Saturday, October 4, 2014

October 2014 Table Club and Cru Features

October 2014 Table Club Features
Feudo Zirtari

Feudo Zirtari displays rich floral and fruity notes, with a faint hint of almond. These sensations are echoed on the palate, along with an acidity that balances out the wine's alcoholic warmth. Inzolia, a local Italian varietal, and Chardonnay come together in a wine that is the perfect match for fish dishes and delicate meats.

Hugo Gruner Veltliner

Hugo Gruner Veltliner has a fresh green apple fruity aroma. It is accented by flavors of lemon, lime and peaches, with a solid fruit core. It's rich in finesse, with a beautiful length and mineral tones.The ideal wine for seafood and poultry. 

Dows Vale do Bomfim

The 2010 Dows Vale do Bomfim Douro Red begins with pleasing aromas of blackberry, baking spice and pepper. Tasting the wine reveals lots of rich, juicy dark  fruit plus sweet, grippy tannins and good acidity. Spicy oak notes lurk underneath the fruit and come out towards the end. The finish is dry, long and delicious. 

Vina Gormaz

Vina Gormaz Vendimia Seleccionada incorporates Tempranillo grapes from dry-farmed vineyard plots over 50 years old, fermented in cement tanks. Structure and richness are obtained from the sweet old-vine fruit, resulting in a mineral, earthy complexity without the need for oak aging. It pairs well with a variety of cheeses, grilled meats, and poultry. 


October 2014 Cru Club Features

Auzells

Auzells white wine blend is pure, full of minerals, and clean. It has a delicate texture and peachy fruit aromas.With many different aspects from the soils in the vineyards, winemaker Tomàs Cusiné works with an multitude of grape varieties. The Azulles has a blend of five grapes: macabeu, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, albariño and riesling. 

800 Soles

The 800 Soles Limited Edition 2010 red is a blend of malbec, cabernet franc, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and bonarda grapes. 

Fable Mountain Vineyards Syrah

Fable Mountain Vineyards 2011 Syrah is comprised of fruit grown 100% from the vineyard's estate in Tulbagh South Africa. Bright crimson with distinct ruby color. A freshness  and complexity on the nose with elderberries violets, licorice and spice. Beautifully layered red fruits on the palate as well as an unfolding texture of structure elegance and finesse.

Monday, September 1, 2014

September 2014 Table Club Features

September 2014 Table Club Features

Casa do Valle Branco

Vinho Verde white made with Arinto, Azal and Loureiro grape varieties.  Produced exclusively with estate grown grapes, this dry white wine of pale straw color has an elegant floral and tropical aroma.  It is a very fresh wine that works well as an apperitif or paired with sushi.

Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio

Crisp and refreshing wine with pomelo and tropical lychee on the nose.  The palate is clean and medium bodied, balancing mild acidity and a touch of creaminess.  Flavors of white peach and ripe grapefruit on the palate.  Perfect paired with caesar salad or pan seared tilapia.

Vaona Odino Valpolicella

Blend of Corvinao, Corinone, Rondinella and Molinara produces a youthful and lush wine with a refreshing floral component on the nose.

Chateau de L'Estang Bordeaux

Coming from Cotes de Castillon, just outside of St Emilion, it displays wonderful sweet black currant and black cherry fruit and silky tannins with a plush mouthfeel.

Monday, July 7, 2014

July 2014 Table Club Features

Sivas Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc, California

The aroma has an intense concentration of grass & kaffir lime, mixed with notes of Asian pear. Bright & full of character, the nose is pure Sauvignon Blanc. On the palate, this wine has a wonderful contrast between the rich, creamy mouthfeel from the Russian River portion of the blend & the bright, citrus flavors from Sonoma Valley, creating flavors of lemon curd & key lime pie. This wine is medium-bodied yet focused, with a silky texture that lingers on the mid-palate as the flavors change from citrus to fresh cut grass.

Montes Chardonnay, Chile

This wine is fermented both in cask (60%) & in stainless steel (40%). Half of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation under strictly controlled conditions, to maintain fruity aromas & encourage complexity in the wine. Pale greeny-gold in color, its aroma combines butteriness, vanilla & tropical fruit. A fresh wine; fruity, with good body & balance; creamy & complex mid-palate, with an elegant finish.

Montes Twins Red, Chile

Beautiful lively ruby red color. Young & great power in this wine. The perfect harmony between the aromas of red fruits from Cabernet Sauvignon & the hint of plums from Malbec makes this wine very elegant & attractive. Sweet, fresh & firm tannins from Cabernet Sauvignon combine very nicely with the velvety & smooth body from Malbec. A seductive lingering in the mouth.

Don Rodolfo Tannat, Argentina

Tannat wines are often characterized by elegant, soft tannins & blackberry fruit notes.  Don Rodolfo Tannat is an intense red color with dark purples hues. On the nose, aromas of rich red berries & black currant, with hints of chocolate. It is a bold, expressive & exotic wine.

Monday, June 2, 2014

April 2014 CRU & Table Club Wines

Host & Toast Cru Club

This month is different…you get a choice!  Taste 3 wines, choose the 2 you like the best!

Heartland Director’s Cut Shiraz, Australia, 2012

The deep color gives a clue to the concentration of arom and flavors to follow.  Dark cherry and blackberry fruit dominate the nose with undercurrents of blck licorice and pepper.  The palate brings to mind a berry compote enriched by elusive hints of spice.

Jonata Todos Vineyard Blend, Santa Ynez Valley, CA, 2010

95 POINTS—Wine Advocate
Over 75% Syrah, it offers up knockout aromas and flavors, full-bodied richness and a seamless, layered profile that is hard to resist. Blackberry liqueur, caramelized beef, chocolate and flowers are just some of the nuances here. This pure, polished 2010 can be enjoyed now or cellared for a decade.

Domaine Weinbach Gewürztraminer, Alsace, 2011

Bright yellow with aromas of rose, jasmine and spices.  Flavors of lime, tropical fruit, and vanilla on the palate. An insanely good wine for the summer, it will pair well with French cheese such as Muenster and Roquefort.




Host & Toast Table Club

Come in to taste all 4, and choose your 2 favorite!

Praidis Vermentino de Sardignia, Italy

Straw in color with a hint of honeysuckle on the nose, this light and lively white wine is perfect with seafood dishes or sipped on its own.

Chateau Pilet Bordeaux Blanc

Fruity wine with nice notes of citrus on the nose and the palate.  Easy to drink alone or pair with cheeses or fish.

Reguengos Tinto, Portugal

Powerful, condensed wine with dark fruits and solid tannins.  Rated 90 points by Wine Enthusiast, will age well.

Gran Passione Riserva, Salice Salentino, Italy

The wine displays a dark ruby red color, and the nose shows deep black fruits like cherry, plum, and raspberry, supported by pretty floral notes like violet and notes of oak such as coffee and spice.  The palate is forward and fruity, but complex with leathery notes.


Saturday, March 29, 2014

April 2014 Table Club & Cru Club Selections

Table Club

Accattoli Verdicchio di Matelica
2012 Italy

Verdicchio is a grape that can be viewed as symbol for the Marche.  It is believed to be native to this region, and was mentioned in documents as early as the 14th century. Of the two appellations, Jesi and Matelica, we prefer the latter, which produces a firmer more aromatic wine.  The Accattoli winery nestled in the hills bordering Umbria, made this fabulous wine.

Front Label Translation:  " In the charming hills of Metalica, or Verdicchio is born, an ancient symbol of the Marche. The grapes are harvested at the end of October and vinified in a traditional manner. The wine has a straw yellow color with green reflections ......."

Tasting notes: Bright, lemony fruit with a creamy mouthfeel finishing with a refreshing crisp acidity.


Source: jgwines.com

Fabre Montmayou Rose
2013, Argentina

Crafted with European styling this is perfect for grilled summer fare. Only 1,000 cases made of this Malbec and Merlot blend, which underwent a short eight hour maceration. The nose gives off intense, creamy fruit and hints of tobacco and earth. In the mouth rich layered ripe and chewy sour fruit (cassis, blackberry, and dark cherry) with a hint of earth. Complex bouquet of alpine strawberries, orange rind, and mineral, with fleshy peach and berry notes on the palate. Lively acid on the attack, fuzzy tannins on the tongue. The wine finishes dry, with balanced acidity.

Source:  finewineandgoodspirits.com

Anciano Tempranillo 
Spain

Anciano Aged 10 Years rated 90 Points (2001, 2000, 1998 vintages) - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate “...a silky textured wine with savory flavors, excellent balance, and no hard edges.

Source:  ancianowine.com

M Malbec
2012, France

Deep colored, the nose shows sweet blackberry fruits, violets, and a hint of licorice.  The palate is quite full with sweet dark fruits and ripe tannins. Partner with grilled steak and rich casseroles.


Source: wineutopia.co.uk
CRU Club Selections
Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant, 2007, Central Coast, CA
The newly released cuvée is the 23rd edition of Le Cigare Volant, and it certainly shows the family flavor profile of red fruits, herbal, and earthy notes in a savory, medium-bodied package. Bright ruby red with a pale purplish rim, it offers cherry aromas with a bit of spice, menthol, sassafras, and black pepper. On the palate there is fresh cherry, pomegranate, and red bramble fruit. The wine is peppery and lively with good acidity around an earthy, savory core.

A blend of grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre with just a soupçon of cinsault makes for a bright and wonderfully gamey wine. The chief red in residence, grenache, derives primarily from our traditional Biodynamic® grenache source from Alta Loma Vineyard in Monterey County. This is supplemented with a smidge of our own Estate grenache, adding a discreet spiciness to the attraction. The syrah is principally sourced from Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley, which produces the closest analogue we have found to a Northern Rhône syrah—tannic and meaty in the lower registers; peppery, fruitful, and delicately floral in the top, all the while showing great balance and harmony. A group of non-irrigated, centenarian Contra Costa vineyards has provided mourvèdre for Cigare for many years. Finally, a dollop of cinsault provides a very particular fragrance of flowers and aromatic herbs.

While the zesty and youthful '07 is excellent right now, aging it for 2-3 more years would be all to the good. We recommend a gentle decanting before consumption.
Source:  bonnydoonvineyard.com
Guido Sangiovese, 2010 Walla Walla, WA
Tastes of tobacco, tiny Italian cherries, leather, and anise. Tannins a plenty, tastes great with grilled Italian sausage, peppers and onions.
Source:  charlessmithwines.com

Saturday, March 1, 2014

March 2014 Table Club Features

Altos de San Isidro Torrontes

From a 25 acre lot planted in 1970, yielding 10 tons per acre.Cold maceration for 8 hours then cold fermented at 22º C to obtain intense aromas and a clean and fresh mouth feel. No malolactic fermentation, and no oak. 

Guy Saget La Petite Perriere Sauvignon Blanc

La Petite Perrière Sauvignon 2010 has a gold color with green gleams. The smell explodes with typical Sauvignon aromas. This vintage is pronounced by the thiols of fresh citrus and white flowers. Lively with good length, the mouth offers pear and litchee aromas with a good freshness resulting of lemony notes.

Lafite Bordeaux Rouge

It's good.
Tussock Jumper Zinfandel

Grapes for the TUSSOCK JUMPER Zinfandel are harvested predominantly from vineyards in the Lodi area in California’s Sacramento River Delta. Lodi has emerged as a star for producing intense, fruity Zin with ripe berry flavours. Grapes are cooled off on warm Central Valley days by the breezes off the Delta, extending the growing season and adding layers of flavour.  Crisp red berry and currant flavors, a touch of spice and a smooth yet crisp finish.