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Archive for the ‘Wine’


Wines of The World, for Ameriprise, 7/16/08

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Buitenwerwachting 2006 “Beyond”, Constantia (SAfr.)

Concho y Toro 2006 Marquis de Cas Concha Chardonnay, Pirque (CH)

Falesco 2005 Merlot, Umbria (IT)

Ch.Tour de Guiet 2004 Cotes de Bourg, Bordeaux (FR)

Truchard 2003 Syrah, Carneros (CA)

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

The Exotic Class, 7/18/08

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Boniface 2005 Apremont Prestige de Rocailles, Savoie (FR)
Talai Berri 2006 Oreka Getariako Txakolina, Pais Vasco (SP)
Hofer 2005 Gruner Veltliner, Freiberg (AUS)
Gaia NV Ritinitis Nobilis, Corinthia (GR)
Harlaftis 2004 Argilos, Nemea (GR)
Dow 2004 Vale do Bomfim Reserva, Douro (POR)
Argiolas 2006 Costera, Isola dei Nuraghi (IT)
Paul Lehner 2005 Claus, Mittelburgenland (AUS)

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Dönnhoff’s Bridge

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

A lady walks into a shoe shop..and asks for shoes in 2 sizes smaller than would fit her foot. After trying to convince the lady she has a larger size..the sales assistant finally decided to erase the correct size of a shoe that would fit..and entered the size the customer wanted. Everyone was happy…
The story is a good example of the different Riesling wines on offer. After trying many Riesling wines from the very good vintage of 2007..be they the simple version, a Kabinett trocken, Spätlese trocken..and the rest…it really boils down to what the individual wants. My guess is..that many drinkers say they like ‘dry’ wines..but in fact prefer a ‘medium dry’…
Well..you can get that if you know the vineyard/grower’s style. All the wines I have tasted have been of good to very good quality….but each was a ’surprise’..Some expected dry wines were veering towards sweetish..and visa versa….it seems some growers are changing the ’shoe size’..to please a certain type of customer..again though…..everybody is happy!.
Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese 2007
Nahe, Germany
A vineyard dominated by grey slate….9% alcohol..amazing really..with all the flavour..
Complex aromas….fruit and flowery noted…minerals integrated into creamy texture..certainly a very fine wine…only thing that stopped me going over the top..the slightly cloying Restsüße on the lips….no doubt it will lose it with time… a wine to share at the moment…
Points 16.5 ++

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Ripe Gigondas

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

Domaine Brusset Gigondas Les Hauts de Montmirail 1998
Rhone, France
60% Granache..25% Mouvedre..15% Syrah…
Funky nose….needed some wrist shaking…then funkyless….still with a deep colour..no ageing…herbal nose..lots of minerals…no rough edges…this was a massive vintage..but all that has dissolved with age…a ripe Rhöne..but I missed that bite of youth that attracts me to this area.
Points 16

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
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Italian Pick of The Week, 7/14/08

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Monteloro 2007 “Mezzo Braccio” IGT, Toscana

You know the old saying,”If you can’t say something nice, say nothing”? Probably accounts for my rarely holding forth on Pinot Egregious…sorry, Pinot GRIGIO. A grape often derided as mass produced,of supermarket quality,flaccid and overpriced. The Soave of the new millenium. If Gertrude Stein opened a bottle she might famously describe there being no there,there.

Mildly surprising then to encounter a Pinot not only worthy of mention but of drinking. From the hills near Florence. By a subsidiary of Antinori. In a blend with Pinot Bianco and Riesling…and when was the last time you heard those grapes associated with Tuscany? Sourced elsewhere, of course, but still….

The result is a good summer wine. It won’t knock off your socks or sandals, but it’s an acceptable aperatif or accompaniment for light fish dishes and seafood based antipasti. The Riesling gives it loads of floral aromatics. Peaches and lemon-lime flavors are kept lively by a noticeable level of minerals. There’s enough acidity to keep it interesting and moving along to a clear, fruity finish.

A deserving Pinot, and it’s not from Trentino-Alto Adige. Whoa…I’m channeling Dylan, for the times they are a changin’.

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Happy-Go-Lucky Surprise

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

A planned surprise for my wife….a trip to Mainz..a movie..and a meal later.

We saw ‘Happy-Go-Lucky‘…a wonderful British film…very amusing..with only a touch of life’s problems. A change to many films lately of violence and hate.
The meal was at a winebar/restaurant ‘Gusto

The food was good..and they serve a variety of wines by the glass.
Only short notes as it was my wife’s day.


Feudi di San Gregorio Sannio Falanghina 2006
Campania. Italy
Elegant, aromas of apple and banana..almonds…soft nuts…citrus acidity…very good opener

Points 16.25

Giulin Barbera del Monferrato 2006
Piedmont, Italy
Aromas of cherry..soft tannins..good food wine…some plums at the finish

Points 16.25

Barbaresco Basarin 2004
Piedmot, Italy
Very fine Barbaresco…nose quite intense…cherries and plums…some violets…tannins only part of the wine….drinking well now
Points 17.25

Siepi 2003
Tuscany, Italy
Fuller flavour…juicy…blackcurrant..dry but silky…dark chocolate
Points 17.25

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Rainbow Wine

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

Unsettled weather recently…but every dark side has a bright one…see the rainbow… As the clouds cleared..a chance to sit outside again..and to try an old favourite.

Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2006 California, U.S.A.
This was one of the first California Chardonnay I enjoyed.. all that overoaked stuff years ago…like licking a vanilla stick.
Others have since followed..thank heavens…
It is more French in style than Cali..which is why I like it.
This sees less than 20% new oak….some honey..very elegant..stylish..touch of lemon and lime on the palate….brilliant acidity..which just bites into the creamy texture…if only all Chardonnays had this style…lovely now..but from experience..this will age…

A perfect match for a rainbow.
Points 17.75

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

A Fiery Sicilian

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

Nero d’Avola is Sicily’s most popular red grape, used in the region’s bestselling varietal wine. Until the 1980s, commercial use of Nero d’Avola was dedicated almost exclusively to fortifying weaker reds in France and northern Italy. In the past Nero d’Avola, like other Sicilian reds, was often syrupy, with an alcohol content reaching eighteen percent….too strong for table wines. The name, which literally means “Avola Black,” is a good description.


New viticulture techniques and night harvesting…placing the grapes in cooled vats to present premature fermentation– have been used by a few vintners to retain flavor without producing an overpowering wine. The result is often compared to Syrah.

Azienda Dô Zenner ‘Terra delle Sirene’ Nero d’Avola 2005
Sicily, Italy
Nine times out of ten..I decide what I will drink a couple of hours beforehand…24 hours is only ever the ‘norm’..when I know guests are coming. And anyway..what better way to get to know a wine..than to watch it develope.
Such was the case here…..
Deep colour…touch of iron on the nose..which quickly disappeared..but was a sign of the state of the wine…brittle tannins..fiery..some exotic spices…trace of marzipan…quite hard work..
Close the bottle..same cork..on it’s side..the rest..next day.
Calmed down..berry fruit..still peppery on the tongue..but showing some coolness now..quite complex…good long finish.
Points 16.5

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Rebholz Ripe Riesling

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

Rebholz Riesling vom Buntsandstein Spätlese trocken 2003
Pfalz, Germany

Yellow-gold colour…the vintage was HOT…so to find a wine with this cool style…minerals galore..and a trace of petroleum…some lime..steeliness..this wine reminded of the Trimbach style from Alsace….very good for the vintage and a wine I will look for again in a ‘better’ vintage…
Rebholz wines need time..and to stop you and I drinking TOO early..he releases them later…
Points 17.25

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Italian Pick of The Week, 7/07/08

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Terre Nera 2005 “Calderara Sottana”, Etna DOC, Sicilia

The volcanic soils of the Etna DOC, like those created by the ancient activity of Campania’s Vesuvio, impart to its wines an expression of southern Italian power and flavor. The zone’s climate is unusual for Sicily - cooler, with above average moisture, more continental than arid Mediterranean.

That makes it prime real estate for Nerello Mascalese, an aromatic and spicy, deeply black grape that is also found in Faro DOC blends. Terre Nera’s unfiltered wine has an added touch of Cappuccio. It is fresh and complex with layers of dark berries and well defined fruit flavors, mostly black cherries and plum. The varietal aromatics of herbs and spices are enhanced by alternating scents of smoke and damp mushroomy earth.

This is a style of wine we don’t see enough of from Sicily - on the mark and true to its origins. As the island’s producers continue to hone their Old-New World crossover profile, it’s satisfying to find a wine of authenticity.

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

The July 2008 Newsletter

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Our July Top Picks, a 50% Off Sale, and so much more after the jump…

The Wine School of Philadelphia
The July 2008 Newsletter

Wine Program Logo

It’s time to register for the Fall!

Check out the schedule here.

philadelphia skyline photoPhilacation? Its better than a $*&# “staycation”

MSNBC just picked up our press release on wine classes & the economy. I am not surprised, since the media has been fixated on the phrase “staycation” for a few months now. I

For everyone who are are coming to the school instead of taking a proper vacation. I have issued a sale on a few new classes we posted (see above and to the right). Use the extra cash and make it a full evening.

To make it a full night, I would suggest heading over to the Northern Italian BYO L’Oca across the street after class. The food been remarkable lately. Make sure to tell them you are coming from the Wine School.

If you are interested in taking our Old City classrooms at Pinot Boutique and Fosters Homeware, I suggest dining at Chloe on Arch Street after class.

If you happen to take a class on Saturday, Another cool thing to do is take a tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary a block from the School’s Fairmount location.

Enjoy the summer!

Keith
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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Italian Pick of The Week, 6/30/08

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Dino Illuminati 2005 “Ilico”, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC

Montepulciano is one of those Rodney Dangerfield grapes, the kind that get no respect. It can be a crowd pleaser for its pronounced, rounded fruitiness and soft tannins. A modest grape not prone to steal the spotlight from Sangiovese for example. Always there, usually reliable, drinkable if not remarkable.

In recent years, as is the case with many of Italy’s stalwart varietals, Montepulciano has begun to reverse its middle of the pack profile. One of the producers responsible for this change in perception is Dino Illuminati. Half of his 150 acres in the Contraguerra zone of northern Abruzzo are dedicated to the region’s most prolific grape. The south-southwest facing vineyards are enhanced by a mild, semi-maritime climate.

While many Abruzzese versions still come off as rustic and rough, Illuminati’s wine has an elegant flair and refinement. Smoky scents wind around ripe berries and mountain flowers. The requisite plummy lushness and depth of fruit are there, folding into a mild, balanced finish that features a touch of licorice.

Adjectives such as plummy, lush and mild can sound like an unintended damning with faint praise, but the overall satisfaction and pleasure in the glass vault “Ilico” several steps above ordinary.

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Wines of The World,for Water For People, 6/25/08

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Gunderloch 2005 Riesling, Rheinhessen (GER)
Steenberg 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia (SAfr.)
Concho y Toro Marques de Cas Concha 2006 Chardonnay, Pirque (CH)
Falesco 2005 Merlot, Umbria (IT)
Faiveley 2003 Mercurey 1er Cru, Nuits-St.-Georges, Burgundy (FR)
Truchard 2001 Syrah, Carneros (CA)
Ch. Haut-Bernasse 2005 Cotes de Bergerac, Dordogne (FR)
Cat Walk 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley (AU)

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Sexy Snails

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

Two snails mating in the garden….ah..back in the days..they would have ended in the pan………the French ate everything…this time they were ‘disposed’ of……..
The sight of copulating was not the reason to open a sexy Pinot Noir…..a recent article in ‘Wein Gourmet’..all about the Graubünden area of Switzerland..had meant I ordered a 3 bottle set from Eichholz…owner is Irene Grünenfelder who started out in 1995…and learned at George Schlegel’s vineyard..and was advised by the King Of Switzerland..Gantenbein. The other two bottles are a Pinot Noir ‘Eichholz’ 2006..the big brother of the one below..and a Sauvignon Blanc 2007. All were highly recommended by the magazine.
Weingut Grünenfelder Pinot Noir 2006
Jenins, Graubünden, Switzerland
Shiny cherry red…light purple rim….intense spicy plum nose at first….then strong cassis…quite dominant….very up-front. More elegance on the palate…feminine style..touch of sour cherries…mineral notes..charming
Points 17…looking forward to trying the top wine ‘Eichholz’

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Call Me Don

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

I am a godfather (The Don Corleone of Wine?)…2 times actually..one is my niece in England..and the other is here in Germany..Merle is her name…’little stinky’(my name for her)..is on the right. She and her sister (Lisa)…and their parents..came over and we barbecued….wonderful evening..fascinating to see youngsters evolve..Merle is 2 years ‘older’ than her birth certificate..and understands my wicked sense of humour..no choice really..I was ‘chosen’ before she ever got asked. The parents Christiane and Flo..like wine…and a bottle of the Zalwander followed the white…
Dönnhoff Weissburgunder trocken 2007
Nahe, Germany

I have to be honest..I am not a big fan of the grape in Germany…nice wines..but usually leave me saying…don’t ring us..we’ll ring you! Nice to say then..that this was delicious. Soft and creamy..quite full..with an elegant style..and nice acidity..keeping it lively..minerals evolve on the tongue…perfect for a warm summer evening.
Points 16.25
€ 11.50

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

The Three R’s

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories


The three R’s..back in school..used to be Reading, (W)riting & (A)rithmatic.
More to my liking nowadys are Rheingau, Rebholz & R…which means this is a Grosses Gewächs.
Rebholz is a dynamic young grower….probably the best in the Pfalz…

NB: Background to the wine is a new book ‘Weinatlas Deutschland’…as far as I know only in German as yet….essential….the best book on German wine..hopefully an English version will become available for you ‘foreigners’.
Ökonomierat Rebholz Spätburgunder ‘R’ 2003
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

This spent 20 months in new French and Pfälzer oak.
Spicy….sour cherries and cream on the nose…clear spicy fruit is the first taste impression….thick for a Spätburgunder…intensive, dark,even brooding..showing it’s muscles….on the palate..quite soft though..but very firm tannins…my guess I am catching this when it is just becoming drinkable…a whiff of mushrooms..this reminded me of some of the mid-Spain reds….very untypical compared to any other Pinot’s from Germany.
Points 17.75..but will no doubt get better and better

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

American Wine Values, June 20th

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

First Flight: The Pacific NorthWest
1. A to Z 2006 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley (OR)
2. Bergevin Lane Vineyards 2005 Viognier, Columbia Valley (WA)

Second Flight: All About the Fruit
1. Summers 2005 Charbono, Napa Valley (CA)
2. Seghesio 2005 Zinfandel, Sonoma County (CA)

Third Flight: The Unexpected
1. French Hill 2002 Barbera “Grand Reserve,” Sierra Foothills (CA)
2. Rabid Wines 2004 Rabid Red (CA)

Fourth Flight: Rhone-Inspired
1. Edmunds St. John 2003 Red Wine, Paso Robles (CA)
2. Io 2002 Syrah, Santa Maria Valley (CA)

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Italian Pick of The Week, 6/24/08

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Benini 2006 “Sassotondo”, Maremma Toscana IGT

The Tuscan Maremma is becoming the place to go for lighter, softer reds, a contrast to earthy Chianti Classico and brooding Brunellos. In the airy hills of Grosseto province Sangiovese is known as Morellino, which has become a popular alternative to other wines from the hundreds of Sangiovese permutations.

Morellino is not the only grape in town. Ciliegiolo is so named for aromas and pigmentation reminiscent of cherries. For many years it was a minor blending varietal, its low level of acidity and docile nature a counterweight for fuller, more tannic wines.

“Sassotondo” (circle of stones) is a blend of 90% Ciliegiolo and 10% Alicante from the Pitigliano region. It spends no time in barrel and very little in bottle, giving it freshness and enhancing the already fruity, soft characteristics of the grape. Cherries predominate on the nose and in the mouth, joined by darker fruit and a touch of peppery spice mid-palate. Mild tannins add just enough dryness to offset cedary smoothness, leading to an unfiltered finish that maintains the overall sense of roundness.

Memorable? Probably not. But just what summer calls for as a complement to lighter pasta dishes or white meats either grilled or roasted.

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

A Sheep, A Dog & Crazy Joe

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

We GBWT’s (Great Blogging Wine Tasters) all have good taste…we know what a good wine is…but once in a while..we agree to differ…
How can I explain better..let try this..
I love women…(sorry darling..liked)…no..it won’t work unless I say love…men love women…but we all have our own taste…actually..some women love women..and some men love men…this is getting confusing…and then there are sheep…
Which reminds me of a story.
Shipwrecked..a man, a sheep & a sheepdog find themselves on a desert island.
They live happily together for a few weeks. One night..on the beach..as the sun goes down..the man has urges…he moves over to the sheep and puts his arm round it…a loud Grrrrrrr from the dog makes him quickly remove it. He tries again over the next couple of night..no luck. A few weeks later..another ship goes down nearby..and a woman arrives on the island. Now..at this part of the story..you can add your own example…mine..here in Germany..is Dolly Dollar..a blown up Barby..with fish lips and Michelin tyre breasts..you get the picture?. Anyway..she arrives..and they all live happily together for a few days. One night..yes..you’ve guessed it….beach, sun….etc.. and the man turns to the woman and says…
‘Dolly..I have been here a while..and a man has urges…I haven’t had sex for ages…can I ask a favour?’. Dolly’s eyes light up..’Yes, how can I help?.. ‘Well’, says the man..’would you mind taking the dog for a walk?!!’
How does it end?…The dog and Dolly run off together ( swim actually)..the others are rescued by a Captain Shepherd..who also takes a fancy to the sheep….and the man..well..he starts writing a blog about wine.
Which brings me nicely back to the start…
Crazy Joe drank a wine a while ago..an Aligoté.. or as I called it..an Ali Goat..but we’ve had sheep so I’ll stop here.
He loved it…gave it 18 points…I bought 1000 bottles (fibbing here..was only 12)…I tried a couple of bottles..ended up in hospital ( fibbing again)…and after cooking most of it..now have only one left in my cellar. If the sheep hadn’t run off..I’d have used it to marinate…
His ‘woman’ was not my taste in this case.
Joe recently posted about a wine..another 18 pointer…which I was able to purchase…( see..I never lost faith in him)
Chateau La Nerthe Blanc 2004
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone

Full notes are here….JOE

A blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Roussanne and Clairette, most of which are rarely seen outside of France. Its haunting nose changed constantly over the evening, with notes of creamy custard, quince, lychee, spring flowers, lemon peel, wet stones and some gentle oakiness – an interesting greenness (wet ferns?) as well. Stunning on the palate – opulent, with a nice oily texture, lemony cream flavours and a nice bitter finish – so unusual, I’d almost use “rustic” if the wine wasn’t SO elegant and polished.
I would only add that I caught some freshly peeled walnuts on the nose…and I love Rousanne..(that’s a grape darling…so put down that frying pan!)
A delicious wine….Joe is back on my Xmas list..and I won’t tease him again about the goat.

Points 17.75
PS…If Joe liked this so
much..then I have no hesitation in recommending a woman Hildegard

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Wine Education for the Homeless

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

My friend Sven sent over this great cartoon from the comic blog Toothpaste for Dinner. In the current economy, I think this may be a good market for the Wine School to capture.

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Who’s the Wine Snob Anyway?

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Sure, we’ve all seen them.  Turning their noses up at what they perceive to be merely average or inferior wines, the so-called wine snob is as much of a fixture in wine culture as cork in a bottle.  Hey, everyone is entitled to their opinions.  Let’s face it, in many ways the wine enthusiast community almost counts on the wine snob to set an outer boundary for objectivity and reason.  The sun rises in the east, it never rains in Southern California, and anything other than a first or second growth Bordeaux simply just won’t do.  Okay, fine.  To each his own.  We know how to deal with all that.

However, I find more and more that snobbery in the wine world comes just as much from those who restrict their wine choices to the “value wine” category as it is known in the industry.  On the one hand, varietal wines priced $6 and under represent a solid 50% or better of the American wine buying market.  So, it’s really not all that strange to imagine that there would be at least a few people with some strong opinions amongst a group of that massive size.  The sun rises in the east, man it pours in California, and that one red wine is good stuff so no need to get anything else.  Again, to each his own.

In many cases it’s not so much about an attitude of “more for your money” as it is about tradition and the comfort of knowing what you are getting.  Whatever your wine traditions and preferences may be, that’s at least a concept that we can all appreciate, and isn’t that really the point of enjoying wine?  Drink what you like, explore whatever new things you want, and if you don’t like a glass of wine you’ve been handed, pass it along.  Odds are someone else will enjoy it.  Indeed, the sun rises in the east, but no matter what there’s no need to be a wine snob.
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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

I Heart Charbono: Summers 2005 Charbono, Napa Valley (CA)

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

Yes, the mercury has risen, the muggies are threatening, and the food most of us crave has likely become lighter. So why extol the virtues of a wine of only moderate acidity, low tannin, and pronounced, round fruit?

Because it’s good. Really good. And that’s why you drink wine in the first place, right?

I was recently reminded of why I love this grape so much upon opening a bottle of the Summers 2005 Charbono from California’s Napa Valley. This is a wine of gorgeous lush berry fruit, a texture more akin to the velvet of something with far more bottle age than one with only three years on it, and a subtle sense of mushroomy earth underlying it all that gives it a sense of depth and demands another sip. And another. And then another.

And why not? It’s summertime, after all.

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Summertime Wines, Thursday, June 18th

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

First Flight
1. Nino Franco NV Prosecco “Rustico,” Valdobbiadene (IT)

Second Flight
1. Weingut Hofer 2005 Grüner Veltliner, Freiberg (AT)
2. Turkey Flat Vineyards 2007 Rosé, Barossa Valley (AU)

Third Flight
1. Summers 2005 Charbono “Villa Andriana Vineyard,” Napa Valley (CA)

Fourth Flight

1. El Curato 2005 Toro (SP)
2. Château Bouscassé 2003 Madiran (FR)

Fifth Flight
1. Las Pizarras del Jalón 2005 Garnacha “Viñas Viejas,” Catalyud (SP)
2. L’Hiver 2005 Syrah, Mendocino County (CA)

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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

Sons Of Haag

Submitted by Barry’s Wine Notes & Memories

After the Lieser..with one of Wilhem Haag’s sons…here is his own vineyard now run by son Oliver Haag who has taken over from father and the quality has continued. He learned by Helmut Dönnhoff in the Nahe…not a bad schooling!
This is from the Juffer vineyard..the Juffer Sonnenuhr is still waiting for a cork pull….
Fritz Haag Brauneberg Juffer
Riesling Kabinett 2007

Mosel, Germany
Elegant style…dry Kabinett compared to some of the recent wines…aromatic…dances over the tongue..8.5% alcohol meant this bottle emptied quickly…vibrant wine…that started out with pear and grapes on the nose..less spritz than the Lieser…clean finish with just the right amount of sweetness.
Points 16.25 € 11

Text Color
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Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]

What Would Giovanni Drink?

Submitted by Wine Reviews from the Wine School

While the Wine School’s Hardy Boys wre laying waste to Spain’s porcine population yours truly was engaged in exhaustive research concerning patterns of wine consumption among Italians. Specifically, what will they be drinking as the solstice creeps over the Apennines.

My unscientific poll among winemakers, barristas, resterateurs and enoteca proprietors traversed Tuscany, meandered along the Adriatic from Rimini to Pescara, and wound through the hinterlands of Abruzzo to Rome….and yielded no consensus. Nor did a perusal of lists in a dozen or so wine bars, most of which were representative of their particular region. Which left personal observation and casual conversation as the most fruitful methods. Italians will talk wine as long as it doesn’t interfere with actually drinking the wine.

Generally speaking, they favor red wines and imbibe them year round, especially in Tuscany. They will, however, substitute lowered alcohol, less heat inducing whites as July and August descend on the peninsula So…some white wines that were shared and discussed along the way..usually accompanied by cuisine typical of the area (shocking, I know…food and wine in Italy). Whether Giovanni will be emptying these bottles or not, I certainly intend to.

Castello delle Sale 2006 “Conte delle Vipara”, Umbria IGT…..intensely fruuity and aromatic Sauvignon with a tad of Chardonnay that adds style and structure without sacrificing liveliness.

Santa Barbara 2007 “Pignocco”, Castelli di Jesi DOC….single vineyard, varietally correct Verdicchio. Not overwhelming or intense, but has definitive flavors of lemon backed by minerality and that tell tale bitter almond finish.

Careglio 2006 Arneis, Roero DOC….Fruits laced with honey - peaches, apple, pear. Textbook Roero lime and citrus blossoms highlighting the grape’s best qualities.

Cantine Sirch 2007 Ribolla Gialla, Collio DOC…Lively and youthful with spices, citrus, herbs carrying the fruit, all of it backed by mineral freshness.

San Filippo Fanti 2006 “Macchiarelle”, Sant’Antimo Bianco DOC…Trebbiano, soft and unassuming, the taste as bright as the yellow-verdant color, all summer flowers and young herbs.

Piero Mancini 2007 “Cucaione”, Vermentino di Gallura DOCG…Tropical fruit and Sardinian “macchia”, typical aromatics and good acidity. Clean and crisp, maintains the fruit throughout on a background of saline minerals and native flowers.

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