Domaine Carneros by Taittinger 2005 “Le Reve”

This Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine from Domaine Carneros is indeed a dream come true. We sampled it at our recent Open That Bottle Night and I wanted to spotlight this fine wine on its own.

Champagne Taittinger is a long-established winemaker with roots dating back to 1734 and is today one of the last remaining privately-held Champagne firms. Claude Taittinger had the dream of using the ideal Carneros growing climate to produce an ultra-premium sparkling wine in California. He had discovered the allure of California during his extended travels as a student.

Carneros offers cool nights, foggy mornings, and sunny, breezy days bringing forth fruit of extraordinary elegance, complexity, and intensity.

Le Reve is produced in very limited quantities and is aged a minimum of six years prior to release. The wine is completed strictly according to the méthode champenoise, with the process taking place in Domaine Carneros' cellars, carved into the hillside beneath the winery.

This is a wine that is deep and light at the same time. It has citrus and mineral aromas. On the palate there is an appealing mix of biscuit, stone and fruit flavor notes with just a touch of sweetness. The froth gives a creaminess that remains uplifting.

It’s a classy wine that retails for about $95 and ranks with the best sparkling wine and Champagne I’ve ever enjoyed.

Rating: 5 of 5

Full disclosure: We received this wine as a sample.

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Zinful Wine Bar Provides A Taste of Unusual Italian Grapes March 14

Looking for a wine off the beaten path? Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville, is hosting a wine tasting featuring unusual grapes 6:30 – 8:30 PM Wednesday, March. The cost is $20 per person and includes food pairings.


Included in the tasting are:

1. Taburno Falanghina – From the Campania region. A white that has a floral/stone fruit nose with good acidity and expressive fruit on the palate. Unoaked.

2. Boccadiggabia Rosso- From the Marches region- A blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano. This is old world wine making at its best. Earthy , cherry flavors with mild tannins. The ultimate pizza/Pasta wine.

3. Castel Santa Lucia Vigna del Melograno Rosso- From the Puglia region. Made from the indigenous grape variety Troia. More old school style with bracing acidity and spice and an earth mouth-feel.

4. Terre Nere Etna Rosso- From Sicily. This could be the most interesting red wine made in the region. The Nerello Mascalese grape comes from the volcanic slopes of Mt. Etna. It has the body ,color and aroma of a red Burgundy but with the finish and taste of Nebbiolo.

Zinful has also announced some specials for area wine lovers. On Monday and Tuesday glasses of wine (anything open) are just $5. Also on Monday and Tuesday you’ll get a free appetizer or dessert to share with any bottle of wine you purchase. The fun keeps rolling on Wednesday with $5 glasses (anything open) plus half price appetizers in the bar. 

Technorati Tags: wine,Italian wine

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Ken Wright Cellars 2006 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir

Ken Wright Cellars is located in rural Carleton, Oregon, and is focused on producing vineyard designated Pinot Noirs with tons of character. The Carter Vineyard is located in the Eola Hills and its soil is mostly formed from weathered rock.

This 2006 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir is a fine example of their spectacular work. This is my first Ken Wright Cellars wine and I was surprised at the complexity.

The 2006 vintage was exceptionally warm and dry and said to produce lush, ready to drink wines. We found that the tannins remained structured with this Pinot. The nuances for this wine were rampant: smokiness, dark chocolate and blueberries.

We dined on lamb chops, and the Carter Vineyard Pinots stood up beautifully to the meat. This is a wine to savor and enjoy the many layers of taste. Allow this wine time in your glass, give a few swirls while you engage in witty repartee and you will be rewarded as it opens up.

It provides a different and enjoyable take on Pinot Noir. It’s not a shy, weak cherry sipper. Instead the 2006 Ken Wright Cellars Carter Vineyard Pinot rolls along the forest floor and through the blueberry bushes to emerge with a stylish, distinctive wine.

It’s a great ride!

Rating: 4.5 of 5

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Toledo Area Wine Tastings & Events: March 7-10, 2012

Image of Michael Sullberg via Snooth

Wednesday, March 7
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Employee Picks Competition, Part I: 1. Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, 2. Rabbit Ridge “Allure de Robles,” 3. Lento “Dragone,” 4. Alexandria Nicole “Alderdale” Cabernet Sauvignon.  $8 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Ann Kisin of Vintage Wines, featuring Going Down Under Wines (wine from Australia). $15.

Thursday, March 8

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. The battle of the European Reds - Hungary vs. Spain vs. France vs. Italy. EGRI - Bikaver - Bulls Blood – Hungary versus Finca Nueva - Crianza - Rioja, Spain versus Moulin Saint-Hubert - Bordeaux,  versus Tenuta Monteti - Caburnio - Toscana, Italy. $7 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Italian Glories of the Piedmont – Barolo and more with meatloaf from the House of Meats. 1. Ca’ Rossa Roero Arneis, 2. Maryhill White, 3. Langhe Rosso, 4. La Meridiana Bricco Sereno Barbera D’Asti, 5. Produttori del Barbaresco 2007, 6. Seghesio Barolo 2005, 7. Paolo Scavino 2001 Carobric Barolo, 8. Dominico Clerico Ciabot Ginestra 2003 Barolo. Nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 5-7 PM. Four New Whites in the Wine Shop: 1. Matua Sauvignon Blanc, 2. Bouchard Macon-Villages Chardonnay, 3. Apothic White, 4. Kung Fu Girl Riesling. $2 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Ann Kisin of Vintage Wines, featuring Going Down Under Wines (wine from Australia). $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. 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, March 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 France ($15 tasting) 1. Albert Bichot Chablis, 2. Boeckel Pinot Noir, 3. J. L. Chave "Mon Coeur" Cotes du Rhone, 4. Castelmaure "Col des Vents" Corbieres. $15 tasting.

Special Event – Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, 7:00 – 9:30 PM. Art of the Vine. Wine: Beware the Wines of March (cutting edge wines) (GlasSalon) Tour: Iago’s Mirror (studio glass). Sample four wines, light snacks, and enjoy a complimentary art tour at 7:00 or 8:00 PM. $15 members or $25 nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased at the TMA information desks; reservations are not required.

Saturday, March 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 France ($15 tasting) 1. Albert Bichot Chablis, 2. Boeckel Pinot Noir, 3. J. L. Chave "Mon Coeur" Cotes du Rhone, 4. Castelmaure "Col des Vents" Corbieres. $15 tasting.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 12:00 – 4:00 PM. Toledo Cash Mob, Crackers, & Wine! The first Cash Mob in Toledo will take place here. This is it, the crowd has spoken. Support a local business by spending at least $20. Rachel Nasatir of Crackers Plus will be sampling her line of gourmet crackers, no charge. Steve Wherry of Vanguard Wines will be hosting a Michael Sullberg wine tasting, taste three wines for $6.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 Noon - 5:00 PM. Value-Priced Bordeaux. Excellent Red and White Bordeaux under $30 with many examples from 2009. Nominal fee per sample.

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


AREA WINE BARS

• The Bistro at Maumee Wines, (419) 893-2525, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee.
• Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
• 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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Rancho Sisquoc Winery: Santa Barbara County Winery Visit

I first sampled the wines of Rancho Sisquoc at tasting at TREO in Sylvania. Green Dragon and I really enjoyed the 2009 Sisquoc River Red, a nice blend of six red grapes led by Cabernet Sauvignon. Maybe I enjoyed it too much because as I asked for additional tastes, I referred to it as Rancho Sasquatch. The wine made a good enough impression that when we headed out to Santa Barbara County, I circled this winery on our map.

After somewhat dreary weather conditions on our first day, we were treated to some California style skies for our visit to Rancho Sisquoc. Sisquoc means “gathering place” in the words of the Chumas Indians. Originally an 1852 Mexican land grant, the 37,000-acre ranch is owned by the Flood Ranch Company.

James Flood of San Fransico purchased the cattle ranch in 1952 and because the climate and soil compared favorably with Sonoma and Napa, he decided to plant grapevines in 1968. there are now 310 acres of vineyards that overlook the Sisquoc River. These are the easternmost vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley. Today the winery produces 15,000 cases of wine made entirely from their estate vineyards.

We were digging Rancho Sisquoc because of the beautiful setting and the fact that it is a working ranch with 2,000 head of cattle. The rustic tasting room, filled with quirky items and antiques, was a perfect spot to start our tasting day.

Our first sample was the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc – the best so far on our trip, according to Green Dragon. There is fruit on the nose and tangerine and grapefruit on the palate. This is lightly oaked but retains its brightness.

The 2009 Sylvaner is a nice warm weather sipper. It includes 17% Riesling and has 1.5% residual sugar, which adds a bit of sweetness. This was quenching, but not a favorite.

We were ready for the reds and started with the 2009 Pinot Noir. This wine is still young with the palate of rich red fruit. We found this to have firm tannins, perhaps too much so.

The reds continued to roll with the 2009 Tre Vini Super Tuscan blend of 52% Sangiovese, 25% Petite Verdot and 23% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a friendly wine with jazzy red fruit and mineral undertones. This was my favorite wine and I bagged a bottle at $20.

The 2009 Syrah is also a standout. The bouquet is forceful and the body is dark and full with black fruit, chocolate and herbs. This is a bold wine with a standout finish.

Ranking very highly in wine critic ratings is the 2008 Merlot, which has 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is all cherry from the nose to the last tasty drop. A nice Merlot indeed, but I wasn’t feeling it on this day. Perhaps our viewing of Sideways the night before had something to do with that.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is juicy and bold. The winemaker describes it as “loud and proud.” Vanilla is prominent on the nose. Oak and velvety texture mix with ripe black fruit and tobacco box on the palate.

We wrapped up with a very soft and supple 2009 Malbec. This wine is inky black and easygoing.

Rancho Sisquoc is a great California wine experience. We were able to enjoy a nice unhurried tasting in picturesque surroundings. The ride to the Rancho was filled with great scenery and points of interest. Once there, we tasted some great wines that represented some of the best values on our trip.

Technorati Tags: wine,Santa Barbara County wine

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Open That Bottle Night 2012 Report: A Bevy Of Stars Come Out To Play

It was a double header for the TWAV tasting team as we celebrated Open That Bottle Night and the Academy Awards. The elegant party was hosted by Glorious T and Ace of Bass and featured a lineup of stars both on and off the screen.
Our lineup included:

• Wines That Rock 2007 Police Synchronicity Red Blend
  
• Tattinger Domaine Carneros 2005 Le Reve
  
• Clos du Bois 2007 Sonoma Reserve Merlot, Alexander Valley
  
• Reif Estate 2007 Meritage, Niagara River VQA
  
• Ecco Domani 2010 Merlot Sicilia
  
• Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2007 Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The Synchronicity wine was a bottle picked up by Wine Chick and Sax Man to enjoy on a special occasion. When the call went out for Open That Bottle Night, they knew this was just the right time. OTBN encourages wine lovers to savor the moment by opening a special bottle to celebrate life, rather than waiting for a perfect moment that may never arrive.

The Police laid down some great grooves with this blend of Carignane, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Viognier. This was a light and compelling wine that delivered a multi-faceted performance with floral aromas and juicy berry palate. My only regret is that it was almost gone by the time we arrived at the party.

Next up on the red carpet was Domaine Carneros by Tattinger 2005 Le Reve. Le Reve translates to “the dream” and to many this Blanc de Blancs is the best sparkling wine in America. Tattinger is a famous French Champagne house that established Domaine Carneros to make sparkling wines in the methode champenoise with California grapes. This is a luxury cuvee made entirely from Chardonnay grapes. Le Reve proved to be the Meryl Streep of the evening, delivering an award-winning performance that was elegant, not overly dry and refreshingly bubbly.

The Clos du Bois Merlot is a limited production wine made from the superb hillside and benchland vineyards of Alexander Valley. This had a full, silky body with blackberry, toast and mocha.

Delivering an Oscar-caliber performance was the Reif Estate 2007 Meritage. This is a classic Bordeaux blend of 47% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. It was picked up by Glorious T and Ace of Bass during a trip to the Niagara Peninsula and it was a blockbuster. This vintage is just coming into its own and exhibits rich vanilla and blackberry on the nose. On the palate spice, plum and smoke are at play. The superior finish deserves a standing ovation.

Merlot was again on center stage as we sampled the 2010 Ecco Domani. This has bright cherry and soft blackberry flavors, a perfect fit for a variety of foods.

As the crowd was gathering around the big screen to see who took the top awards, we sampled the final vino: the 2007 Stag’s Leap Artemis Cabernet. Like a Hollywood leading man, it was big, rich and powerful. This is Napa Cabernet at its best. The tannins are strong but loosened in the glass. It delivers a punch of black cherry and cassis with a woodsy flair. This offers some spice and rosemary flavor notes as well.

Technorati Tags: wine,Open That Bottle Night

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