Wines & Cheese Tasting
February 2nd & 4th
Thursday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Saturday 12 PM – 5:00 PM
90+ Wines
This company is taking advantage of the current economic conditions by purchasing high quality and highly rated finished wines direct from wineries at a discount and then passing the savings on to you. Price and availability aren't the only selection criteria. The wines we purchase must have a pedigree of 90 points or higher ratings, a best buy, or gold medal accolades from a respected wine authority or publication.
Other companies with a similar concept are usually buying the winery's excess or distressed wine. They are buying a winery's best and most highly rated finished wine, which they would normally sell under their own label. Wineries are willing to work with us because they either produced more than they need or sales have slowed. In return, they are promised complete anonymity, which we take very seriously.
The wines of 90+Cellars are great values because they are a virtual winery they don't own any land or bottling facility. In fact, the source wineries bottle and label their wines for them. They simply search out world class wine, negotiate a great price and then pass the savings on to their customers.
Upon release, each 90+Cellars wine is assigned a "Lot" number. A lot is defined as a particular wine from a winery. On successful lots they may purchase the next vintage (if available) if the quality is the same or better.
In the end, it is their goal to provide wine lovers with an outstanding
bottle of wine at a great price. If you like the idea of fine wine for less
money, then give their wines a try!
Ninety+ Cellars Lot 40 Reserve Chardonnay 2010
Origin: Dry Creek Valley,
California
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Pacific Ocean breezes gently cool the vineyards of southern Dry Creek Valley producing Chardonnay fruit that is refreshingly juicy. The result is a wine that's full bodied with a twang of cool acidity. Fermentation in oak barrels and a second malolactic fermentation also give it a delicate, creamy texture. This is one well pampered Chardonnay. Vibrant aromas of melon, pear, and lightly baked apples hover above notes of vanilla bean and flaky pastry dough. The wine's plump texture is balanced by flavors of fresh orchard fruit and a dose of minerality.
Food Pairing: This is great served alongside grilled scallops, creamy pasta, or roasted chicken, but is equally happy hanging out by itself at a party.
Ninety+ CellarsLot 35 Tempranillo–Cabernet 2006
Origin: Navarra, Spain. This wine comes from Navarra, an ancient wine region located in Northern Spain.
Varietal: 60% Tempranillo and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes: Deep cherry in color with aromas of black currant, tobacco and violets. In the mouth this wine is full bodied and intense. Complex fruit notes combined with oak spice create a delightful and persistent wine.
Food Pairing: Pair with tapas, pork, grilled or roasted meats and hearty pasta dishes.
Ninety+ Cellars Lot 21 Fench Fusion 2009
Origin: Languedoc, France
Varietal: 60% Syrah 30% Grenache 10% Mourvedre
Tasting Notes: This French wine is a great value from a family owned vineyard in the Languedoc located in the foothills of the Cevennes. This Chateau routinely produces excellent wine and recieves high praise from critics on both sides of the Atlantic. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then aged for 14 months before it is bottled without filtration to preserve its unique character and flavor.
Food Pairing: This wine pairs well with steaks, hearty stews, duck, pheasant and rich, tomato based pasta dishes. Roasted pork and lamb dishes are an excellent match, as well.
Ninety+ Cellars Lot 38 Reserve Malbec 2009
Origin: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Varietal: 100% Malbec
Tasting Notes: At elevations up to 4600 feet above sea level, you can't get much higher than the Uco Valley. This altitude combined with the valley's dry, sunny climate creates wines with a distinct richness and concentration. The finished wine is aged in new French barriques for 15 months. This is a powerhouse Malbec with poise. Its dark, dense and packed with rich layers of blackberry and blueberry fruit. More nuanced flavors of dark chocolate, sweet spice, and wild flowers emerge on the palate and flow into an impeccable balanced and smooth finish.
Food Pairing: Serve this with roast beef, grilled meats, venison, roasts, BBQ ribs and sharp cheeses. \
Ninety+ Cellars Lot 53 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina. This glorious Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a family vineyard originally planted in the late 1700s.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes: An aromatic melody of black currant, cherry, and cassis rises above a harmonious backdrop of tobacco, mocha, and toasty oak. On the palate, juicy, dark berry fruit cascades across your tongue followed by a trickle of sweet spice and savory plums. Aged in new French oak for 14 months.
Food Pairing: Serve with grilled
rib eye, portabella mushrooms, and well aged cheeses.
Saturday Only
Owen Roe Sinister Hand 2010
Owen Roe is located in the Willamette Valley in Newburg, Oregon. The winery was opened in 2000 by winemaker David O'Reilly who co-owns the winery with Peter Rosback (Sineann). The winery makes a diverse lineup of wines from both Oregon and Washington.
Origin: Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington State. On this label the family crest depiction of a severed left hand tells the story of a rowing competition among the O'Neill's & the O'Reilly's (Owen Roe was an O’Neill). Whoever touched land first after rowing across the lake was rewarded with the land he touched. Lagging behind, one of the kinsfolk grabs his sword to cleave his hand and pitches it ashore to touch land first. He won the land and eventually ruled over it as king.
Varietal: 71% Grenache, 24% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. Similar to Southern Rhone blend.
Tasting Notes: A dark story needs a dark wine, which is why we created this blend, typical of a traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The first sip of this wine surprises the palate with soft, supple flavors of raspberry jam and currant. The midpalate opens up to a complex layering of minty ucalyptus, black pepper and leather and finishes with a structured backbone of earth and spice.
Food Pairing: This should work well with a variety of foods especially
spicy fare and red meats.
Fonseca 10 Year Tawny Port
Origin: Port wine is a fortified wine originating from the Douro Valley in the North of Portugal. Fonseca Port was founded in 1822 and grew rapidly in reputation and importance. Since its foundation, successive generations of the Guimaraens family have upheld the Company’s reputation. Today, Fonseca occupies a leading position as a specialist producer of quality wood ports and as one of the top vintage houses. Fonseca may indeed be unique in the annals of Port in that every Fonseca vintage port in the last 100 years has been made by just four members of the Guimaraens family. The fourth member, David Guimaraens, continues the tradition having taken over from his father as winemaker in 1992. In his book, Vintage Port, James Suckling has written: "Fonseca is the King of Port. It produces the best Vintage Port in every declared year, with very few exceptions." Robert Parker summed up Fonseca's style as "The most exotic and most complex Port...With its lush, seductive character, one might call it the Pomerol of Vintage Ports."
Varietal: Touriga Nacional Blend. TOURIGA NACIONAL, TOURIGA FRANCESA, TINTA RORIZ, TINTO CÃO, TINTA BARROCA, TINTA AMARELA
Tasting Notes: Fonseca 10 Year Old Tawny is russet in color with brilliant crimson highlights and a fragrant, ripe-fruit bouquet. Its smooth, silky texture and subtle oak nuances are balanced by a fresh acidity and tannic “grip” that culminate in a long, elegant, plumy finish.
Food Pairing: Fonseca 10 Year Old makes a delicious dessert wine, and combines particularly well with flavors of almonds, berry fruit or dark chocolate. It can also be enjoyed as an accompaniment for rich, blue veined cheeses. It is excellent at the end of the meal, as a crowning moment of an enjoyable evening, served on its own or with a plate of walnuts or roasted almonds. They benefit from being served slightly chilled, particularly in warm weather.