Ricardo Santos Tasting

Ricardo Santos

And its winemaker,

Patricio Santos Wine Tasting!

Tuesday, Jan. 25th

5:00 – 7:00 pm

On Tuesday, we will have Patricio Santos in our store. Patricio is the son of the winery’s found. Today, he has taken over the winemaking role from his father. We will taste 5 wines with Patricio.

We will also taste 5 more wines from Chile that are brought into the United States by the same importer, Global Vineyard Importers.

Ricardo Santos Winery

• Family-owned winery in the Mendoza.
  
• Ricardo and Estela Santos own and run the winery with their two sons, Patricio and Pedro.
• Patricio is the winemaker and Pedro runs marketing.
  
• Ricardo Santos owner and winemaker at Argentina’s famed Norton Winery
• Ricardo Santos is the first to export Malbec to the United States over 30 years ago.
  

10% savings on all the tasting wines during the tasting! Or the week after!

The Wines

Patricio Santos’s wines:

Tercos is a relatively new winery founded by the Santos Brothers, Patricio and Pedro. Tercos means burro – the Santos Brothers have that burro-like stubbornness when it comes to making fine wine.

Whites

Tercos Torrontés (Argentina) $12.99 – Torrontés is the white wine grape most closely associated with Argentina. It is unique to that nation. Once, it was thought to be the same as Torrontés of Galicia. However, researchers have concluded that it was created in Argentina and is the product of two other varietals. The Torrontés from Salta Province is the best in Argentina. This is dry and refreshing with aromas and flavors of peaches, melons, tropical fruit, apples and grapefruit. Brisk acidity on the finish. Completely Unoaked. Brand new to Maine!

Ricardo Santos Old Vine Semillon 2009 (Argentina) $18.99 – Ricardo Santos built the winery’s reputation producing world-class Malbec. He’s always wanted to produce a classic white made from a Bordeaux grape and his friend and neighbor happens to have a 70-year old vineyard of Semillon. So, this wine was born! Semillon is one of the famed grapes of Bordeaux, where it is used to make both dry and sweet wines. This has an intensely yellow color. The aromas are grassy, fruity and rich. The flavors are figs, tropical fruit and apricots. Semillon has a nice weightliness to it and vibrant acidity.

Reds

Ricardo Santos Malbec 2008 (Argentina) $21.99 - We loved this wine when we tasted it recently – big, rich, tasty, interesting! Aromas of dark fruit, dark semisweet chocolate & figs…a little “funky” aromas at the start. Soft, rich fruit at the start. Peppery spice mid-palate. Nice “legs” in the glass. Well-balanced acidity & tannins. Long, long finish. Aged 6 months in used French & American oak. Hand-harvested. Gently pressed. High altitude vineyard; single vineyard. Organic Farming. Food pairing - Drinks well with roasted or grilled meats, aged cheeses such as Parm or Piave Vecchio…drinks well on its own if you like bigger wines.

Tercos Mendoza Malbec 2007 (Argentina) $12.99 - Juicy, soft, loaded with fruit and easy to drink! This is calling for a summer/early fall night when you are grilling or chillin'! Aromas and flavors of blackberries, ripe black cherries, rich dark fruit (maybe figs).......soft, well-integrated tannins. This is just good, easy drinking! Long, smooth finish that lasts and keeps tasting soft and good! Food pairing - steal, beef (hey! This is Argentine wine!), lamb....mushroom dishes.....drinks well without food b/c the tannins are so soft.

Tercos Sangiovese 2008 (Argentina) $12.99 – Italian immigrants brought the Sangiovese grape with them to Argentina. This is a straightforward wine – it tastes good with nice fruit and is light-medium bodied. Perfect for a party or dishes featuring tomato sauces. Aromas and flavors of fresh strawberries and black currents. Well-balanced fruit and acidity.

Global Vineyards Importers Wines
with David Joseph from Davine Wines

Whites

Peñalolén Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (Chile) $12.99 - Big hit at a tasting this Spring! This is a crisp, clean delicious Sauv. Blanc. Aromas of oranges and lemons. This also has flavors of tropical fruit, ginger and citrus. Brisk, crisp acidity and a clean finish. Refreshing. 100% Sauvignon Blanc aged and fermented in stainless steel. The vineyards are in Casablanca Valley. Food pairing – seafood, lobster, Shrimp Scampi, Thai food. Sitting on a deck in the sun! Food & Wine Magazine, “Buy by the case!”

Apaltaqua Reserve Chardonnay 2008 (Chile) $12.99 - This is a wonderful Chardonnay that is neither Napa Valley nor is it Burgundy. This winery is probably Chile’s pioneer when it comes to biodynamic farming. Aromas and flavors of peaches, grapefruit and tropical fruit. This is crisp, juicy and refreshing. The finish is long and clean. From Casablanca Valley. Food pairing – salmon, lobster, grilled chicken, creamy pasta dishes.

Reds

Peñalolén Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Chile) $19.99 - Delicious wine! Big hit at our March tasting! This has a smooth, soft texture – velvety! Aromas of violets, mint, baking spices and berries. The flavors are full of berries, cinnamon, nutmeg and a little pepper. Blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak for 12 months. Will drink well through 2014. The vineyards are in the Maipo Valley. Food pairing - drinks well with or without food. Goes great with steak, lamb, ribs. Wine Spectator, 88 points

Viña Maquis Calcu 2007 (Chile) $13.99 - This is delicious! Big hit at a tasting! Tasty little blend! Nice minerals, ripe tannins, baking spices, red fruit, and subtle oak in the flavors and aromas. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Cabernet Franc (15%), Carménère (30%) and Petit Verdot (5%) blend. In the local "Mapuche" language, "Calcu" means "healing doctor" or "magician." Indeed, the winemakers have created another magical "Super Chilean!" From Colchagua Valley. Food pairing - pasta, grilled meats, mushroom dishes, etc. Drinks well without food. Wine Enthusiast, “Best Buy;” Robert Parker, Wine Advocate,“Excellent Value”

Viña Maquis Lien 2006 (Chile) $17.99 - Delicious! Rich, lush wine! Aromas and flavors of mocha, toast, ripe plums, blackberries & blueberries. Fleshy, ripe and rich. Hints of loamy earth. Not too tannic. Low-yield vines. All of the grapes are hand-sorted at the winery. 42% Syrah, 30% Carmenère, 9% Petit Verdot, 12% Cabernet Franc & 7% Malbec. Barrel aged for 12 months in French oak. “Lien” means silver in Chile’s native Mapucha language. The lizard on the label is an example of fine silversmithing in old Chile. From Colchagua Valley. Food pairing - grilled meats, steak, etc. Pasta dishes. Drinks well without food. Michael Franz, Wine Review Online, 91 points, “Wine of the Year; Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 90 points

May Wine Tasting

May Wine Tasting

Friday, May 15th, 3:30-7:30pm.
Freeport Cheese & Wine

It's FREE! From 3:30-7:30pm!

Duelling Distributors!

Featuring wines from Argentina, Chile, France and Spain! Geoff Sturgess from Nappi Distributors will be here and he just returned from a trip to Argentina and Chile - so, we'll taste wines from places he visited! Tim Wissemann from Mariner Beverages will also be here with wines that are brand new to Maine!

The Wines

Geoff's Wines (Nappi)

Whites

1. Cono Sur Vision Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Chile) Reg. $13.99 Sale $12.99 - This is somewhat of a cross between New Zealand and California. It has some of those gooseberry/citrus notes that New Zealand has, but not as much grassiness. This is crisp and vibrant. Nice acidity. Drinks well with lighter dishes and without food.
2. Dona Paula Estate Chardonnay 2005 (Argentina) $13.99 - nice value Chardonnay from Argentina! Aromas and flavors of pears, apples, figs and toast. Wine Spectator, 89 points.
3. Errazuriz Wild Fermentation Chardonnay 2007 (Chile) $22.99 - What does Wild Fermentation mean? It means that no yeast is added to the grapes....that only the yeast naturally on the grapes starts the fermentation - this results in a slower fermentation. That means the flavors are more complex, subtle and layered.
4. Cono Sur Vision Gewurztraminer 2006 (Chile) Reg. $13.99 Sale $12.99 - aromas and flavors of lychee nuts and pink grapefruit. A pleasing, subtle bitter note on the finish.

Roses

1. Alta Vista Malbec Rose 2007 (Argentina) $10.99 - as a rule, Malbec roses are darker than most French ones - they spend more time in skin contact. This adds weight and tannins to the wine, so you don't have to drink them at as young of an age - they hold up better.

Reds

1. Cono Sur Sustainable Agriculture Pinot Noir 2007 (Chile) $12.99 - nice bright color! Very aromatic. This is juicy and fresh tasting. Notes of cherries, raspberries, strawberries, plums and a little smokiness. Drink with mushrooms and dishes with Provencal herbs, fish, etc.
2. Dona Paula Malbec 2007 (Argentina) $14.99 - Rich, dark wine! Notes of currants, chocolate, coffee, dark berries and herbs. Wine Spectator, 90 points
3. Montgras Reserva Carmenere 2008 (Chile) $13.99 - This has some of the green bell pepper aroma that typifies Carmenere, but it is not in the flavors! Merlot mouthfeel - smooth and rich! Flavors are more Syrah-like - peppery, spicy, dark fruit! NY Times #1 rated Carmenere!
4. Montgras Quattro 2007 (Chile) $18.99 - We love this! Blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 25% Syrah and 15% Carmenere. Big and rich and lush!T

Tim's Wines (Mariner) - these are all brand new to Maine!

Whites

1. Domaine Sallies Viognier 2008 (Languedoc, France) $11.99 - clean, beautiful wine. Nice and fragrant (which Viognier should be!). Unoaked.
2. Domaine Sallies Chardonnay 2008 (Languedoc, France) $11.99 - not oaky. Sees some malolactic fermentation so it picks up a bit of creaminess. Lighter, cleaner style of Chardonnay!
3. Schoenheitz Pinot Blanc 2006 (Alsace, France) $18.99 - I love this! Dry, minerally with nice fruit. This just screams for some shellfish, smoked fish or ham.
4. Juan Luis Cana Rioja Blanca 2007 (Spain) $16.99 - Rich white from Rioja! Notes of stone fruits (peaches), vanilla and toasty oak! Also, hints of nuts, lemons and a crisp finish! Great with seafood paella!

Roses

1. Domaine Begude Pinot Noir Rose 2008 (Languedoc, France) $15.99 - Another wine we love from one of our favorite new importers, Didier Boutet! Didier has some gems from France.....at great prices!

Reds

1. Domaine Sallies Malbec 2007 (Languedoc, France) $11.99 - Really nice medium-bodied wine! This is a style of Malbec that is "dialed back" some from most Argentine Malbecs. Nice dark fruit, but its not "jammy" like some Argentine Malbecs nor is it oaky. You should try this and compare it to Geoff's Malbec and the Quattro!
2. Porta dos Cavaleiros Reserva 1997 (Portuguese) $19.99 - When the new owners of moved into Porta dos Cavaleiros, they found this Reserva in a dark and dusty corner. It's just reaching its maturity! This is from the Dao region, Southeast of Porto. The label is made from cork. The color shows a little brick at the edge, which is appropriate for a wine its age. The fruit is more like stewed or dried berries than fresh. It has a little meatiness to it. Great with game, venison, casseroles.
3. Vinedos y Bodegas Pablo Menguante Garnacha 2007 (Spain) $10.99 - This is more about being a subtle wine with dark fruit and minerals than it is being a "fruitbomb." They farm biodynamically. The vines are 80-100 years-old.
4. Red Car Boxcar Syrah 2007 (California) $21.99 - This is a big, rich California Syrah without being to overblown! Loads of flavor! Earth, white pepper, dark fruit and cherries. About 25% of this sees oak.

Freeport Cheese & Wine
27 Bow Street
Freeport, ME 04032
(207) 865-3993
http://www.freeportwine.net/

July Wines of the Month

We are going to try a different approach this month.....Wines from 2 classic French grapes (Bastille Day is Monday), yet all of the wines are from the New World!

All of the reds are from the Malbec grape (also called Auxerrois Noir, Auxerrois and Cot) and all are from Argentina......for the whites....all are from the Sauvignon Blanc grape.....from Argentina, New Zealand and California.....3 distinct styles of Sauvignon Blanc. We also have a Rosé of Malbec from Argentina!

What I am trying to do this month is expose you to distinctly different styles of wine - even though they are from the same grape (and in the case of the Malbecs, from the same country). If you want to do a simple at home tasting, pick up one of each of these.....invite some friends....and you'll see what we wine "geeks" mean by stainless steel fermentation vs. oak, oak aging, more bottle aging, etc.

Plus....these just taste GREAT!

Tier One

White:

Maipe Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Argentina) $11.99 - Delicious!

Maipe is one of the best wineries in Argentina (we've been selling their Malbec for 2 years now - so, I didn't think I could use it for a "wine of the month - it's delicious!). Maipe was the "Lord of the Winds" for the ancient Andean people in this part of South America.

Fran Kysela (who is a GREAT American importer - you've heard me mention this before - using the best importers as a "screening" tool is a great way to buy wine - Kysela is one of the best!), has a wonderful website.....and it has beautiful photos of this winery and its vineyards!

100% Sauvignon Blanc. Grapes are harvested by hand. Maipe farms organically. Stainless steel fermentation in temperature-controlled steel vats to preserve the freshness of the grapes. From the high deserts of Mendoza - Lujan de Cuyo, to be exact...3,000 feet in elevation.....these high desert vineyards help these grapes ripen properly - the cool nights balance the hot days.

This is a HUGELY aromatic wine! Fresh, bright aromas of grapefruit, minerals, honey, tropical fruit and Sauvignon Blanc's classic "freshly mown grass" notes! The wine almost has green tones to its color. The flavors pop with bright, zippy acidity! This refreshes your mouth and makes you want to take another sip! Flavors of pink grapefruit, lemon/lime, minerals, tropical fruit.....Food pairing - great as a cocktail wine! Pair this up with almost any seafood! Especially shellfish (mussels, oysters, clams).

Red:

Tercos Malbec 2005 (Argentina) $12.99 - Juicy, soft, loaded with fruit and easy to drink! This is calling for a summer night when you are grilling or chillin'!

Aromas and flavors of blackberries, ripe black cherries, rich dark fruit (maybe figs).......soft, well-integrated tannins. This is just good, easy drinking! Long, smooth finish that lasts and keeps tasting soft and good!

Ricardo Santos was the first Argentine winemaker to export Malbec to the United States 30 years ago! The Tercos is the first release under this label for the Santos family (Ricardo is still there and going strong!). This wine is made by his sons, Pedro and Patricio. Dad's guiding hand is in this wine.....and Dad is one of the GREAT Argentine winemakers!

Tercos means "stubborn" in Spanish and the label has a burro (donkey to most of us).....a critter known to be stubborn! Well.....the wine's name pays homage to the family's steadfast dedication to helping move Argentine winemaking forward AND to making the best wine possible!

Food pairing - steal, beef (hey! This is Argentine wine!), lamb....mushroom dishes.....drinks well without food b/c the tannins are so soft.

Tier Two

White:

Spencer Hill "Goose Bay" Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (New Zealand) $21.99 - Excellent, big, popping Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc!

It happens to be Kosher as well! This is New Zealand's only Kosher winery.

This has all of the quintessential New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc flavors and aromas - gooseberries, pink grapefruit, tropical fruit, herbaceous grassiness and big, big acidity that just makes your mouth water. Aromas of freshly mown hayfields on a damp morning that remind me of a country drive in my childhood.

The wine is cool-fermented for 4-6 weeks. Afterwards, it's "racked off" its lees - that means they drain the wine away from the lees at the bottom of the vat. That makes the wine crisper than wine left in contact with the lees. The wine sees a touch of French oak, but it's not oaky. This definitely makes it different than most Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand!

This wine is also different from many New Zealand wines because it doesn't have a Stelvin Closure (screwcap). This winery believes in the DIAM Cork - basically, it's the pulverized and reconstituted cork - by pulverizing and treating it, they get rid of "cork taint" (TCA). This winery believes the DIAM Cork breathes and helps the wine develop better in the bottle.

Food pairing - shellfish, lobster, calamari, seafood and lighter dishes, fried clams, calamari or fried fish.

Red:

Fabre Montmayou Gran Reserva Malbec 2005 (Argentina) $19.99 - This is simply SUPERB! BIG, RICH, LUSH and SMOOTH MALBEC!

Inky, dark color that is typical of Malbec. Aromas of wild berries, blackberries, black cherries, ripe plums, mocha, dark chocolate, and spices. Flavors of dark berries, peppery spice, baking spices and dark chocolate. I pick up a subtle licorice/anise flavor that I really like (and I really don’t like licorice candy, but I like this wine). Elegant and bold wine with silky tannins. Medium-to-full bodied. Long, lingering finish.

100% Malbec. Hand-harvested. Destemmed grapes. 100-year-old vines. Aged 14 months in French oak. Henri Fabre is a Bordeaux winemaker. 2,242 cases made. This will age another 5-7 years.

Food pairing – grilled meats, roasted meats, rich mushroom dishes, etc. Harder, aged cheeses. Drinks well on its own!

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89 points; Wine Spectator, 89 points

PS - 89 points is my favorite wine score from reviewers (and remember, these guys don't drink wines the way you do....they "power taste" through 200-500 wines a day; and, their preferences are not yours; so, while their opinions influence the market, trust yourself more than scores)! Why? Same score as 90 for all real purposes and it doesn't cause a feeding frenzy!

Tier Three

White:

Source Napa (Davies & Gamble) "Gamble Vineyard" Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (California) $29.99 - Excellent Sauvignon Blanc that is just unique!

Bill Davies and Tom Gamble met in nursery school - or thereabouts! In 1965. They founded this winery in 2000. The name comes from their Napa roots. Tom Gamble's family has farmed and ranched in Napa Valley since 1916. Bill Davies' family owns the Schramsberg Vineyards.

The Gamble Vineyard is at the northern edge of Yountville.....right along the Napa River near the southern end of Napa Valley....sitting on an ancient floodplain. The vineyard is evenly split between the Preston Sauvignon and the Musque de Loire Sauvignon clones (ah.....what are clones....Sauvignon Blanc isn't just Sauvignon Blanc.....it has different types.....just as jazz music has different types and we have different types of tomatoes!). The Preston clone comes from the Graves region in Bordeaux and the Musque comes from the Loire River valley.

This location helps provide enough warmth to ripen the stone-fruit (peach and apricot) charcteristics of the grapes and give the wine a rich texture. It's also cool enough to help the grapes keep Sauvignon Blanc's inherent crispness at the finish. All-in-all, this is a great place to grow Sauvignon Blanc grapes!

Aromas of oranges, limes, grapefruit, honey and baking spices. This has a rich and full texture. Smooth. Lasts a long time in terms of flavors. Flavors of baking spices, peaches, honey, grapefruit. Clean, crisp and lush at the same time. Long, long finish which is typical of the Gamble Vineyard. .

2,200 cases made. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes were picked on 8 different days over 3 weeks. Each day's harvest was fermented separately. Hand-harvested. The early fruit helped bring about the wines crisp acidity. The grapes from later in the harvest added greater flavors and more complexity. 20% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks, fermenting cool....giving this juice lots of bright, tropical fruit flavors. 80% was fermented in oak barrels for 6 months. The wine spent this time on "lees" - adding texture and complexity to the wine. Only 18% of the barrels were new - so, this is NOT an oaky wine (the first time a barrel is used, the wine "leeches" out 80% of the barrel's oakiness). This 80% picks up a rounder, softer feel in the mouth (luscious!) and flavors of honey, nuts and baking spices. Organic, sustainable agriculture. Native, natural yeasts.

Food pairing - this is a "bigger" Sauvignon Blanc. Pair this with duck, darker poultry meat, cream sauces, etc. Will pair up well with lobster drenched in butter. Wine Spectator, 89 points

Red:

Weinert Malbec 2003 (Argentina) $26.99 - Excellent wine and a distinctly different style than the Fabre Montmayou in Tier 2.

Last month I had the opportunity to taste 12-15 wines with Bartholomew Broadbent, the importer of this wine. By-and-large, the wines he imports are more finesse-driven, more elegant and subtle than the big "grab-you-and-shake-you" wines that it seems Robert Parker and Wine Spectator love today!

Weinert dates to 1975.....the Dark Ages in terms of Argentine wine! The winery and vineyards actually go back to 1900 or so, but when wine consumption in Argentina plummeted in roughly 1920, the winery went belly-up. A Brazilian, Bernardo Carlos Weinert, bought, resurrected and still runs the winery with his family.

In 1977, Weinert produced a wine that shook the world - no one had seen a wine that good (nay, GREAT) from South America. It scored 94-95 points. Today, Weinert still makes it's wines in the same fashion....the "scorers" have changed (big, high-alcohol, fruit-driven wines win the big scores).

This is much more like a really good Bordeaux than it is like a big, dark, extracted New World wine. Great length on the flavors. The aromas just evolve and evolve from the glass - dried berries, leather, minerals, Flavors of dark fruit, pepper, licorice, smoke......this is definitely more of an Old World wine.....and that's one of the things I like about this! The tannins are well-integrated and smooth.

100% Malbec. 70+ year-old vines. 3 years in French oak casks. Weinert never uses stainless steel for fermentation....it's either massive oak casks or massive epoxy-lined concrete tanks. Weinert only uses "old" oak casks and NEVER uses "barriques" - the little oak barrels that influence many wines made today in the world. Weinert makes wines in an "Old World" fashion - no cold soaking, no extended maceration, no micro-oxygenation....natural yeasts, natural winemaking.....natural wines.

Food pairing - steak. You'll see this a lot when an Argentine red is in the mix! More of a food wine than the Tier 1 or Tier 2 Malbecs. By that, I mean this will drink a lot better with food than without food!

The "Other"

Maipe Rose of Malbec 2007 (Argentina) $11.99 - IF you've discovered Malbec....you need to try a Rosé of Malbec! This is the best under $20! Unique and delicious rosé that is different from your typical Provencal French rosés!

Maipe is one of the best wineries in Argentina (we've been selling their Malbec for 2 years now - so, I didn't think I could use it for a "wine of the month - it's delicious!). Maipe was the "Lord of the Winds" for the ancient Andean people in this part of South America.

100% Malbec. Grapes are harvested by hand. The juice spends little time in contact with the skins after crushing (the skins add the color, tannins and other flavors). Maipe farms organically. Stainless steel fermentation in temperature-controlled steel vats. 30 days of "batonage" (stirring of the "lees" - the residue created by fermentation at the bottom of the vat.....stirring the "lees" adds texture and richness to the wine). From the high deserts of Mendoza - Lujan de Cuyo, to be exact...3,000 feet in elevation.....these high desert vineyards help these grapes ripen properly - the cool nights balance the hot days. 35 year-old vines.

Fresh, bright aromas! Strawberries and cherries! Darker color than most French roses (remember, Malbec comes from Cahors....where it is called "the black wine of Cahors"). Darker, deep pink color with purple hues. This has bright, fresh, ripe strawberry flavors and crisp acidity. The finish is dry and LASTS! Food pairing - salmon, grilled chicken or pork, tuna, salads, spicy Asian dishes, spicy Tex-Mex dishes. Drinks well sitting with friends!

That's July!