Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!


The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.’
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.
Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway~
Thanksgiving comes again!
-- Author Unknown

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: November 27-30, 2013

There’s slim pickings for wine tastings this week as most of the regular
tastings have been cancelled for Thanksgiving. We encourage you to pop open a bottle of your favorite wine and enjoy the holiday feast with family and friends.
If you need suggestions for Thanksgiving wine, let us suggest a nice Gerwurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir or Grenache. You can read about our recent Thanksgiving-themed tasting at J. Patrick’s that featured some of these wines here.
We are thankful for you our readers!

Saturday, November 30
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. New Discoveries: There's always something new in the wine department and this tasting introduces you to the new stuff first.… with Wine Manager Austin Beeman. Nominal fee per sample.

AREA WINE BARS
  • The Bistro at Maumee Wines, (419) 893-2525, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee.
  • Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
  • Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Underground Cellar Shakes Up the World of Internet Wine Sales

For the past couple years, the wine consumer has been living large. Large grape harvests paired with an economic downturn left top-end wine producers with too much product and too few customers. Numerous “flash sale” sites on the internet popped up to sell the surplus at rock bottom prices.
From a selfish point of view (mine) this is great! Typically the wine deals are only available for 24 or 48 hours – but if you act within that window, you can score great deals. With a little bit of patience to wait for the right offer, you can also get free shipping.
For wineries, this obviously isn’t the greatest deal. They end up selling their wine at deep discounts which hurts their profitability. Their brand image is tarnished too. Of course, the pendulum is now swinging back the other way. The economy is better – or at least stabilized. We even have a real or imagined “wine shortage’ looming in the future.
When I heard about the launch of a new online wine site, I greeted it with a blasé “ho hum.” But when I checked out Underground Cellar, I was surprised. Here’s why…
Instead of selling off slow moving premium wines at discounted prices, they offer a different value proposition that’s a “win-win” for both wineries and consumers. Underground Cellars is a start-up founded by technology entrepreneur Jeffrey Shaw. Rather than offering discounted wines, they offer opportunities to upgrade for free to higher priced wines or private stashes of hard to get bottles from high-end wineries.
For example, they are currently offering a deal with Sapphire Hill Winery of Sonoma. It includes four different bottles, ranging from $20 to $85. You pay $20 per bottle (which is the price of their Merlot blend) and have a chance to be upgraded to a bottle of their Dry Creek Zin ($28), Cinque Gemma blend ($40) or a magnum of Pinot Noir ($85). The odds of receiving the bottles are 57%, 28%, 14% and 1% respectively. If you purchase four bottles, odds are your order will have a couple of upgrades.
So there is a bit of gamification to make things interesting! You don’t know what you get until your order arrives.
Another cool feature is the social media aspect. You have an opportunity to comment on the various offers and interact directly with prestigious vintners and wine aficionados. Each comment can build your “influence” which will increase your likelihood of getting an upgrade.
This next feature is something completely new to me. It is their “cloud cellar.” Everyone knows a downfall of online wine purchasing is the shipping. If you are buying cases, it is no problem – you usually get free or discounted shipping. If you are only buying one or two bottles, you can end up paying the cost of another bottle in shipping alone.
With the cloud cellar, you can purchase your wine and they store it for you in a temperature controlled cellar in Napa Valley until you are ready to receive the shipment. The beauty of this is you can wait until you accumulate six bottles (which would be $5 shipping) or 12 bottles (which is free). I also think it would be cool to say, “I’m expecting a shipment from my wine cellar in Napa!”
It’s well worth checking out the Underground Cellar site so you can see for yourself. I just ordered three bottles from the Sapphire Hill offer, wish me luck!
Full disclosure: Promotional consideration provided by Underground Cellar.
Photo Credit: Jesse757 via Compfight cc

Monday, November 25, 2013

Popular Holiday Tannenbaum Wine Trail Event Scheduled for Three Weekends in NE Ohio

Wineries on the Northeast Ohio Vines and Wines wine trail will be hosting their annual holiday-themed Tannenbaum Trail event for three consecutive weekends November 29-30, December 6-7 and December 13-14. Normally we're not fans of rushing the holiday season, but this event sells out so quickly we wanted to give our readers a chance to take advantage of this great event. The cost is $50 per couple, $40 per single.
The event gives you the opportunity to travel to wineries in northeast Ohio. Between noon and 6:00 PM each day to enjoy complimentary appetizers and samples of wines. You will pick up your 18" Christmas tree at the first stop. At each winery you visit, you will receive a ceramic ornament with the winery's name printed on it to decorate your tree.
There is a great list of participating wineries this year:
  • Biscotti Family Winery, Conneaut
  • Bene Vino Urban Winery, Perry
  • Buccia Vineyards, Conneaut
  • Debonné Vineyards, Madison
  • Deer's Leap Winery, Geneva 
  • Emerine Estates, Jefferson
  • Goddess Wine House, Ashtabula 
  • Grand River Vineyards, Madison
  • Ferrante Winery, Geneva
  • Kosicek Vineyards, Harpersfield 
  • Laurello Vineyards, Geneva
  • Maple Ridge Vineyards, Madison
  • Old Firehouse Winery, Geneva-on-the-Lake
  • Old Mill Winery, Geneva
  • Tarsitano Winery, Conneaut
  • The Lakehouse Inn & Winery, Geneva-on-the-Lake
  • The Winery at Springhill, Geneva
  • Virant Family Winery, Geneva
To make your reservations please call (800) 227-6972 or order online here. The event is sponsored by the Ohio Wine Producers Association.
Photo by Heather Katsoulis
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Friday, November 22, 2013

Iconic Cabernet Tasting Rocks Wine Lovers at Walt Churchill’s Market in Maumee


Last Saturday I offered to help tasting team member The Cabinator with some chores at his new house. He and Glorious T had just moved to a beautiful new home, but the strain was beginning to show. It’s not easy to coordinate selling a house, moving all your belongings and trying to juggle work responsibilities at the same time.
I was ready to roll up my sleeves and pitch in on a long workday. But The Cabinator indicated there was a problem. Austin Beeman had scheduled the Mother of All Cabernet tastings at Churchill’s in Maumee. We would work on the important task of assembling a coffee table, but quickly then shoot out to WCM in Maumee. The Cabinator needed his “medicine.”
You know, I love delicate wines with floating flavors of spring flowers, rare spices and wafts of faint sea breezes (pinky is raised!). And then there are times where I just want Cab, real CAB that coats the palate and satisfies the soul -- Cabernet Sauvignon with power from cork pop until the last drop.
The lineup for Churchill’s Iconic Cabernet Tasting was impressive and seemed to fill the need:
  • Cakebread Cellars 2009 Cabernet
  • Chimney Rock 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stag’s Leap
  • Chateau St. Jean 2010 Cinq Cepages
  • World’s End 2009 Good Times, Bad Times Cabernet, To Kalon Vineyard
  • Robert Mondavi 2009 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet
  • Opus One 2010
It was a substantial stable of Cabs. The price of the tasting was top shelf as well, at $65.
From the first sip, it was an outrageously good tasting. Cakebread Cellars was a clear trumpet call announcing Napa Valley goodness. I have become a real fan of Chimney Rock since selecting it for a board meeting dinner more than a year ago. Stag’s Leap is an impressive wine region producing perhaps the best Cabs in Napa Valley. It’s well worth the $140 price tag.
I had heard about Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages, but never had the chance to taste it until now. This is a blend using all five of the traditional Bordeaux grapes. It has dark berry flavors mixed with delicious chocolate.
The showstopper for us was the World’s End Good Times, Bad Times To Kalon Vineyard Cab. When you have a wine named after a Led Zeppelin tune, it better be something that rocks – and it did! I was surprised that I had never heard of World’s End, but Austin explained that it is a relatively new winery headed by Bordeaux winemaker Jonathan Maltus.
The grapes come from the legendary To Kalon Vineyard. There were no “bad times” with this World’s End Cab. The flavors were supple and rich blackberry with currants. The finish was unceasing. It really is one of the best Cabs I’ve tasted – and a good bargain at $100.
Many people evaluate Mondavi wines on their mass market wines, but have no idea that Mondavi’s upper echelon wines are superb. The Robert Mondavi 2009 Napa Valley Reserve is beautifully balanced with flavors of black cherry, earth and bit of smoke. A top wine for sure, but at $135 it did not outshine the World’s End.
Radiating its awesomeness over the entire tasting was the closing act: Opus One 2010. Opus One was America’s first ultra-premium wine when it debuted in 1984 as a partnership between Chateau Phillippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. Back then it sold for the outrageous price of more than $50 a bottle. Today it sells for $240. A two-ounce sample at the tasting cost $25.
This is a wine that is just about perfect. It glides over the tongue with a velvety texture. Blackberry and coffee flavors swirl with just a hint of herbs. This is a wine that delights the soul.
When the final drop was drained we scoured the shelves for a purchase. Our wallets were a bit drained too by the cost of the tasting, so we each grabbed a bottle of the World’s End If Six Was Nine Reserve Cabernet at a more moderate $42 cost as well as Randall Grahm’s latest wine, Bonny Doon 2012 A Proper Claret.
Each of the Cabs earns a TWAV seal of approval, but our insider tip is to prepare for “World’s End!”
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Thursday, November 21, 2013

Thanksgiving Wine Gems Sampled at J. Patrick’s Tasting

Toledo Wines and Vines uncorked a fabulous wine tasting at J. Patrick’s Tuesday night. The theme for the evening at the popular Perrysburg restaurant, located in the Holiday Inn French Quarter, was Thanksgiving wine.

We enjoyed a “sensational seven” of wines provided by Heidelberg Distributing, each a possible match for your Thanksgiving dinner. Chef Jeremy provided a creative food pairing for each wine.

Thanksgiving is a food-centered holiday and it also sends wine novices scrambling for just the right bottle for the big feast. The good news is there is a wide spectrum of wines that are spot-on accompaniments with turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie and the like.

Working with Kevin Boehm of Heidelberg, we selected the following lineup of wines. Later in this article we’ll reveal the group’s favorite wine.
  • NV Poema Cava Brut Sparkling – Spain
  • 2010 Firelands Gewürztraminer, Isle St. George – Ohio
  • 2012 Saint “M” Riesling – Germany
  • 2009 Louis Jadot Pinot Noir – France
  • 2011 Joel Gott “815” Cabernet – California
  • 2011 Amado Sur Malbec – Argentina
  • Reserve – 2011 Shatter, 100% Grenache from France
The crowd was smiling from the very start – sparkling wine has a way of doing that! The Poema Cava is a great choice to put your guests in a festive mood. This Spanish wine is made in the traditional method just like bubby from Champagne. It was paired wonderfully with salmon in a puff pastry. You don’t need a special occasion to open a sparkling wine.

Our sweetest wine came next, the 2010 Firelands Gerwurztraminer. I like my Gerwurz a little drier, but it paired wonderfully with the mini-crab cake and the spicy red pepper aioli.

Riesling is a “go to” Thanksgiving wine and I was introduced to a new favorite. The 2012 Saint M Riesling is a product of the same partnership (Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen) that produces the famous Eroica Riesling. This has a dash of sweetness, but is balanced with some nice acidity. At only $15, this is a steal! We enjoyed this with a mini quiche with roasted shallots and braised spinach.

On the red side of the aisle, Pinot Noir is considered a top pick for turkey. We sampled the 2009 Louis Jadot Pinot from France. I’m a big Pinot Noir fan, but on this night, the wine missed the mark with me. However, we had an interesting beet salad to eat with it.

The 2011 Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon was second favorite among our tasting party. This gives you a full Cabernet experience without denting your wallet. Although Cabernet is an atypical Turkey Day choice, this is a solid selection at only $17. It is silky with dark berry flavor and a lingering finish.

A nice learning point here from Kevin: Some people couldn’t care less about wine pairing lore – they just want their Cabernet!

Amado Sur 2011 Malbec is a robust Argentinian wine that has lush black cherry and blueberry flavors. You can’t go wrong with Malbec – it’s a wine that can be appreciated by aficionados as well as wine newbies.

If you haven’t yet guessed it, our top pick from the J. Patrick’s crowd was our reserve wine, the 2011 Shatter – a beautiful 100% French Grenache from the partnership of Joel Gott and Dave Phinney. This wine had it all: beautiful shimmering violet color in the glass, light body with bright raspberry flavor notes and a vibrant finish. This is a $30 bottle, but drinks like $50.

What an outstanding night! A Happy Thanksgiving toast to all our guests. Thank you for coming. Many thanks to Liana, Kevin, Dana, Jeremy and Chef Jeremy for making the evening an enjoyable success.
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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: November 20-23, 2013

English: Two Chenin Blanc wines of different o...
Two Chenin Blanc wines of different origin, style and age. Left Raats Chenin Blanc 2007, a young, oaked Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Right Clos de la Bergerie 2001, a Chenin Blanc from Loire with some bottle age. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Wednesday, November 20
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. 1. Santa Rita "Medalla Real" Chardonnay, 2. Santa Rita "Medalla Real" Sauvignon Blanc, 3. Santa Rita "Medalla Real" Carmenere, 4. Moccagatta "Bric Balin" Barbaresco . Nominal fee per sample or $5 per flight.
Denny’s Craft Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. Call for schedule… 6-8 PM. $15.
Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Call for schedule… 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
Thursday, November 21
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Rich and Beautiful Thanksgiving Wines: 1.
2011 J.L. Chave – St. Joseph – Celeste – Rhone, France, 2. 2012 Couly-Dutheil – Les Chanteaux – Chenin Blanc – Chinon, France, 3. 2012 Domaine Lafond - L’Esprit de Roc Epine – Rose’ – Tavel, France, 4. 2009 J.L. Chave – St. Joseph – Offerus – Rhone, France. $12 per flight or nominal fee per sample.
Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Great Food Wines for the Feast: 1. Elizabeth Spencer Pinot Blanc, 2. .
Four Mile Creek White, 3. Little James Basket Press White, 4. Tapiz Chardonnay, 5. Little James Basket Press Red, 6. Kuleto Frog Prince Napa Red, 7. Merkelback Riesling Auslese. Nominal fee per sample.
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 9th Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration Feast, 6:00 PM. Features  rich French cassoulet, the perfect dish to pair with the fresh delicious red wines of Beaujolais. Cost for the event is $35 per person and includes food and wine. Please call for reservations. The event is limited to 25 people.
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. Wines for the Feast (Five White and Red). $10.

Saturday, November 23
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Rioja and the Classic Wines of Spain. There has been a revolution sweeping Spanish wines and while it is very exciting, with many new styles being created, it is still good to focus on the historical center of the region - Rioja.  Still home to many of the finest wines in the world… with Wine Manager Austin Beeman. Nominal fee per sample.

AREA WINE BARS
  • The Bistro at Maumee Wines, (419) 893-2525, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee.
  • Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
  • Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Canadian Wines Quench The Thirst For Quality At Cleveland’s Fabulous Food Show


Earlier this month I recorded a first. For the first time Green Dragon and I attended the Fabulous Food Show at Cleveland’s I-X Center. To make an enjoyable time even more fun, we served as volunteer wine pourers at the Grand Tasting Pavilion.
We got the gig at the invitation of Marianne Franz, the founder of the American Wine School. The wine school provides the captains for the 19 different booths as well as the speakers for presentations in the wine theater.
Suitably attired as wine ninjas in the required all black clothing, we showed up at the sprawling I-X Center and Marianne was soon leading a band of us to assignments at different booths. At first she gestured to the Wines of Italy booth, but I was locked in on the Canadian Wines booth.
It turned out to be a savvy selection. We soon discovered that we had visited all three of the Canadian wineries that were being served: Chateau Des Charmes, Vineland Estates Winery and Inniskillin. This is a trio of top shelf producers with wines we typically have to travel hundreds of miles to sample.
Tom Baker was the AWS captain assigned to work with us and we were soon chilling the wine and getting the booth set up. Our lineup consisted of:
  • Chateau Des Charmes: 2008 Aligote, 2006 Old Vine Pinot Noir, 2007 Riesling and 2007 Rose.
  • Vineland: 2011 Cabernet Franc, 2011 Chardonnay, 2010 Semi-Dry Riesling, 2008 Dry Riesling and Vice (a vodka and ice wine blend).
  • Inniskillin: 2007 Ice Wine
After a slow start (what, people don’t like to start drinking wine at 10:30 in the morning?) we became one of the most popular booths. The wine samples were issued in exchange for tickets – and the $60 per half bottle Inniskillin was just one ticket – the same as a Kendall Jackson Chardonnay that retails for $12.
Each wine was great, but I have to single out the CDC Old Vine Pinot and the Vineland Dry Riesling as being particularly outstanding. I’m confident in saying that we had the best Riesling in the 2.2 million square foot I-X Center. You could try a nice trio ranging from dry to the still not very sweet CDC Riesling.
Our booth backed up to the Pinot Noir stand. We were separated by only a curtain and soon they were swapping California Pinot samples for a sip of ice wine (for educational purposes only!).
We spent a full day on our feet but Tom occasionally turned us loose to roam the Fabulous Food Show. I had a chance to attend a seminar on the art of blending and even drifted into the International Beer Festival to see what the hop-heads were imbibing. There were 500 craft beers from which to choose.
Of course there were culinary stars – we saw Martha Stewart whip up some desserts, Alex Guarnaschelli make a pasta dish and Marcus Samuelson judge the Great Sugardale Bac-On (a bake-off featuring bacon). There were samples a plenty and also the huge By Hand Fine Art & Craft show.
It was a treat to pour these outstanding Canadian wine. (Occasionally I had to sample the wines to make sure they were drinking properly!) Many who stopped by the booth shared tales of their visits to the three Ontario wineries.
There were others who were trying Canadian wine for the first time.
This was our first visit to the Fabulous Food Show, but certainly won’t be our last. I also want to put in the plug for Cleveland’s American Wine School. They offer great educational programs and events in addition to their work during this recent food fest.
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Monday, November 18, 2013

Clos Pepe 2009 Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills


Clos Pepe Vineyard was purchased in 1994 as a horse farm. Today the focus is on cool-climate, small-production Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay. There’s no horsing around with the quality of its wine.
The winery is located in the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County. The area features wind, fog and low summer temperatures. The East-West valleys pull cold air off the Pacific Ocean.
For winemaker Wes Hagen, though, it really starts with the dirt. The vineyard features sea-bed soil, which limits the vigor of the plants. The smaller yield of the vines means smaller clusters and smaller berries with concentrated flavors.
The 2009 Estate Pinot Noir is a delight. The wine is a strawberry gem color and we let it decant for almost an hour. I’ve had a couple of Pinots recently that had a fruity, slightly sweet finish – they are certainly worlds apart from the Clos Pepe Pinot.
True to its cool-climate terroir, the full merit of this wine doesn’t emerge with first sip, but sneaks in on tip toes. It displays wonderful balance with dried cherry flavors and the promised earthiness and dirt. It’s a premium Pinot experience with the wine evolving as it is swirled and decanted.
Needless to say, this is an exceptional wine to enjoy now, but should be hitting its pinnacle in about three years. It retails for $62.
Wes’ winemaking philosophy favors wines that are like flowing jazz instead of ponderous heavy metal. He’s just laid down one crazy good riff with the 2009 Estate Pinot.
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Friday, November 15, 2013

Toledo Wines and Vines Features Wines for Thanksgiving at J. Patrick’s Tasting November 19

The clock is ticking! Thanksgiving is coming and so is Black Friday. Fear not, we’re going to make sure you’re stocked with just the right wines for Turkey Day and to recover from the shopping madness.
Toledo Wines and Vines is teaming with Heidelberg Distributing on a special Thanksgiving-themed wine tasting on Tuesday, November 19, at J. Patrick’s restaurant in the Holiday Inn French Quarter, Perrysburg. The fun begins at 6:00 PM and the cost is $25 per person. 

This will be a fun and casual time featuring seven great wine selections with sample sized food pairings. The chef at J. Patrick’s has just announced the food pairings. Here they are:
  1. NV Poema Cava Brut Sparkling – Spain with Salmon En Croute
  2. 2010 Firelands Gewürztraminer, Isle St. George – Ohio with Mini Crab Cake w/ Red Pepper Aioli
  3. 2012 Saint “M” Riesling – Germany with Mini Quiche w/ Roasted Shallots and Braised Spinach
  4. 2009 Louis Jadot Pinot Noir – France with Mini Beet Salad
  5. 2011 Joel Gott “815” Cabernet – California with Tenderloin Wrapped Asparagus
  6. 2011 Amado Sur Malbec – Argentina with Smoked Turkey Wrap
  7. Reserve – 2011 Shatter, (Joel Gott / Dave Phinney) – 100% Grenache from France with Fresh Fruit and Cheese (Extra charge for this special wine.)
I had to check my email twice because I couldn’t believe the creative dishes that are being offered. J. Patrick’s wants to showcase their food and outstanding service – and so you’ll reap the benefits during this special tasting.
Just a word about the reserve wine. You may have heard about The Prisoner, which is a red California blend that commands a high price and is one of the nation’s most popular wines. Dave Phinney is the winemaker behind The Prisoner, and we’re happy to present his Shatter as our reserve wine.
You’ll be able to enjoy the wine with these Thanksgiving-themed eats and when you find your favorite, bottles will be available for purchase – some at special pricing. Your RSVP is encouraged but not required to perrysburgfrenchqtr@gmail.com . You can also purchase tickets online here.

We look forward to greeting you on November 19th at J. Patrick’s!

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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration Feast Set November 21 at Walt Churchill’s Market in Maumee

Français : Beaujolais nouveau au Bistrt de Pay...

French Beaujolais Nouveau wine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 9th Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration Feast is scheduled 6:00 PM, Thursday, November 21, at Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. The event celebrates the first release of the 2013 vintage. Beaujolais Nouveau is the harvest party of the wine world.

The feast will feature rich French cassoulet, the perfect dish to pair with the fresh delicious red wines of Beaujolais. The wine, produced from Gamay grapes located in the southern part of France’s Burgundy region, is a special category.

The wines are only seven to nine weeks old, quite a contrast to typical red wines which are aged for months and then released the following year or in some cases even longer. The Beaujolais is fresh and fruity and made to be consumed young.

Cost for the event is $35 per person and includes food and wine. Please call for reservations. The event is limited to 25 people.

We’ve attended the event in the past and there is a great party atmosphere. The Beaujolais wines are reasonably priced and make a good pairing with your Thanksgiving turkey.

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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: November 13-16, 2013



Wednesday, November 13
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. 1. Gorman Winery The Devil You Know, 2. Gorman Winery The Devil You Don't Know, 3. Yucho Junmai Ginjo Genshu "Regal Hawk," 4. Fukugao Sake Stored in Whisky Barrel. Nominal fee per sample or $12 per flight.
Denny’s Craft Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. Call for schedule… 6-8 PM. $15.
Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Call for schedule… 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
Thursday, November 14
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Thanksgiving Wines: 1. Domaine Delsol – Picpoul de Pinet – Languedoc, France, 2. Furst – Pinot Blanc – Alsace, France, 3. Hook & Ladder – Gewurztraminer – Russian River Valley, California, 4. Allegrini – Plazzo della Torre -  Veronese – Italy. $5 per flight or nominal fee per sample.
Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Pinot Noir: 1. Becker Estate – Germany, 2. Scott Family - Arroyo Secco, California, 3. Lyeth - Somoma, 4. Mouton Noir OPP "Other People's Pinot' - Willamette Valley, Oregon, 5. Ken Wright Cellars - Willamette, Valley, Oregon, 6. Siduri - Russian River, California, 7. Elizabeth Spencer - Sonoma Coast, 8. Sokol Blosser - Dundee Hills, Oregon. Nominal fee per sample.
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. A Tour of Spain (Four Reds). $5.

Saturday, November 16
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Iconic Cabernet Sauvignons of the Napa Valley - Our Top Cabernet Event of the Year. 1. Opus One 2010,  2. Robert Mondavi 2009 Napa Valley Reserve, 3. Cakebread Cellars 2010, 4. Chimney Rock 2008 Stag's Leap, 5.   Chateau St. Jean 2010 Cinq Cepages, 6. World's End 2009 Good Times, Bad Times from To Kalon… with Wine Manager Austin Beeman. Need we say more? Nominal fee per sample.

AREA WINE BARS
  • The Bistro at Maumee Wines, (419) 893-2525, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee.
  • Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
  • Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Orin Swift 2009 Saldo Zinfandel


I’ve been in a Zinfandel mood lately. The grape has a wide spectrum of flavor and I’ve enjoyed exploring all the twists and turns of its vines.
Saldo is from the Orin Swift and its well-known winemaker Dave Phinney. Orin Swift also produces the very popular The Prisoner blend.
The word “Saldo" in Spanish can be translated as “balance” and sometimes as “here and there.” True to its moniker, the grapes for this vino come from across California. It is a blend of 80% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, 8% Syrah and 3% Grenache.
Aromatics from this wine include strawberry and spice. On the palate this wine ripples with power! This is a big wine that envelopes the tongue with dark berries, thick coating tannins and a pop of spice. As the wine unfolds there are hints of tobacco and black cherry. There is a bit of heat as this heavyweight clocks in at 15.5% alcohol.
We drank this after dinner the first night, but the majesty of the wine wasn’t really apparent until the next night when Green Dragon served a perfectly prepared lamb entrée for dinner. This is a wine that calls for a big food pairing and can stand up to barbeque or a blackened steak.
The wine runs about $30, but got it for $20 at a closeout sale. At any price, Saldo is a memorable tasting experience.
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Rating: 3.5 of 5  Value: 3 of 5
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Monday, November 11, 2013

Pedroncelli 2008 Mother Clone Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley


The Pedroncelli Winery has been in Sonoma County since 1927. Their Dry Creek Valley estate has historic vineyards that were first planted to Zinfandel in 1904.
Unfortunately, it has taken me almost 100 years to become acquainted with these Pedroncelli grapes! While in Cleveland working as a volunteer wine pourer for the Fabulous Food Show, I picked up a bottle from the wine shop.
I was prepared to spend a long time browsing the selection from around the world and soaking in all the details in each label. Green Dragon, however, demanded that I make a quick purchase so we could go to the hotel and eventually get into the hot tub.
A Zinfandel would be just right and I locked on to the Pedroncelli as soon as I noticed Dry Creek Valley and “Mother Clone.” I had no idea what this later phrase meant, but it seemed worth checking out.
It turns out that the original “mother” vines, of which there is a quarter acre left, have been cloned. So this wine includes the clones, some grapes from the 100-year-old vines as well as some from the Buchignani Vineyard, which is a young whippersnapper at only 50 years old.
The result is pretty darn good. The wine includes 5% Petite Sirah and is aged in American and French barrels for 12 months. The tannins are very noticeable at first, but after repeated sipping in a hot tub, it mellows into some nice jammy blackberry with a pinch of spice.
This is a full bodied wine that could age for a few years more, but is ready to enjoy right now. We picked this up for $14 and that’s a great value for a quality Dry Creek Zin. Pedroncelli is the mother of all clones!
Rating: 3 of 5  Value: 3.5 of 5

Friday, November 8, 2013

Iconic Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Set November 16 At Walt Churchill’s Market Maumee

Opus One
Opus One (Photo credit: HenryFigueroa)
Are you itching for some sublime California Cabernet? Look no further. Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000, has scheduled a Cabernet tasting that is sure to please the most discriminating wine lover. It also gives you a chance to sip some Cabs that break the $100 and even $200 price barrier.

The Iconic Cabernet tasting will be held Saturday, November 16, from 12:00 to 5:00 PM. No reservations are needed and samples will be priced individually.
The lineup includes:
  • Opus One 2010
  • Robert Mondavi Napa Reserve 2009
  • Cakebread Cellars 2010
  • Chimney Rock Stags Leap 2008
  • Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages 2010
  • World’s End Good Times, Bad Times Tokalon 2009
Many of these wines are produced in small quantities and all are highly sought after. The wines will be available in limited numbers in time for holiday gift giving.

This could be the Cab event of the season!
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Thursday, November 7, 2013

Domaine Charbonnier 2011 Côt, Touraine, Loire Valley

Where, oh where has your awesomeness gone? Not that long ago I reviewed the 2010 Domaine Charbonnier 2010 Côt and deemed it an accessible wine with some jazziness.

I liked it so much that I ordered three bottles of the 2011 vintage online. Green Dragon and I uncorked a bottle recently. We were underwhelmed.

Côt (pronounced COH) is the term used in some parts of France for the Malbec grape. This bottle comes from the Loire Valley, which has some nice soft and juicy red wines. Usually you can expect a casual sipper that doesn’t need a whole lot of bottle aging because the tannins are very loose.

But there’s a difference between having a light body and having no structure at all. Green Dragon took one sipped and proclaimed it as “not awesome.”

I wasn’t ready to write it off – especially since I had two other bottles downstairs that she still doesn’t know about. So I sniffed… and I swirled… and I swished. Unfortunately, the outcome didn’t change much.

There are some floating flavors of black cherry and smokiness, but there wasn’t really anything to dig into. This is a bright and light wine, very different from the fruit forward richness of an Argentinian Malbec.

I’m going to let the other two bottles rest for a year or more before I sample them. This wine needs time or maybe just a tannin transfusion. I’m still liking the Loire, but this bottle missed the mark.

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Rating: 1.5 of 5  Value: 2 of 5
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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Toledo Area Wine Events & Tastings: November 6-9, 2013

A glass of the Italian wine Barolo made from t...
A glass of the Italian wine Barolo made from the Nebbiolo grape in the Piedmont region. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Wednesday, November 6
The Andersons, Sylvania, 6– 8 PM. 1. Ruby Kurant the Archer, 2. Black Rock Petite Sirah, 3. Humble Bee Valhalla Meade 4. Humble Bee Pumpkin Harvest. Nominal fee per sample or $7 per flight.
Denny’s Craft Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. Call for schedule… 6-8 PM. $15.
Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville. Call for schedule… 6:00 – 9:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
Thursday, November 7
Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Great Fall Values: 1. 2011 Santa Barbara Winery – Chardonnay – Santa Barbara, California, 2. 2012 Domaine du Tariquet – Rose’ – Gascogne, France, 3. 2007 Expression 44° – Pinot Noir – Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon, 4. 2011 Coto de Hayas - Garnacha Centenria – Spain. $5 per flight or nominal fee per sample.
Andersons, Talmadge Road, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Barolo & Northern Italy.
The Piedmont in north eastern Italy is home to many white and red grapes that make for complex wines, none more sophisticated than the Nebbiolo grape that makes Barbaresco and profound Barolo. Whites: 1. Sansilvestro Roero Arneis, 2. Guido Mazzarello Gavi. Reds: 1. La Spinetta Langhe Nebbiolo 2009, 2. Damillano 2007 Barolo, 3. Giacosa Fratelli 2006 Barolo, 4. Produttori Barbaresco 2007, 5. Dominico Clerico Ciabot Mentin Genestra Barolo, 6. Paulo Sacavino Carobric 2006. Nominal fee per sample.
Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Nominal fee per sample.
TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.
Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. New Discoveries (Four Reds). $5.

Saturday, November 10
Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Elite Rieslings from Germany and Austria. My special order from superstar wine importer Terry Theise has just arrived and the theme is Riesling.  Perhaps the world's greatest white wine grape, Riesling comes in many forms including both sweet and very dry. We'll taste some single-vineyard wines from some superb properties… with Wine Manager Austin Beeman. Nominal fee per sample.

AREA WINE BARS
  • The Bistro at Maumee Wines, (419) 893-2525, 2556 Parkway Plaza, Maumee.
  • Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
  • Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.
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[Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]
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