Rick’s Grape Skinny [email protected] January 2013 “I believe in supporting cultural diversity…and so much so… that I will drink wine from pretty much anywhere in the world.” (Anonymous) A Bunch of Reasons to Drink Wine!! (24 of them to be exact!) June All of us are more likely to complete projects Red – Pinotage -- South Africa’s Signature when they’re structured and organized. So with red grape. Anybody taste coffee? that in mind, here’s your Vino Line-up for 2013 White – Vermentino – Another Italian jewel all set up for you! Try one or both of these grape from Sardinia mostly. Showing up everywhere! varietals each month…and over the course of 2013, you will experience a dozen or two wines July that escape the average bear. And that will make Red – Dolcetto – from Barolo country in you a very special wineau! If you don’t spot them Northern Italy, it’s the commoner’s grape and wine! on the shelf, just ask your wine shop for help. White – Jacquère – a light and delicately flavored wine from the Savoy Region of France. January Red – Monastrell/Mourvêdre – Deep, dark August and delicious. Be ready to fall in love! Red – Dornfelder -- The German red wine for White – Falanghina –From Italy’s those who don’t think they can like red wine! Campania Region. Floral & distinctively delicious. White – Verdicchio – From Italy’s Marche Region. Its “Straw Wine” version is for dessert. February Red -- Alicante Bouschet – So flavorful and September deeply colored, it was used to “cut” wine during Red – Bonarda/Charbono – Argentina’s Prohibition. Coppola makes a stunning one. second most planted red grape. Luscious and lovely! White – Torrontés – Argentina’s most planted White – Cortese – from the Piemonte region white grape. Tart and crisp -- ideal with Tilapia. of Northern Italy. Used to make Gavi di Gavi! March October Red – Blaufränkisch/Lemberger – A rich and Red – Carménère – The famous Lost Grape of tasty wine whether from Germany or Washington. Bordeaux…it’s not Chile’s Signature grape and wine. White – Picpoul/Picpoul de Pinet -- From the White – Viognier – Whether you try one from Languedoc Region of France. Get the scallops ready! France or the US, you’re in for a treat! April November Red – Grignolino – From Piemonte in Red – Aglianico – From Campania and Northern Italy, it’s like drinking candy! Yum! Basilicata (near Naples)…will knock your socks off! White -- Grüner Veltliner – Austria’s White -- Chenin Blanc/Steen – Vouvray’s key Signature white wine…Rieslingesque in nature. grape, it’s South Africa’s most planted white varietal. May December Red – Cabernet Franc – It’s the most Red – Nero d’Avola – Sicily’s principal red aromatic and flavorful grape from Bordeaux, France. grape…and it is delicious! White – Albariño – Spain’s shining white White -- Gewürztraminer – The key white star. Far more flavorful than Pinot Grigio. grape and wine from France’s Alsace Region. Toast of the Month “Here’s to the corkscrew…that magic little device that unlocks the storehouses of wit and the gates of pleasant folly!” (Anonymous) Bunch of the Month Priorat, this incredibly rich and delicious blend of old vine Garnatxa (Garnacha/Grenache) and Reds Cariñena (Carignan/Carignane) is a perfect Monastrell (aka Mourvêdre & Mataro) example of why the wines of Priorat are among the Bodegas Juan Gil Honoro Vera 2011 world’s most revered and sought-after. Known for Soft, Silky Smooth, Sultry, and Sensuous! its arid climate and blistering hot temperatures, (Jumilla D.O. – Murcia Spain)/$10-$12 Priorat is also famous for its distinctive llicorella Bodega Juan Gil was founded nearly a century ago “black slate” soils which absorb and retain the sun’s in 1916 in the famed Jumilla wine region of Spain radiant heat…making it possible to grow grapes on and is named after its founder, Juan Gil Giménez. some of the steepest cultivated slopes in the world. Today the founder’s great grandsons, Juan Gil If Robert Parker matters, he awarded this splendid González, and his brother Paco, manage and operate wine a hefty 93 points! Produced in exceedingly the winery and together they have earned small lots -- so if you see it, grab it, and if you worldwide respect and acclaim for Juan Gill’s don’t…ask for it! www.europeancellars.com portfolio of world class wines. This 100% organic Monastrell is one of those wines…made from 25 Whites year old bush vines…and because it’s been aged in Falanghina stainless steel, its viticultural character and its Ocone 2011 Immensely Floral & Scrumptious! friendly fruit-forward nature are both preserved and (Campagnia – Beneveto, Italy)$12-$14 highlighted. For the money, there are few peers! This ancient Italian varietal is little known, rarely seen, http://www.bodegasjuangil.com highly distinctive…but otherwise molto delizioso! From vineyards just north and east of Naples, the venerable Mourvêdre (aka Monastrell & Mataro) Ocone family has been making distinguished wines for Cline Cellars Ancient Vines 2011 over a century…and that tenured experience is Deep, Dark & Divinely Delicious! abundantly demonstrated in this crisp, subtly tart and delectable wine. From fruit that is organically, (Sonoma, CA)/$15 - $18 -- The fruit for this very biodynamically and sustainably farmed, this splendid special wine all comes from the singular Oakley wine screams artisanal quality – and given its modest terroir in the Sonoma Valley and from “ancient” price point, it’s one a heck of a bargain. I call it a vines whose intensely flavorful mature berries are “fool’s wine” -- i.e. only a fool wouldn’t try it!” about the size of a garden pea. The magical touch http://www.oconevini.it/inglese/winery.html of Chief Winemaker, Charlie Tsegeletos, is all over this wine…from its distinctive character after Fiano spending about 9 months in dark toasted oak to its Mandra Rossa 2009 Tantalizingly Tart and beguiling allure from first sip to last. If this might Racy (Sicily -- Menfi, Italy)/$10-$12 – From the be your first Mourvêdre/Monastrell experience, I renowned Settesoli Winery…one of Sicily’s best can guarantee it won’t be your last! You’re in for a and most respected wine making enterprises…this long term relationship…if not an eternal love affair. is a delightfully refreshing but virtually unknown http://www.clinecellars.com/ little gem of a wine. Despite its relative obscurity, this is nonetheless one of the single best “food Red Blend wines” I’ve ever had…bar none! Comprised of Porrera Vi de la Vila Black Slate 2009 100% Fiano grapes, you might have to ask your Rich and Intense…Luscious and Succulent! retailer to hunt this one down…but it’s worth it! (Priorat D.O. Q. – Porrera, Spain)/$20-$24 -- http://www.mandrarossa.com/fiano.html From the iconic and world renown wine region of .