RIMBEY MUNICIPAL LIBRARY Big BBQ Reds Wine Tasting July 16, 2011
TASTING GUIDE Sight, smell, body, taste, aftertaste Discuss as you like, don t be shy Please score your wines just for fun!
WINES TONIGHT 9 wines 7 different countries 10 different grape varietals 6 single varietal, 3 blends Between $13 and $150
RIBERA DEL DUERO, SPAIN
WINE #1 VINA MAYOR RESERVA 2004 Region: Ribero Del Duero, SPAIN Grapes: Tempranillo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tempranillo
Rating: 93 WS, 2010 Top 100 #38 Cost: $23 Notes: This red shows focus and depth, with admirable purity to its black cherry, mineral, tobacco and tar notes. Offers and excellent balance of firm, well integrated tannins and clean acidity. Rock-solid. Drink now through 2016. WS
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
WINE #2 PASCUAL TOSO MALBEC 2009 Region: Mendoza, ARGENTINA Grapes: Malbec http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/malbec
Rating: 89 Wine Align, Top 50 LCBO Cost: $13 Notes: Colour is purple to ruby. Aromas are complex, earthy, with hints of mushroom, barnyard, red berry. Palate is old world in style, light to mediumbodied with soft tannins and a good mouth-feel. Wine Align
REVIEW OF INTRO NIGHT Learn about wine tastings in general Different types, blinds, varietals, regions, vintages, horizontal, vertical Provide a brief history of wine Origin of discovery, appearances in history, archaeological finds How to taste wines Sight, smell, taste, body, aftertaste Cover some general wine terms, information Vintage, tannin, aromatics, new vs. old world, styles, regions labeling, sulfites, common red and white wines, glassware, aging wines Check out food pairing strategies Weight matching, contrast vs. compliment, drink what you like!
LODI, CA, USA
WINE #3 BRAZIN OLD VINE ZIN 2008 Region: Lodi, CA, USA Grapes: Zinfandel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/zinfandel
Rating: 87 WS, 90 Cellar Tracker Cost: $25 Notes: Zesty, with spicy dried cherry aromas and appealing smoky plum and licorice flavors. Drink now through 2015. 34,000 cases made. WS
BAROSSA VALLEY, AUSTRALIA
WINE #4 JACOB S CREEK RESERVE SHIRAZ 2007 Region: South Australia, AUSTRALIA Grapes: Shiraz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/syrah
Rating: 88 Snooth, 86+ Cellar Tracker Cost: $19 Notes: It really got better after being open for 2 hours. It's an easy drinking wine with lots of vanilla on the nose. Actually, it smells vanilla mixed with strawberries and whipped cream. On the palate, it lacks in fruit, astringent and thin on the mid-palate with short aftertaste. It is better on the nose than it's on the palate. A simple and nice everyday wine. 86+
OKANAGAN VALLEY, BC, CANADA
WINE #5 ROAD 13 FIFTH ELEMENT Region: Okanagan Valley, BC, CANADA Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bordeaux_wine
Rating: 93 Cellar Tracker Cost: $38 Notes: Dark ruby with a little brick around the edges. Off the twist, the nose is crazy, crazy peppers, mostly the green varieties. As it eventually tones down, we start to get some smoky leather, and a smidgen of pepperoni and meatiness. The elusive fruit aspect of this hard core vegetal wonder consists of some dark dusty berries and a whiff of plum. The meat, earth, bacon, pepperoni, minerals and hint of tomato also become more apparent as we go along eventually achieving a savory synergy.
PUENTE ALTO, CHILE
WINE #6 CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA 2008 Region: Puente Alto, CHILE Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cabernet_sauvignon
Rating: 90 WS Cost: $22 Notes: Rock-solid, with nicely integrated structure for the vintage, allowing the full - bodied core of loam, blackberry, fig sauce and raspberry to stretch out, with lingering mint and cocoa notes on the plush, fleshy finish. WS
CAMPANIA, ITALY
WINE #7 TERRA DI LAVORO GALARDI 2002 Region: Campania, ITALY Grapes: Aglianico and Piedirosso http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/aglianico
Rating: 93-98 Cost: $80-150 Notes: It s hard to know what to write next about this fabulous wine, which demonstrates why Falernum, the wine produced in this area under the Roman Empire, was considered the greatest of the ancient world, capable according to Petronius of lasting 100 years. To the owners of the Galardi estate, and to winemaker Riccardo Cotarella, the only possible words which can be expressed are those of simple gratitude for this unexpected miracle which appeared out of nowhere in 1994 and has not ceased to amaze ever since... WA Only 750 cases made
TUSCANY, ITALY
WINE #8 BRANCAIA IL BLU 2007 Region: Tuscany, ITALY Grapes: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sangiovese
Rating: 94 WS Cost: $75 Notes: Lovely blueberry and blackberry aromas lead to a full body, with supersilky tannins and a chocolate, blackberry and currant aftertaste. Very tight and attractive. Racy, balanced and seductive. Best after 2011. WS
APALTA VALLEY, CHILE
WINE #9 MONTES FOLLY 2006 Region: Apalta Valley, CHILE Grapes: Syrah
Rating: 94 WS, WA Cost: $75 Notes: Rich and lush, but with superb poise, this offers a huge core of crushed plum, raspberry ganache and macerated currant fruit that easily absorbs its dark, coffeetinged toast and muscular, loamy undertow. The finish is powerful, but well-knit. Should age nicely. Syrah. Best from 2010 through 2014. 4,500 cases made. WS The 2006 Folly is a world class Syrah (not only because of the superb Ralph Steadman label). It is sourced from a ridiculously steep vineyard in Apalta and aged for 18 months in new French oak. Inky black in color, it reveals a superexpressive nose of toasty new oak, pepper, lavender, game, incense, and blueberry. Voluptuous on the palate but not heavy, it has gobs of sweet fruit, layers of flavor, a firm structure, and 5-7 years of aging potential. Drink this impeccably balanced, lengthy effort from 2015 to 2026. WA
WINES TONIGHT May be available at Side Street Liquor Store, depend on interest All were purchased from Chad Jones at The Liquor Store in Ponoka Some in very limited quantities
FURTHER INTERESTS? QUESTIONS? Resources THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING! Please drive safe.