes, parmesan, pork chops, pork roast, salmon and sirloin steak.
Chateau Tanunda Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Origin: Barossa, Australia
Varietal: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Shiraz
Tasting Notes: Lifted aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry and vanilla are accompanied by vibrant, dark berry fruits on the palate. The finish is long with fine-grained tannins from sixteen months maturation in a combination of new and older French oak hogsheads. Although drinking well now this wine may be cellared for up to ten years from vintage. Gold Medal - 2011 Berlin Wine Trophy. Silver Medal - 2011 International Wine and Spirit Competition. "The 2009 Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color and intense aromas of creme de cassis, crushed blackberries and black cherries plus nuances of Provence herbs and dark chocolate. Medium-full bodied and generously fruited in the mouth, it possesses finely grained tannins, crisp acid and a long finish. Drink it now to 2017. " 89 points - The Wine Advocate 89 points
Food Pairing: A brilliant accompaniment to roasted red meats, flavorful and hearty tomato based pastas, and strong- flavored cheese.
Saturday June 9th Only
Limited quantity of the last 2 cases in existence of this wine!!!!!!!!
Cameron Hughes Lot 300 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Origin: Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
Tasting Notes: Black fruit essence and crème de cassis is interlaced with exotic spice and liquid minerals. Silken texture and fine-grained tannins provide for a breathtaking palate. Deftly and perfectly balanced, this wine showcases the beautiful fruit and alluvial tannins of Oakville and Rutherford. While this wine is just beginning to emerge from the bottle, you can already tell it is dazzling stuff and definitely a cellar candidate.14.5% Alcohol. Drink now through 2026. Cameron Confidential: Lot 300 is sourced primarily from the alluvial fans along the east side of Napa Valley in the districts of Oakville and Rutherford – these soils I believe make the greatest Napa Valley Cabernets (smaller amounts of the final blend hail from Stags Leap and Atlas Peak). The fruit is picked in small yellow bins before de-stemming into a forty foot long sorting table where every grape is inspected for color and structure. The choice grapes are then placed in brand new, upright oak barrels with their tops removed for fermentation and stirring. The result is perfect extraction and incredible oak integration. Lot 300 is a testament to boutique, hands-on winemaking by some of the most talented people from the best vineyards in Napa Valley.
Food Pairing: This friendly Cabernet pairs well with everything from rack of lamb, barbecue and of course, a sirloin steak on the grill.