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| Featured Wine
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Apaltagna, Colchagua Valley (Chile) Gran Reserva "Envero" 2007 ($15, Global Vineyard Importers) 
This is a terrific bargain made from 90% Carmenère and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit was sourced from the Apalta sub-district of Colchagua, and it shows the full ripeness necessary to show Carmenère at its best.
Ripe blackberry fruit notes are very appealing, with none of the green, weedy aromatics that can afflict less-than-fully ripened Carmenère. Likewise, the fruit seems fresh and pure, whereas over-ripe Carmenère can taste soupy due to insufficient acidity. A little whiff of wood around the edges provides some complexity, and this is a very attractive choice for pairing with robust meat dishes.
This is worth the $4 to trade up from this producer's 2007 Carmenère Reserva ($11), but if you can only find the Reserva, you should snap it up without hesitation.
90 - Michael Franz
More wine reviews every week at:
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| News from the Washington Wine Academy
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First, make sure you check out our upcoming events. Looking for something special for Valentine's Day? Try our wine cruise. Want to taste great wine? Attend the D.C. International Food & Wine Festival. Want to learn more about wine? Take our WSET Intermediate Class. (No previous wine knowledge required.) More information about all of these events can be found below or on our web site. Second, if you haven't yet, make sure you visit our Facebook group and sign up to become a fan. That's the best opportunity to give us feedback... like what types of events you'd like to see us host in the future. Or topics you'd like to see us write about in future issues of the newsletter. Last, don't forget you can hire the WWA to host a private event for you, your friends, or your company. |
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Washington D.C. International Food & Wine Festival 800 wines. Celebrity chefs. Good shopping. And for those looking to splurge, the Grand Cru Wine Lounge.
What could be better?
How about a $15 per ticket discount? Just use promo code WWA15 if you purchase your ticket before February 13. The Festival includes:
Grand Tasting - Sample 800
wines from over 200 international wineries in one location. Countries
represented include Italy, Spain, France, Argentina, New Zealand,
Greece, United States, Portugal and many more!
Celebrity Chefs -
See Martin Yan, Martin Yan's China, Andreas Viestad, Perfect Day and
Christina Pirello, Christina Cooks and top chefs from D.C. restaurants
cook their favorite recipes on the demonstration stage.
Grand Cru Wine Lounge - Pamper yourself by visiting the exclusive Grand Cru
Wine Lounge. The Lounge is located in a private setting away from the
Grand Tasting for your enjoyment. All wines have been hand selected and
retail for more than $65 per bottle.
To learn more about the weekend's events or to purchase tickets, visit the Festival's web site or call (800) 343-1174.
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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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Top 10 Valentine's Day Wines*
- Sparkling: Champagne Perrier-Jouët, 2000 Fleur de Champagne Brut ($140)
- Sparkling: Iron Horse, 2005 Wedding Cuvée ($38)
- Rosé: Folie à Deux, 2007 Ménage à Trois Rosé ($13)
- Rosé: Oriel, 2005 "Femme Fatale" Bordeaux Rosé ($20)
- Red: Contessa Wine Cellars, 2007 Rosa d'Amore ($17)
- Red: Drei Donà, Rosenere ($11)
- Red: Marilyn Wines, 2004 Velvet Collection ($200)
- Red: Rocca Family Vineyards, 2005 Bad Boy Red ($29)
- Red: Kristian Story Wines, 2005 Séduire Cabernet Sauvignon ($59)
- Sweet: Delaforce, His Eminence's Choice 10-Year-Old Tawny Porto ($20)
* List Courtesy of Novus Vinum
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