Wine Tasting, Saturday, Nov. 27th

Wine Tasting

Saturday, 11am-7pm

November 27th, 2010

10% off on all wine tasting wines!

The Whites:

Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco 2008 (Alto Adige, Italy) Reg. $17.99, Sale $15.99 - Outstanding white from NE Italy! Aromas of honey, green apples & peaches. Flavors of tart green apples, white grapefruit, and crisp pears. Dry, crisp and great minerals in the flavors. Medium-bodied & mouth-filling. Refreshing. Nice length on the finish. Zippy, tangy acidity. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged on the lees (the residue in the vat from the fermentation) for 3 months – this adds richness & complexity to the wines. This is drinking beautifully right now and will aged well for 2-4 years. Biodynamic & organic farming. Solar-powered winery. Food pairing – salads, asparagus, seafood of all kinds, pasta dishes.

R. Stuart & Co. Big Fire Pinot Gris 2009 (Oregon) $13.99 - This is a fabulous Pinot Gris! Delicious! Fresh and vibrant! Aromas of flowers, vanilla, apples and pears. Wonderful fruit and acidity in the flavors - apples, pears and vanilla. Crisp, vibrant finish! Rob Stuart was here in January and we were able to taste this with him (along with all his wines!). Great guy and great winemaker! 100% stainless steel fermentation. Food pairing - shellfish, creamy pasta dishes, light appetizers, spicier foods & sipping on its own. Great with spicy Thai dishes.

Montinore Borealis 2009 (Willamette Valley, Oregon) $11.99 – This is a delicious, fragrant Alsatian-style wine that reminds me also of Torrontes from Argentina. This has a lot of fruit and great acidity to balance that out. Aromas and flavors of melons, apples, pears and more. Blend of 45% Muller Thurgau, 24% Gewurztraminer, 18% Pinot Gris and 13% Riesling. Stainless-steel fermentation. Organic and biodynamic farming. Food pairing – smoked fish, seafood, lighter sausage meals, poultry.

The Reds:

A to Z Pinot Noir 2008 (Oregon) $19.99 - Wonderful Pinot! This is a great vintage from Oregon! Clear and vibrant with a beautiful dark color. Aromas of mixed berries, earth, smoke, violets, Asian spices and minerals. Flavors that mirror the aromas with a lush texture and good acidity. Long finish that shows this wine’s beautifully balance between richness & power, the wine possesses amazing depth and purity. Restrained use of oak – this wine sees about 9-10 months of aging before bottling. Food pairing - Great on its own. Try it with lobster, grilled chicken & pork, chicken salad, smoked salmon, grilled shrimp, sushi, gazpacho and more!

Mas de la Dame Les Baux de Provence Cuvée La Gourmande 2007 (France) $18.99 - This is a tasty wine! It tastes like Provence! Big, full-bodied, spicy, with notes of herbs. Deep, dark color. Big fruit in the nose & flavors. I tasted this 24 hours after it was first opened & it was great. When it was first opened it was tight with BIG tannins for the 1st hour. Certified organic & Biodynamic. Blend of 50% Grenache & 50% Syrah. Most importantly, it’s excellent wine! Food pairing - Great with grilled meats, roasts, mushroom dishes and just drinking! Decant this!

Falesco Vitiano Rosso 2008 (Umbria, Italy) $12.99 - This is, plainly put, a TASTY wine! An absolutely GREAT value!!! Deep ruby red color. Rich, fresh fruit aromas and flavors. Spicy, peppery finish. Well-balanced fruit and acidity. Medium-bodied. Just a classic Italian! Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend (equal parts). Aged 3 months in Nevers (French) oak. Food pairing – grilled meats, mushroom dishes, lasagna, spaghetti, roasts & flavorful aged cheese. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89 points, “…it’s almost too good to believe at this price”

J. Lohr “Wildflower” Vadiguié 2009 (California) $10.99 – This is a delicious wine from a little-known grape, Valdiguie. It’s bursting with berry fruit – boysenberries, cherries, cranberries and more. Soft, soft tannins. This drinks well on its own and with meals such as poultry, Asian food, ham and more!

Michel Torino “Cuma” Malbec 2009 (Argentina) $12.99 – This is a smooth, easy-drinking Malbec with soft tannins. No bite to this! Organically-grown grapes. Food pairing – steak, beef stew, lamb, robust meals. Drinks well without food as well.