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