Think Pink!

No, not the singer, but Rosé. I don’t often write about whites (shame on me) so when I come across a white (or pink) wine that is not only tasty but very affordable it almost writes itself.  The wine gets some of its color from the grape skins but not enough to consider it “red”. Usually they vary in styles, sweetness levels, and grapes used thus varying in body/depth of the wine. The term Rosé comes from France but has variations of the word depending where it’s from, i.e. Rosado, Rosato).

 90+ Cellars recently released their Annual Lot 33 Rosé 2012 from France’s Languedoc and did rather well. Ever hear of 90+ Cellars? According to 90+ Cellars “They are a limited collection of wine with a pedigree of awards from some of the world’s most respected wineries that you can buy for less.” Anyways, when I do Rosé I prefer them from France although I recently had a California one that I loved and encouraged me to explore further. This is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvedre. For about 12 bucks a bottle (reaping the benefits of what 90+ Cellars does) it’s got a cool nose, not a traditional description…mixed fruit cocktail and ripe strawberries followed by flavors of bright red fruits and crisp acidity – incredibly refreshing on a warm June day! Want something light, fun, and not too complicated? Think pink!

Sláinte! TCW  

Tannins, it’s what’s for dinner

Ever wonder what wine you could age and for how long? One component that contributes to aging wine is tannins, basically derived from grape skins, seeds, and stems used to produce wine. Technically, they are plant-derived polyphenols, I know, exciting stuff! Tannins are largely responsible for giving wines structure. Brew a cup of strong black tea and leave the bag in your cup for about 10 minutes. You’ll know at first sip what tannins are. So with age, along with proper storage and temperature, tannins will soften up like the refinement and complexity of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra - just in your mouth. Although there are many factors that contribute how long you could age a wine you could easily research your bottle online (there are many helpful websites).

 

One example of wine aging ever so well, which almost brought a tear down my face upon first sip, is Spring Mountain Vineyard Reserve 1996. And now some needed facts…

** From Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
** A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 3% Petite Verdot
** Aged an astounding 22 months in New French Oak Barrels

I decanted this bad boy for about 2 hours. At first, there were aromas of bright red fruits but as time went on I noticed black fruits coming through, current, and toasty oak. Flavors were rich, firm, silky, and….well simply outstanding! I should note it got even better as time went on. Aromas and flavors evolved which intrigued me to come back for more. By far one of the best bottles I’ve had. So go ahead, find a bottle to age and you’ll taste how well tannins mature, becoming the main course.

Sláinte! TCW  

Bull's eye!

Italy, France, Spain, and the US are the largest producers of wine, in that order. There are many other countries that are well known that ferment the juice including Germany, Australia, Argentina, etc. But with all of these big players out there we tend to forget the other countries that are producing brilliant vino. Ranked 37^th, 2 below Morocco, Turkey is underrated! In fact, the earliest known artifacts of winemaking date back 8000 years in Eastern Anatolia. It’s probably best if you did an internet search on the geography as my article is limited – I had too.

 I stumbled upon Öküzgözü (pronounced oh-cooz-goe-zue) a large berried grape indigenous to Turkey. The name translates to “bull's eye”. Kayra Vintage 2008 did a fantastic job with this grape. This wine is sourced from vineyards planted on gravelly soils of decomposed granite. After fermentation the wine is aged for 19 months in American oak, and is then bottled unfined and unfiltered. This is something you want to decant for about 30 minutes. This wine is off the charts interesting! This wine is a dark crimson color upon pour. Aromas of mint, raspberries, and cherries. The palate of chalky minerality, red fruit, rose petals, and a hint of cranberries (that tartness) had me gulping for more (I am a wino at heart) - finishing with awesome acidity and super fine tannins. It is fascinating, compelling, unique, exotic, and fun and it can be yours for about $20 a bottle. Yep, they nailed it, bull's eye! Drink now through 2016.

Sláinte! TCW            

Hello Miss Pinot Noir…nice to meet you again

My good friend E.C. gifted me a bottle of DeLoach Vineyards “Green Valley” Pinot Noir 2009. There are certain bottles of wine that really remind you how great a grape can be – really showing you its potential. Yeah, this was that bottle. From Russian River Valley, California, DeLoach reminded me of the authority and elegance Pinot Noir has. You see, given the fact that Pinot is such a finicky and difficult grape to manage and process partly because of its thin skin it can be tough to come out with a wine that they did. Don’t get me wrong, many, and I mean many, vineyards have perfected their craft and we get to reap in the benefits.

Using my specific Pinot Noir glass, I poured…If wine could talk I swear it said “Hey there big boy!” I almost replied with “Hey yourself gorgeous, nice to meet you again! With the cold weather it’s been a while.” What?!? Doesn’t everyone have a conversation with their wine? OK, maybe not and maybe I should get on with the description now that you think I’m... Aromas of cherry cola, wild berry, and raspberry fruit escapes the glass hypnotizing me to taste. Hitting my taste buds were robust flavors of earth, cherries, mushrooms, and exotic spices ending with some very light chocolately goodness. Solid structure followed by sophistication. You could order this bottle online for around $45. With spring around the corner this is an excellent wine to put you in the mood and I kinda owe this whole experience to my friend E.C.!

 

Sláinte Elizabeth and Thank You! TCW      

12/1/12. (Thank you John & Donna)

           Saturday, December 1^st 2012 will be of those evenings I will never forget. Previously to this night I met a great couple, they’ve attended a few Wine Dinners I’ve hosted at a Wine Bar. At a recent one, John told me he had this Rioja from 1968 that he would like to share with my wife and I. Knowing this is an opportunity of a life time as well as how much I enjoyed John and his wife, Donna’s, company I could not pass this up. We set up the date and time…

My wife and I met up with John & Donna and their friends. I brought my decanter and we let it sit for about an hour. The time came and we poured the Vina Valoria Cosecha 1968 Rioja. I could easily describe this wine to you but that is not really the point. Let me just tell you that it was indescribably good!

So what is the point of this article anyway? Many of us, including myself, save that “special bottle” for a “special occasion” only to find that occasion never really comes up. I’ve learned the bottle AND the company you have IS the special occasion. Excellent wine is meant to be shared with people you enjoy. Make that the reason! John and Donna were gracious enough to share an unbelievable bottle and their time with my wife and I. We had an amazing experience filled with laughs (including being incredibly clumsy that day), great stories, and astounding wine. Their gesture reminded me, yet again, that wine is all about the experience! Sláinte! TCW