Wines & Cheese Tasting
March 15th & 17th
Thursday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Saturday 12 PM – 5:00 PM
Undone Dry Riesling 2009
Origin: Rheinhessen is Germany’s largest wine region by area. It has gently rolling hills and is situated on the climatically favored large elbow formed by the Rhein river.
Varietal: 100% Riesling.2009 was a year of perfect weather for vines in Rheinhessen. 2009 will likely be considered one of the top vintages of the decade.
Tasting Notes: Crisp citrus notes, such as grapefruit and gooseberry, stand out on the palate. The wine is vibrant and finishes very clean. It is reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc.
Food
Pairing: This
Dry Riesling will pair well with seafood, sushi, and shellfish, as well as
salads and white meats.
Valle Reale Vigne Nuove Montepuciano d’ Abruzzo 2008
Origin: Abruzzo, Italy
Varietal: Made from 100% Montepulciano grapes, harvested by hand in October.
Tasting Notes: Brilliant garnet in color with purple reflections, this young red offers explosive aromas of blueberries and sweet cherries, with notes of licorice and spices. On the palate, it is medium-bodiedand plush, with loads of fresh red fruit.
Food
Pairing: Easy
going and ready to be enjoyed, this is a versatile, authentic Italian red:
delicious by the glass and perfect with hearty food such as eggplant
parmigiana, meat-based pasta, sausages, meatballs and salami.
Palo Alto Reserva Red 2008
Origin: Maule Valley, Chile.
Varietal: A unique blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah and 30% Carmenere.
Tasting Notes: Intense in color with bright violet hues, Palo Alto Reserva displays an impressive bouquet of black fruits such as blackberries with notes of cacao and hints of toast. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and rounded with smooth balance, flavors of black currant, blueberry, mint and a touch of spice. An elegant wine with a persistent finish.
Food Pairing: Pair this with a rack of barbecued ribs or other red meat dishes, including marinated steak tips.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Origin: North Coast, California. Josh Cellars North Coast Vineyards contain obsidian gravel that allows the soils to drain well, which is extremely important for growing Cabernet grapes. The high elevation sunlight combined with the rich volcanic red soils and obsidian fragments produce quality grapes that are extremely unique to the Red Hills. The vineyard itself sits on an East facing slope with varying altitude from 1200 to 2000 feet.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes: Forward complex blends with ripe fruit flavors; black currant, spicy, berry fruit with gentle oak nuances. Barrel aged in new American oak and 1-2 year French oak for 16 months.
Food
Pairing: This
wine pairs well with red meats, flavorful and heartier (red) pastas, lamb,
strong-flavored cheese, and chocolates (especially dark).
Flirt Californian Red Blend 2010
Origin: California. "This is a serious wine that doesn't take itself too seriously," said Marco DiGiulio, Chief Winemaking Overlord at Vintage Wine Estates. "We started with exceptional fruit as you would expect in a red blend, but wanted to add the complexity for which VWE wines are known.
Varietal: Syrah, Tempranillo and Zinfandel
Tasting Notes: Flirt is an alluring blend of Syrah, Tempranillo and Zinfandel with flavors of warm, juicy red plum, baked cherry spice and cherry cola layered with vanilla and butterscotch. Oak aging and a precise blend of quality Mendocino County fruit are responsible for the additional layers of complexity and rich flavor. The addition of the Tempranillo adds a hint of brown spice and black pepper that accents the black pepper in the Zinfandel. A judicious use of acid keeps the brightness of the fruit: the ideal combination of complexity and balance.
Food Pairing: Pairs well with spicy foods, barbecued ribs, pulled pork and a variety of sauced foods.
Saturday Only
On Saturday, in addition to the five wines above, we will be tasting two great microbrews.
Innis & Gunn Rum Cask - beer aged in Rum barrels
Belhaven Scottish Stout