October 2010 - Italian Sangiovese / Blends

Host: Julie
Book: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

1. Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 20065 - $16.99
(This was one of the Group Favorites)

Grape: Sangiovese

Avignonesi Vino Nobile is garnet red in colour; its bouquet is delicate and intense, with a slight scent of violet; the taste is dry with a hint of tannin. This important wine is ideal with roast and grilled meat, game and mature cheeses. Sangiovese's claim to fame is its role as the heart of Chianti, Brunello and many Super Tuscan wines though it is gaining ground as a varietal wine around the globe. When grown in a suitable location the grape's soft tannins, succulent acidity and moderately intense cherry and herb flavors make Sangiovese very easy to drink as well as supremely versatile at the dinner table.



2. Col di Sasso (Banfi) - $10.00
Cabernet Sauvignon - Sangiovese

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese

Colour: ruby red, young, but intense. Bouquet: fresh, varietal, enriched with spicy notes. Taste: full and soft, balanced, easy-to-drink.

WINEMAKER’S NOTES
One of the best known and appreciated Banfi labels in the world, Col di Sasso, which translates to "Stony Hill", is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese cultivated on the most rocky and impervious slopes of the Banfi estate in Montalcino. The perfect marriage between these two grapes gives birth to a youthful yet concentrated and extremely fruity red wine. (This was one of my favorites :)

3. Antinori Santa Cristina 2008 - $14.99
(Second Group Favorite)

Grape: Sangiovese 90% Merlot 10%

The wine presents itself to the eye with a ruby red color tinged with violet hues. It has an intense aroma, with hints of fresh fruit and pleasant floral notes. Being of good structure, the wine is well-rounded, harmonious, and rich on the palate. The finish is characterized by sweet tannins and a lingering taste of the fruit from which it was born.


4. Monte Antico Rosso 2006 - $11.99

Grape: 85% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The blend, albeit varying slightly depending on vintage conditions. The best selections are blended and aged 1 year in oak (80% in Slavonian barrels, 20% in barrique) + at least 6 months in the bottle, achieving a graceful balance of voluptuous berry tones and flexible yet sturdy backbone. Dark ruby in color, its bouquet of leather, earth, herbs, black cherries, licorice and plums is confirmed on the medium to full-bodied palate – round, spicy, elegant, attractively fruity and extremely versatile with any fare from pasta or risotto, to meat, fowl and cheese. Moreover, the Empsons' judicious pricing policy makes it "consistently one of Italy's better values". Food-friendly, pocket-friendly, all-around simpatico. Bright plum, dried cherry and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and refined berry and cherry flavors. Drink now.

August 2010 - Argentina & Chile

Host: Catina
Book: Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende


1. Gascon Malbec 2009 - $10.99 (Second Favorite)
Malbec from Argentina, South America
Don Miguel Gascón Malbec is a full bodied wine with a deep violet color, showcasing flavors and aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, dark cherry, and a hint of mocha. The wine is elegant and rich in texture, with soft, round tannins and a long velvety finish. Gascón Malbec pairs well with grilled red meats, wild game, pasta dishes and chocolate molten dessert.

2. Colores del Sol Malbec 2009 $6.99 (Group Favorite)
ARGENTINA
Colores del Sol, meaning “Colors of the Sun,” is a Malbec that captured the exciting, alluring qualities of the Malbec grape in a wine which utilized modern, high-quality winemaking. The vineyards in Mendoza are among highest in the world – therefore, closest to the sun where the sun's light is most pure. That pure light reflects from grapes and vines like a starburst, revealing all the colors of the sun. The grapes are watered with pure melted snow channeled from the Andes, using a centuries-old irrigation system inherited from the native settlers, the Huarpes Indians.

3. Concha y Toro Xplorador Malbec 2009 - $8.99 (Nobody like this one!)
from Chile, South America
Concha y Toro Carmenere excels with focused red currant, green leaf flavors; nicely built, this sleek wine is perfect with lamb chops. (Label is cool...wine yucky! Do not judge this book by its cover!)

4. Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2009 - $12.99 (Nobody liked this one either!)
from Chile, South America
Dressed in fresh purple red colour, this is a voluptuous Pinot Noir with rich fruit notes of cherry, raspberry, plum and strawberry – a red fruit party! – enhanced by subtle smoked hints. In mouth sweet fruit notes stand out, and its fine tannins give it a great texture and a mouth filling structure. Balanced and New World styled, this is a wine of personality and elegance. Sexy, pure and simple, it's a young and refreshing Pinot. (our group decided this was not sexy or refreshing)

July 2010-Australian Shiraz

Host: Laura
Book: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

1. Banrock Station Shiraz 2008 - $8.99 (Second Favorite)
Deep plum with purple hues, followed on the nose by fresh cherry and plum fruit. The palate is medium to full bodied with rich plum and cherry fruit. The palate develops from ripe fruit into fine grain tannin with liquorice peppery spice. This wine is for immediate enjoyment. This wine is well suited to roasted meat dishes or spicy Morrocan lamb and couscous


2. Nine Stones Shiraz Barossa Valley 2008 - $13.99
This Barossa offering is a terrific value, providing classic raspberry and chocolate regional character allied to size and softness--W ine Enthusiast--90 points!


3. Kilda Shiraz 2008 - $7.99 (Group Favorite)
Soft and appealing for its pure, clear blueberry and cream flavors, lingering on the polished finish.


4. Thorn Clark Shotfire 2008 - $19.99
Deep red colour. Very lifted and intense nose of blackberry fruit, sweet spice and dark chocolate. The palate is very rich and flavoursome with blackberry and plum fruit. In addition to the primary fruit characters there is plenty of complexity in this wine with spice, earthy notes and graphite also evident. There is heaps of mouthfilling flavour complemented by chalky tannins. There is great length of fruit as well.

Roasted Eggplant Feta Dip

Serves 12
1 to 2 large eggplant = 2 cups chopped
2 to 3 red, green and yellow bell peppers = 2 cups chopped
2 3/4 TB lemon juice
1/3 C olive oil
2/3 C feta cheese
2/3 C red onion, finely chopped
1 small chile pepper finely chopped
3 TB fresh basil, chopped
2 TB fresh parsley, chopped
1/3 Tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 Tsp salt
pinch of sugar

Peel and roast eggplant with sliced peppers
Chop eggplant and peppers by hand immediately add lemon juice to prevent browning
Add remaining ingredients, should be chunky
Serve with toasted pita chips

June 2010-South Africa Whites

Host: Debbie
Book: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

1. Neil Ellis Chardonnay 2009 - $16.99 (All were very good but this was Group Favorite tied with #5)
Region: Stellenbosch. Attractive green tints. Tight lemony/lime aromas with green apple and a touch of vanilla. Tight focused palate with citrussy fruit and an elegant long finish.



2. Man Vintners Chardonnay 2008 - $7.99
This refreshing style of chardonnay is made with a touch of oak for added complexity and richness. Melon, tropical fruit and citrus aromas, a rounded palate with butterscotch notes and prominent fruit flavours. A versatile wine that will complement virtually any food. Serve chilled.

3. Herding Cats Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay 2008 - $6.99
Has a bouquet dominated by peach, lemon with a touch of delicate white flower from the Chenin (80%). The palate combines the creaminess and tropical fruit flavors of Chardonnay (20%) with the apricot and mineral flavors of Chenin. It is beautifully balanced, crisp & fresh.



4. Indaba Chenin Blanc 2008 - $8.99
A sweetly perfumed wine, characteristic of the grape, showing lots of tropical fruit, melon, citrus and floral aromas. The same luscious fruit flavors follow through on the palate, backed by refreshing acidity and good structure. The finish leaves you with an intriguing note of clove.



5. Man Vintners Chenin Blanc 2008 - $7.99 (Group Favorite tied with #1)
Tropical fruit, guava and melon aromas, crisp and bold sweet citrus backed by refreshing acidity and minerality characteristic of our coastal vineyards. A versatile food wine to go with most poultry, fish and salad dishes. Also fabulous as an aperitif for a hot summer afternoon. Serve chilled.

May 2010 - French Reds

Host: Ranae
Book: How to be Good by Nick Hornby
Wines: French Reds

Pre-tasting: Mouton Cadet Red Bordeaux - $6.99 (Group rated it good especially for the price)
Smooth, medium-bodied with an elegant bouquet, this red wine is a delightful assemblage of Merlot and Cabernet grapes. The nose displays a lovely harmony of aromas over a mature background. You will find jammy notes of red and black fruits, dominated by flavours of raspberry and accompanied by delicate, flattering notes of toast, smoke, pepper and vanilla from barrel ageing. Very pleasant on the whole and a good style for this simple Bordeaux appellation. The same impression is found on the palate, with a smooth and round attack and ripe fruity notes punctuated by a thirst-quenching acidity and fine tannins that blend well with the richness of the wine. It is not until the finish that the wine takes on a more defined character with flavours of blackcurrants and blackberries as well as notes of liquorice and pepper that bring a different dimension to the wine.

1. Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir '08 - $11.99 (Group rated it Good)
The 2008 Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir showcases dark fruit aromas and flavors of black cherry and ripe plum. The light oak influence produces subtle notes of cinnamon for a soft, yet full middle palate and a smooth, luxurious texture. This was supposed to pair well with salmon. But all of the wines (except #3) went well with the salmon...maybe it was just the perfect salmon prepared by Ranae!!




2. Cotes Du Rhone - Louis Bernard '07 - $12.95 (Group Favorite - Tied with #4)
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault.Cherry red in color with concentrated berries and cherries on the nose. This wine is ample and fruity with a gentle hint of oak.





3. Georges Dubœuf Beaujolais Villages '08 - $13.99 (Nobody liked this one!)
Nicely drinkable, easy to pair with pretty much anything. Although Beaujolais-Villages works at room temperature, it is traditionally served cooler than other reds, chilled to 52 degrees F. Its aroma is of ripe berries with a hint of something else, something floral (violet?).Wines bearing the Beaujolais-Villages label are restricted to using grapes coming from at least 2 of the 39 communes in Haut-Beaujolais. These are better wines with more complexity and depth. They can be kept from one to three years. Beaujolais-Villages is a simple, fruity red wine produced from Gamay grapes.


4. Beaujolais Louis Jadot '08 - $12.95 (Group Favorite - Tied with #2)
Gamay. Bright, crushed red fruit color, flavors and aromas supported by a fresh acidity and gentle tannins characterize this charming, modestly scaled wine which shows peppery notes on the clean, refreshing finish.

April 2010 - White Varietals

Host: Lisa Arbogast
Book: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout


1. Luna Freakout White Wine 2007 - $14.99

winemaker's notes: A blend of 35% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Grigio, 25% Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Ribolla Gialla.

The 2007 Freakout is a light golden color, with an enticing nose of ripe pear and hints of lemon. On the palate, the mouthwatering acidity of lemon zest mingles with baked bread and coconut milk, accented by a good dose of minerality. The finish is a delicious blend of pears and vanilla.

2. Qupe Bien Nacido Cuvee Chardonnay-Viognier Blend - $ 18.99
This is a very showy Bien Nacido Cuvee. The Viognier from the warmer Santa Ynez Valley vineyards, especially the Vogelzang, give this an even more lifted Viognier aroma. Peaches, honey, with hints of tropical fruits and citrus, balanced by the structure and great acidity of the Chardonnay. There is an impression of sweetness from the ripe Viognier but the wine is completely dry. We find it goes especially well with Hawaiian Regional Cuisine, Indian food or any other dish thats full flavored and incorporates a bit of sweet and spice. This wine is not meant for the cellar, drink now and over the next two years.

3. CMS by Hedges - $14.99
77% Sauvignon Blanc, 21% Chardonnay & 2% Marsanne.
A seamless combination of pear, pineapple, gooseberry, banana and wet straw on the nose, following through on the palate. Crisp acidity is balanced by sweetness of ripe fruit & a nicely viscous mouth feel. Grapes were sourced from four Columbia Valley vineyards: Bacchus, Dionysus, Destiny Ridge & Arete.


4. Conundrum - $19.99
Gorgeous aromas of apricot, honeysuckle, and vanilla and lime zest enhance a deeply-flavored palate of tropical fruit, peach, pear and honeydew melon flavors. The complexity of this wine is brought into balance with a rich, round, soft texture; fresh, supportive acidity; and a stunning, satisfying finish.



We also had a pre-tasting wine that we enjoyed while we toured Lisa's Beautiful yard, met her beautiful horses, pony, dogs and a goat!! It was:

Folie a Deux Menage a Trois White 2008 - $8.99
Winemaker's notes:

The 2008 Ménage à Trois white is a trip to the islands without the worry of sunburn or bugs. It's undeniably fruity and unabashedly easy. It's meant to be quaffed, not analyzed. The White blend brings together citrus and tropical fruit flavors with crisp acidity. Dare we say it's refreshing? With food or without, alone or with two companions, this is one of the most exhilarating experiences imaginable.

April Book Club

This month's read:

Date: April 26, 2010
Location: Lisa's House... address and directions TBA
Time: 7 p.m.

March Book Club - The Help

For March, we read Katherine Stockett's "The Help". It was a fun easy read and I had a hard time putting it down. I really liked this book for the bravery that each woman showed in creating their book. It is amazing to me what people went through during the Civil Rights movement. It's also amazing to me to hear that similar things are still going on today. Sad, really.

I think we all agreed that Minnie was our favorite character. She was quite the spitfire, and it was because of her that they were actually able to publish the book and get away with it. Had she not had the insight into Hilly's psyche (arguably, more than Hilly's friends did), it never would have seen the light of day.

We discussed racism in the South, how the environment you grow up in affects the way you think as an adult, why women are so much more dangerous than men when it comes to punishment... even little girls can be downright vicious... and if we thought it was right for Skeeter to overlook Stuart's obvious character flaws. Me? I was rooting for him to be the good guy and sweep her off her feet. HUGE disappointment.

For dinner, we had Southern Fried Chicken. Because I don't cook, I had it catered by Peddlers. It was fried in grape-seed oil which made it half the calories. Others brought collard greens, potatoes, more chicken and veggies. For dessert? Chocolate pie!!! Not the "special" kind, but special enough... as it was my first-ever pie and pie crust made from scratch.

I chose to serve a variety of blended wines... as blended is my favorite wine:

#1 - House Wine - because it looked like something made during the Prohibition.











#2 - Vitiano -









#3 - Goats Do Roam







#4 - Night and Day










The club liked the Night and Day the best of the wines, but I don't mind admitting that, at least to me, they all tasted pretty similar. But, that could have been my cold talking.

We missed those in the club who couldn't make it! See you in April!

Intro

Welcome to Wine (with a side of book) Club. First things first... if anyone has a better name for the club, I'm all ears.

Secondly, if any members want to have access to posting on here, send me your email address and I'll get you set up. If you have a blog of your own, we can link the two blogs.

Jaynee

Petite Sirah - Feb 2010

Host: Hilary
Book: Peach Like a River by Leif Enger
Wine: Petite Sirah

1. Big House Wine Company Petite Sirah The prodigal Son '06 - $7.99
Arresting hues of this very deep dark red, is an attesting to the beauty of the biy. The bouquet is muscular with black fruits, blackberries, and cassis dominating the introduction. Then a whiff of anise sets in, followed by whisper of smoke and white pepper. The palate follows the nose with lip smacking blackberry and currant. Flavors then interrwine chocolate, spice in a swirl of bodacious body, that one would consider gravitas. All of this delight leaves you longing for another sip, before ending with a hint of vanilla, oak and spice.
2. Bogle Petite Sirah - $9.00
Ripe summer blackberries and plums overwhelm both the nose and palate of this wine. Its trademark inky, jammy qualities are a barrage of black fruit and spice, adding layer upon layer of complexity. Notes of supple leather and toasty oak envelop the flavors through the finish, giving way to wisps of caramel and vanilla. The firm tannins make this a wine that can develop for years to come, but you won't want to wait that long to enjoy it!


3. Concannon Petite Sirah - $12.99
The 2006 Petite Sirah, Limited Release is an intense wine with vibrant berry fruits and a full palate. The wine starts with attractive aromas of ripe berries, creamy oak and a touch of spice, and hints of toasty oak and vanilla enrich the palate. The wine's full body is complemented by a firm and balanced structure, and the finish is lasting and memorable.


4. Petite Petit Michael David - $14.99 - GROUP FAVORITE!
"Aged 16 months in new French Oak, our carnivalistic blend of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot is definitely the star of the show. Trunk fulls of blueberry, plum, violet, and chalky tannins give a seamless finish to this jumbo size offering."

Various Reds - Jan 2010

Host: Bonnie
Book: My Life in France by Julia Child

1. Snap Dragon Mertage - $9.95 GROUP FAVORITE
Free from the restrictions of a varietal name, a red wine yields itself to the creativity of the winemaker who can combine the best lots of several varietals. At harvest, the grapes were brought in to the winery and vinified individually. Diligent monitoring of the fermentation temperatures ensure maximun character. After fermentation, the individual lots were blended together for a wine that exhibits powerful, lithe and striking qualities that the name Snap Dragon implies.

2. Cline Old Vine Carignane '07 - $10.99
Carignane holds the distinction of being one of the most widely planted red grapes in France. It is also grown abundantly in Italy, Spain, Algeria and Israel and was once the most planted varietal in the new world. It has traditionally been used as a blending grape because of its favorable yields, excellent acidity and big tannins. Cline Cellars is one of a few wineries to vinify this varietal. Dark ruby in color, the 2007 Ancient Vines Carignane offers aromas of plum, chocolate and clove. The old vine elicits a taste of typical Oakley terroir, a dusty, dark cherry fruit and a nice bright acidity. It's a perfect match for grilled meats, pasta dishes, even pizza with goat cheese.

3. Cline Old Vine Zinfandel ' 07 - $18.99
As always the California Zinfandel is a challenging and rewarding wine to produce. Severe selection criteria and master blending show in the final product, which showcases a wide array of dark berry fruit including black cherry and raspberry. Additionally, spice notes and a lasting finish of vanilla from oak aging and firm, supple tannins add complexity to this wine. This wine is ready to drink now and will continue to develop complexity over the next three to four years.