Summertime Wine- Various Styles and Regions
This week we will sample wine from a variety of regions including Mendoza (Argentina), Bordeaux (France), Rioja (Spain), Columbia Valley (Washington State), and Australia; there will be two white, two rose and two reds. The underlying “theme” is that these are all ideal for hot, summertime enjoyment- whether sipped by the pool, with a picnic lunch, or paired with saucy BBQ or grilled foods- this tasting should provide something for everyone. See you this Thursday night!
“All Elsa wines are single-vineyard, from the family’s original vineyards holdings, where Dona Elsa (the late grandmother of the current Bianchi owners) lived in her first “casa,” which still sits among the vineyards.”
“The terroir is reflected in our vineyards of climatic conditions, geographic location, work and knowledge of the wine, and the interaction of these in relation to soil and water. The prints terroir personality and determines the quality of the wines. San Rafael comprises part of arable oasis south of the province of Mendoza.”
Casa Bianchi Elsa Bianchi Torrontes 2012– San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina. “Torrontes is a wine of pleasing fruit intensity both in the nose and on the palate. Well-integrated scents of grapefruit, spice, orange blossom and apple are apparent. On the palate, one immediately enjoys the crisp, refreshing mouthfeel with flavors similar to the aromas and a clean, bright finish.” “Valentin Bianchi’s Torrontes grapes come from the Estate’s Dona Elsa Vineyards, which is situated in Rama Caida, San Rafael, Mendoza, at around 760 meters above sea level. This is one of the coolest areas in San Rafael. Hand-picked and twice sorted by hand, the Torrontes grapes are crushed and fermented over ten days at controlled temperatures of 15 degrees Celsius in stainless steel tanks.” $9.99
“A huge, beautiful old country house located in Bordeaux’s Entre-Deux-Mers region, Chateau Bonnet is the home of Andre Lurton, one of the most influential winemakers in the region. Lurton, who also owns Chateau Dauzac in Margaux and La Louviere in the Graves, is the man credited with the creation of the Pessac-Leognan appellation and an evangelist for Bordeaux’s brilliant white wines.
The estate dates back to the 17th Century, and has been in the Lurton family since the 1890s. All the classic Bordeaux grapes are planted and production is split roughly evenly between white and red with a small amount of (incredibly delicious) rosé. The wines are excellent examples of the value for money that can be found in some of Bordeaux’s less celebrated regions.”
Chateau Bonnet Bordeaux Blanc 2012– Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux. “Starting with Sauvignon Blanc (50%) and Semillon (40%), this white Bordeaux blend is finished off with 10% Muscadelle, adding a touch of sweet ripeness. The aromas are typical of Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc–fresh lemon and creamy lemon curd rounded out with floral and flinty earthiness. On the palate, the fruit pops with flavors of passion fruit, pineapple, grapefruit, and lemon.” $12.99
“Under the auspices of the industrial bank Bankunión, the El Coto de Rioja winery was founded in 1970 by a group of experts with recognised experience in the wine sector. It took almost 5 years to release the first vintage onto the market, once the wine has reached an optimum stage of maturity, a vintage that made a big impact on Rioja wine enthusiasts.
From 1990 to 1997, the company experienced spectacular growth, doubling the size of its facilities and the number of barriques. The use of cutting-edge technology has led to continuous improvements in product quality.”
El Coto Rose Rioja Crianza 2012– Rioja, Spain. “The El Coto Rioja Rosé is a traditional blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha sourced from estate and other vineyards in the Rioja Alavesa. The wine sees a quick 48 hour maceration on the skins to extract flavor and color followed by a cold fermentation and bottling. The wine has tangy, red cherry aromas with piquant herbal notes and ripe, juicy flavors on the palate. Cleansing acidity helps balance the fruit and helps the long, clean finish.” $10.99
“Waterbrook’s collection of wines are true to varietal character, food-friendly, and delivery uncompromised quality. [Their] value tier offers affordable everyday wines that consistently receive “Best Buy” and “Best Value” ratings.” “Waterbrook, established in 1984, is the fourth founding winery in Walla Walla. We are a Wine Spectator Top 100-producing winery with an estate vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley and fantastic vineyard sources throughout the Columbia Valley.”
Waterbrook Sangiovese Rose 2012– (Oasis, Canyon Ranch, and Wallula Vineyards) Columbia Valley, Washington. 2 months in stainless steel. “100% Sangiovese (Cold soaked 50to 70 hours before removing from skins). A crisp wine with rose bud and watermelon aromatics. This dry Rosé has bright flavors of strawberry, melon with balanced acidity and lingering raspberry notes on the finish. Pair with: grilled seafood, roasted herb chicken, goat cheese, spicy cuisine.” $14.99
“Gotham Wines was founded by Bruce Clugston and Fiona White with the release of Gotham Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2004. Gotham Wines aim is to produce the best value wine money can buy. Since our first wine produced back in 2004 we have been striving to produce fantastic wines in a style consumers actually want to drink. Gotham wines takes it name from the pet name for New York city It was the great American writer Washington Irving who first named New York Gotham in his 1807 periodical, The Salmagundi. Our first Gotham wine from 2004 was as black as ink and suited the Gothic profile perfectly.”
Wine Men of Gotham Shiraz 2011– 70% Barossa, 12% Langhorne Creek, 14% Riverland, 4% McLaren Vale, Australia. “12% of the wine has been fully barrel fermented and matured for 8 months in New American Oak. The balance spent 8 months in one year old oak barrels after being fermented in stainless steel vats. Colour is red with some purple hints at the rim. The nose is quite savoury with some lovely pepper notes all bound together by plums. The palate is elegant and balanced with excellent fruit and some savouriness and spice with a great mouth feel. The finish lingers on for 30 seconds with a salivating freshness and mild tannins.” $10.99
“Trapiche is located in Mendoza at the foothills of Los Andes and is Argentina’s largest exported Premium brand, exporting today its wines to more than 80 countries world wide. Trapiche represents “the richness of diversity” in Argentina. Throughout its history, it has understood like no other the strength of the viticulture in Argentina and it has specialized in obtaining the best from every site to create unique wines. This diversity is founded in more than 1,000 ha of its own vineyards and obtaining grapes from more than 200 independents producers in the best winegrowing areas of Argentina.”
Trapiche Malbec Broquel 2011– Mendoza, Argentina. Malbec 100%. “From over 25 year-old vineyards selected from altitudes between the 900 and 1200 meters above sea level. Aged for 15 months in new French and American oak barrels. Intense purple red color with ruby hues. Aromas of black fruit jam and liqueur, with an elegant touch of smoke, vanilla and chocolate. Sweet attack and full-bodied tannins. Long and pleasant finish. Ideal to combine with pasta and mushroom sauce, grilled red meats, stews and cheeses.” $14.99