| Featured Wine
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d'Arenberg, McLaren Vale (South Australia, Australia) Grenache "The Custodian" 2006 ($19, Old Bridge Cellars)
I always open half a dozen red wines to throw onto the table for Thanksgiving dinner, and this was the winner in 2008.
It shows delightfully fresh fruit notes that are pure and lifted, but also some of the density and depth that Grenache can attain when sourced from older vines in a warm climate.
Notes of red cherries retain the forefront, but there's also a hint of spices and damp earth around the edges of this wine, as it is just starting to develop some secondary aromas to augment the lovely core of primary fruit.
89 - Michael Franz
More wine reviews every week at:
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WSET - Intermediate
Starts Tues., Feb. 17
6 weeks of class
cost: $768
(A limited number of seats are available for this course)
Keep an eye out for other WWA classes.
... More details soon!
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Looking for a new spin on your New Year's Eve party?
We can custom tailor a private event to fit your needs.
Events can include educational talks, wine tastings, blending seminars... or something we create together.
Find out more on our web site.
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| News from the Washington Wine Academy
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Welcome back! We hope you all enjoyed your holidays. We certainly enjoyed ours... and our time off.
However, now, like many of you, it's back down to business! For the Washington Wine Academy, that means an exciting new array of events that we hope you'll enjoy.
Happy reading! And hope to see you soon...
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French vs. American Oak? Ever read tasting notes and wondered about the difference between French and American oak?
French oak tends to impart nutty and smoky flavors to the wine. The oak also tends to be more closely grained than American oak. In contrast, American oak will impart flavors of vanilla and coconut. American oak also can impart more odd flavors, such as mint or dill.
The difference isn't just in the flavors... it's also in the price. French oak barrels tend to cost twice as much as American oak barrels.
Variables beyond the oak's origin also impacts the flavor. For one, each barrel is charred,
or "toasted," on the inside, and winemakers can order specific levels of toast, from light to heavy. In addition, new barrels impart stronger flavors than used barrels, and by the time barrels reach four or five years old, they have given up all the oaky flavors.
One other word on oak: "oak aged" and "aged in oak" don't mean the same thing. "Aged in oak" means a wine aged in oak barrels. In contrast, "oak aged" means oak chips were suspended in the vat during the aging process vs. the wine being aged in oak barrels. In some cases, a wine producer may use oak essence instead of oak chips. (In many countries, including those in the European Union, using oak chips or oak essence to give wine an oaky taste is illegal.)
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 Weekly WWA Events:
Every FRIDAY at the Arlington Cinema 'N Drafthouse - 6:15 p.m.
Every Saturday and Sunday in partnership with Reston Limousine!
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- Vacu Vin Crystal Wine Servers ($5): Elegant non-drip pour spouts
that snap easily into the neck of most wine bottles
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Riedel Vinum 6 Plus 1 Gift Set ($142): Gift pack of glasses and
lead-free decanter from Austria's renowned glass maker, Riedel
- Complete Cheese Service ($37): Because wine isn't complete
without cheese... cheese board, cheese knives and tools all
in a single unit
- Oster 4207 Electric Wine Opener ($20): Remove corks in two
quick clicks, making for effortless bottle opening... and great conversation
- Pinzon Wine Vacuum Pump & Stoppers ($8): The best way to
keep wine fresh when you don't finish it in one sitting
- Vacu Vin Tabletop Wine Cooler ($30): Chill
bottles in minutes and keep bottles chilled for an impressive four hours
- EdgeStar Deluxe Thermoelectric Wine Cooler ($200): A
28-bottle wine cooler for anyone who lives in a small space or is just
starting a wine collection
- Swissmar Decanting Funnel ($20): Decanting funnels have long
been used by sommeliers to coax out complex flavors in both mature and young
wines alike, and now your favorite wine fan can achieve these same results at
home
- The Art of Decanting ($14): For anyone who's wondered about
the why - and the technique - behind decanting fine wine
- Metrokane Golden Rabbit, Titanium ($200): For the "high roller" in your life, splurge on
Metrokane's over-the-top Golden Rabbit, made of all die-cast, triple-plated
titanium gold
* List courtesy of WineCountry.com
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