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neurotic-nimrod · 2 years

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Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up for November 1, 2021

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format. They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

NV Le Grand Courtage Grande Cuvee Blanc de Blancs Brut (France): Fragrant, floral, fruity and greater than the sum of its parts. $25 B+

NV Lucien Albrecht Rose Brut (Cremant d’Alsace): That’s brisk, baby. And tangy. Ohhhhhhh so tangy. $23 B+

2017 Karl Haidle Bunter Mergel Lemberger Trocken (Wurttemberg): Here we perk up ’round the mulberry bush! $29 B+

2019 Cantine Ermes ‘Vento di Mare’ Nero d’Avola (Sicily): Easy like Sunday morning’ (ahhhh ahhhhh ahhhhhhh-aaahhhhhhhhh)… $10 B-

2020 Familia Traversa ‘Traversa’ Sauvignon Blanc (Montevideo): Melon, nettle, and white grapefruit are all excited to be here. $15 B

2020 Dry Creek Vineyard Fume Blanc (Sonoma County): Almost a NZ impersonation here… a bit different, but still a crowd-pleasing good buy. $15 B

2018 Newton Vineyard Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Sultry, dark, with impressive length and excellent structure… Score another point for tossing the filter! $65 A-

2018 Mt. Brave Merlot (Mount Veeder): For those times when only a fantastic balance between sturdy structure and plummy hedonism will do. $100 A

2017 Blackbird Vineyards Illustration (Napa Valley): Sketching a busy, technically complex picture of dark tobacco spices, tangy plum fruits, graphite, and ample structure. $135 A-

2017 Blackbird Vineyards Contrarian (Napa Valley): A solid ‘A’ for effort in a difficult harvest – tanginess doesn’t get much deeper than this. $135 A

Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press!

Source: http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-november-1-2021/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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You Bet Your Glass (Talking Stemware with #MyFitnessRx)

image: MyFitnessRx

Ok folks… yes, I am still on 1WD extended paternity leave, but managed to get the new kiddo to nap juuuuust long enough to be able to tell you that I’ve got another appearance on MyFitnessRx, slated for viewing in the extended Philadelphia area at 1pm ET today, Tuesday, October 26th. If you’re in the viewing region, you can catch it on Comcast Xfinity ch. 25, Verizon FiOS ch. 25, DirectTV ch.51, or DISH Network ch. 25. If not, you can view it online once the full episode is posted at https://myfitnessrx.net/full-episodes/.

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In today’s episode, I talk about how to select the best wine glass for everyday drinking, among other tidbits. Come for the wine advice, stay to find out how to get healthier and happier, you lazy lushes!

Finally, here’s another pic of Thing #2, because I know that’s what you people really want right now! As you can see, she already has impeccable taste in music, just like her old man…

Cheers!

Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press!

Source: http://www.1winedude.com/you-bet-your-glass-talking-stemware-with-myfitnessrx/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Cafaggio 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva

The world’s love of Tuscany is all-encompassing, but I think that blinds us to nuance. So while we dive head-first into our love affair, perhaps a more critical eye may be able to see the unrealized potential still within Chianti Classico.

When I teach our Advanced Italian Sommelier program, I spend an entire lecture detailing the terror of the villages within the Chianti Classico region: I believe the region should be carved into grand cru classifications, much like Burgundy is. One candidate for such an honor is the hillside northwest of Panzano, where Caffagio is located.

Wine Review

This bottling is a near-perfect Sangiovese. It conforms to the classical ideals of the varietal without being contained by them. A leather and fresh tobacco framework expands into a bottom note of unforgiving mineral, then expands upward into sweet cherries and violets. A beautiful freshness extends into an elegant finish. This wine is a perfect pairing for a slow-roasted duck.

Wine Rating

Rating: 94 Points | Purchased in a PA Fine Wine & Good Spirits shop for $16.99, but can cost upwards of $30.

The Original Post: Cafaggio 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva

Source: https://www.vinology.com/cafaggio-2016-chianti-classico-riserva/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Te Mata 2019 Estate Vineyards Syrah, Hawke’s Bay

New Zealand’s South Island is well-established for its Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs. However, the North Island is still forging its identity as a fine wine producer. Of note, Hawke’s Bay has been producing excellent Malbec, Gamay, Merlot, and Syrah.

Wine Review

Te Mata is a longtime favorite at the Wine School, and this bottling highlights the great potential of Syrah in New Zealand. In addition, this bottling shows great character: smoke, toasted rosemary, and bright cherry lift from the glass. The palate offers up blue flowers and blue fruits, with a layer of roasting bacon fat in the finish. Highly recommended and reminiscent of an exceptionally friendly Crozes-Hermitage.

Wine Rating

91 Points. Purchased for $20 in Pennsylvania.

The Original Post: Te Mata 2019 Estate Vineyards Syrah, Hawke’s Bay

Source: https://www.vinology.com/te-mata-2019-estate-vineyards-syrah-hawkes-bay/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Ram’s Gate 2017 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Great wine often turns millionaires into, well, less wealthy millionaires. This is one of those stories. The owners of Ram’s Gate spent seven million on building the winery, only to discover it sits on top of an earthquake zone. Then they spent a fortune rebranding just before the pandemic hit. As a business, Ram’s Gate winery wasn’t a wise investment.

The wine, however, is well worth your investment. Whatever was going on in the front office didn’t affect winemaker Joe Nielsen or the cool climate wines he is making. This bottling comes from the Sangiacomo Vineyards outside the Carneros AVA, sandwiched between the Seven Flags amusement park and the Sonoma airport. It isn’t the prettiest vineyard, but it is one of the best plots of chardonnay in California.

Wine Review

Like many great wines, this is an exploration of contrasts. The attack is rich, buttery, and decadent, but the midpalate cuts with the crispness of a Barlett pear, and juicy freshness spreads into citrus and savory notes. The austerity disappears only when you take another sip, and the hedonism-puritanism roller coaster starts all over again. While many would call this “Burgundian,” it is not. It’s something very different than that, although I don’t quite know what that is. A new paradigm?

In any case, a great wine.

Wine Rating

Rating: 93 Points. Purchased for $25 in Pennsylvania. Pricing in other states can be as high as $40.

The Original Post: Ram’s Gate 2017 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Source: https://www.vinology.com/rams-gate-2017-chardonnay-sonoma-coast/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Upcoming Wine Tastings Classes

New Zealand & Australia Wines

Tired of illustrations of Kangaroos and Kiwis? Yeah, me too. Why is it that wine cultures get reduced to their worst moments? The truth is that New Zealand and Australia are home to far more great wines –and a stellar diversity of grapes– than most people ever realize. In this wine tasting, you get to experience wines you never knew existed, and ones that rarely end up in America. Thursday, October 28 at 7:30 pm. Only 5 in-person seats remain.

New Zealand & Australia Wines

Wines of South Africa

South Africa is one of the great wine-growing countries. Their wine styles take the best of France and Australia and fuse them into something unique and wonderful. This is a country that produces stellar Cabernet Sauvignon, age-worthy Syrah, and top-flight Pinot Noir. If you haven’t been exposed to these wines –or want to learn more about the country – you owe it to yourself to come and experience the best-kept secrets in the wine world: South African wine. Thursday, November 11 at 7:30 pm

Wines of South Africa

Wine 101: Learn About Wine

If you are new to the study of wine — or simply new to the Wine School of Philadelphia — this class is for you. Here, you will experience each of the Wine School’s hallmarks: dispelling industry rumors, banishing popular wine myths, and delivering information in an easy-to-understand manner. Developed by a U.C. Davis winemaker and honed over ten years of teaching experience, it represents a singular view of wine education. Allow us to share it with you! Thursday, November 4th at 7:30 pm

SOLD OUT

Mixology: The Cocktail Creation Class

Learn to build the perfect cocktail in this hands-on workshop. With the guidance of our top sommelier-instructor, you will be crafting innovative new cocktails and discovering your inner mixologist. We aren’t a bartending school, and you won’t learn how to juggle vodka bottles in this class. Instead, you will learn the basics of mixology, explore flavors, and develop your own signature cocktail.

The Cocktail Class

The Original Post: Upcoming Wine Tastings Classes

Source: https://www.vinology.com/upcoming-wine-tastings-classes/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Fattoria Le Pupille 2019 Morellino di Scansano

A quick Italian wine lesson: When you see an Italian wine labeled as “Blah Blah” di “Blah Blah,” it always means “This Grape” from “This Place.” The phrase Morellino di Scansano indicates this is the Morellino grape (a synonym for Sangiovese) from Scansano, a region on the Tuscan coast.

Wine Review

The Tuscan coast is warmer than Chianti, and the wines are lusher and more fruit-forward. This bottling offers up dense blackberries flecked with toasted spices and burnt earth. The finish turns toward sage and red fruit—a bottle of great everyday wine and a great value.

Wine Rating

89 Points | Purchased for $10.99 in Pennsvyania. Pricing and range upwards of $15.

The Original Post: Fattoria Le Pupille 2019 Morellino di Scansano

Source: https://www.vinology.com/fattoria-le-pupille-2019-morellino-di-scansano/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Gunther Steinmetz 2018 “Unfiltriert” Pinot Noir, Mosel

German Pinot Noirs are having a well-deserved renaissance. Before the Little Ice Age (a time of drastic cooling in 15th Century Europe), Germany grew a lot of Pinot Noir. The Mosel region, in particular, had an excellent reputation for the reds it produced. However, regional temperatures are on an upswing once again, and the Pinots are, once again, dramatically better.

Gunther Steinmetz is looking to France for inspiration. This bottling is very much a Pinot in the Burgundian model: wild yeast, barrel fermentation, 20-year-old ungrafted vines, and a deep fascination with terroir. The winery is going as far as buying their barrels from several Grand Cru Burgundy wineries.

Wine Review

Aromas of forest floor lift from the glass, with crushed strawberry and cherry. The palate is delicately balanced between the vibrant acidity and tendril-like tannin—aA note of tarragon and clove mix with fresh red fruit on the finish.

There is a lot of complexity here, similar in framework to an Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru. This is a must-buy for anyone who dreams of drinking good Burgundy but can’t afford the price tag.

Wine Rating

91 Points. Purchased for $15 in Pennsylvania. Be warned that only a limited amount of this wine is available. So make sure to buy it before our sommelier readership grabs it up for their restaurants.

The Original Post: Gunther Steinmetz 2018 “Unfiltriert” Pinot Noir, Mosel

Source: https://www.vinology.com/gunther-steinmetz-2018-unfiltriert-pinot-noir-mosel/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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To Your Health, Probably (Talking Wine Tannin with #MyFitnessRx)

#Myfitnessrx Visits Chateau Dude

I’m still on “1WineDude paternity leave,” and so far too tired to craft feature-length material with a newborn in the house, but wanted to give you all a (very) quick update and let you know that I’ll be appearing in the next episode of #MyFitnessRx—airing today (Tuesday, October 19th) in the extended Philadelphia region.

In this episode (you can check out the teaser vid below), MyFitnessRx host Tanya Stroh visits my kitchen, and we chat about the potential health benefits of wine tannins (while we drink, of course), and (also of course) I hock my book.

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If you miss the episode, of you’re not in the broadcast network, you can catch the full bit later once it’s posted to the Myfitnessrx.net website.

Much more to come on wine, the new family edition, and my usual rants and raves after I manage catch up on some sleep! In the meantime, here’s another teaser, of my second daughter.

If only mom and dad were sleeping this well…

Cheers!

Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press!

Source: http://www.1winedude.com/to-your-health-probably-talking-wine-tannin-with-myfitnessrx/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up for October 18, 2021

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format. They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

NV Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut (Alsace): Dried pineapple, honeysuckle, and a sense that all is right in the world. $23 B+

2014 Lodi Native Macchia Wines Maley’s Lucas Road Vineyard Zinfandel (Lodi): The Natives are calm, and showing lovely balance of power and restraint. $NA A-

2018 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot (Napa Valley): At $25, this would be a tasty, complex driven red; at this SRP, it’s best to steer clear. $50 B+

2018 Markham Vineyards Merlot (Napa Valley): Serviceable plummy, and serving up more than enough tastiness. $25 B+

2019 Sonoma-Cutrer ‘The Cutrer’ Chardonnay (Russian River Valley): Step right up and witness the ripe pear fireworks display! $30 B+

2018 OG de Negoce N 31 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel (Sonoma County): Most of the spice, game and deliciousness that you need, for half the cash outlay. $14 B+

2017 Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot (Columbia Valley): Dark plums, dark olives, dark spices, dark oak, bright future. $65 A-

2017 Trapiche Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza): A juicy, fresh, Go-To pick that’s stock-up-for-the-Winter material. $20 B+

2017 Bodegas Bianchi Particular Cabernet Sauvignon (San Rafael): If you like your coffee strong and your crème de cassis even stronger… this one’s for you. $31 A-

Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press!

Source: http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-october-18-2021/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up for October 11, 2021

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format. They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

2017 Rodrigo Mendez ‘Cies’ (Rias Baixas): A sophisticated, peachy, and nectarine-filled zinger $37 A-

2016 Pasqua ‘Famiglia Pasqua’ Amarone della Valpolicella (Veneto): Sporting the kind of vibrancy that’s going to make the style a fan favorite… again… $45 A-

2015 Podere Sapaio ‘Sapaio’ (Bolgheri): Well… *THAT* was particularly delicious, wasn’t it? $70 A-

2015 Argiano NC Non Confunditur (Toscana): A structured, plummy, balanced bargain to be sought out by the caseload. $20 A-

2020 Signorello Hopes Cuvee Chardonnay (Napa Valley): Voluptuous, creamy, and dense—but there’s enough life and vitality peeking through to suggest a new stride has been hit here. $98 A

2016 Mt. Brave Merlot (Mount Veeder): Elegant, enthralling, enigmatic, engaging… and easy to adore. $80 A

2019 Merry Edwards Bucher Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): With all of that meat, spice, dark berries, concentrated, truffle, dried black tea leaf, and soy, you’ll be unpacking this one for minutes at a time. $63 A-

2019 Merry Edwards Warrens’ Hill Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): A panoply of cardamom, wild berries, minerals, truffle, and game that shows their new team is now fully on its game. $75 A

2019 Merry Edwards Winery Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (Sonoma County): Earning its ambassador pin as one THE representatives of its home turf. $48 A-

2018 Los Vascos ‘Cromas’ Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley): Herbal, dark, intense, and please pass the brisket! $22 B+

Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press!

Source: http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-october-11-2021/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up for September 20, 2021

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format. They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

2019 Vietto Nas-Cëtta (Langhe): Laser-focused citrus action with a mineral crystal power source. $NA B+

2020 Marengo Mauro Nas-Cëtta (Langhe): A gorgeous, vivacious, palate-refreshing adventure starring apples, herbs, pears, with additional talented tree fruits in supporting roles. $NA A-

2019 Cantine San Silvestro Nas-Cëtta (Langhe): Apricots and blossoms that would be much happier if you came back in a few years. $NA B+

2019 Herdade do Rocim Amphora Tinto (Alentejo): Perky, persistent, pleasurably plummy, pure, and practically priced. $21 B+

2019 Fort Ross Vineyard Sea Slopes Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast): Lots of zing, lots of breadth, lots of length, lots of bang for the buck. $30 A-

2019 Fort Ross Vineyard Sea Slopes Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast): Perfectly happy in its own understated, refined, and elegant skin. $35 A-

2018 Biltmore Estate Vanderbilt Reserve Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Meaty and spicy, but there just isn’t a whole lot of “there” there. $40 B+

2017 Sosie Wines Cavedale Vineyard Moon Mountain Red Blend (Sonoma County): Wow – precision balance between lip smacking juiciness/firm structure, & ripe black/tangy red fruitiness. $45 A-

2017 Martellotto ‘Le Bon Temps Roule’ Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County): Kudos for the lighter touch, though that touch might be just a tad too light… $40 B+

2018 Pascual Toso Finca Pedregal Single Vineyard Malbec – Cabernet Sauvignon (Barrancas): Come for the jamminess; stay for the deep, serious mineral undertones. $75 A-

Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press!

Source: http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-september-20-2021/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Wine In the Time of Coronavirus, Part 53: Overachievers-R-Us (Domaine Bousquet Recent Releases 2021)

(image: Domaine Bousquet)

[ Editor’s Note: Listen up, friends of 1WD! With Baby Gianna due pretty much any day now, it could be a few weeks before this humble little corner of the Global Interwebs gets an update from me. I will be back in fighting form (if a bit – ok, more than a bit – sleep-deprived) and posting on here with mini-reviews and features just as soon as the new addition provides me enough time to do so. Until then, drink – and be – well! Cheers! ]

I’ve often said that we’re currently living in the single greatest time to be a wine lover in the history of humanity. This is due to the simple fact that global competition in the wine market is so fierce that the baseline level of quality required to get a wine to that market with a viable chance to sell it is probably the highest that it’s ever been.

Having said that, while the chance of running into a flawed wine on a store shelf these days is ridiculously small, the chance of picking up a perfectly serviceable but BORING wine are, as a sort of twisted side effect of that fierce competition, probably higher than ever. You can easily get a clean, tasty vino, but will it “blow your skirt up?” Maybe, maybe not. Which is why for the last 3+ years I’ve been such a fan of Argentina’s Domaine Bousquet (see previous coverage here) – purveyors of clean, serviceable, tasty wines that are bargains in terms of QPR, and more often than not have something about them that puts them above the fray of duller-than-an-actuarial-convention status so often found at their respective price-points.

This time, I couldn’t meet Domaine Bousquet viticulturalist Franco Bastias and economist-turned-proprietor Anne Bousquet in person (thanks, Covid), so I joined a media samples tasting with them via Zoom. Except I wasn’t wearing any pants, since they could only see me from the waist up. Just kidding. Probably.

Anyway, you can delve into the Bousquet history here – since we’ve already covered that, let’s talk about what these guys have going for them that makes their stuff better than boring. They’re sitting at 4,000+ feet, twice as high in elevation as Mendoza. They saw potential in Tupungato early on, at a spot that was still virgin land before they planted. “It was quite an enterprise to first clean up all this land,” Anne Bousquet mentioned. “By 2000, we were ready to plant. You have to be patient, you have to wait for them [the vines].” Fortunately for them, the land consisted of Alluvial soils from the Las Tunas River in the Andes, with calcareous deposits in the lower layers, forming “caliche” rock. Good stuff for high elevation vine plantings. What they don’t grow themselves, they from multiple Tupungato growers who have or are getting organic certification. Now, they’re BRCS, Vegan, & USDA Organic certified (among other certs – they’re working on Demeter now).

And… that’s mostly it. Throw in a talented staff and Argentina’s low-ish production costs, and you’ve got a recipe for over-achievements like these…

(images: Domaine Bousquet)

2021 Domaine Bousquet Sauvignon Blanc (Tupungato, $10)

Canopy management helps keep DB’s SB from being burned by the ample Argentine sun; and the deep sandy, gravelly soil helps promote the acid retention needed to balance the ripe fruit. This white is surprisingly herbal for Argentine SB. Though it doesn’t lack for tropical/exotic fruit notes, it’s almost New Zealand-like in its boisterous, aromatic style. Chalky/mineral hints show up as well. In a word, the palate is “Zesty!” Bright in the mouth, with lots of pith and grapefruit, starfruit, and spice, there’s just great bang for the buck here.

2019 Domaine Bousquet Reserva Chardonnay (Tupungato, $20)

It’s probably odd to cite a nose as feeling delicious, but… here you go. Peaches, apples, cream, even some dried flower petal notes all hit with nice precision. The flavors of apples, citrus, white peach and pear are all lively and energetic. You don’t feel the power of the 14.5% abv until it hits the edges of the palate as it broadens on your tongue. Toasty finish, good length, plenty of freshness… Another underachievement.

2018 Domaine Bousquet ‘Gaia’ Cabernet Franc (Gualtallary, $17)

The presence of calcareous stones mark the sandy soils at this wine’s source site, and it’s topped off with 8-10 months aging in French oak. Personally, I LOVE all of of the green dried herb, spice, and lovely dark fruit (plums, black raspberry, black cherry) action on this. It’s immediately inviting, and carrying most of the right Cab Franc calling cards. Structured, vivacious, and deeply dark-fruited on the palate. Yeah, you get some of those green notes (and minerals, too) along with a good balance of depth and structure – but it’s CF, so you knew what you were signing up for when you bought it, right? At the price, this is Go-To red for nerds like me.

2018 Domaine Bousquet Gran Malbec (Tupungato, $22)

The site for this Malbec has soils similar to those that source their SB, but the roots in this case have extended quite deeply. With Malbec being sensitive to its moisture uptake, this helps the grapes get good concentration. And concentrated this is. Cassis and blackberries, along with some dark red plums, show up on the nose, which is reserved at first but opens up nicely after a few minutes of air time. Slight hints of chocolate mint, pencil lead, leather, and tobacco follow. In the mouth, it’s supple, with red fruits that are juicy, tangy, and also ripe and chewy. Very fresh (thank those cool, high altitude Tupungato nights), with darker herbs and spices on the finish. Delicious stuff, and (you guessed it), an Overachiever.

Cheers!

Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press!

Source: http://www.1winedude.com/wine-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-part-53-overachievers-r-us-domaine-bousquet-recent-releases-2021/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Wine Review: Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2017 Estate Pinot Noir, Eola Amity Hills

If you recognize the name “Bryn Mawr” then you are a very specific type of person. Option number one: from the Philly region and recognize it as (1) a posh mainline suburb or (2) the liberal arts college in said town. Option number two: you are a Quaker and know about the utopian Brynmawr Experiment that happened in 1929. The final option is that you really dig Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.

Or maybe you are all three, which is a cool hat trick. The winery is named “Bryn Mawr” for the Welsh term for “high ground.” Apt for a vineyard located in the Eola Amity Hills outside of Salem, Oregon.

This bottling is a great example of modern Willamette Pinot Noirs. Medium-bodied with a core of warm spices and espresso. On the nose, there is juniper berry and cherry compote, with just a bare hint of fresh roses. The palate is lush and appealing with very ripe red fruit that veers towards strawberry preserves. The oak is balanced but very much present in all aspects of the wine, including the chocolate-and-spiced-pear accented finish.

Wine Rating: 90 Points Pricing: You can pick this up for $20 in Pennsylvania, but prices range up to $30 in other parts of the US.

Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2017 Estate Pinot Noir, Eola Amity Hills

The Original Post: Wine Review: Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2017 Estate Pinot Noir, Eola Amity Hills

Source: https://www.vinology.com/wine-review-bryn-mawr-vineyards-2017-estate-pinot-noir-eola-amity-hills/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up for September 13, 2021

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format. They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

2019 Cascina Gavetta Nas-Cëtta del Comune di Novello (Langhe): Lovely Riesling-like blossom action that’s fresh, as, well, as daisy! $NA A-

2019 La Pergola Nas-Cëtta del Comune di Novello (Langhe): You can go ahead and drop those minerals off *right here* in my mouth. $NA B+

2019 Passone Massimiliano Nas-Cëtta del Comune di Novello (Langhe): Enough bruised apples, herbs, and dried apricots to give Rioja Blanco a run for its money. $NA B+

2018 Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Pinot Noir (Mosel): Well, look at the Mosel gettin’ all bulked up and lifting mad weights, bro! $69 A-

2017 Stone Castle Gecaj Estate Owner’s Choice Red (Rahoveci Valley): Classically framed, amply structured, interestingly spiced. $80 A-

2020 Blackbird Vineyards Dissonance (Napa Valley): Round but refreshing, plush but peppery, kicking ass but sparing your wallet. $21 A-

2017 Fiddlehead Cellars Gruner Veltliner (Sta Rita Hills): Already showing some wrinkles, but we’re digging the Nuts -N-Honey vibes. $30 B+

2019 Jordan Winery Chardonnay (Russian River Valley): Balanced, stocked with tangy lemons and ripe peaches, & juicy AF! $36 A-

2018 OG de Negoce N 61 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley): A chewy, complex, and dark-berried-filled bargain. $25 A-

2017 Sosie Wines Spring Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast): Here we go ’round the mulberry bush, beeeaaatches!!! $45 A-

Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press!

Source: http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-september-13-2021/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Midnight Train to Awesome (Georgian Wine Is Ready for Prime Time)

Well, folks, I’m just going to come right out and say it now: Georgian wine is ready for prime time.

No, not wine from the U.S. state of Georgia (though that state has had some standout wines for many years now, so don’t overlook it). No, I mean Georgia the country. The home of the Caucasus. That Georgia.

First, the bad news: Like Greece’s Crete, Georgia is one of the great ironies of the wine world. Despite vying for status as the place where civilized winemaking began, and once being an important player on the world’s winemaking stage, a combination of historically suppressed production, and impossible (for Westerners) to pronounce and unfamiliar indigenous grape varieties, means that Georgia now has to somehow find its modern footing in a wine market that now scarcely pays it any mind.

It also has to deal with the fact that, dominated as it is by small, family-run wineries, it’s virtually impossible for Georgia to match supply if demand for its wine did happen to jump.

Every (re)emerging wine region needs at least two things: 1) The ability to hang with the currently very high minimum quality threshold of wines in an ultra-competitive market, and 2) a champion with authority and bonafides. Georgia now has both.

Regarding the first, Georgian wine is becoming one of the better “hand sells” in the wine world. My sample pool of Georgian wines has been growing slowly and steadily over the last 18 months, and most of those samples have impressed the hell out of me. As for the second, a champion has, indeed, emerged in the form of Master of Wine Lisa Granik, whose recent book The Wines of Georgia is basically the current bible when it comes to the region’s vinous wares.

Importantly, we’re also seeing some boutique importers who are getting bitten by the Georgian wine bug, and are passionately repping the country’s wines. I was visited by just such a person: Jeff Brown, who owns Village Vines LLC (and is a 1WD local, no less!), and who specializes in bringing in products made by small family outfits in Georgia. Brown left me a couple of samples to wet my beak, and now I can crow about the quality of those to you and give you a sense of what Georgian wine has in store (figuratively, if not yet literally).

2019 Nareklishvili ‘Amber Dry Wine’ Qvevri (Kakheti, $36)

With orange/natural wines still flirting with toast-of-the-town status among wine geeks, Georgia is a natural fit for the hipster wine-loving crowd. Based on my experiences so far, the best amphora-aged whites from Georgia are among the best and most enjoyable amphora-aged whites, period. This 2019 Qvevri is a treat—freaky in all of the best ways. It’s honeyed and structured, has a tiny amount of funk that doesn’t even border on distracting, and delivers so much tasty apricot, pear skin, and bruised apple action that subsequent sips are pure pleasure.

2019 Gurgenidze Family Bimbili Aleqsandrouli Red (Racha, $38)

Thankfully, this Aleqsandrouli is so delicious, you won’t care a whit about how to pronounce it. Brambly red berries abound on the nose and the palate, along with ample notes of white and black pepper that remain enticing and never once get obtrusive. The perky lift/vibrancy in the mouth makes this extremely food-friendly, but the breadth to the mouthfeel adds weight and enough seriousness to just sip it on its own, too.

Cheers!

Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press!

Source: http://www.1winedude.com/midnight-train-to-awesome-georgian-wine-is-ready-for-prime-time/

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neurotic-nimrod · 3 years

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Wine Tasting Classes for Fall

France vs South America

Part of the ongoing series of wine tastings devised by the brilliant Alana Zerbe. Take two great wine countries, toss them into a battle royale, and see who survives. It’s always a fair fight, but the audience chooses the winners. It’s all going down on Thursday, October 21st, at 7:30 pm. Available as a virtual wine class and in-person in Philadelphia.

France vs. South America

Great Wine Made Simple

Want to read a wine label like a wine pro? Want to taste some great wines and learn the skills to buy them, too? How about getting a handle on wine jargon and knowing when a sommelier is BSing you? When wine seems too complicated, this is the class to take, and you want someone to Marie Kondo your wine choices. This wine tasting is booked for Saturday, October 23, at 4 pm. Available as a virtual wine class and in-person in Philadelphia.

Great Wine Made Simple

Australia & New Zealand

Tired of illustrations of Kangaroos and Kiwis? Yeah, me too. Why is it that wine cultures get reduced to their worst moments? The truth is that New Zealand and Australia are home to far more great wines –and a stellar diversity of grapes– than most people ever realize. In this wine tasting, you get to experience wines you never knew existed, next to the best of the famous ones. Thursday, October 28 at 7:30 pm. Available as a virtual wine class and in-person in Philadelphia.

Australia & New Zealand

Exotic Wines

There are millions of people who drink nothing but Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is not them. Just grab them a bottle, replace the cork with a pacifier, and click on Netflix. This class is for you, the daring adventurer who wants to know what is delicious and exciting out there in the big beautiful world. Open your mind to the great unknown on Thursday, October 28, at 7:30 pm. Check it out online as a virtual wine tasting. If you happen to be in Philly, you can check out the class live.

Exotic Wines

Wine Tasting 101

Everyone has to start somewhere, and this seems like the smartest first step. Get in on the ground floor in the class that is the basis for all wine education. Word on the street is that this class was the inspiration for the first-level sommelier classes at the National Wine School. This class won’t make you a Somm, but it’ll give you a taste of what they learn. So get your tickets for this Thursday, November 4th event. It starts at 7:30 pm and can be attended in-person or online.

Wine tasting 101

Wines of South Africa

One of the most beautiful places on earth, with wines equal to their surroundings. The average sommelier knows about the Pinotages and Steens, but you deserve more. You really should dive deep into this amazing place full of brilliant wines, and this is how to do it. Make sure you have a seat at this table on Thursday, November 11, at 7:30 pm. It’s a great virtual wine class, but you can also attend in person if you live near Philly.

Wines of South Africa

The Original Post: Wine Tasting Classes for Fall

Source: https://www.vinology.com/wine-tasting-for-fall/

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