|
SATURDAY WINE TASTING
NEW BURGUNDY CLASS SCHEDULED
Saturday looks great for a visit to the Pacific Northwest, so we're featuring wines from Washington State and Oregon, with short excursions to Austria and Chile - all great winemaking sites we've neglected recently.
2009 Norbert Bauer Grüner Vetliner (Austria, $14.99). The Norbert Bauer winery is one of the most renowned in the entire Weinviertel. This family business dates back to 1721. Today they grow and produce a wide variety of wines: for example, the white wines Grüner Veltliner. This summer we have seen a resurgence (or emergence) of the shimmering white wines from northern Europe, notably Germany and Austria. Come see why Grüner Vetliner is one of the whites leading the way.
n/v Townshend Cellars Vortex Red (Washington State, $19.99).
Don Townshend has been following his dream for 10 years, and now with his two sons, this family produces a small quantity of very distinctive wines from the Pacific northwest. The wines from Townshend Cellar derive their distinctive flavors from extensive oak aging and the selection of grapes from some of the finest vineyards in Washington State. As information, Seattle Magazine picked the Vortex Red as the best under-$20 red blend last year. Who needs Robert Parker anyhow!
2008 Maryhill Vineyards Winemaker's Red Blend (Washington State, $15.99). Here's another excellent red blend from Washington State! Wine Advocate 89 points: "The 2008 Winemaker's Red, a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Franc, that spent 10 months in stainless steel with French oak staves. Aromas of smoke, mocha, espresso, cassis, and black cherry lead to an elegant, tasty, lengthy effort that sells for a song." Who needs Seattle Magazine?
2009 Viu Manent Malbec Reserve (Chile, $14.99). Did you think Argentina had a monopoly on good South American Malbec?? Think again - here's a winner from just across the border. Steve Tanzer 87 points: "Deep ruby. Slightly restrained aromas of red berries and cherry compote, displaying a hint of tobacco and subtle smokiness. A juicy, precise midweight that offers sweet red and dark fruit flavors and strong notes of vanilla and cola. An intense minty nuance lingers on the sweet, slightly warm finish."
Our special, featured wine Saturday will be the 2009 Eyrie Pinot Noir (Oregon, $39.99). From Steve Tanzer, 91 points: "Bright red. Complex, perfumed scents of raspberry, cola, Indian spice and minerals, with a suave floral quality contributing to the impression of clarity. Juicy and precise, offering sappy red fruit and floral pastille flavors and notes of black cardamom and anise. Finishes smooth and sweet, with lingering floral and spice notes and excellent length. This will age over at least the medium term on its balance."
Once again, we are "gently" soliciting a modest $5 contribution for this tasting, and proceeds from this collection will go to help the Avery County Humane Society build its new Adoption and Humane Education Center on New Vale Road. In addition to coming to our Saturday wine tasting and making a contribution, there are other ways you can help. Please visit their website to see what they're doing and how you can support them: http://www.averyhumane.org. Thanks!
|
