#SnoothPVA: South African Wine Lunch

Hello Friends,

Following an enjoyable and informative Wine of Austria Master Class, we jumped on a bus and headed to the Institute of Culinary Education for a South African Wine Pairing Luncheon hosted by Wines of South Africa. Going into this tasting, I had familiarity with some of the region’s refreshing Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc wines as well as Pinotage – a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut that is largely unique to South Africa. As a matter of fact, a few years ago I hosted a ‘Pinotage Party’ on Twitter with fellow wine blogger @BrainWines to draw attention to the often misunderstood and underrated grape variety.

South African Wine Lunch

South Africa has a long wine growing history dating back over three centuries. However, at a time when other new world wine regions were advancing, South Africa’s wine industry was set back by apartheid (1948-1994). In response, trade sanctions were imposed, preventing South African wines from being imported into the U.S. and other markets. Since that time, South African wine has experienced a renaissance of sorts and is growing in popularity. "Chenin Blanc is no longer called Steen and varietals such as Syrah are taking their rightful place among the world’s finest," said the folks at Snooth. Adding that, “ Pinotage ... the black sheep of the vitis vinifera family, is finding new appreciation as producers begin to understand how to coax the most from each variety in South Africa’s famously complex soils.”

Curry Mussels

Our lunch, prepared by Chef Hugo Uys, who has experience with the flavors of South Africa, consisted of traditional cuisine. Everything served was delicious -- so much so that I cleaned every plate that was put before me. There were also several wines on the tasting sheet I found agreeable – particularly the red blends that I do not see too much of on store shelves here in Virginia.  

Smoked Ostrich

Wines and dishes of note start with a refreshing flute of Graham Beck Brut N.V. (SRP $18). This is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that’s crisp, clean, and versatile and priced just under the $20 sweet-spot for wine consumers. It is also widely available nationally, so check with your local wine shop for a bottle. The bubbles paired nicely with the curry mussels dish (with lychees, shallots, white wine and dry sherry, in a curry emulsion), which was an extremely pleasing and flavorful dish. 

Boekenhoutskloof  ‘The Chocolate Block’ 

Our entrée, and a first for me, was a delectable smoked ostrich dish with roasted root vegetables, gorgonzola mousse, herb port reduction, homemade sultana/apricot chutney, and an oven-baked spicy potato chip. It had a texture (even taste) that I would liken to beef (not chicken like everything else) and paired well with a few of the red blended wines we had an opportunity to taste.  Some of the reds enjoyed were a 2008 Kanonkop Paul Sauer (SRP $42); a Bordeaux-style blend comprised of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Merlot. This wine shows aromas and flavors of ripe red and dark berry fruit, plum, smoke, and anise alongside hints of leather and floral perfume with a full-bodied velvety texture. The 2010 Boekenhoutskloof  ‘The Chocolate Block’ (SRP $34), a blend of 72% Syrah, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Grenache Noir, 6% Cinsaut and 2% Viognier, exhibits a superbly ripe, luscious, and silky smooth profile with well-integrated barrel character made complete by a solid acid backbone. The 2009 Glenelly "Lady May" (SRP $49.99), a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot is a polished wine that flirts with elegance and finesse showing a dark fruit core with moderate complexity, a juicy mid-palate, and a lengthy finish. 

Tipsy Tart

For the sweet ending, we enjoyed a scrumptious and lip-smacking Tipsy Tart (tart soaked in rooibos infused brandy, vanilla ice cream and a brandy date syrup) with a splash 2010 Ken Forrester ‘T’ Late Harvest (SRP $54.99, 375ml). This tasty golden colored wine is 100% Chenin Blanc with rich aromas of dried apricot, fig, floral honey, and tropical overtones with balanced acidity. In closing, this was a wonderful (and memorable) experience that opened my eyes to new cuisine as well as several (premium) expressive red blended wines. I had such a nice time that I plan on finding several of these wines and some ostrich fillets and recreating this delightful experience (as best I can) for a few friends. Cheers! 

Read what others are saying about the South African Wine Lunch :

Benito's Wine writes "Snooth PVA: Wines of South Africa"

Avvinare writes "South African Wines Continue to Excite Me"

Wine Julia writes "Wines of South Africa with Lunch"

Backyard Feathered Friends: Black-capped Chickadee

Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends! Disclosure: This trip was provided by Snooth. Thoughts are my own.

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Robert Mondavi Winery tasting with CellarPass

Hello Friends,

I recently had an opportunity to join the good folks over at CellarPassTV for a live virtual tasting with Robert Mondavi Winery. CellarPassTV, who I have done previous tastings with, is an informative (weekly) live wine broadcast where some of California’s top winemakers, winery owners, and people in the food and wine industry are interviewed by host Sarah Elliman. Their website, CellarPass.com, is a leading destination for online winery reservations that’s well worth checking out if you’re thinking about visiting California wine country.

The Tasting Lineup

This broadcast featured special guest, Chef Jeff Mosher, and was recorded from the Robert Mondavi Winery kitchen. Chef Mosher prepared two dishes that sounded amazing to pair with the Robert Mondavi Winery 2010 Unoaked Chardonnay and Stags Leap District 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. Since Robert Mondavi Winery was one of the first producers to promote tours, arts, and culinary programs, it was quite fitting for CellarPassTV to do their first wine and food pairing segment from the winery’s kitchen. Sarah, the chef, and Rich Arnold, who focuses on white wine production, later enjoyed the marriage of food and wine from Robert Mondavi’s beautiful (special event) vineyard room. Click here (Part I, Part II) to watch the video recordings. The segments are fairly informative and may give you some pairing ideas for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. See my review of the wines below. Cheers!

Robert Mondavi 2010 Unoaked Chardonnay

1) Robert Mondavi Winery 2010 Unoaked Chardonnay (SRP $32): While unoaked, this Chardonnay undergoes (partial) malolactic fermentation and sur lie aging, which gives it a moderate richness and luscious texture, yet retains a good amount of brightness and balanced acidity. In the glass, it shows aromas and flavors of soft tree fruit with refreshing hints of orange blossom and shy floral notes. It really comes into its own around cellar temperature (55°F); highlighting its moderately curvaceous figure and vibrant food-partnering acidity. I enjoyed this wine on its own and with grilled tilapia the following day. This is a winery exclusive selection that can only be found at the tasting room or winery website. 1,224 cases of this wine were produced. Click here to find this wine.

Robert Mondavi Stags Leap 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

2) Robert Mondavi Winery Stags Leap District 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $85): Nicely crafted and deeply colored, full-bodied wine displaying succulent red and blueberry fruit aromas/flavors with black currant, mocha notes, and a light dusting of sage and sweet baking spice. Velvety textured, it shows a sense of elegance with refined tannins, lovely acidity and a pleasant lasting finish. It’s drinking well now but the overall structure and acidity provides potential and longevity. This selection can only be found at the winery or the Robert Mondavi website. 679 cases were produced. Click here to find this wine.

Image from my visit to Robert Mondavi Winery

Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends! Disclosure: These wines were received as a media sample for an event. Thoughts are my own.

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#SnoothPVA: Wines of Austria Master Class

Hello Friends,

My last day in Manhattan for Snooth’s People Voice Wine Awards started off with a 'Wines of Austria Master Class.' This event, dubbed “The Many Faces of Grüner Veltliner,” was led by Master Sommelier Aldo Sohm, who also had a wine in the tasting lineup. It was still mid-morning, but a vibrant and refreshing variety like Grüner Veltliner, in my opinion, was a good way to kick-start the day. Besides, I was very interested in getting to know Grüner’s many faces and styles a bit better.

Wines of Austria Master Class

Grüner Veltliner is Austria's flagship (indigenous) white grape variety and the nation's most widely planted wine grape (red or white). Some Grüner Veltliner, however, is being replaced by Zweigelt – Austria’s most widely planted red grape variety that produces fairly light-bodied, red fruit-filled wines with soft tannins. Austria is located in central Europe and borders Germany. Unlike Germany, however, the region generally produces wines that are drier in style and has a climate that can be likened to Burgundy (warmer than Germany). This bodes well for some of Austria’s fuller-bodied red grape varieties (e.g., Blaufränkisch) that ripen late and require the warmth and longer growing season to fully develop ripe and complex flavors.

All ready to go!

Up until this tasting, I was largely familiar with one-to-two faces of Grüner Veltliner – namely examples that are fresh and sleek with a range of tree, citrus, and stone-fruit aromas and flavors, brisk acidity, and a distinct underlying spicy character (particularly white pepper). Selections like these are typically under $15 and I’ve found them in the past at a few nearby wine shops. The first two wines we started off the tasting with -- a 2011 Pfaffl Austrian Pepper (SRP $13.99) and 2011 Stadlmann (SRP $15.99) -- were both delightful and resembled the style of Grüner Veltliner I was more accustomed to – with the latter having a pleasant mineral edge.

Enjoying 'The Many Faces of Grüner Veltliner'

Before the tasting started, there was one question I had after reviewing the tasting sheet. I was curious to find out the difference between, let’s say a $10 Grüner Veltliner versus an example that’s $30 or more (besides $20 or so dollars). Unlike Chardonnay, for example, with Grüner Veltliner you can typically remove expense factors like pricey new French oak barrels from the final equation. The more I sniffed and sipped my way through the wines, the answer to my question (which I hadn’t asked yet) was becoming quite apparent. Austria has a wide variety of soil types, including mineral-rich, rocky soils – as conveyed to us in detail by Master Sommelier Aldo Sohm. Clearly, these rock-based soil types in particular, seem to bring out a more interesting, more mineral-driven – even a (fairly) rich -- rendition of Grüner Veltliner (though the richness may have more to do with the wine-making). Additionally, many vineyards are trending organic and biodynamic with minimal intervention in the cellar in a quest to craft terroir-driven wines that reflect the land and vintage.

 Master Sommelier Aldo Sohm

Some wines of note were Aldo’s interesting and tasty (limited production) 2011 Sohm and Kracher (SRP $38), which was delicate with a lovely texture, boasting lime, citrus peel, hay, and a touch of spice with a firm mineral acidity. A different side of Grüner Veltliner came through in a bottle of 2011 Prager Stockkultur (SRP $90). This selection shows expressive and ripe tropical and stone-fruit aromas/flavors with a (fairly mouth-filling) richness that’s balanced with fresh acidity and a touch of sweetness in the lengthy finish. Even a little more unique, yet quite enjoyable, was the 2011Veyder Marlberg Kreutles (SRP $30), which offers a pleasant tropical core followed by nuances of spice, fennel seed, and a pretty floral perfume component with an agreeable citrus based, yet mineral laced, refreshing acidity. Another nice example came by way of a bottle of 2011 F.X. Pichler Smaragd Dürnsteiner Liebenberg. This wine is well-balanced with (focused) tree fruit and sweet floral tones alongside citrus hints, (exotic) spice and mineral notes with a beautiful texture, good depth of flavor, and a crisp, medium-length stony finish.

Primary rock is abundant

In closing, I did discover several very likeable -- and even age-worthy -- (new) faces of Grüner Veltliner that I was not completely familiar with that I plan on revisiting in the near future. With warmer weather ahead, don’t pass up on a versatile, food-friendly, and (generally) pocket-friendly wine like Grüner Veltliner to satisfy your spring and summertime sipping needs. Cheers!

Read what other wine bloggers are saying about the Wines of Austria:

Benito's Wine writes "Snooth PVA: Wines of Austria"

VineSleuth writes "Gruner Veltliner: A Delicious Puzzle"

The Reverse Wine Snob writes "Gruner Love Featuring the Stadlmann"

Jameson Fink writes "High Line Park and Gruner Veltliner"

Vindulge writes "So you think you know Grüner"

Wine Julia writes "SnoothPVA: Terroir Driven Grüner ..."

V.I.P Table writes "My 2013 Vinous Revelation: Grüner Veltliner"

Backyard Feathered Friends: The American Goldfinch

Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends! Disclosure: This trip was provided by Snooth. Thoughts are my own.

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05.13.2013 Wine Reviews: Martin & Weyrich, Macchia Wines, and Gann Family Cellars

Hello Friends,

I know you would never believe this, but I uncork or unscrew a new wine adventure just about every day. Being a wine enthusiast, a wine blogger, and someone who thoroughly appreciates and enjoys the liquid expression of a place, a person’s vision, and Mother Nature’s influence, I often tell people that wine is one of the most intriguing beverages in the world. It’s a hobby where there is always something new to taste and learn as well as great people to meet in real life or via those wonderful social media portals called Facebook and Twitter.

Pouring the Martin & Weyrich Pink Moscato Allegro

Below are a few of my recent sips accompanied by my tasting notes and a picture I snapped of each bottle. All three of these wines are from California with two being appellation specific (Lodi and Russian River Valley). With the seasonal warmth upon us, I know many of you will be inviting friends and family over and firing up the grill. These three wines have the potential to complement your backyard cookout. Check this out! The Martin & Weyrich is a nice quaffing wine to kick-start the evening. While the Macchia will partner up with the baby-back ribs and burgers you pull off the grill. Last but not least, save room for a tasty liquid dessert with the Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc from Gann Family Cellars. Variety, so they say, is the spice of life, so keep an open mind and an open palate and enjoy the experience. Drink well, my friends!

Martin & Weyrich 2011 Pink Moscato Allegro

1) Martin & Weyrich 2011 Pink Moscato Allegro (SRP $12): I’ve read numerous places that Moscato is an extremely popular nightclub wine. But, since I’ve long retired my dancing shoes and glittery (MJ) glove; I have to find other things to throw at it besides a dance floor. In my experience, mildly spicy ethnic cuisine works quite well with Moscato. The residual sugar (that helps to make most examples accessible to the masses) tempers the heat and the acidity (assuming the wine is cloyingly sweet) cleanses the palate and preps you for another bite. A well-balanced Moscato can also be used as an aperitif to kick-start your evening. This example is slightly sweet with a light effervescence and is filled with vibrant red fruit flavors that are accented by orange blossom and a (subtle) flinty component towards the back end. Good balancing acidity, especially towards the finish, gives it a nice and needed lift. Overall, this is a refreshing and crowd-pleasing wine that won’t break the piggy bank. And since it is 8% ABV, you can have an extra glass or two. Click here to find this wine.

Macchia Amorous 2011 Sangiovese

2)  Macchia Amorous 2011 Sangiovese (SRP $22): I had an opportunity to taste this for a Snooth virtual wine event featuring select Lodi, California wine producers. This wine is full-bodied with a nice mix of ripe red and blue fruit aromas and flavors with sweet oak, cocoa powder, (subtle) hickory smoke, and mocha cream and brown spice notes. It’s round and smooth on the palate with middling acidity and a pleasant medium-length finish chock-full of ripe fruit and baking spice. This is a good bottle to pair with a backyard barbeque (hint-hint) and good friends on a gorgeous spring or summer day. Click here to find this wine.

Gann Family 2005 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

3) Gann Family Cellars 2005 Late Harvest (Russian River Valley, CA) Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $30, 375ml): This tasty dessert wine is a result of a vintage that produced more good quality Sauvignon Blanc fruit than expected. Some of the fruit developed “noble rot” and the result is this golden colored, well-balanced late harvest wine. In the glass, this sweet treat exudes inviting aromas of dried stone fruit, grapefruit, a hint of floral perfume, and notes of tropical fruit and honey. The aromas extend to the (slightly) viscous textured palate with good balancing acidity and a fruit-driven, medium-length (lip-smacking) finish. Overall, it is a well-made dessert wine that despite some richness is quite light on its feet. I recommend enjoying it in small amounts after dinner for dessert. Click here to find this wine. 

Old Town Alexandria, Virginia

Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends!

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• Please Click Here to vote Dezel's My Vine Spot as your favorite wine blog - You can vote 1x per day!

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Dezel's My Vine Spot © 2006-2013. All rights reserved.

#SnoothPVA: White Wines of Italy

Hello Friends,

Italy is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. It is also one of the world’s largest wine producers. The ancient Greeks called southern Italy, Enotria, which means 'the land of wines.' From the northern tip to the southern toe of this boot-shaped country, this is very much still applicable today. With twenty wine regions, an uncountable number of wine producers, a myriad of wine styles, and over a thousand grape varieties planted, for some, the topic of Italian wine can be an intimidating endeavor. And I have not even begun to talk about how confusing some of the wine labels can be.

#SnoothPVA White Wines of Italy

Why even bother, right? Well, in a (very tiny) nutshell, here is why. Italy is an extremely diverse region with a wide variety of wines that are made in a broad range of styles. There's something for every palate! Many Italian wines, both white and red, have a pleasing food-friendly nature about them and are also reasonably priced – so no breaking the piggy bank to sip well. Even for someone well-versed in Italian wines; this diversified wine region provides an opportunity to “think outside the box" and possibly find a new favorite. Like with just about anything you take up in life, the more you learn and know about the subject, the more likely you are to enjoy and appreciate it. This holds true for wine too – especially wine regions that may initially come off as difficult to understand.

Giuseppe Capuano (l) and Gregory Dal Piaz (r)

Following a wonderful Ribera del Duero luncheon, I had an opportunity to attend a ‘White Wine of Italy Master Class.’ This event, a part of Snooth’s inaugural "People's Voice Wine Awards," was led by Giuseppe Capuano of Vias Imports Ltd. and Snooth's editor-in-chief, Gregory Dal Piaz. Clearly, we didn’t have time to cover all the country’s wines. Instead, we worked our way from north to south tasting select white wines from several different provinces. Below are short reviews of a few wines (some new to me) I enjoyed (or found interesting) during this informative event. The three common characteristics I found in all of the white wines we tasted were balance, [moderate] complexity, and food-friendliness. These wines, while delightful on their own, beg to be shared with friends, family, good conversation, and a delicious meal. In closing, please check out the links below and see what other wine writers who attended this event are saying. Cheers!

Keeping w/ the Italian theme I dined at Eatly. #Yum

Strasserhof 2011 Kerner Valle Isarco DOC (SRP $26.99): This is an interesting wine (in a good way) that comes from the Isarco Valley -- Italy's northernmost region. This was my first experience with the Kerner variety; a grape that’s a cross between Riesling and Trollinger. This wine shows nice floral notes and an inviting [sweet holiday baking] spice component with stone fruit and citrus peel aromas and flavors that are complemented by a lovely mineral acidity. Overall, a delightful, moderately complex wine that’s extremely food-friendly.

Nuraghe Crabioni 2011 Vermentino di Sardegna DOC (SRP $20.99): This wine hails from the island of Sardinia which lies in the central Mediterranean. Moderately complex aromas of lemon zest and melon with hints of fennel, ginger, and a touch of salinity give way to balanced flavors and a fresh acidity that persists through to the medium-length finish. Overall, an intriguing wine with a soft texture that offers nice complexity and satisfaction at the $20 “sweet-spot” price point. 

Terredora Terre di Dora 2011 Fiano di Avellino DOCG (SRP $23.99): Avellino is a DOCG within the Campania region of the southwestern portion of Italy. While this wine is probably not for everyone, this selection was one of the more interesting of the twelve wines tasted. It’s fully flavored with (very) restrained fruit and a generous amount of up-front (and throughout) mineral, earth, floral components, soy, spice notes, a mild nuttiness, and something that I likened to pungent cheese rind. On the palate, it’s soft and fairly round with middling acidity and a medium length finish. Overall, this is an interesting wine that may appeal to those who do not mind the fruit being the opening act for the more earth-and-mineral focused headlining band.    

Read what these bloggers are saying about the White Wines of Italy :

Snooth writes "PVA WHITE WINES OF ITALY SEMINAR"

The V.I.P Table writes "A Regional Tour of Italian Whites"

Wine Julia writes "Indigenous Varietal Italian White Wines "

Vindulge writes "Learning about the white wines of Italy"

The Reverse Wine Snob writes  "Exploring the White Wines of Italy"

Benito's Wine writes "il gran giro d’Italia con dodici vini bianchi"

Happy Sipping, my friends!

Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends! Disclosure: This trip was provided by Snooth. Thoughts are my own.

Click here to get my blog posts delivered to your inbox!

Live, Love, Laugh, Tweet, Sip, Enjoy!

• Please Click Here to vote Dezel's My Vine Spot as your favorite wine blog - You can vote 1x per day!

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Thanks for reading and please tell your wine-loving friends about the blog. Cheers!

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Dezel's My Vine Spot © 2006-2013. All rights reserved.

#SnoothPVA: Ribera del Duero Lunch at Salinas

Hello Friends,

Following a pretty nice Brazilian “liquid” breakfast, we packed our belongings and walked several blocks to Salinas restaurant for a Ribera del Duero luncheon. Salinas is located in the heart of Chelsea (Manhattan) and specializes in Spanish cuisine and tapas. Leading us through this tasting and luncheon were top sommelier and representative for Ribera del Duero, Roger Kugler, and Snooth's editor-in-chief, Gregory Dal Piaz.

Ribera del Duero: A Sea of Red Wine

Ribera del Duero is located in northern Spain and is divided by the Duero River; for which it is named. This is the same river that becomes the Douro River in Portugal and reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Ribera del Duero has a long winemaking tradition dating back to the Roman period. In 1982, the region achieved DO (Denominación de Origen) status, a regulatory [quality-control] classification system, and specializes almost exclusively in red wine produced from Tinto Fino/Tinta del País -- known to most of us as Tempranillo. As it relates to viticulture, Ribera del Duero is often called a land of extremes. Much of the region’s vine plantings are situated at fairly high altitudes and winters can be very severe while summers can be brutally hot with daily temperatures exceeding 100°. Over time, Tempranillo, a dark, thick-skinned grape variety, has proven that it can handle the intense heat and abundant sunshine and still mature properly and produce high-quality wines.  For this reason, Tempranillo accounts for 80% -- if not more -- of all plantings in the area.

Roger Kugler and Gregory Dal Piaz

Fortunately, for the wine grapes and the overall quality of the region’s prized Tempranillo-based red wines, diurnal summertime temperature swings (i.e., warm days/cool evenings) can be pretty significant. This climatic effect preserves the grape’s natural acidity which is needed to match the ripeness levels berries can achieve in such warm-to-hot conditions. The weather extremities in the region likely influence the lack of white wines. Though, there are plantings of a white grape variety called Albillo, that is mainly grown for local consumption. Other red grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec are also grown in the area and are generally used for blending. It’s important to note that a DO-recognized wine must have a minimum of 75% Tempranillo.

Ensalada De Jamon Con Peras

Snooth describes Ribera del Duero’s Tempranillo-based wines as “rich and powerful”-- adding -- “they are produced in a broad and appealing range of styles.” That’s true from my perspective too. My overall experience with Ribera del Duero has been along the lines of full-bodied, velvety-textured, robust red wines with (fairly) ripe fruit flavors, good supporting acidity, supple tannins and well-integrated (mainly American) oak.

Caldo De Temporada 

When I have Ribera del Duero in my glass, I’m generally thinking about grilled fare (or something similar). The good people at Salinas, who get high marks for both service and quality, put together a nice pairing menu for us that didn’t involve anything from the grill. Some of the pairings, which I probably would have not thought of (like the soup), were big hits among the group. Both the Caldo De Temporada (Galician style pumpkin-chicken soup with smoked bacon, chorizo, potato and broccoli) as well as the Costilla Al Vino Tinto (braised short ribs, confit potatoes and crispy leeks) paired nicely with many of the wines we had an opportunity to taste. The Ensalada De Jamon Con Peras (baby arugula, shaved Serrano ham, pear, manchego cheese, and vinaigrette), however, while delicious on its own, was overwhelmed by the wines – even the lightest of them all. Staying within Spain, my ideal pairing would have come from further west where a refreshing splash of Albariño from Riax Bias would have likely proven a nice match.

Costilla Al Vino Tinto

Over the course of the luncheon, we tasted everything from affordable and pleasurable everyday sippers to more concentrated and full-bodied wines that offered excellent length and depth with good complexity. Some of these, such as the 2001 Explotaciones Valduero (SRP $160) and 2001 Condado de Haza Alenza (SRP $100), really speak to the longevity of well-made Ribera del Duero wines and their ability to potentially improve over time. These two wines showed considerable layers of complexities and nuance with wonderful aromatics. At the under $20 “sweet spot,” selections like the 2011 Bodegas Barco de Piedra (SRP $15) and 2011 Bodegas Felix Callejo 'Flores de Callejo' (SRP $20), were ripe and fresh with good structure and offer satisfying midweek options for the dinner table that won’t break the piggy bank. For $40, the 2010 Bodegas Astrales showed power and charm with inviting black and purple stone fruit aromas/flavors with subtle red tones and pleasant, well-integrated barrel accents over a nice backbone of acidity and tannin.

Did I mention the delicious cheese platter? 

In closing, I highly recommend following @DrinkRibera and getting to know this region and their wines. And don’t let some of the high price tags I cited above fool you. Ribera del Duero offers very good values in red wines with many nice selections priced between $15 and $30. I recommend having a bottle or two nearby the next time you fire up the grill. Lastly, I encourage you to read the blogs of my #snoothpva friends below who also attended this lunch and wrote about their experience on their respective blogs. Many of them have reviewed all the wonderful Ribera del Duero wines we had an opportunity to taste alongside a very delicious Spanish-inspired tapas menu put together by Salinas restaurant. Cheers!

Read what others are saying about the Ribera del Duero Lunch :

Snooth writes "PVA RIBERA DEL DUERO"

Brunello Bob writes "Ribera del Duero Lunch -Salinas NYC"

The V.I.P Table writes "Ribera del Duero: Thriving through Adversity"

Wine Julia writes "Experiencing Spain in New York City..."

The Reverse Wine Snob writes  "Reveling in the Wine of Ribera..."

Benito's Wine Reviews writes "Snooth PVA: Ribera del Duero"

Vindulge writes "Wine and food are a great match for Ribera del Duero"

My backyard feathered friend: The Northern Cardinal

Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends! Disclosure: This trip was provided by Snooth. Thoughts are my own.

Click here to get my blog posts delivered to your inbox!

Live, Love, Laugh, Tweet, Sip, Enjoy!

• Please Click Here to vote Dezel's My Vine Spot as your favorite wine blog - You can vote 1x per day!

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04.24.2013 Wine Reviews: Fireside Winery, Boordy Vineyards, and Garfield Estates

Hello Friends,

I know you would never believe this, but I uncork or unscrew a new wine adventure just about every day. Being a wine enthusiast, a wine blogger, and someone who thoroughly appreciates and enjoys the liquid expression of a place, a person’s vision, and Mother Nature’s influence, I often tell people that wine is one of the most intriguing beverages in the world. It’s a hobby where there is always something new to taste and learn as well as great people to meet in real life or via those wonderful social media portals called Facebook and Twitter.

Fireside Vignoles, Chips, and Fresh Salsa

Below are a few of my recent sips accompanied by my tasting notes and a picture I snapped of each bottle. All three of these wines are from lesser-known US regions (Iowa, Maryland, and Colorado) and are reasonably priced. These are all relatively small producers so if you don’t live near or around them, visit their websites and get to know them a little better. Maybe even seek out their wines to share family and friends. I’m always surprising people with good quality wines from states like Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, etc. Variety, so they say, is the spice of life, so keep an open mind and an open palate and enjoy the experience. Drink well, my friends!

Fireside Winery 2011 ‘Iowa’ Vignoles 

1) Fireside Winery 2011 ‘Iowa’ Vignoles (SRP $12): Vignoles is a cold hardy variety that can be found throughout the Midwestern US. If memory serves me correctly, however, my first experience with Vignoles was when I visited the Finger Lakes, NY, several years ago. Jean Francois Ravat created this variety in 1930 by crossing Seibel 6905 and Pinot de Corton. His intent of making a ‘Burgundian- style’ white wine may not have panned out. But, the grape does produce a fairly bright wine with a generous amount of tropical fruit components whose high acidity tends to benefit from a kiss of residual sugar. This lightly sweet and juicy example from Fireside Winery, is 100% Iowa grown and offers tropical aromas and flavors with (freshly grilled) pineapple leading the way accompanied by hints of orange blossom and tangerine with good acid-sugar balance and a short-medium fruity finish. Overall, this is a simple yet satisfying wine that’s perfect for poolside or patio sipping this spring and summer. As you can tell from the picture, I enjoyed a glass with chips and fresh salsa while sitting out back bird watching. Click here to find this wine. 

Boordy Vineyards Landmark Series 2010 Chardonnay 

2) Boordy Vineyards' Landmark Series 2010 Chardonnay (SRP $13.99): This Chardonnay comes from Maryland’s first commercial winery -- established in 1945. For the money, my guests and I found this to be a pretty tasty wine – especially for the targeted style which was achievable in a warm year like 2010. The aromas and flavors lean tropical (pineapple, melon) with bright notes of citrus peel and lemon zest. The flavors are balanced by good supporting acidity over a medium weight frame with toasty oak accents and a light dusting of brown spice that persists throughout. Besides enjoying a glass with friends, I also paired a generous splash with salmon balls (which worked out nicely). I recently visited this producer as part of the 2013 Drink Local Wine conference and the whites and reds I tasted through were nice to very good. Be sure to add them to your ‘got to visit’ list if you’re in the area. Click here to find this wine. 

Garfield Estates 2009 Syrah 

3) Garfield Estates Vineyard and Winery 2009 Syrah (SRP $17): This is a small producer in Palisade, Colorado (Grand Valley AVA; about 4 hours west of Denver), that I had a chance to visit for the Drink Local Wine Colorado Wine conference last year. For me, this wine brings out niceties found in both cool-climate and warm-climate Syrah (and I personally enjoy both). It’s medium-bodied and smooth textured with a nice brightness about it. A pleasant red fruit entry leads to purple and blackberry fruit flavors alongside black pepper, delicate earthy tones and subtle gamy notes. The pepper and gaminess persists through to the savory medium-length finish. One thing that I know it pairs well with is rabbit! You see -- two days before the conference I enjoyed a bottle of this wine at Row 14 Bistro & Wine Bar (great food BTW) in downtown Denver with good company and a seriously delicious (local) rabbit dish. Overall, this is a nice wine at a fair price point with a built-in (and agreeable) food-partnering brightness (acidity) that I find in many Colorado red and white wines. Click here to find this wine. 

Image of my visit to Boordy Vineyards (Barrel Room)

Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends! 

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Thanks for reading and please tell your wine-loving friends about the blog. Cheers!

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Dezel's My Vine Spot © 2006-2013. All rights reserved.