Hello, Feastlings.
We all have our go-tos. Maybe you always like a creamy California Chardonnay, or maybe it’s the fine tannins of a Left Bank Bordeaux that lift your spirits. Whatever you choose, you may want to get yourself out of that habit every now and again to discover that maybe you like something you didn’t previously consider. This month’s Last Sunday tasting offers you the chance to do just that. Katie Woodcock makes the trip down from Phoenix to talk wine with us this Sunday, January 26, at 3:30, and you’re invited to join in the festivities. We’ll be making a food pairing specific to each wine, and we’ll be opening up some special bottles. If these sound appealing, and you’re willing and able to join us on the 26th at 3:30, and to bring along $35 plus tax and tip, give us a call (web and email reservations won’t save your seat for you.) Seating is limited and people seem to like coming to these tastings, so now’s your moment. It’ll be a hoot. Bring a friend who thinks they only like one kind of wine.
If you like that, try this.
If you like a refreshing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, try:
2018 Paul Buisse Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine AOP $14.00
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Aromas of grapefruit, fresh apricot and exotic fruits lead to a juicy, fresh palate that is balanced by a soft texture. This wine leaves a lasting impression with a seamless finish that is laced with lingering notes of spice. Ideal for appetizers, this Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect wine to open your palate, serving as a great match for soft cheeses – particularly goat cheese which is a specialty of The Loire region – summertime salads, shellfish and seafood.
If you like a full-bodied domestic Chardonnay, try:
2018 Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc $53.00
40% Clairette, • 30% Grenache Blanc • 30% Roussanne. The Estate is a contiguous 100 acres, planted to 86 acres of red grapes and 14.8 acres of white grapes, with vines averaging 50 years of age. Complex nose of pineapple, peach and brioche. Mouth combines liveliness and smoothness with notes of citrus, candied melons and flowers and a very mineral finish.
If you like a brooding Oregon Pinot Noir, try:
2017 Maison l’Envoyé Pinot Noir, Coal River Valley, Tasmania $30.00
“A joint venture between this wine’s importers and former film producer Mark Tarlov, this wine was made by the Yarra-based Giant Steps team. It’s a weighty Pinot, particularly by Tasmanian standards, and the oak is a little heavy handed, but it’s nevertheless got a lot going on, particularly once given time in the glass to open up. Red fruits and florals sit beside pepper, tar, damp earth, charred meat and cola characters. The palate is plush and satiny, with a grip of savory, earthy tannins and lifted acidity. 90 points.” -Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast (August 2019)
If you like a great big Napa Cabernet, try:
2014 Viña Magna Ribera del Duero $30.00
95% Tempranillo and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Selected lots from the more steeply inclined and chalky parcels. Malolactic fermentation and 12 to 18 months aging in barriques of primarily French oak. Deep robe and structure are highlighted by pronounced minerality on the nose and a focused, saturated and persistent finish.
“Toasty oak and graphite aromas fortify a nose that’s lemony on the surface and ripe and fruity at the base. A creamy, resiny mouthfeel is toughened by hard tannins, while this wine tastes of toasty oak and black fruits. A dark, woody finish is chocolaty and rich.” —Michael Schachner, Wine Enthusiast, November 2017
If you like a Left Bank Bordeaux, try:
2016 Glenelly “Glass Collection” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch $18.00
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. This classic Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from various blocks of vines on the estate, giving it complexity and balance. Youthful, leafy and very pure, with blackcurrant pastille fruit, tangy acidity and the fine tannins that are the hallmark of the glass collection wines. Inspired by antique glasses from May de Lencquesaing’s private collection, Glenelly’s Glass Collection celebrates the parallels between the art of making wine and the art of making glass. Both glass and fine wine come from poor soil, and just as the glassblower breathes life into glass, the winemaker’s love gives life to wine.
If you like a rich California Zinfandel, try:
2015 Buglioni “Il Lussurioso” Amarone della Valpolicella Classico $65.00
60% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 10% Rondinella, 5% Croatina, 5% Oseleta. Dark ruby-red in color with garnet shades. Intense and elegant aromas of ripe fruit, raisins and spices with vanilla, tobacco, cocoa and anise. Persistent, warm flavors, velvety and harmonious. This is a wine for meditation — a protagonist on its own. It is traditionally paired with game, grilled beef, stew, braised meat and mature cheeses, however, the smoothness of its dry fruit allows for modern and daring pairing…have you ever tried it with raw prawns or scampi?