Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine
Once in a while, a producer makes such delicious wines across the board that we like to feature them in a tasting with no interference from the outside world. Paul Jaboulet Aine is one such producer.
Saturday Wine Tastings
Each Saturday at 2:00 pm, we open four different wines and talk about them- where they come from, who makes them, and what makes them special. A couple of light hors d’oeuvres accompany the tasting and those who attend are eligible for discounts on the wines. Reservations are required, and web and email reservations will not guarantee you a seat, to please make your reservation by calling (520) 326-9363
Past Saturday Wine Tasting
Crisper Whites for Crisper Nights.
This week may be a bit cooler than last, but face it: we're still in Arizona, and it's still well within reason to think about a crisp bottle of white wine with dinner, or even without dinner.
By Rhône inspired
Kevin is getting into the spirit of our much-anticipated autumn by pulling out some heartier red wines this week, at our Saturday tasting themed "By Rhône inspired." Not a one from the Rhône proper, but Rhône varietals- two from elsewhere in France and from sunny California.
Speaking Francly, if I may…
The red wines of Bordeaux are a trifecta of fruit, power and brilliance. There's the terroir, to be sure, and the winemaking, and the oak, and styles favoring one aspect or another way throughout the region, and each varietal brings to the table a different aspect: Cabernet Sauvignon brings tannin- power and body and grip. Merlot brings abundance of dark fruit and plush texture.
Savage Sauvignon Blanc
I don't imagine you'll find anything particularly savage about these Sauvignon Blancs, but this Saturday, Kevin will be opening SB's from all over the place, so whether you're fond of the grapefruit-and-gooseberry style that hails from New Zealand or the dry, gravelly stuff from Cheverny, you'll find something interesting here.
The UNusual Suspects
You've tasted Cabernet Sauvignon with us, and Syrah and Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. But this week, the usual suspects have been kicked to the curb.
Chardonnay- Classic French vs. the “California” approach
Nothing cuts through that monsoon season humidity like white wine, and more specifically like white Burgundy.
Half Time Entertainment
Maybe it's because you just don't have it in you that day, or maybe it's because that was already the second bottle, but whatever the reason, you cork it and come back to it only to discover that the fruit's fallen off, or it tastes like oxidized prunes now, or some such problem.
Italy, outside the northern regions
Somewhere, at some point, some undoubtedly supercilious person decided that the wines of northern Italy were infinitely superior to those of southern Italy. We dispute that theory, always, and offer the assertion that geography is simply geography, and while a region may impart a certain terroir, there is nothing inherently better or worse about any given region's flavors and subtleties than those of any other region.
Take me to your liter.
When summer really gets going, we often find ourselves in the market for something a little less substantial; those wines that weigh in at 16% alcohol that supremely satisfied in the winter months have begun to hold less appeal. Now, we're reaching for clean, crisp, easy-drinking wines that pair well with sitting on the porch and watching the monsoons roll in.