Chapoutier 2010 Belleruche Rose’, Cotes du Rhone

What has happened to me? I actually like rose’! Like a lot of other wine drinkers, I’ve kept my distance over the years, recalling bad experiences with sweet rose’ and a color that harkens to the anathema of all wine lovers: White Zinfandel.

But then I got cool and realized that dry rose’ is a different animal all together. Tasting team member Sax Man has developed quite a taste for the stuff and so we’ve had an opportunity to taste several bottles. It a delicious treat on a hot sunny day.

I had a bottle chilling in the refrigerator for the aforementioned sunny day, but of course that never arrived. So I called up Sax Man and told him I was looking for someone who appreciated the NFL and a dry rose’. Luckily he fit the bill, so we opened the bottle while watching an epic Packers-Saints clash.

The Belleruche rose’ is a gorgeous light pink color. It comes from a favorite region of France, Cotes du Rhone. Like the reds for which the region is famous, this wine is primarily Grenache (75%). To add some intrigue, Cinsaut and Syrah round out the blend. The Syrah imparts just enough structure to hold the package together.

The delicate color comes from limiting the time of contact between the juice and the skins. (The juice from most red grapes is actually white and the wine color comes from the contact with the skins.)

The approach is very dry with a light to medium body. The flavor is reserved with notes of stone and strawberries. This is an excellent food wine and could match easily with seafood or chicken. The finish is clean.

This is a very accessible and enjoyable wine from a well-known French winemaking legend.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

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Colorado Winery Visit: Mesa Park Vineyards

We flew into Grand Junction, Colorado, for my niece’s wedding. Staying with my brother in Telluride, we decided to make a few winery stops in the area before heading south.

After enduring a super-early morning flight, we picked up a rental car and drove through the Colorado National Monument. It's a 23-mile rock rim ride through sensational canyon scenery.

Would the Colorado wine be as breathtaking as the view from Cold Shivers Overlook? We headed to Mesa Park Vineyards to find out. 

Mesa Park focuses on handcrafted estate grown reds. The winery is new on the scene, producing its first wines in 2009. We ambled into the tasting room and were greeted by Chuck Price, the owner.

The winery is in the Grand Valley AVA, considered to be Colorado Wine Country. The Grand Valley began with experimental plantings in 1968. In 1990 there were only five wineries in the state, but it has ballooned to 100 today.

Mesa Park has 7.5 acres under vine, three of which are Merlot. We started with the 06 Merlot and Chuck said that this variety is one of the most successful in Colorado. The wine had a tart berry flavor with medium body and hints of tobacco. Green Dragon called it woodsy with notes of malted milk balls. We purchased a bottle of this and enjoyed it later during our visit to Telluride.

Next up was the 06 Cab Franc Reserve which had just come out of the barrel. This was very dark in color with pronounced tannins. This contrasted with our next taste, which was the 09 Cab Franc Reserve. This was smoother than the 06 with a softer mouthfeel. It was fruit forward with bright cherry. Chuck says many state residents haven’t heard about Cab Franc. It’s about time they did!

The 06 Family Red is a Bordeaux style blend with 60% Merlot, 30% Cab Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Eight barrels of this wine were produced. We were able to compare with the 09 Family Red. The mixture was tweaked in 09 to go 40% Merlot and 30% each of Cab Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Family Red is a fruity and light easy drinker.

While we were enjoying the sampling, we were joined by Claudia and Paul Croy of Lakewood, CO (pictured). The next wine was their favorite. The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Valley has a nice structure with a burst of strong cherry and a good, long finish.

Mesa Park is a friendly, home-grown operation with an interesting range of estate reds. For a “peak” experience, be sure to pay a visit.

Technorati Tags: wine,Colorado wine,Merlot

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Toledo Museum Of Art Announces Fall Wine By The Glass Pavilion Schedule

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Toledo Museum of Art’s Wine by the Glass Pavilion series resumes this season with drop-in tastings in a variety of themes. Held during It’s Friday! from 7–9:30 p.m. in the TMA Glass Pavilion, each tasting features four wines, light snacks and a view of the glassblowing Hot Shop. Cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Here is the delicious schedule of events:

• September 16 Passion's Fruit: Pinot Noir
• September 30 German Weine Fest
• October 7 Veneto! Wines from Northern Italy
• October 28 Sweet Endings: Dessert Wines
• November 4 When in Rhone

Technorati Tags: wine

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Wine Tastings & Events: September 7-10, 2011

Image by avlxyz via Flickr

Wednesday, September 7

The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Weingut Heitlinger: A great line of wines from Baden, brand new to the country. 1. Pinot Gris, 2. Blaufrankisch, 3. Riesling Spaetlese, 4. Dornfelder. $7 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Great Value Vino Wines. $15.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6-9 PM. Wine Tasting. Cost is $15.

Thursday, September 8

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Spanish Reds: 1. Panarroz – Jumilla Region, 2. Luzon – Jumilla Region, 3. LAN – Rioja Region, 4. Atteca – Calatayud Region. $4.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Washington State Wines: 1. Kung Fu Girl Riesling, 2. Syncline Subduction White, 3. Columbia Crest Amitage, 4. Red Sky, 5. Alexandria Nicole Quarry Butte Red, 6. Syncline Subduction Red, 7. Betz La Cote Rousse Syrah. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Great Value Vino Wines. $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Bellissima! You guessed it...this week we're tasting a bevy of beautiful Italian wines! Trust me, these wines are so exquisite, you'll want to grab someone special...yadda yadda yadda...Bellissima! Nominal fee per sample.

TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.

Friday, September 9

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Wines of Germany: 1. Schloss Castel Silvaner, 2. Johannishof Kabinett Riesling, 3. Joh. Joh. Prum Spatlese Riesling, 4. Fritz Windisch Dornfelder. $15 tasting.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Bellissima! You guessed it...this week we're tasting a bevy of beautiful Italian wines! Trust me, these wines are so exquisite, you'll want to grab someone special...yadda yadda yadda...Bellissima! Nominal fee per sample.

Saturday, September 10

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Wines of Germany: 1. Schloss Castel Silvaner, 2. Johannishof Kabinett Riesling, 3. Joh. Joh. Prum Spatlese Riesling, 4. Fritz Windisch Dornfelder. $15 tasting.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 1-3 PM. Saturday Wine Tasting. 1. Laxas Albarino, 2. Liberty School Cuvee, 3. Terrazas Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 4. Firelands Riesling. $2 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. J.L.Chave & other French wines with special guest. Famous wine importer David Shiverick will be on hand to walk us through some of the greatest wines in the world. And I mean that seriously! The Syrah based Hermitage wines of Jean Louis Chave are truly some of the world’s elite. This is a tasting that will rock your world.

Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6-9 PM Wine flight TBA. Cost is $15.

AREA WINE BARS

• Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
• Vino 100 Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 866-8466, Promenade West, 3355 Briarfield Blvd, Suite C, Maumee.
• Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.

Technorati Tags: wine

[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]

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Early Morning Flight, Late Night Colorado Wine

I love getting an early start on things, but flights at the crack of dawn can test a person's patience. Our plane left out of Detroit at 6:00 AM to wing us to Grand Junction, Colorado. From there we would drive down to Telluride to visit my brother and attend my niece's wedding.

To get to our flight we had to get up at 3:30 AM. Ouch!

All that was almost forgotten when we arrived at Grand Junction. There was a brilliant blue sky and a nice high desert wind.

We picked up the rental car and headed to the scenic Colorado National Monument, which has a series of amazing overlooks into Monument and Ute canyons. We were then able to visit four Colorado wineries: Mesa Park, White water Hill, Canyon Wind and Plum Creek. I'll detail those visits in coming posts.

Two and a half hours later we were scouring the mountainside for Jay's house. All the efforts to coax our under powered rental car over the mountain passes finally paid of. We were able to uncork a nice 2009 47-10 blend from Canyon Blend. This is winemaker's blend of Cab Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot, Syrah, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. Did they leave any out?

The wine was a great pairing with sandwiches and corn on the cob. The wine is fruit forward with a touch of sweetness. It's also a great value at only $13.

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Save The Date: 24th Annual Mobile Meals Wine Gala Scheduled November 5th

  Toledo’s premier wine event, the 24th Annual Wine Gala, sponsored by Mobile Meals of Toledo, is scheduled Saturday, November 5. The event will be held at the Stranahan Great Hall.

The event begins with wine tasting at 6:00 PM. The event includes silent and live auctions, a sumptuous sit-down dinner by Chef Marcel Catering with wine on the table plus a live band for dancing up until midnight.

Tickets are $125 per person. More information can be found on www.mobilemeals.org.

Photo by Jiunn Kang Too

Technorati Tags: wine

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