Wines & Cheese Tasting
March 1st & 3rd
Thursday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Saturday 12 PM – 5:00 PM
Penalolen Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Origin: Penalolen's Sauvignon Blanc comes from Chile's prestigious cool climate appellation, the Casablanca Valley.
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes:The use of pure, ripe fruit gives this wine a powerfully rich and complex flavor free from oak or residual sugar. The aromas of mandarin orange and fresh cut flowers, combined with good acidity, make this Sauvignon Blanc a classic partner for food. "Light yellow. Intensely perfumed bouquet of white grapefruit, jalapeno, mint and lemon thyme. Dry, racy, focused citrus and herb flavors offer a light touch but pick up sweeter fruit in the middle palate. This very dry wine verges on austere and shows a distinctly fat-free character. " 88 Points Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar.
Food Pairing:This Sauvignon Blanc is a great food wine that should pair well with shellfish, fish, poultry and pork dishes. There are also those that would prefer to sip this wine on the back deck on a warm summer’s day.
Tercos Torrontes 2009
Tercos winery is owned by brothers Pedro and Patricio Santos—sons of pioneering Argentine winemaker Ricardo Santos. Patricio is the winemaker while Pedro heads up sales and marketing.The name of the wine, which means “stubborn” in Spanish, underscores the tenacious, burro-like commitment to quality that the Santos brothers possess.
Origin: Salta, Mendoza, Argentina
Varietal: 100% Torrontes
Tasting Notes: Torrontés is a white grape characteristic of Argentina. This new wine from Tercos is dry and refreshing with flavors of grapefruit, peach, apple, melon and pineapple.
Food Pairing: Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, and seafood (especially crab!). Torrontes incorporates characteristics of young Riesling, Albarino and Viognier. Given a quick chill, it is a show-stopping aperitif. Its spiciness can enhance Thai, Chinese, Korean and Japanese dishes.
Tercos Sangiovese 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Varietal: 100% Sangiovese
Tasting Notes: Italian immigrants introduced Sangiovese to Argentina, and there is still a deep appreciation for Italian culture in this Latin American country. This deep red Sangiovese has great aromatic intensity of ripe strawberries and currants. It has a good balance between fruit and acidity, making it ideal for Italian food featuring tomato sauces.
Food
Pairing: This Sangiovese is the perfect choice for barbecues,
pastas, pizza, cheese, sausages and a wide variety of red sauced Italian
food. It also pairs well with Poultry, Game Birds, Pork and Veal.
Calcu “Super Chilean Blend" 2007
Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Varietal: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carmenere, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot
Tasting Notes: Winemakers Ricardo Rivadeneira and Alejandro Jofre artfully blend the mineral notes and fresh acidity of grapes from the Andes foothills with the ripe tannins and red fruit from the center of the valley, and add richness and body from grapes grown closer to the Pacific Ocean. This vintage has a round and structured mouth with soft, sweet and elegant tannins. The wine is fresh and balanced, with great volume from the Petit Verdot. Twenty percent of the blend was aged for 9 months in third-use French oak barrels while the rest remains in stainless steel tanks. In the local Mapuche language, Calcu means "healing doctor" or "magician." And indeed, winemakers Alejandro Jofre and Ricardo Rivadeniera have created a magical "Super Chilean" blend that expresses the diversity of the Colchagua Valley.89 points Wine Advocate .
Food
Pairing: Well matched with red meats, hearty casseroles,
barbecued meats and full flavored cheeses.
Bouza Tempranillo/Tannat 2008
Origin: Las Violetas, Canelones, Uruguay
Varietal: 60% Tempranillo and 40% Tannat
Tasting Notes : Intense red purple color. Delicate aroma of red fruits, cherries and raspberries, with spicy notes. In the mouth it shows itself with good volume, silky, with sweet tannins, well-balanced acidity. The only such blend in the world. Aged 8 months in French and American oak barrels. 571 cases produced. Drink now through 2015 .
Food Pairing: The firm structure makes this wine great with heavier and even fatty foods, including rich sauces, lamb, barbecue, and steak .
Saturday Only
Emiliana Coyam 2006 (Limited Quantities)
Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Varietal: 38%Syrah, 21% Carmenere, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Mouvedre. Biodynamically grown organic grapes.
Tasting Notes: Intense violet-red in color. Elegant expressions of ripe black-fruit such as black berries and cassis are delicately interwoven with oak, mineral, toffee, and chocolate notes. The word Coyam, meaning oak, was used by the Mapuches, the original inhabitants of Chile. Ancient oaks surround the Emiliana vineyards where these biodynamic grapes are grown. Aged in French and American oak for 13 months, the palate offers well-balanced volume, round tannins, and a long finish that shows both character and personality. Wine Spectator 91 points - "Ripe and muscular, with freshly plowed dark earth, currant, fig, bittersweet cocoa and tobacco notes all wound up under a layer of dark, spicy toast. Flashes of graphite and minerality lurk on the finish. Needs time to come together. Syrah, Merlot, Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. At 14.5% Alcohol this is a big wine. Wine & Spirits 91 points - Made with Organically grown grapes, Coyam is a blend based on syrah and Carmenere grapes along with cabernet, merlot and a bit of Mourvedre. The latest vintage is generously ripe, with aromas and flavors of black fruits and sweet spices battling for primacy. Together they blend into an opulent, juicy red. Gold Medal International Wine Challenge.
Food Pairing: Pairs well with roasted red meats, strong cheeses, pastas with spicy sauces, Lamb and a grilled Ribeye.