My wine tasting this weekend was not at Fresh Market but a Kroger. I missed my regular Fresh Market customers but Kroger was a welcome change because I was pouring new wines. I cannot tell you how tired I am of tasting out Clos du Bois and Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnays.
I've also decided that at the end my wine reviews to occasionally include a customer intereaction. There are some interactions I have with customers where mentally I'm saying to them, "Seriously?! Drink wine much?" The end of today's review will be my first customer blurb. But first, the wine ...
Live a Little Wildly Wicked White ($8) is a non-vintage wine from Stellar Organic Winery in South Africa. This is an organic wine with no added sulfites and a blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. In conversations with customers what their palate and my palate detected was not the same as the Winemaker's Notes (below). The aroma was grapefruit with a hint of herbaciousness. The flavor was a mild grapefruit and grassy. Customers enjoyed this wine and I sold out.
Winemaker's Notes: This Chenin Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc blend has a quiet nose of elderflower, sherbet lemonade and ginger ale. On the taste a good fruity entry of guava and ripe red apple. The smooth taste, lack of aggressive acids and good mouth feel is the result of extensive lees stirring. Suggested food pairings: Chicken salad, sushi.
Customer Interaction
While one customer was tasting this wine all he kept repeating to me was, "I can't drink this it has too many tannins. Oh, way too many tannins." I kept my mouth shut, but mentally I wanted to scream, "WHITE WINE DOES NOT HAVE TANNINS!"
When I do my tastings I always take the opportunity to taste wines the other distributors are pouring. I get excited when they pour a bottle of wine that is outside my budget. The latest wine I tasted was Dead Letter Office Shiraz.
Dead Letter Office 2007 Shiraz ($30) is from Australia. It is 100% Shiraz with grapes coming from two regions - 67% McLaren Vale, 33% Padthaway. It is aged in 90% American oak and 10% French oak using 1 and 2 year old barrels. Alcohol is slightly higher than most at 15%. The color a deep purple. I found the aroma to be fruit, leather, smoke, spice. On my palate the flavor was a flash of berry fruit followed by tobacco, and spice. Medium tannins that are nicely integrated. Smooth. A definite favorite.
Winemaker's Notes: "This McLaren Vale/Padthaway blend of Shiraz offers a lovely red and blueberry fruit aroma lift, with complex characters of red liquorice, cinnamon and vanilla spice and hints of brioche savouriness.
The palate starts with lots of juicy McLaren Vale upfront berry and redcurrant fruit and is quite dense and tarry with spicy notes, the Padthaway characters come through in the mid palate with hints of spearmint and lavender that freshen and lengthen the wine. It has ripe, soft tannins and is very round and mouth filling, with fresh acidity."
I had only one non-repeat wine during last weekends tasting. It was the new vintage of Trivento Amado Sur Malbec.
Trivento 2010 Amado Sur Malbec ($13) is from Mendoza, Argentina. This is 80% Malbec blended with 10% Bonarda and 10% Syrah. The flavor was dark fruit and spice with a flash of black pepper. Medium tannins that were nicely integrated. Customers enjoyed this wine.
Winemaker's Notes: A deep red wine with dark blue tones and aromas of dark fruit combining with notes of black pepper, anise, cinnamon and chocolate. Lush flavors of plums and berries give way to velvety tannins and a persistent and pleasant finish.
One year ago today I reviewed Trivento 2009 Amado Sur Malbec. Click on the link to see that review and compare the two vintages.
While in Costco I happened upon Risata Pinot Grigio. For a few reasons I had to taste this wine - 1. The weather here in Richmond, VA is turning warmer, 2. I've been reviewing red wines, and 3. I've also tasted, and enjoyed, Risata Moscato (reviewed on August, 26, 2011).
Risata 2010 Pinot Grigio ($12 Costco) is 100% Pinot Grigio and from Fruili, Italy. The aroma is a nice light fruit (not citrus for me). The flavors on my palate are mostly citrus. This is a light body wine. Nice flavor. Glad I tasted it. It would be easy to pair with food.
Winemaker's Notes: Risata Pinot Grigio has wonderful aromas of pear, citrus and melon. On the palate, flavors of pear and apple with citrus accents mix with a crisp and refreshing finish. Pairs well on its own, scallops, shrimp, grilled fish, or summer salads.
I had a wine tasting for Simi 2008 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($24) from Sonoma County, California. A medium body wine with a deep garnet color. Unfortunately, the plastic tasting cup did not allow the aroma to come through. The flavor was a light cherry, berry, tobacco, and an earthiness. Tannins are medium and nicely balanced. Customers enjoyed.
Winemaker's Notes: Simi 2008 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, deep garnet color with a ruby edge. Enticing aromas of baking spices, hints of cedar, chocolate, and toasty oak notes frame bright fruit of red cherry, black plum, and cranberry. These aromas carry forward to flavors of red plum, cassis, blackberry, and cherry preserves gently spiced with lively cedar and clove. This medium- to full-bodied, nicely structured wine finishes with rich, dark chocolate tannins. Our Alexander Valley Cabernet is irresistible with wild mushroom pasta, snapper Puttanesca, and duck confit with lentils.
At my tasting last weekend I tasted out Chateau Ste. Michelle 2009 Cabernet ($17). This is from Columbia Valley, Washington. It is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 9% Merlot, 3% Syrah, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot - aged for 16 months in American and French oak (31% new). The aroma was a heavenly dark fruit and spice. The flavor a hint of dark fruit with more coffee on the palate. Medium tannins that were nicely integrated. Customers enjoyed this wine.
Winemaker's Notes: "Our goal with the Columbia Valley Cabernet is to highlight concentrated Washington red fruit in an accessible style. This is our inviting Cab with plenty of complexity and structure with silky tannins. It’s also very versatile with food--try it with beef, pork or pasta.
Food Pairing:
Foods: bleu cheese, duck, beef, veal, dark chocolate
Herbs: mustard, paprika, rosemary, thyme
Spice: allspice, cloves, ginger, mace, nutmeg"
Chateau Ste. Michelle wines are some of my favorites. I know customers always rave about their Chardonnay. I was so excited last weekend when I tasted out their Merlot.
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2008 Merlot ($17) is from the Columbia Valley in Washington. This is 91% Merlot blended with 7% Syrah, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon; aged for 15 months in American and French oak (31% new). A medium bodied wine. Alas, no aroma in the plastic tasting cup (this drives me insane and makes me want to bring a wine glass with me). There was a light fruit flavor with leather and a hint of spice. Low tannins that are nicely integrated. Customers enjoyed.
Winemaker's Notes: “We craft this wine to be our complex yet approachable Merlot. The wine offers aromas of black cherry, leather and spice with layers of rich dark red fruit flavors. A touch of Syrah adds a jammy fruit character. I think of this wine as a great “everyday red.”
Food Pairing:
Foods: beef, lamb, grilled salmon, hearty pastas
Herbs: basill, oregano
Spice: allspice, nutmeg, star anise"
Live a Little Wildly Wicked White ($8) is a non-vintage wine from Stellar Organic Winery in South Africa. This is an organic wine with no added sulfites and a blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. In conversations with customers what their palate and my palate detected was not the same as the Winemaker's Notes (below). The aroma was grapefruit with a hint of herbaciousness. The flavor was a mild grapefruit and grassy. Customers enjoyed this wine and I sold out. 
