Mid-April brings the pretty blossoms of the dogwoods in bloom, the cheerful chirp of songbirds at dawn, the buzz of honeybees making their way from flower to flower, and long queues at the post office as hastily-stuffed envelopes addressed to the Internal Revenue Service are thrust into the gaping maws of blue postal boxes. That's right, folks, the Taxman Cometh and River City Cellars "celebrates" with our Annual Taxpayers Relief Tasting.  While we'll still be required to charge you tax, we've got a lineup of inexpensive yet delicious wines for you to try this Friday, April 15th.  Here's what's on the table this week:

Broadbent 2010 Vinho Verde:  Made from a blend of local grapes Loureiro, Trajadura and Arinto, this light-bodied, slightly effervescent dry white wine from northern Portugal has aromas of lime zest and tart apples.  Zippity-do-dah!

Domaine Guindon 2009 Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire Sur Lie: Produced in the lower stretches of the Loire Valley, this tangy, dry white wine made from Melon de Bourgogne has delicate citrus and apple aromas.  If I were writing an ad in the Personals section, I'd have to say that this wine is "Introverted and reserved yet compelling and thrilling."

Vina Collado 2010 Campo de Borja Rosado:  Ripe strawberry and cherry notes with a underlying hint of pepper characterize this fresh, dry, easy-going rose produced in northern Spain. My wine vocabulary sums this up with the word "Fun!"

Grupo Yllera 2009 Tempranillo "Cuvi Roble":  Produced in Castilla y Leon, a wide swath of land in central-western Spain, this medium-bodied dry red wine is made from pure Tempranillo and aged for six months in oak barrels.  Floral and fruity aromas mesh with hints of cedar and tobacco.  Whether it's a diamond in the rough or a mere rhinestone, this wine holds its own against many much more expensive Spanish red wines.

Domaine du Moulin 2008 Gaillac Rouge:  An even split of Syrah and Duras grapes lie behind this medium-bodied dry red wine from southwestern France.  Elegant and well-structured, this wine has dark currant flavors as well as hints of earth and spice.

(Sara's notes)  

Howdy Cheese Peeps,

It is new blue cheese week at RCC-- so please join me and welcoming our newest addition to the blue cheese fold-- Grevenbroecker or, more informally, Achelse Blauwe.  I have absolutely no idea how these words are pronounced, but daang, this raw cow's milk cheese from Hamont-Achel, Vlaanderen sure is scrumptious!  Creamy, soft and rich; mildly, earthily, blue; not too salty, with lingering complexity and depth.  Mmmm.  And not only is it delicious, but I had a blast using Google Translator to read the farm's website, which is all in Flemish.

First of all, I truly adore a language that use approximately 16 vowels for every 3 consonants.  Giggle. I don't know why, but this tickles me, it just does.  So, I've been chortling from the start, trying to sound out phrases like "Op de plaats waar eeuwen lang zusters Franciscanessen woonden, is de kaasboerderij Catharinadal gelegen" which sound completely ridiculous when I say them.  Then I just about lost it when I looked at the English translation of their cheese class page that promised "And after this time you can enjoy a nice, hot young cheese from Catharinadal Achel."  Really?  Does EVERYONE get a nice, hot, young cheese after class??  Snort!  Sign me up.  Google Translator, how I love thee!

It wasn't all silliness, well, actually it was, but I did learn a lot about the Boonen brothers, Bert and Peter, who took over the farm from their father and started making cheeses about 20 years ago, including this unique, award-winning blue.   I also learned that they have about 60 red "long-life" cows (??) and how to say cheese master in Flemish.   Sooo,  I'm thinking my new title should be Sara Adduci, kaasmeester,  It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?  Kaasmeester Adduci.  I like it.   

Cheers!

p.s Happy, happy birthday, Mom!  xoxo