Wine & Cheese Tasting
August 4th & 6th
Thursday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Saturday 12 PM – 5:00 PM
Emina Verdejo 2009
Origin: Rueda, Spain
Varietal: 100% Verdejo
Tasting Notes: This wines appearance is bright and clean
with pale yellow and greenish tones.
On the nose it is powerful and very fruity, with expressive primary varietal
notes of fresh tropical fruits (banana and pineapple), in perfect harmony with
floral tones of lavender, anise touches of fennel and thyme characteristic of
the Verdejo variety, and also of hay and fresh-cut grass. On the palate you will find a medium body
wine with a touch of acidity that gives it notable freshness in perfect harmony
with the alcohol, with an elegant fruity sensation and a drier finish typical
of the variety. This wine sees no oak.
Food Pairing: Pair this great summertime white with all
kinds of fish, shellfish, mild cheeses, blue cheeses, pasta, rice dishes,
poultry and white meats.
Peter Paul Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2009
Origin: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California. In the Russian River Valley, 2009 will be memorable for its ideal, long growing season. Limited frost damage in April, below normal summer temperatures, and few heat spikes of any duration all contributed to excellent quality fruit with ripe flavors and good texture. Across the board, the 2009 Chardonnays possess amazing depth, elegance and structure.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay. This Chardonnay was grown in an exceptional area located above the Atascadero/Green Valley watershed. It is one of the coolest parts of the Russian River Valley.
Tasting Notes: A lush textured wine balanced by firm, bright acidity, this Chardonnay is blessed with a fine array of flavors that kick off with pretty lemon and orange notes. These are followed by layers of tropical mango and coconut, and topped off with a hint of nutmeg and spice. Framed in pretty vanilla and toast, it finishes fresh and long. The wine was fermented on its lees using a blend of indigenous and non-native yeasts. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally in barrels, where the wine remained for just under 12 months. It was bottled unfiltered. 100% French Oak. 1000 Cases produced.
Food Pairing: A succulent dish of
fresh lobster tails with a rich butter sauce, fettuccine Alfredo, soft creamy
cheeses, carrot and corn based dishes, white meats of any kind, Salmon, and
just about anything cooked in a creamy buttery sauce.
Manu Pinot Noir 2009
Manu is the Maori word for both bird and kite, and the Manu logo is an interpretation of a ‘Te Manu Tukutuku’, a beautifully crafted Maori kite. This kite represents the hallmarks of Manu wines: craftsmanship, elegance, and the pure nature of New Zealand.
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes: A soft approachable wine with moderate structure supporting bright red fruit characters of cherries and plums. The palate exudes warmth and ripeness with hints of smoky oak and chocolate. This wine has beautiful balance and excellent persistence of flavor. 92 points Gary Vaynerchuck; Best Buy/Top Tip/Consumer Choice “Enjoyed by judges and consumers alike.” - TiZWine.com, June 2010
Food Pairing: The bright fruit characters and hints of
smoky oak make this wine an ideal match with almost anything from the barbecue.
The wine is moderately structured so will be perfect with lunch as well as at
dinner. Winemaker’s best match to date: slow roasted whole chicken in the
Weber
Frey Natural Red Organic (No Added Sulphites) N/V
Sulfites are measured in parts per million, or ppm. Following is a brief overview of maximum amounts of sulfites allowed in different classes of wines.
- Organic Wine: Under 10 ppm naturally occurring sulfite
- Biodynamic Wine: 100 ppm added sulfite
- “Made with Organic Grapes” wine: 150 ppm added sulfite
- All wine: 350 ppm added sulfite
Frey wines usually range from 0 ppm to 5 ppm naturally occurring sulfites, though most measure 0 ppm. These levels are minimal when compared with an egg, which was shown to contain 6 ppm in independent laboratory testing.
Origin: Mendocino, California
Varietal: A blend of organic Carignane, Zinfandel, and Syrah.
Tasting Notes: Bright garnet hue. Well-balanced, medium-bodied palate with a crisp, fruit finish. An excellent everyday organic red wine, carefully crafted from the vineyard to the winery to your table. Bronze: 2009 San Francisco Internaional Wine Competition; Bronze: L.A. County Fair Wines of the World Competition; Bronze: Florida State Fair International Wine Competition; Bronze, & rated "Best Buy," Beverage Testing Inst., IL
Food Pairing: Try it with barbecued foods, pasta dishes,
pizza and much more.
Chateau Kefraya Les Breteches Red 2007
Origin: Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Grenache. This selection is made in order to obtain a laying down wine.
Tasting Notes: A color of ruby, limpid and brilliant with slightly tiled reflections. The first bouquet is fresh and of good intensity, revealing subtle notes of cooked fruits, syrup macerated fruits and jam. The second bouquet is more delicate offering notes of light wood, mushroom and spices. The nose is clear, flawless, delicate and of good complexity. On the palate, this wine is balanced and structured. It mainly displays spiced and fruity notes sensed by the nose. The tannins are well present giving a structure to the wine and offering also years of good aging capacity. This ''Château Kefraya" is matured in French oak barrels for 12 months. At the end of its maturity, the wine is ''clarified''
Food Pairing:
To best appreciate Les Bretèches 2007, it is recommended to
serve it at about 17 degrees C (63F) temperature. On your table, this wine
accompanies perfectly well Lebanese mezze, grilled meats as well as lightly
spiced dishes and goat cheese.
Alpha Domus Hawkes Bay Navigator (Meritage Blend) 2006
Origin: Hawkes Bay,
New Zealand. Hawkes Bay is an area of
New Zealand that is noted for its success with Bordeaux varietals. Long, hot summers and cool winters
characterize this temperate area.
Varietal: This wine is a blend of 41% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec and 12% Cabernet Franc.
Tasting Notes: A complex aroma of ripe berry fruit, plums, violet, licorice and hints of leather. Influences of sweet vanilla and toast result from oak barrel maturation (20 months). On the palate you will find plum and blackberry supported by clove and spicy notes. Game and leathery characters add complexity. The ripe fruit, sweet oak and firm tannins create a robust, complex wine with excellent length.
Food Pairing: Great with red meats and game, pasta, cheese or any full flavored dishes.