Hello, Wine Friends.
The last Sunday of the month again draws near, and this month’s tasting promises to be delicious. Mary Grace Rodarte brings us wines that are all organic, sustainable and/or biodynamic. Time was, organic wine meant well-intentioned but not necessarily all that tasty. That’s changed, and we intend to prove it to you this Sunday at 3:30. Like we did for last month’s tasting, we’ll be offering a couple of higher-end wines, so the tasting will be $30 this month (not to worry- next month’s tasting will be back down to $25). The price includes the usual: 6 wines and paired snacks. Call 326-9363 so we can hold a seat for you.
2008 Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine, Willamette Valley $24.00
Soft straw color, tiny streams of minuscule bubbles, and as you raise the glass, full aromas of creamy vanilla poached pear and fresh sour dough starter. The first impression on the palate is of how well balanced this wine is, playing the purity of fruit off of the fresh acidity while showcasing the wine’s natural mineral notes. There are notes of ripe guava, red Anjou pear, Meyer lemon, and lightly toasted brioche, finishing with notes of honeysuckle and lemon curd. This is a delectable example of a fresh, vintage dated sparkling wine to impress and please.
2009 Murrietta’s Well “The Whip” White Blend, Livermore Valley $20.00
This blend of six different varietals is aged mostly in neutral oak barrels, mostly on the lees, and mostly for about six months. Blended together, they produce Murrietta’s Well’s tribute to the blended whites of the world: sophisticated yet approachable, the Whip offers full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe peaches, butterscotch and jasmine with a long, balanced finish.
2008 Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Blanc “Petite Ruche” (Marsanne) $22.00
This 100% Marsanne is pale yellow with green highlights, and floral on the nose with hints of green apple, citrus and some tropical notes. Big and supple, but still with enough acidity to keep it quite fresh even with its bottle age. Floral again on the palate, with candied fruits.
2009 Wairau River Pinot Noir, Wairau $18.00
This wine displays lifted aromas o f ripe cherries and sp ice . The palate is so ft and generous with delicate primary fruit characters of wild berries shadowed by subtle toasty oak . Fine ripe tannins provide weight
and add structure resulting in a long and seamless finish.
2007 Terlato Block 9 Syrah, Dry Creek Valley $38.00 (normally $54.00)
The low yield, small berries and dark color contribute to its reputation for making complex Syrah with good aging potential. Terlato ferments the grapes using traditional methods; open top fermenters which are punched down three times per day. It is this punch down method that extracts all the possible color and flavor without making the wine tannic. After fermentation, they use only the free run juice to make the Terlato Block 9 Syrah. The free run is then aged for 20 months in French oak barrels. Racked as needed, the young wine is steered through the aging process to produce a wine with intense berry and spice aromas, and flavors of dark stone fruit. After bottling, the wine is bottle-aged for a minimum of two years to develop bottle bouquet. It is this style of Syrah that is sought after by collectors around the world. Enjoy the wine now or enjoy it in 10 or 15 years.
2009 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $51.00
Wonderfully supple and fragrant. Silky tannins frame a core of expressive dark red fruit. Floral and spice notes are woven nicely throughout.