Esporao Tasting at Legume Bistro 7May12 (with Pedro Lopes Vieira)

6pm-Formal Tasting with Dinner, 7pm-Bar

Join me welcoming Pedro Lopes Vieira to Legume Bistro for a formal tasting at 6pm followed by a casual visit in the bar at 7pm.

In the past few years, Esporao’s Wines, have amassed a huge list of high scores and best value awards, including two Best Value ratings and five scores 91 pts or better at The Wine Enthusiast.  Esporao is one of Europe’s fastest growing wine brands – join us for a taste!

Below are the wines slated for our tasting Monday at Legume (comments from distributor Aidil Wines) –  Chef/Owner Trevett Hooper is planning nettle soup and some vegetarian platters followed by a lamb and barley risotto dish with some charcuterie for the tasting.  Sounds TASTY!!  Reserve your seat by purchasing at this link: http://www.off-the-grid.ws/esporao

Whites:

Esporao Monte Velho White – Vinification:  De stemming, must chilling, skin maceration, pneumatic pressing, cold settling, fermentation temperature control with selected yeast inoculation in stainless steel tanks, centrifuging, fining, cold stabilisation and filtration.   Description:   Ripe and perfumed, with notes of tropical fruit, it’s mouth-filling, fruity and balanced, finishing with elegance.

Esporao Verdelho White – Comment:  This is a Regional Alentejo White, made exclusively from the Verdelho grape, one of the top local varieties.  Vinification:   Destemming, must chilling, skin maceration, pneumatic pressing, cold settling, fermentation temperature control with selected yeast inoculation in stainless steel tanks, centrifuging, fining, cold stabilisation.   Description: Cristal clear, citric color with green hues. Intense and complex aroma, with citric and tropical fruit notes suggesting nectarinas, mango and passionfruit. Fresh and elegant palate, with good fruit depth and cleansing acidity.

Esporao White Reserve – Vinification: De stemming, must chilling, skin maceration, pneumatic pressing, cold settling, fermentation temperature control with selected yeast inoculation in stainless steel tanks and new oak American and french oak barrels, centrifuging, fining, cold stabilization and filtration.  Description:  THE ESPORAO WHITE FEATURES A DISTINCT LABEL EVERY VINTAGE. THE ELEGANCE OF THE WINE DERIVES FROM THE 15 YEAR OLD VINES. WITH PEACH, MELON AND A SPICY OAK NOSE, THE PALATE IS RICH, CREAMY AND FRUITY.

Reds:

Esporao Monte Velho Red:  The best selling wine in Portugal, Vinification: Fermented and staged in large stainless steel vats only.    Description:  Subtle aroma of red berry fruits with balanced notes of American oak adding complexity. Rich flavors of ripe red berry fruits with good depth and a soft tannic structure.  

Quinta dos Murcas Assobio:  Description: A deep, vibrant red color and the spicy aroma of berries and violet. In the mouth the delicious flavor blend of berry and black cherry envelope the mouth with long persitant finish.

Esporao Red Reserve:  Avg. age of vineyards 25 years  Vinification: Desteming of hand selected grapes followed by long fermentation (10 days) in stainless steel tanks. Malolatic fermentation and aging occurs for 12 months in French and American oak.   Description: Deep ruby color and complex aromas of ripe fruits and vanilla. Rich flavorsome palate, good depth of fruit, well structured with firm tannins. A great example of the excellence of this region and the flagship of the winery.

Quinta dos Murcas Red Reserve: Vinification – A vibrant mix of Tinta Roriz, Tinta Yellow, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Tiny, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, and Sousão grapes and aged in barrels of French and American oak barrels  Description:  This wine presents a complex aroma with hints of red fruit and subtle notes of smoke. Its sophisticated notes of fruit and subtle toast are well structured on the palate.

Quinta dos Murcas 10yr Tawny   Vinification: Produced with A grade, top quality grapes and aged in oak barrels.  Description: Both extremely elegant and dense,this oak aged Port wine boasts balanced acidity and fine fruit notes.

My Picks for the Pittsburgh Wine Festival – 12 must-try wines!

Here are my top twelve picks for the Pittsburgh Wine Festival (with comments and table numbers so you can find them!)   Enjoy the Festival!!!

1999 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne

Winery:Nicolas Feuillatte

Region:Champagne

Notes:Vintage Champagne is always worth trying and 1999 was known to be a great vintage. Table 150

 

2004 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne

Winery:Louis Roederer

Region:Champagne

Notes:Cristal is the holy grail for many Champagne purchasers – worth trying for sure! Table 165

 

2006 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery:Ridge Vineyards

Region:Santa Cruz Mountains

Varietal:Cabernet Sauvignon

Notes:Table 24

 

2007 Masi Agricola Costasera Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico Corvina

Winery:Masi Agricola

Region:Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico

Varietal:Corvina

Notes:Many Americans do not know this type of rich, flavorful Northern Italian wine – worth trying. Table 107

 

2008 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre Valpolicella Classico Superiore Corvina

Winery:Allegrini

Region:Valpolicella Classico Superiore

Varietal:Corvina

Notes:Table 83

 

2008 Hall Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery:Hall Wines

Varietal:Cabernet Sauvignon

Notes:Super Napa Cab from former Ambassador to Austria, Kathryn Hall. Table 47

 

2008 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay

Winery:Leeuwin Estate

Region:Margaret River

Varietal:Chardonnay

Notes:Arguably Australia’s benchmark Chardonnay. Table 125

 

2008 Penfolds Wines Kalimna Bin 28 South Australia Shiraz

Winery:Penfolds Wines

Region:South Australia

Varietal:Shiraz

Notes:Well-made Shiraz from Australia’s most famous winery – great to compare with the Dead Arm. Table 139

 

2009 Chateau Montelena Winery Napa Valley Chardonnay

Winery:Chateau Montelena Winery

Region:Napa Valley

Varietal:Chardonnay

Notes:The Chardonnay that won the white competition at the famous “Judgement of Paris.” Table 69

 

d’Arenberg Wines The Dead Arm Mclaren Vale Shiraz

Winery:d’Arenberg Wines

Region:Mclaren Vale

Varietal:Shiraz

Notes:Benchmark Australian Shiraz, smooth, deep, and savory from family owned winery. Table 98

 

Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot

Winery:Duckhorn Vineyards

Region:Napa Valley

Varietal:Merlot

Notes:Napa Merlot may be out of fashion, but Duckhorn makes fantastic Merlot that should never be out of fashion. Table 59

 

Quinta do Noval 20 Year Old Tawny Douro

Winery:Quinta do Noval

Region:Douro

Notes:Vintage Ports can be pretty rough when young, but the 20yr Ports are superbly approachable. Table 168

Screaming Good Deal – Seigneurie de Peyrat Classique Blanc 2010

I pride myself in locating (or constantly trying to locate) high quality wines that deliver good value.   Often I feel a certain sense of accomplishment when I locate these wines and share them with others so that everyone can enjoy a quality wine at a good price.   In the case of the lovely Seigneurie de Peyrat Classique Blanc 2010 (PLCB code: 32430 $7.99), I can take no credit whatsoever – this wine was suggested to me by not just one, but TWO of my good friends on separate occasions.   Since I typically agree with their palates and wine opinions, I had to try this white.   This is a very nice wine and a good value to boot!   The blend of Colombard and Vermentino initially struck me as unusual since Vermentino is typically an Italian grape and Colombard is typically grown in Southern France (incidentally it is the main grape used for Cognac as well).   But then I discovered that Vermentino is actually quite common in Southern France under the original French name of “French Rolle”, and nowadays the Italian name of Vermentino is generally in use.   With that bit of knowledge combined with the facts that both grapes thrive in hot growing conditions, and both have complimentary characteristics, the combination actually makes sense – and in this case works well.   Seigneurie de Payrat is located in the Southern French region of Languedoc-Roussillon, a region famous for producing vast amounts of good quality table wines and a few special ones.   For comparison, Languedoc-Roussillon is covered by three times as many vineyards as the more famous Bordeaux region, so it should not surprise us that a nice wine like this should reach our shores.   After pouring the white, I notice the nose is floral with some elements of peach and citrus.   Pouring white wines ice cold is a common practice (and a good one in many cases) but the Peyrat Blanc benefits from a moment or two in the glass warming up a few degrees – as the wine warms slightly the aromatics open up and make the wine more interesting and complex.   All of this contributes to displaying the peach and floral fruit flavors with a lush mouth feel, and finishes with a touch of citrus flavors and grip.   This wine is a solid, flavorful table white that can be sipped alone, or combined with food – we should all have on hand for the summer months!

Wine and Cheese Suggestion:  David B. is one of the friends who originally suggested this wine to me.   His friends often refer to him as a ‘cheese-ist’, ‘cheeseologist’, ‘cheese-aholic’ and other fun names…   Undeterred by our teasing, David featured this Peyrat Classique Blanc in a wine and cheese tasting and reports that many people found the cheese (Lou Bergier Pichin, a creamy cheese described as French cheese made in Italy using Portuguese techniques) and Seigneurie de Peyrat Classique Blanc to be their favorite combination of the event.   I am now on a mission to find the cheese and try it with Seigneurie de Peyrat Classique Blanc 2010 – hope you will try it too!

Dry German Riesling from Dr. Loosen: ‘Red Slate’ Riesling Mosel Saar Ruwer Estate 2010

In the United States, many Rieslings – especially those from Germany – are expected to be sweet or at least off-dry, because over many years this sweeter style has proved popular to the American Palate.   However, despite the popularity of sweeter Riesling styles here, there are a great many dry Riesling wines made in Germany that are reasonably priced and available here.   The Dr. Loosen : ‘Red Slate’ Riesling hails from the heart of the famous Mosel Region, not far from the borders with Luxemburg and Belgium.   Planted on treacherously steep south-facing hillsides, the vines are afforded long days of sun exposure which assists in ripening the grapes in what would otherwise be a cool and difficult climate.   But aided by the increased sun exposure and a general warming trend in temperatures, Dr. Loosen finds that grapes can stay longer on the vine than in the past and this allows the grapes greater sugar levels (which aids fermentation) and greater flavor complexity in the end product.   Additionally, the iron-rich, red slate soils in which the vines are planted (which also give the wine its name ‘Red Slate’) are said to add a dense, muscular minerality to the finished wine.    The 2010 Red Slate Riesling shows a slightly richer color compared to other dry Rieslings I have tried – actually more reminiscent of the sweeter variety, but color is not always an indicator of flavor.   The nose is subdued, but included some light floral notes and pineapple hints.   Flavors are smooth in arrival and centered around a blending of lime, baked apple, peach and mineral with a slight hint of raspberry in a package that is lighter than the color suggests and includes a very slight spritziness at first sip, ending with a spicy finish that endures – very refreshing indeed.   This Riesling is not as mouth-puckering dry as some examples, but it is clearly dry and has more body than many of the type, which could make this a great accompaniment to meaty fish (a pan seared Arctic Char for instance) or even Chinese takeout – I intend to try these pairings as soon as possible!  (Dr Loosen ‘Red Slate’ Riesling Mosel Saar Ruwer Estate 2010 PLCB 39086 $13.99)

Stock up for Summer – Maculan Pino and Toi Veneto 2010

The Maculan Pino and Toi Veneto 2010 ($5.99 PLCB code: 32270) is a fantastically good value for a summer white quaffing wine!  Hailing from the Veneto Region of North East Italy, this wine is less known than many of the Veneto’s most popular wine types (Prosecco, Amarone and Valopolicella to name a few) but the Veneto region bottles more DOC wine than any other region in Italy, so it is not surprising to find a good value in such a high volume producing region.

Produced from 60% Tocai, 25% Pinot Bianco and 15% Pinot Grigio, the Maculan Pino and Toi is very light yellow color and lightness is the wine’s main theme.   Light whites are perfect for picnics, aperitifs, and lounging outside on warm days.   This wine delivers apple and lemon aromas with flavors that include light floral and citrus that are nicely balanced followed by a clean, snappy finish.  As a wine to start an evening meal, or just sip with light appetizers, a better value is difficult to imagine, in fact it was at the start of a meal in which a food-focused-friend of mine introduced me to this wine.   I consider this good luck, because at this price point ($5.99 in PA with a claimed original retail price of $15),  I cannot think of a good reason not to purchase several bottles to have at the ready, just in case a nice, warm summer evening turns into an impromptu picnic opportunity.

C Greffe Brut Rose NV Sparkler from Loire Valley, France

Recently, I found myself in need of a rose bubbly to serve at a French-themed dinner.   Champagne is always my first choice for bubbly, but cost considerations led me to the PLCB Chairman’s Selection section of our local State Store, where I noticed a beautiful rose colored non-vintage Loire Valley French Sparkler the C Greffe Brut Rose NV ($13.99 PLCB code 32408).   This sparkler is from Touraine, a broad sub-region of the central Loire Valley approximately 120 miles southwest of Paris.   The wine-makers of C. Greffe use three grapes in the blend: Cabernet Franc 50% (famous red grape of the Loire Region and blending grape in Bordeaux), Gamay 45% (the featured grape of Beaujolais), and Pineau d’Aunis 5% (a blending grape with long history in Loire Valley).   At the first sip, this bubbly unveils a lean, clean and fresh wine that is dry, but stops short of being austere.  The mouth-feel has a frothy mousse that brings all the flavors into focus, especially when ice cold, although I often enjoy allowing sparkling wine to warm slightly in the glass so that all the fruit flavors can burst forward and become obvious (this also shows flaws in lesser wines and sometimes I wish I hadn’t been so adventurous).  Overall, the nicely integrated fresh fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry combine with a hint of earthiness and lead into a crisp finish that suggests a well-made sparkler.  I am a fan of this bubbly for the affordable $13.99 price and the pleasing flavors, and I expect it will do well at my upcoming dinner – this is definitely a good value bubbly and worth a try.

February 18th is National Drink Wine Day – Seriously!

As if we needed a reason – I strongly suggest that everyone celebrate the astonishing joy of a good glass of wine on the holiday designated to celebrate the wondrous fermented juice we call wine!   Seriously though, while not a holiday on par with the 4^th of July, National Drink Wine Day is worth recognizing for several reasons:

• Wine, in moderation, may have several health-improving effects
• Wine is always different and therefor always its own little adventure that connects you to a time (vintage) and a place (vineyards all over the world)
• Wine can make a good meal great – and help people enjoy each other’s company
• Wine tastes good!

I know that for me this February 18 will include a meal with my in-laws, and I’m sure there will be some sparkling wine involved – so I am set to celebrate National Drink Wine Day – - Are you????