by katrin on September 2, 2010
Cabernet Day could not have come at a better time. After tasting many Rieslings in the past week on a quest for the perfect, crowd-pleasing, moderately-priced wine, I was more than ready for some red wine!
I first encountered Bodega Ruca Malen in 2005 on a trip to Mendoza with fellow blogger Eleni. At the time, Ruca Malen was producing about 20,000 cases a year, all for export, but was having trouble breaking into the US market. We were both impressed with the wines, the commitment to quality, and the beauty of the setting and the winery itself. Set a bit further out from Mendoza’s more established wineries, Ruca Malen has a stunning, unobstructed view to the Andes Mountains from its doorstep. Like many great wineries, Ruca Malen has a great story. It was co-founded by Jean Pierre Thibaud, the former Chairman of Bodegas Chandon Argentina, and Jacques Louis de Montalembert. According to the story, he had long wanted to make truly Argentine wines, but the executives in France wanted to continue the course. After ten years as Chairman, he left and established Ruca Malen in 1999. The name of the winery and the individual wines are a story onto themselves and tie back to the Mapuche Indians and their legend of Aconcagua.
A couple of years after Eleni and I visited Mendoza, I had the good fortune of meeting Antoine Thibaud, Jean Pierre’s son, at a wine tasting in New York. I couldn’t help but express my enthusiasm. I told him how much I liked the story of the winery. “Oh, you like the legend?,” he asked. No, I replied, I like the fact that his father had left a major international company to make wine that expressed a uniquely Argentine character and that he was doing it well. The New York tasting served to confirm the impression with which I left Mendoza: that this is an exciting winery that will continue to make great wines.
Enough of my rambling story; on to the wine! [click to continue…]
by rodney on September 2, 2010
by glenn on September 2, 2010
When i began mixing cocktails at home, I was in a quandary. One of the principal tenets of my culinary training had been an emphasis on quality ingredients – to make a superb dish, begin with the best raw materials. In other words, no silk purses from second-rate pig ears. I was using good, if not excellent, base spirits – no Mr. Boston in my house – but the vermouth that was available to me, as well as to other at-home mixologists, was industrial grade, suitable for powering lawnmowers or flame throwers. (I know I’m exaggerating, but not that much.) And the thought of drinking these vermouths as aperitifs – as some in the craft cocktail movement advocated – was totally unfathomable to me. And then I discovered Vya Vermouths. [click to continue…]
by katrin on September 1, 2010
Given my disappointing German Riesling tasting, I forged ahead and tried four more. For this round, I increased my price range to up to $22 (not including any case discount) hoping to find the right wine. I headed to Federal Wine & Spirits, a store I often rely upon for interesting, quality wines, and newcomer The Urban Grape in Chestnut Hill.
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by katrin on August 26, 2010
Planning events for the nonprofit at which I work can be a lot of fun – particularly when I have a chance to pick the wines! When we decided to do an Oktoberfest theme for an upcoming dinner, I was both delighted and daunted. I knew that finding a good quality Riesling at a price that would fit our nonprofit budget would be tough.
Finding the right Riesling for a group with a mixed interest in, not to mention knowledge of, wine is a challenge. Choose one with too much petrol or gun oil and risk turning people off before they have even tasted the wine. Choose one with too much residual sugar and risk having people put down their wine after one taste. Recently, I was unceremoniously reminded of a poor Riesling selection I made last year for another event. During the in-store tasting, the wine seemed like an excellent quality for the price, but at the event it was sweet and flabby. Unfortunately, I am not the only one who remembers that wine! As with rosés, some people have to be convinced that Riesling can be one of the most rewarding and wonderful wines – delicate, complex, and beautiful, and often low in alcohol.
Luckily, Glenn and Rodney were willing to help. I selected five German Rieslings for our tasting. Four of them were around $15 with one outlier on sale at $5.99. We tasted all of them blind on the first night; and I tasted them again the next day. Below are our tasting notes, in the order in which the wines were tasted.
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by katrin on August 22, 2010
90+ Cellars has been mentioned on Wine Dine With Us at least a couple of times in recent months. It is a concept that intrigues Glenn, Rodney, and me on different levels. To me, it’s a win-win for both the winery and the consumer. The winery sells its excess inventory of quality wines at lower, no-name prices without sacrificing reputation or the wine’s price point in the future. The consumer has an opportunity to purchase a high-quality wine at a lower price. And who doesn’t like that in these recessionary times?
However, the wines do require some explanation. Having purchased 90+ Cellars wines for events that I organize for my nonprofit organization, I have seen a number of people approach the wines with a quizzical look that asks “Have budget constraints forced Katrin to serve us some anonymous plonk akin to box wine?” Certainly after trying a great wine like the Malbec Lot 3, that thought is dispelled.
This week I tried the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Lot 2, despite Rodney’s earlier lackluster review. I found it well beyond “adequate.” It is unmistakably New Zealand and totally unapologetic for being obvious. It is exactly what we all have come to expect from New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc… and that’s ok! Grapefruit, lime, gooseberry, and herbs filled my nose immediately. My mouth was watering expectantly before even tasting the wine. The palate was all that citrus plus melon, with high acidity and a touch of bitterness. It is wonderfully refreshing and flavorful and worth a try!
by katrin on August 18, 2010
It feels a little strange to be writing a review of a wine from Bordeaux when one of our fellow Wine Dine With Us bloggers is working in Bordeaux right now. No doubt the selection and quality of wines available to Rodney are far beyond what our Boston area stores can get on their shelves, and I’m hoping that in the near future he will send in more reports of what he has been enjoying! (Nudge, nudge…)
Nevertheless, I was inspired to write about the Château du Champ des Treilles Vin Passion. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle, the Vin Passion is from the relatively unknown appellation of Sainte-Foy Bordeaux. Winemakers Corine and Jean-Michel Comme adhere to both biodynamic and organic principals and an argument could be made that this natural approach has resulted in a wine that conveys purity. The nose is full of minerality, green apple, and lime. It is taut with intense acidity, a medium body, and a long finish. What I like most about the Vin Passion is that it tastes unadulterated and unprocessed, allowing the strength of the grapes shines through.
Available at Gordon’s Fine Wine for $15.99.
Cabernet Day could not have come at a better time. After tasting many Rieslings in the past week on a quest for the perfect, crowd-pleasing, moderately-priced wine, I was more than ready for some red wine!
