February 2020 | Volume 15 | Issue 2
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2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON Philosophy With attractive aromas of black fruit and spice, this smooth, ready-to-drink Cabernet Sauvignon is made in Paso Robles with the same care as the highest quality, traditionally crafted Bordeaux styled wines. Our grapes are hand-picked and sorted by-the-berry for consistent quality and flavor. JUSTIN Cabernet Sauvignon then spends thirteen months in traditional small oak barrels to impart depth and complexity, highlighting the exceptional balance of flavors and textures that the unique climate and soils of Paso Robles add to the classic Cabernet character in this exceptional wine. Vintage Notes The 2018 vintage started with a cool winter with only 60% of normal precipitation, most of it occurring from late February through March. Bud break began in mid to late March. May and June alternated between warm and cool temperatures during flowering, including a few windy days that naturally reduced our yields a bit. The warm weather began in June and it was hot from mid-June through the end of July with veraison starting in the last week of July. High heat continued until mid-August causing the vines to shut down slightly, delaying ripeness and maturity, but a cooling trend later in August got things back on track. The characteristic Paso warm days and cold nights in September with the help of our calcareous soils retained natural acidity in the fruit while we waited for full ripeness and maturity. The rains stayed away through October allowing us to harvest only as perfect balance of flavor and structure developed in each block of our cabernet grapes through the second week of November. -
Structure in Wine Steiia Thiast
Structure in Wine steiia thiAst What is Structure? • So what is this thing, structure? It*s the sense you have that the wine has a well-established form,I think ofit as the architecture ofthe wine. A wine with a great structure will often remind me ofthe outlines of a cathedral, or the veins in a leaf...it supports, and balances the fiuit characteristics ofthe wine. The French often describe structure as the skeleton ofthe wine, as opposed to its flavor which they describe as the flesh. • Where does structure come firom? In white wines, it usually comes from alcohol or acidity; in red wines, it comes from a combination of acidity and tannin, a component in the grapes' skins and seeds. Thus, wines with a lot of tannin (like cabernet) also have a lot of structure. Beaujolais is made from gamay which does not have much tannin. As a result, Beaujolais can lack structure; it feels soft, flat or simple in the mouth (though its flavors can certainly still be attractive). • While structure is hard to articulate, you can easily taste or sense it —^and the lack of it. • Understanding structure is critical to understanding any ofthe ''powerful" red varieties: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, nebbiolo, tempranillo, and malbec, to name a few. I just don't think you can understand these wines unless you understand structure, and how it frames and focuses the powerful rush of fruit. It adds freshness, and a "lightness" to the density ofripe fiuit. Structure matters when pairing wine and food. Foods with a lot of structure themselves— like a meaty, thick steak-need wines with commensurate structure (like cabernet), or the food experience can dwarfthe wine experience. -
And Cabernet Franc Is the Star
CAN WE BE FRANC? THE HUDSON VALLEY PREPARES FOR ITS CLOSE-UP —AND CABERNET FRANC IS THE STAR. Amy Zavatto he verdant, hilly climes of the Hudson Valley are known and praised for many things. The beauty of its rolling, roiling namesake river; its famed mid-nineteenth century naturalist art movement; its acres of multi-generational fruit orchards and dairy farms; T and, lately, as the celebrated place of culinary inspiration for chefs like Dan Barber and Zak Palaccio. But while these lands, just ninety minutes shy of New York City’s northern border, can claim the country’s oldest, continually operating vineyards and oldest declared winery, the cult of wine has yet to become the calling card of the region’s lore and allure. That might be about to change. 4 HUDSON VALLEY WINE • Summer 2016 Cabernet Franc, that beautiful, black French grape variety well known for its role in both legendary Right Bank Bordeaux and Loire Valley wines, is proving to be oh-so much more than a liquidy lark here. Not only does the grape seem well at home in the Hudson Valley’s cool-climate terroir, but collective work done between the area’s grape growers, winemakers, and Cornell University have tamed many of the conundrums that once plagued producers who yearned for success with vinifera. Now, with a force borne of a few decades of trial, error, and recent promising success, Hudson Valley vintners are ready (and more than able) to stick a flag in the ground for Franc. DIGGING DOWN “I’m of Dutch-German descent; I’m not big on failure,” laughs a region express itself with the kind of purity that wins critical Doug Glorie, who with his wife and partner, MaryEllen, opened acknowledgment. -
ORANGE MUSCAT Hartwick Vineyard — Mokelumne River
MARCH 2020 | VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 3 MARCH WINE OF THE MONTH ORANGE MUSCAT Hartwick Vineyard — Mokelumne River Orange Muscat has an evocative name that hints not at the wine’s color or flavor, but at bright and refreshing citrus aromatics. SMALL LOT ALL ABOUT CULTIVATION AROMATICS While plantings of Orange Muscat are rela- Mokelumne River boasts a Mediterranean cli- tively small, parts of California are known for mate with hot, sunny days mitigated by nights prominent cultivation. This balanced, off-dry influenced by the Sacramento–San Joaquin white wine originates from the meticulously River Delta, which brings cool Pacific Ocean maintained Hartwick Vineyard in the Moke- air from the San Francisco Bay. This environ- lumne River growing area, a sub-appellation ment results in outstanding development of of Lodi which lies northeast of San Francisco. plush flavors and out-of-this-world aromat- This vineyard was planted in the 1990s and ics, which you’ll experience when you put your sits near a beautifully shaded river area, an en- nose in the glass and breathe the intensity of chanting growing site. orange blossoms, lemon, and lime candy. The spot is known for its distinctive sandy A sip of this wine is rich and just-a-touch loam soil, which promotes deep roots and fruit sweet, with a long finish packed with florals concentration. It’s perfect for Orange Muscat, and Granny Smith apple. The viscous mouth- a relatively obscure grape that is a cross be- feel makes Orange Muscat a unique treat to tween Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (one of savor with a plate of mild cheeses. -
Loire Valley
PREVIEWCOPY Introduction Previewing this guidebook? If you are previewing this guidebook in advance of purchase, please check out our enhanced preview, which will give you a deeper look at this guidebook. Wine guides for the ultra curious, Approach Guides take an in-depth look at a wine region’s grapes, appellations and vintages to help you discover wines that meet your preferences. The Loire Valley — featuring a compelling line-up of distinctive grape varieties, high quality winemaking and large production volumes — is home to some of France’s most impressive wines. Nevertheless, it remains largely overlooked by the international wine drinking public. This makes the region a treasure trove of exceptional values, just waiting to be discovered. What’s in this guidebook • Grape varieties. We describe the Loire’s primary red and white grape varieties and where they reach their highest expressions. • Vintage ratings. We offer a straightforward vintage ratings table, which affords high-level insight into the best and most challenging years for wine production. • A Loire Valley wine label. We explain what to look for on a Loire Valley wine label and what it tells you about what’s in the bottle. • Map and appellation profiles. Leveraging our map of the region, we provide detailed pro- files of appellations from all five of the Loire’s sub-regions (running from west to east): Pays Nantais, Anjou, Saumur, Touraine and Central Vineyards. For each appellation, we describe the prevailing terroir, the types of wine produced and what makes them distinctive. • A distinctive approach. This guidebook’s approach is unique: rather than tell you what specific bottle of wine to order by providing individual bottle reviews, it gives the information you need to make informed wine choices on any list. -
Lodi. Not Just Zinfandel When Many People Think About Lodi, the Rst Thing That Comes to Mind Is Zinfandel and Quite OEn, Other Lower Price Bulk Produced Wines
Lodi. Not just Zinfandel When many people think about Lodi, the rst thing that comes to mind is Zinfandel and quite oen, other lower price bulk produced wines. But nothing could be further from the truth and today Lodi is considered by many as one of California's most innovative grow- ing areas. Even though wine grapes have ourished in Lodi since the later part of the 19th Century, it is oen thought of as a "new up-and-coming discovery" in California wines. Old Vine Zinfandel (and they are really old with some vines dating to the 1880s) represents the largest portion of vineyard land in the AVA. But more than 100 varietals are planted in Lodi's 100,000+ vineyard acres - most with Old World ancestry from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal etc. ere are countless soil types and microclimates throughout the area that encourage extensive exploration and experimentation on the part of progressive and courageous growers. Lodi was also the rst California AVA to establish very strict 3rd-party certied rules (the Lodi Rules Sustainable Winegrowing Program) governing sustainable growing methods as well as the industry's impact on the environment and the local economy. Lodi is more than just Zinfandel and hopefully, today's column will introduce you to some if its hidden splendor. I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts and as always I invite you to share your comments and questions with other readers. Napa Valley Register APRIL 18, 2019 e Wine Exchange | Allen R. Balik Lodi. Not just Zinfandel e Lodi American Viticultural Area (AVA) is nestled between San Francisco and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the northernmost part of California's Central Valley. -
Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot 2010 “Pull” AWARDS Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot GOLD 92pts It is amazing how two varietals with very distinct personalities can be Los Angeles International blended to produce such a harmonious and beautifully balanced wine. Wine and Spirits Competition GOLD While each variety has the remarkable ability to stand alone, the great San Francisco Chronicle French producers have shown what can result when the best of both Wine Competition GOLD worlds are combined. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot account for Denver over 60% of the plantings on our estate vineyard in Paso Robles with Wine Competition the number of blocks at 12 separate areas, and terroirs. SILVER US National Wine Competition The wide range of plantings provides many alternative characters for SILVER San Francisco blending wines with distinct characteristics. The Cabernet Sauvignon International Wine Competition component is from one of the earlier picked blocks and has shown to SILVER Houston offer sweet ripe fruit but with much softer tannin structure - perfect for Wine Competition blending. The Merlot portion was selected from a similarly earlier SILVER San Francisco Chronicle picked block and was described, at selection, as having “wonderful Wine Competition primary fruit characters with exceptional mid palate weight”. SILVER California State Fair Wine Competition Cabernet Sauvignon is often described as lacking in the middle palate, requiring something to help flesh it out. The blending of Merlot completes that task but certainly adds its own unique characteristics. The result can be very rewarding and this wine shows that blended Varietal mix: Cabernet Sauvignon 50% reds certainly have a place in the market. -
January 2019 Loire Valley Wines for Mark
GrapevineJanuary 2019 Price Chopper Plaza 1355 New Road Slingerlands, NY Price Chopper Plaza 1355 New Scotland Road Slingerlands, NY 12159 518.439.5535 [email protected] A Closer Look at Wines from the Loire Valley Called the cradle of France, and stone and half-timber the Loire Valley is the fourth homes, behind which, high largest region and sits in the on a plateau, sits the Château center of northern France, de Chinon. Chinon is known southwest of Paris. A mix of for growing exceptional chateaux, rivers, gardens, Cabernet Franc. With vineyards, fine cuisine and trademark herbal and bell exceptional wine, the grapes pepper flavors, it is dry and grown there are as different light, possessing intense as the four seasons. As is character. The cool climate so throughout Europe, wines grape tolerates temperature swings, often to excellent are named for the regions Vineyards at Domaine Martin in Sancerre from which they come, not results. Grapes for the 2016 the grapes. Let’s look at a France in Muscadet, the in tank. As Wine Spectator Charles Joguet Chinon few stellar varietals. sand and clay soils sit atop put it, it is “pure and Cuvèe Terroir come from layers of schist and granite, chiseled, with a sleek flint, the left bank of the Vienne While Chenin Blanc is grown kissing the grapes with gooseberry and fleur de sel River. The herbal flavors throughout the world, from oceanic elements. The profile.” If you’re a Sauvignon are tempered by black fruit, South Africa to California, grape grown in Muscadet is Blanc fan — and even if making it versatile and the Loire Valley has been Melon de Bourgogne, and it you’re not — this exemplifies food-friendly. -
Blend 24 Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese Merlot Petite Sirah 2018
B CELLARS NOTES FROM THE CELLAR Blend 24 cabernet sauvignon sangiovese merlot petite sirah 2018 Blend 24 finds its inspiration from the “Super-Tuscan” wines of Italy, where non-traditional grapes are blended together to produce new expressions of classic terroir. In our case we blend the Napa Valley classic Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese, a rare grape in our parts. There is a great effort taken to age this wine in the correct ratio of oak as not to impact the Sangiovese’s wonderful bright notes but enough cooperage to meld the firm tannins of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. Winemakers Notes This is the deepest and most intense Blend 24 we’ve done to date! Our 2018 is red violet in color and is dense at the core. The nose has tobacco wrapper and dried cranberry. Spice notes come through on the palate. Hints of freshly ground black pepper topped off by luscious ripe plum jam, then followed by moderate tannins. The blend composition is Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese with a bit of Petite Sirah and Merlot adding elegance. B CELLARS NOTES FROM THE CELLAR Vintage Notes After a winemaker’s vintage in 2017 the 2018 growing season was idyllic. It delivered a consistent growing season, followed by a long, slow-paced harvest. The near picture-perfect growing season began in late February. Spring was mild, with extended flowering yielding uniform grape clusters. Temperatures remained steady and warm throughout the growing season, without any significant heat spikes, making for a cool, unhurried harvest. Pairing Insights B Cellars Chef Derich Kuntz enthusiastically recommends pairing the 2018 Blend 24 with his recipe for Chicken Skewers with Wild Rice, Currants & Toasted Pine Nut Agrodolce. -
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2014 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon TASTING NOTES Our 2014 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a garnet color with a ruby red rim and bluish tint. It has an alluring nose of chocolate-covered strawberries, vanilla, nutmeg, truffle and sage. On the palate, it has a broad yet delicate entry and offers cranberry flavors. These flavors are complemented by raspberry and pluot with savory black olive characters on the mid-palate. The wine finishes with silky tannins, cedar and bramble flavors with excellent length and return. This wine is drinkable upon release, but given proper cellaring conditions can be enjoyed through 2038. BLENDING AND AGING Our 2014 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of 97.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.3% Merlot, 0.5% Petit Verdot, 0.3% Malbec and 0.2% Cabernet Franc. Blended in early 2015, the wine was then aged for 24 months in 50% new and 50% once-used American oak barrels from our Missouri cooperage, The Oak. Early blending assures a balanced core and allows the components to achieve a seamless harmony during barrel aging. After bottling in the spring of 2017, each bottled was aged an additional 15 months before being released in August of 2018. VINTAGE DESCRIPTION The 2014 vintage was an even and uneventful growing season with a compressed harvest window. Dry conditions persisted as the Alexander Valley had a mild winter. Fortuitous late winter precipitation provided the vines with plenty of soil moisture for a mid-March budbreak. Most Alexander Valley vineyards went into bloom in mid-May and moved through fruit set quickly. -
Bubbles and Pink
(Bubbles and Pink) Two thoughts: 1. One should enjoy Bubbles on a regular basis. (End of discussion.) Sure, birthdays, anniversaries and holidays are great times to raise a glass, but why limit one’s self to just those events? Sparkling wines always seem to create a festive atmosphere, no matter how large or small the occasion. And perhaps the best part, Bubbles can be enjoyed on their own or paired with a wide array of dishes. A bowl of potato chips anyone! 2. Rosé wines are not, I repeat not, to be had just during the summer months. Yes, they are particularly delicious during those warm (and hot!) summer days, but Rosés can also transition nicely into the cooler days of autumn. Given that Rosés are made in a wide variety of styles – from off-dry to bone dry -- they are incredibly food friendly and pair well with an endless number of dishes. And, yes, Rosés are also great with potato chips! We hope you enjoy these selections. Cheers! FEATURED WINES Bubbles and Pink Pierre Brut Nature Blanquette de Limoux, France, 2016 A blend of 90% Mauzac and 10% Chenin Blanc made in the traditional Champagne style. Yeasty on the nose with flavors of green apples, pears and white flowers. The bubbles are luscious and well-integrated, adding length and depth to this cuvee. $10.00/Glass $58.00/Bottle LaLuca Prosecco, Veneto, Italy, N.V. Aromas and tastes of crisp peach, pear, apple and lemon curd come together in a rich and creamy off-dry style that is extremely $6.00/Glass $24.00/Bottle appealing. -
Selachus Sangiovese - Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana Igt
SELACHUS SANGIOVESE - CABERNET SAUVIGNON TOSCANA IGT Our roots run throughout Tuscany. They stretch beyond the gentle hills, beyond the olive trees that stand as guardians of time. They are bound to the rosebushes, sentinels at the head of the vineyard rows entrusted with perceiving the aroma. Before history, before man. Our vineyards extend where there was once the sea, as the teeth and bones of ancient, fossil Selachus sharks found here show, and they draw on a powerful, relentless force. This extraordinary energy is transfused into the grapes, custodians of the emotions that our wine will awaken. Our passion is the devotion contained in every barrel that merges yesterday with tomorrow. Our wines, are witnesses of a unique and special history: they transport us through time. Grape Varietals: 80 % Sangiovese, 20 % Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyards: Ruppiano, in the municipality of Castelnuovo Berardenga, near Siena, in the Chianti Classico area Average age of the vines: 25 years Soil: clay-limestone with sand Harvest Period: end of September, manual harvest Vinification: fermentation, maceration for 15 days at a maximum temperature of 28 °C. After the malolactic fermentation, the wine is put in barrels with about 10% of new wood Alcohol Content: 13% by vol. Residual Sugar: 5 grams per liter Color: ruby red Aroma: ripe fruit, vanilla and liquorice Palate: silky tannins, good structure with an elegant finish Food Suggestions: meats, tagliatelle with mushrooms, game Serving Temperature: 17 °C Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org).