Friday, August 30, 2013

Pierre Sparr 2009 Riesling, Alsace


Does the approach of Labor Day give you the “summer is slipping away” feeling? Nothing better to prolong the good vibrations of summer than a glass of Riesling.
This Riesling from Alsace has medium body with a trace of petrol on the nose. The acidity for the Pierre Sparr is somewhat muted, giving a smooth balanced taste.
On the palate it delivers lemon and green apples. It refreshes and goes down easy. The alcohol is 12.5%, so you can sip to your heart’s content.
At about $16 the Pierre Sparr is a good value. If you are a white wine fan, you owe it to yourself to taste Alsace.
Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.
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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Five Fun Facts About Cabernet Sauvignon

Today is Cabernet Day and it’s time to celebrate! We hope you will join us by opening a bottle of luscious Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc. To help whet your whistle, here are five interesting facts about Cabernet Sauvignon (courtesy of Wikipedia and Snooth):
  1. Despite its prominence in the industry, the grape is a relatively new variety. It’s the product of a chance crossing between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc during the 17th century in southwestern France, most likely in the Bordeaux region.  These origins were a mystery until recent DNA testing.
  2. The 1976 “Judgment of Paris” was a famous blind wine tasting event where esteemed wine experts unknowingly chose a California Cabernet over several French producers, thus catapulting New World Cabs onto the international stage.
  3. For most of the 20th century, Cabernet was the world’s most widely planted premium red wine grape until it was surpassed by Merlot in the 1990s.
  4. Cabernet Sauvignon makes equal appearances as a single varietal and in blends such as Bordeaux (French), Meritage (American), and Super Tuscan (Italian.)
  5. France and California are the well known as ideal places to grow Cabernet Sauvignon. But the grape is grown around the world including Italy, South America, Australia, Washington and Oregon, as well as other regions.
Feel free to share your #cabernetday experience with us by commenting below or sharing on our Facebook or Google+ page.
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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: August 28-31, 2013

English: Sauvignon blanc wine grape. Location:...
Sauvignon blanc wine grape. Location: Vlasotince vineyards, southeast Serbia.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Wednesday, August 28
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. 1. Cave de Buxy Cuvee Reserve Bourgogne Chardonnay, 2. Gougenheim Bonarda/Syrah, 3. Sola Napa Merlot, 4.Sola Cabernet Sauvignon. Nominal fee per sample or $8 flight.
Denny’s Craft Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. $15.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000, 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Assorted Stuff Tasting
… with Wine Consultant Joe Mosier. Nominal fee per sample.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
Thursday, August 29
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Frog’s Leap, Napa Valley, California: 1. 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2, 2010 Chardonnay, 3. 2010 Merlot, 4. 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. $9 per flight or nominal fee per sample.
Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Our Annual Thursday Night Attendees Tasters’ Choice.1. New Age White, 2. Kerpan Riesling Trocken, 3. Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc, 4. Icardi Suri di Mure Barbera d’Alba, 5. Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz, 6. Titus Napa Valley Cabernet, 7. Darting Scheurebe Spatlese, 8. Kopke Fine Ruby Port. Nominal fee per sample.
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.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 – 5:00 PM. Don't Cry for me Argentina: 1. Diseno Malbec, 2. Gascon Malbec, 3. Allamand Malbec, 4. Clos de lo Siete Blend. $5 per flight.

Friday, August 30
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Great Lakes Wines: 1. Firelands Pinot Grigio, 2. Pelee Island Semi-Sweet Merlot, 3. Huber "Sweet Marcella,"  4. Debonne Razzberry Riesling. $10 per flight.
Saturday, August 31
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Great Lakes Wines: 1. Firelands Pinot Grigio, 2. Pelee Island Semi-Sweet Merlot, 3. Huber "Sweet Marcella,"  4. Debonne Razzberry Riesling. $10 per flight.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 3rd Annual Oyster Blast. Oysters, sausages and wine pairings on the patio. Contact wine shop for details.
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.
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[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Dry Creek Vineyard 2012 Dry Chenin Blanc


Chenin Blanc is a perfect match for summer. As shown in the Dry Creek Vineyard 2012 Dry Chenin Blanc, it is a breezy, light wine, perfect for watching clouds drift by.

Chenin Blanc is a French grape that has gained popularity in the New World, particularly in South Africa. I first began to appreciate it though French Vouvray. Vouvray has generous fruit and sometimes has a little frizzante to tickle the palate.

The grapes for the DCV come from Clarksburg near Sacramento. It has a low alcohol percentage of 12.5% and a smidge of residual sugar at 0.6%.

This is a versatile wine that will be a hit with those who appreciate Sauvignon Blanc. Although the Chenin is crisp, it doesn’t have the jarring acidity that some Sauv Blancs display.

It has a clean citrus and apple flavors with a taste of minerality.
Grab a bottle or two and let’s keep the summer going!

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

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Monday, August 26, 2013

The Sexy Side of Being A Wine Judge


First, I must confess. The title really isn’t reflective of today’s post. It is about wine judging and it is interesting. But sexy? Probably not, but I’ll leave that to you to decide.

At the end of July I had my second experience as a wine judge. My first was at the Indy International Wine Competition. This is a major contest in which thousands of bottles of wine are judged. I was serving as a guest judge, but was there shoulder to shoulder helping the judging panel sort through wines of distinction and those more dubious.

It was quite a production. A gigantic ballroom held thousands of bottles (you can see the photo on our Facebook page) – enough to boggle the mind of any wine lover. Volunteers with white lab coats rolled out carts with each flight. Judges received fresh glasses with numbers written on them.
We communicated using a series of flags, raising one when we were complete or another one if we had an issue or question.

At the recent Wine Bloggers Conference in British Columbia I attended a session on how to be a wine judge. It revealed some good thoughts, such as, “Drink wine in a holistic approach.” We also got to sample a Summerhill 1996 vintage sparkling wine. Pretty cool.

When I received a call from notable wine guy Mike Gregg who asked if I’d be interested in serving as a wine judge for the Wood County Fair, I gave him an enthusiastic yes. In addition to Mike and me, our TWAV tasting team member Dr. J was on the judging panel.

Together we judged more than 140 wines. This was done at the fairgrounds in Bowling Green in the Home & Garden World Building. The judges sat on a raised platform (next to the judges for the home brew). In a novel approach, the audience was the winemakers, who would be watching as we judged live. There were 15 categories including White Sweet Non-Grape. This was definitely different than I read about in Wine Spectator!

Here are a few lessons I learned during my recent judging gig:
  • Home winemakers are passionate about what they do. The top prize was $10, but the pride is priceless.
  • Quality can be relative. Would any of the wines tasted outdo a wine from Napa or Bordeaux? Of course not, but within the competition, the ability of good winemakers stood out and resulted in wines that trumped the others.
  • Good tasting notes are essential. When you are tasting 21 wines within a category, and then have to announce the first through third-place winners in front of the competitors, you need to have succinct thoughts to present on each.
  • Palate fatigue is real! When you are tasting 40 or more wines, you must have a good method, or you will be unable to tell one wine from another – or even fall off your chair. My method is to take a “micro-sip” followed by a larger sip that I “chew” and then spit.
  • In our area of northwestern Ohio, home winemakers are experimenting with a wide range of grapes, including Gerwurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Chancellor and Marechal Foch. This is in addition to the native varieties of Catawba, Niagara and Concord.
  • Viewpoints and tastes can vary drastically. At the end of category judging, we had to select a best of show. Dr. J had a sparkling wine with a unique spicy flavor he liked. I favored a red. I guess this is why they use an odd number of judges.
  • Fruit wine has its place. My preference is for dry, complex wines. We tasted quite a few sweet wines and plenty of fruit wines. There were wines from apples, peaches, pears, blueberries, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, elderberries and even rose petals. Some were very good and could be a nice refresher or dessert.
So, is being a wine judge sexy? Perhaps in Sonoma, but probably not in Bowling Green. There’s a lot of thought (and spitting) that happens, all in the effort to give back to the wine community.

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Friday, August 23, 2013

Moon Mountain Vineyard 2007 Estate Malbec, Sonoma Valley


This wine is from trusty Moon Mountain Vineyard. Now that the property has been sold to Repris Wine, bottles from this Sonoma Valley vineyard will be scarce indeed. A check of the Repris website says that wines are made in miniscule lots and are available only to their members.
Lucky for us we picked this up more than a year ago. We recently cracked it open.
Sonoma Valley isn’t the first region one thinks of when thirsting for Malbec. This wine, however, proved to be enjoyment from start to finish.
The wine is a deep purple and it boasts a full body. The aroma is fragrant and fruity. MMM (Moon Mountain Malbec!) is made with organic grapes, but I’ve not yet been able to taste a difference between organic and non-organic. It does show a nice commitment to sustainable winemaking.
Earthiness was prominent with deep notes of red fruit. Our tasting team was impressed with the finish and dubbed it “flat out smooth.” The bottle is nearing the end of its prime tasting window, so if you have a bottle, dust it off and drink it.
After the bottle was empty we had a surprise – sediment gone wild in the bottom. A nice souvenir from a unique vineyard.
Rating: 2.5 of 5  Value: 3 of 5 (paid $15)
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Thursday, August 22, 2013

Muscedere Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, VQA Lake Erie North Shore


This Cabernet is from a small batch of 125 cases produced by Muscedere Vineyards in the Lake Erie North Shore VQA in Ontario. The region has dubbed itself EPIC (Essex Pelee Island Coast) Wine Country. Would this wine in fact be epic?
Muscedere is a family wine operation that has garnered some good praise for its wine. The 2010 vintage of this wine took home the judges award in a double blind tasting at the LENS wine competition.
I got this bottle during a wine tasting event in Ontario through a swap with a friendly Canadian. He highly regarded this Cab, so I was eager to check it out.
The wine retails for $30 Canadian and is aged for 12 months in oak barrels. In the glass it is a deep red and for me the nose was closed.
This is a serious wine. Flavor notes tended toward the darker end of the spectrum, with black cherry, coffee and oak. The tannins are smooth and the texture is rich.
No doubt this is a fine Cabernet for the region. I’m a fan of Ontario reds, but it left me wanting some richer, riper fruit. Satisfying, yes, but sensational, no.
It did leave me with the urge to cross the border and check out the latest Muscedere vintages, perhaps their Syrah and Meritage.
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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: August 21-24, 2013

A glass of Stag's Leap Petite Sirah from Napa ...
A glass of Stag's Leap Petite Sirah from Napa Valley (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Wednesday, August 21
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. Big, Chunky, Beefy Wines: 1. The Dirty Pure Project “The G Spot” White Blend, 2. The Dirty Pure Project “The F Bomb” Red Blend, 3. Faustino V Rioja Reserva, 4. Sola Cabernet Sauvignon. Nominal fee per sample or $11 flight.
Denny’s Craft Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. $15.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000, 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Red Zinfandel - A Grill Master's Best Friend… with Wine Consultant Joe Mosier. Nominal fee per sample.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
Thursday, August 22
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Great end of summer finds: 1. 2011 Roaring Meg – Pinot Gris – New Zealand, 2. 2011 Eve – Chardonnay – Washington, 3. 2010 Klinker Brick – Old Vines Zinfandel – Calf., 4. 2011 Treasure Hunter – Cabernet Sauvignon - Calf. $5.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.
Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Eight Great Lively Wine Deals: 1. William Fevre Chablis, 2. Calina Chardonnay, 3.Maipe Torrontes, 4. Posenato Valpocella Classico, 5. Paso a Paso Tempranillo, 6. Thief Cabernet, 7. Sledgehammer Zinfandel, 8. Cross Spring Petite Sirah. Nominal fee per sample.
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.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 – 5:00 PM. Under a Tuscan Sun: 1. Tavignano Rosso, 2. Cerro Manero Rosso, 3. Rodano Rosso, 4. Boccadigabbia Rosso. $5 per flight.

Friday, August 23
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 New Zealand: 1. Oyster Bay Chardonnay, 2. Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc, 3. Mohua Pinot Noir, 4. Kim Crawford Pinot Noir. $15 per flight.
Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Wine by the Glass Pavilion: On the Blue Danube. Enjoy four wines and light snacks during It’s Friday! at the TMA. Tickets ($15 members/$25 nonmembers, plus tax), are available at the information desks.

Saturday, August 24
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 New Zealand: 1. Oyster Bay Chardonnay, 2. Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc, 3. Mohua Pinot Noir, 4. Kim Crawford Pinot Noir. $15 per flight.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 - 5:00 PM. Premium Chardonnay Tasting – with Wine Manager Austin Beeman. 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.
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[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard: Finger Lakes Winery Visit


Another in our continuing series of Finger Lakes winery reports.
If there is one winery whose stock has skyrocketed with us in recent years, it is Herman J. Wiemer Vineyard. After missing this winery during our first couple Finger Lakes visits, now it is an absolute must-see stop.
Some Finger Lakes wineries are known for the scenery, or a great tasting room, or maybe a friendly staff. But Wiemer is a true winemaker’s winery.
We love it for that reason, but also because they are setting incredibly high standards for Riesling. The results are getting noticed around the country and perhaps the world.
Hermann Wiemer  was a German with roots in the famous Mosel Valley. He emigrated to the Finger Lakes in the 1960s. German folk wisdom holds that Riesling grapevines will flourish where black cherry trees grow. With that bit of guidance he purchased 80 acres on which the winery is now located. Long-time apprentice Fred Merwarth took charge of winemaking and vineyard management in 2003 and continues the legacy of excellence.
We tried a constellation of outstanding Riesling. After quenching our palates with the 2011 Frost Cuveé, a blend of Riesling, Gerwurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Gruner Veltliner, we sampled the signature 2012 Dry Riesling. This is a beautiful Riesling with soft citrus and a moist minerality.
The next two Rieslings are world class. The 2011 Reserve Dry Riesling is a combination of grapes specially selected from all three of Wiemer’s vineyards. It is an artful balance of fruit, flint and acidity.
The 2011 Magdalena Vineyard Dry Riesling is one of my favorite all-time wines. This shows the full spectrum of what a beautiful white wine can be. It has layers of fruit, washed with minerality, dabbed with apricot and splashed with acidity. It is a taste of greatness!
The Magdalena is $36 and the Reserve is $29, both representing incredible values!
We don’t want to give the Hermann J. Wiemer reds short shrift, but the Rieslings are truly epic. The 2008 Field Cuveé is a great field blend of Cab Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Lemberger and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 Reserve Cab Franc also rocks with rich berry flavor and a soft finish.
We finished with the 2009 Select Late Harvest Chardonnay. This is 9.8% residual sugar, not very sweet as late harvest wines go. This is a wine to savor with honey and peach flavor notes.
A sweet finish to a very sweet visit indeed!
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Monday, August 19, 2013

Franc Beauséjour 2010 Bordeaux, Gabart-Laval Export


For $50 or so you can get a splendid French wine. Many wine lovers may not know that there are plentiful value wines from France that provide a trés rewarding experience.
Take this wine from Franc Beauséjour, for example. I bought this at Aficionado for a mere $9.99. Less than $10 is a nice price tag for a bottle from one of the greatest wine regions in the world.
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are the principal grapes in Bordeaux. Depending on which area of Bordeaux the wine hails from, the blend may be Merlot or Cabernet driven.
The Franc Beauséjour is from Gabart-Laval Export and is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This is a light and smooth wine. My first sip was a tad tannic, but as I continued it became very smooth with tastes of light red berries.
The finish exhibited a touch of pepper. It was a finish to a thoroughly enjoyable wine that is a commendable value. At this price, you can easily purchase a case to have on hand as an everyday sipper.
Vivé La France!
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Friday, August 16, 2013

Karma Vista Winery: Lake Michigan Shore Winery Visit

Photos and article by Dr. J, TWAV Tasting Team Member
Each year, my wife and I go to South Haven, Michigan with her family as an annual get-away.  Not only is it a great place to visit, it is right in the middle of the Lake Michigan Shore AVA where there is lots of great wine!
Over the last six years, we have been able to visit just about every tasting room in the region.  Our first visit to
Karma Vista was two years ago.  It was our last stop after a long day tasting at many of the wonderful wineries in the Baroda/Berrien Springs area.  
We showed up about ten minutes before the 5pm closing time and were told that the last pours happen at a quarter til the hour.  For other reasons, we didn't make it last year either so this was tops on my list for 2013!  
I checked out the tasting list ahead of time and was excited to see their offerings, especially the Fume Blanc.  Robert Mondavi was the first in the country to use this term due to poor sales of Sauvignon Blanc at the time.  Although Fume Blanc is usually attributed to barrel aging, both oaked and unoaked versions have been marketed under the name.  Karma Vista is the only one in Michigan to have a Fume Blanc and one of only a few to have Sauvignon Blanc at all.  The oak and light butter from the malolactic fermentation really tone down the grassy, grapefruit flavors for a wonderful, distinctive taste.  This lived up to the hype and I took one home.
Next, the Chardonnay was very good.  It too had some oak while being nicely crisp and balanced.
Both the Reserve Merlot and Syrah were spot on for what you'd expect from a quality red in this area: beautiful deep color, with the right amount of fruit and oak.
I try to taste wines new to me, special to a certain area, or even something not common in the area when I can.  The next two were just that.  Cote D'Loma is a blend of Cab Franc, Chancellor, and Chambourcin.  You get loads of fruit and pepper with this blend and a little earthiness.  This is a very interesting and reasonably priced wine. 
The last wine was another great surprise.  New to the list was Marquette.  I was familiar with this Minnesota cold-tolerant hybrid but had never tasted it before.  It is a grandchild of Pinot Noir and shows promise to making high-quality red wine.  This medium-bodied red has a lot going on, on the palate.  There is notes of blackberries, cherry, leather, tobacco, and spice. I was very impressed with this wine and took one with me.  
It took us six years to finally get to Karma Vista and it was definitely worth the wait.  They easily jump towards the top of my list of wineries of the Lake Michigan Shore.

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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Montefalco Wines Deliver The Heart of Italy

The Montefalco wine region is in the heart of Italy’s Umbria province. The Umbrians are believed to be the oldest people in Italy, dating back to the 9th century BC. The city of Montefalco is surrounded by 12th century walls and from its hill you can spy the picturesque valley, nearby towns and the Martani mountains.
Oh yes, did I mention they make fantastic wine?
I was fortunate to recently sample the 2011 Grecante white from Arnaldo Caprai, which is from the Colli Martani DOC. The whites in Montefalco are made from the native Grechetto or Trebbiano. The Grecante is 100% Grechetto.
The Grechetto is pale yellow in color with a light body and floral aroma. The wine is finished in stainless steel and offers good acidity and a nice freshness. It offers interesting flavors of pear and pineapple with a hint of earthiness. It’s a refreshing white – ideal to break you out of the Chardonnay rut.
On the red side of the aisle, we also sampled the 2009 Antonelli Montefalco Rosso. I really like Montefalco reds for a pair of reasons. They feature Sangiovese, a smooth red grape we simply love, plus the unique Sagrantino grape, which gives structure to the blend.
The Antonelli Montefalco Rosso is medium ruby in color.  It is a blend of 65% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Each grape variety is fermented separately and then blended before aging for nine months in oak casks. The wine spends another three months in Fiberglass-lined cement vats.
We enjoyed this wine on a nice summer evening around a fire pit – so that may explain why we detected a smoky aroma! The Antonelli had flavors of toffee and vanilla. The Sangio and Sagrantino really rock this wine. It’s a good match for (surprise) pasta, red meat and hard cheese.
Montefalco wines are worth discovering. They reward with deep and distinctive flavors and pair smartly with Italian foods.
Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.
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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: August 14-17, 2013

The gallo nero seal of the Consorzio Chianti C...
The gallo nero seal of the Consorzio Chianti Classico (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Wednesday, August 14
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. 1. Red Newt Cellars Riesling, 2. Pillitteri Cabernet-Merlot, 3. I Massi di Villa S. Andrea Chianti Classico, 4. I Massi di Villa S. Andrea Chianti Classico Riserva. Nominal fee per sample or $10 flight.
Denny’s Craft Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-8 PM. $15.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000, 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Spanish Wines: Great Drinking! Great Value!… with Wine Consultant Joe Mosier. Nominal fee per sample.

Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
Thursday, August 15
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Refreshing Summer Vino at a Nice Price: 1. Reginato – Torrontes / Chardonnay – Argentina, 2.
Reginato – Rose of Malbec – Argentina, 3. The Furst – Pinot Blanc – France, 4. Vina Vilano – Tempranillo - Reserva – Spain. $4 per flight or nominal fee per sample.
Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
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.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. 1:00 – 5:00 PM. Australia! Australia! We Love You! 1. Greg Norman Shark Red, 2. St. Hallett Shiraz, 3. Skuttlebutt Shiraz, 4. The Lucky Country Shiraz. $5 per flight.

Friday, August 16
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Spanish Tasting: 1. Can Fiexes Blanco, 2. Basa Blanco, 3. Evodia Garnacha, 4. Triton Tempranillo. $15 per flight.
Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Wine by the Glass Pavilion: Safari to South Africa. Enjoy four wines and light snacks during It’s Friday! at the TMA. Tickets ($15 members/$25 nonmembers, plus tax), are available at the information desks.

Saturday, August 17
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Spanish Tasting: 1. Can Fiexes Blanco, 2. Basa Blanco, 3. Evodia Garnacha, 4. Triton Tempranillo. $15 per flight.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 - 5:00 PM. The 95+ Point Club: Only Awesome Wines May Apply – with Wine Manager Austin Beeman. 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.
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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Oyster Blast Event Scheduled August 31 at Churchill’s in Maumee

The third annual Annual Oyster Blast will be held At Walt Churchill’s Market – Briarfield, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000, on Saturday, August 31 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. The event will be held on the patio and no reservations are necessary.

Austin Beeman, wine manager at WCM, said, “One of the world’s greatest flavor pairings is the combination of fresh oysters and crisp fresh white wine.”

The oysters are from Foley Fish, and are the freshest Oysters available in the region. These are served on the half-shell.  The event will feature some crisp delicious white wines designed for perfect pairing with the oysters. For those who prefer, sausages on the grill will also be available.

Costs are as follows: six oysters, $12; grilled sausages, $5; wine by the glass, $5. Wines by the bottle are also available. Oysters are available while supplies last and special pre-order pricing is available.

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Monday, August 12, 2013

Prejean Winery: Finger Lakes Winery Visit

Another in a series of winery reports from our recent Finger Lakes visit.
Prejean Winery is one of our favorite Finger Lakes wineries. It  has a humble tasting room, but hits it out of the park with hospitality and wines.
Tasting team members Wine Chick and Sax Man were the first to really give us the inside scoop on the Finger Lakes wine region. When we made our first visit, they made us promise to pick up a bottle for them from Prejean. We’ve now visited this winery of the west bank of Seneca Lake near Penn Yan several times and expect it will continue to be a regular stop.
Whenever we have visited, the staff has been friendly and knowledgeable. Troy Wise was our host this time and he was no exception.
We began the tasting with the 2010 Dry Riesling. The wine was fresh and tropical, a great buy at only $11.99. This is one reason we love Prejean, most wines are $9.99 to $15.99 and represent great values.
Next we sampled the 2010 Dry Gewürztraminer. This is a barrel-fermented Gerwurz, a spicy German-style white wine with just 1% residual sugar. This has a richness absent in many Gewürztraminers but still has the trademark floral notes.
By way of contrast we sampled the 2009 Gewürztraminer, which has 3% residual sugar for an off-dry style. It is finished in stainless steel and has spice and vanilla flavors. This is a winner with spicy food.
Marechal Foch is a red French-American hybrid grape, and one of the main reasons we love Prejean. I don’t know anyone who does it better. This grape seems to thrive in the Finger Lakes and Ohio areas and we love its delicate flavors.
The 2009 Marechal Foch offers deep flavors of blackberry with a slight toastiness on the finish. It has a medium body with smooth texture. It’s an easy drinking red with a bit of panache for only $11.99.
We closed out with the 2010 Cabernet Franc. We are Cab Franc lovers and found this to be the best wine of the visit. The wine has a bit of barnyard flavor (which is not bad!), a dash of pepper swirled with berry and mocha. This is a great grilling wine.
Prejean is a friendly, uncrowded stop for your next Finger Lakes visit. They offer a wide variety of wines at easy to swallow prices. The friendly staff makes it a great way to spend the afternoon.
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