March Wines of the Month

March Wines of the Month

.Tier One

($8-$15/bottle)

We just tasted some new organic wines from Chile. We really liked them.

Rafael and José Guilisasti were visionaries in the late 1990s when they converted their traditional, conventional Chilean winery to one that is 100% organic and biodynamic. They have an interesting interactive function on their website that shows how they use hens to control insects, cover crops to eliminate erosion and add nitrogen to the soil and more.

They also make really good wines!

The White

Emiliana Natura Sauvignon Blanc (Chile) $10.99 – This is a light, clear white wine that is refreshing and bright. Aromas of herbs, limes and grapefruit. The flavors are grapefruit and herbs. It’s crisp and clean. Well-balanced acidity. Organic, sustainable farming. Food pairing – seafood, salads, shellfish, goat cheese.

The Red

Emiliana Natura Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Chile) $10.99 – This is a tasty, soft, smooth Cabernet. Aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberries, blackberries with a touch of toast, vanilla and baking spices. This is full-bodied, but still quite smooth. Long, silky finish. Organic, sustainable farming. 20% of the wine is aged 6 months in French oak barrels. Food pairing – grilled steak, grilled pork chops or pork tenderloin, baby back ribs.

Tier Two

($15-$25/bottle)

We’ve been tasting A LOT of Austrian wines lately and we just tasted these 2 on Wednesday. We loved them!

Both of these wines are brought to the US by Terry Theise. Terry is the best importer going in terms of German and Austrian wines.

Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate calls Terry, “one of the Most Influential Wine Personalities of the Last 20 Years.” Wine & Spirits named Terry its “Man of the Year.”

“Food & Wine” named Terry its “Importer of the Year,” and had this to say about him, “No one man introduced Americans to more great wines they know they wanted than Terry Theise of Terry Theise Estate Selections….He made his name 20 years ago by coming one of the least fashionable wine regions (the Rheinpfalz) in one of the least fashionable wine-producing countries (Germany) and discovering….extraordinary producers.

In 1994, Terry became one of the first Americans to import Austrian wines.

The White

Schloss Gobelsburg Riesling “Gobelsburger” 2009 (Kamptal, Austria) $19.99 – This is a bone-dry Riesling. This is just a perfect combination of minerals, fruit and acidity. This has aromas of mint, limes and minerals. It’s juicy and almost bittersweet. This has salty notes to the minerals. Terry Theise considers this the best vintage yet from this producer. Michael "Michi" Moosbrugger breathed new life into an old monastic estate. The wines are excellent VALUES while consolidates his reputation. They won’t always be so moderately priced. This castle is first mentioned in a contract from 1074 AD. Kamptal is in northeastern Austrian near the Czech Republic. Food pairing – scallops, shellfish, poultry, ham. Wine & Spirits, “Top 100 Wineries, 2010”

The Red

Sattler St. Laurent 2009 (Burgenland, Austria) $19.99 – As soon as you open this and put it in a glass, you can smell the cherries. Med/light body. Spiciness. This has a beautiful silky, velvety texture. It’s almost creamy. The fruit is dry. If you look at Burgundy prices today and just sigh and shake your head, try this! Erich Sattler is a 4^th generation winemaker. "We make wine as my grandfather did," he says, "only with better machines." Saint Laurent is an offspring of the Pinot Noir grape. The winery is in eastern Austria just a few miles from the Hungarian border. Nearby Lake Neusiedl influences the weather – cooling the vineyards in the summer and warming them in the winter. This area is the hottest in Austria in the summer. Food pairing – pork chops, grilled chicken, pork tenderloin, duck, salmon. Black truffle burgers.

Tier Three

($25-$50/bottle)

The White

Back in November, I was lucky enough to have dinner at Havana South with Doug and Cat from SOPO, famed importer Bobby Kacher and a whole bunch of good customers. It was a great evening – excellent food, killer wines, great company.

This white was the hit of the evening!

Xavier Monnot Meursault Le Limozin Meursault 2007 (France) $49.99 – This has beautiful aromas of baked pears, pineapple, minerals, baking spices and a hint of smoke. Flavors of baked pears, baking spices, minerals and more. This has a great rich texture and weight in the mouth. “Le Limozin” comes from a single hectare (2.58 acres) vineyard that is adjacent to “Les Charmes” and “Les Poruzots.” Only 12 bottles came into Maine and I have them. Food pairing – roasted chicken, duck, fish.

The Red

This is one BIG, blockbuster wine!

Hess Collection Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (California) Reg. $48.99, Sale $39.99 – This is a big, flavorful Cab! Aromas and flavors of mocha, dark chocolate, brown sugar and blackberries. Fine-grained, soft tannins. Great length on the finish. 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec. Aged 21 months in 55% new French oak. Food pairing – grilled and roasted meats. Robust meals such as stews. Decanter Magazine, 3 stars