Wine Peeps

We had so much fun exploring new wines in our first Wine Century Club Tasting that we decided to do it again. We headed over to K&L Wine Merchants to order another case of wine (actually a baker’s dozen this time), each bottle containing at least one grape variety that we had not previously tasted.

We followed the same format as last time for the tasting. All four of us Wine Peeps got together one afternoon, put all 13 bottles out on the table and tasted them one-by-one, discussing them as we went.

Eleven out of the thirteen bottles we tried this time were white wines. Unfortunately, this set of wines was not as solid as the wines in the last tasting, but we did find four new wines that we would like to try again sometime.

All in all, it was another fun tasting! After checking off the boxes on our Wine Century list, Dad (John) and I both have now had over 100 different grape varieties. It’s time to turn in our applications for membership in the Wine Century Club.

Just because we’ve officially met the requirements for our Wine Century lists doesn’t mean that we are done trying new grape varieties. We have learned so much, discovered new wines, and uncovered some great values. Therefore, we’ll remain on the lookout for new varieties to try.

The next time you’re buying wine (in your local wine shop, online, or in a restaurant), consider trying something new and then come back and tell us about your experience.

Here’s a rundown of the wines that we tasted (regions listed in parentheses).

Our favorites:

2007 Dominio del Plata “Crios de Susana Balbo” Torrontes (Salta, Argentina): Grape: Torrontes. Soft, golden straw color. Fragrant aromas of apricots and magnolia blossoms with a hint of sweetness. Apricots and orange peel come through on the palate. Similar to a cross between Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. Well-balanced with medium plus body, refreshing acidity, and a smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $12.99

2005 Bleasdale Verdelho (Langhorne Creek, Australia): Grape: Verdelho. Light gold with aromas of burnt toast and butter. Too much oak for me but a great value for a California Chardonnay fan.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $9.99

2006 La Posta del Viñatero Cocina Blend (Mendoza, Argentina): Grapes: 60% Malbec, 20% Bonarda, 20% Syrah. Deep, dark, inky purple like Welch’s grape juice. Aromas of cherry pie and oak. Ripe fruit flavors with some sweetness on the back end. A good sipper with subtle tannins and a short finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $13.99

2006 Pra Soave Classico Superiore (Veneto, Italy): Grape: Garganega. Deep, rich gold with fruit salad aromas. Citrus, almond, nutmeg, and spice on the palate. Crisp acidity and a medium finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $13.99

The others:

NV Bortolomiol Prosecco Brut Prior (Veneto, Italy): Grape: Prosecco.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $14.95

2006 Val de Lainos Verdejo (Rueda, Spain): Grape: Verdejo.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $10.99

2005 Teruzzi & Puthod Vernaccia di San Gimignano (Tuscany, Italy): Grape: Vernaccia.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $9.95

2006 Weingut Schmelz Grüner Veltliner “Pichl Point” Federspiel (Wachau, Austria): Grape: Grüner Veltliner.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $15.99

2006 Emiliana “Natura” Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile): Grapes: 87% Carmenere, 4% Syrah, 4% Petite Verdot, 1% Malbec.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $8.99

2006 Mancini Vermentino di Gallura (Sardinia, Italy): Grape: Vermentino.
Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $11.99

2006 Domaine de la Pépière Classique Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie (Loire Valley, France): Grape: Melon de Bourgogne.
Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $11.99

2005 I Favati Fiano di Avellino (Campania, Italy): Grape: Fiano.
Quality: 1.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $17.99

2006 Ermacora Tocai Friulano (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy): Grape: Tocai Friulano.
Quality: 1.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $15.99

What is the best “non-major” grape variety that you’ve ever tasted?

On Friday, Dad (John) and I made the trek across the Cascade Mountains to Ellensburg to attend another one of the consumer courses offered through Central Washington University’s World Wine Program. Led by noted wine industry professional Amy Mumma, this program featured Unique Wines from Around the World.

As the program title suggests, during this course we tasted six unique wines from around the world. While many of us have our regular go-to varietals (Shiraz/Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, etc.), this course was a fun opportunity to experiment a little and try some wines that we had never tasted before. I had only had two of them (Albariño and Amarone della Valpolicella) previously so four were completely new to me.

Surprisingly, my favorite of the evening was a dessert wine, the 2000 Royal Tokaji – Tokaji Aszu, 5 Puttonyos from Hungary. It is known as the “Wine of Kings and King of Wines.” It is very sweet but its high acidity balances out the sweetness so it does not taste sickeningly sweet. This wine is a dessert all by itself.

The 2003 Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC was excellent as well. While many people have had Valpolicella before, Amarone della Valpolicella is made using a completely different process. It is made in the appasimento style; the grapes are dried on straw mats for four to six months after harvest. This wine is a good sipper but would also be good with game or other meats.

Since I had little or no point of reference for these varietals, the quality ratings are based solely on my personal preferences. All of these wines have limited availability and will probably have to be special ordered from your favorite wine outlet. Prices listed are those that Amy paid when purchasing the wines for this class.

While on a regular basis I will probably stick with my go-to varietals that are more readily available, it is always a lot of fun to try something new. Bringing out one of these wines when you have friends over for dinner would certainly spark some interesting conversations. And since most of these wines are relatively unknown, many of them are very reasonably priced.

Here’s a rundown of the wines that we tasted (regions listed in parentheses):

Dessert Wine:

2000 Royal Tokaji – Tokaji Aszu, 5 Puttonyos (Tokaj-Hegyalja, Hungary): Grapes: Furmint, Harslevelu, Sarga, Muskotaly. Beautiful, brilliant amber color. Lots of spice, honey, orange, apricot, and a bit of almond on the nose. Apricot bursts out on the palate followed by flavors of honey and spice. Sweet, high acidity, and a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $90 (500ml)

Reds:

2003 Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC (Veneto, Italy): Grapes: Molinara, Rondinella, Corvina. Medium red with a slight hint of browning (which indicates some age). Aromas of cinnamon, dried cherries, and leather. Cherries prominent on the palate as well. Dry but not drying. Rich and fresh with good mouth-feel. Full-bodied yet very smooth.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $37

2004 Teliani Valley Saperavi (Kakheti, Eastern Georgia): Grape: Saperavi. Dark, opaque with strong and dense aromas of black fruits (especially plums and blackberries). Not as much fruit on the palate. Extremely tannic, medium body. Very long finish with distinct flavors of bitter baker’s chocolate.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $14

2000 A&G Papaioannou Pape Johannou Vineyards Nemea (Nemea AC, Greece)
Grape: Agiorgitiko.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Price: $16

Whites:

2006 Laxas Winery Albariño (Rias Biaxas DO, Spain): Grape: Albariño. Clear and brilliant with a slight green tint (indicating it is from a cooler climate). Aromas of hay, kiwi, floral, and pear. More fruit on the palate than on the nose. Flavors of citrus, peach, and flowers. Soft body with a long, lingering finish. A very fresh wine, similar to Viognier.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $18

2005 Clos Lapeyre Jurancon Sec (Jurancon Sec AC, Southwest France)
Grape: Gros Manseng
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Price: $14

In previous posts, I have reported on our monthly wine tasting dinners. During these dinners, we taste six wines blind. The guests are only told the wine’s region and varietal. For example, our February dinner featured Washington Syrah. For more information on how we set up these dinners, please visit our Tasting Dinners page.

When the Wine Peeps get together for dinner during the week, we generally do a private tasting with just two bottles. The setup for these dinners is slightly different from our monthly dinners. Periodically, John and I sack up pairs of wines that we would like to blind taste against each other. We label the pairs with a letter (A, B, C, etc.) to keep them together and also indicate on the sacks if they are red or white. After sacking up anywhere from six to ten pairs, we put them away. By the time we pull them out of the cabinet for one of our family dinners, even we have forgotten what the wines are. Depending on the meal that is being prepared, we grab either a red or white pair. These tastings are considered double-blind. While the foodies out there probably would scoff at this method of food and wine pairing, we have learned a lot about wine in the process. During these dinners not only are we trying to determine our favorite between the two wines but we are challenging ourselves to identify the wine’s region and varietal.

Last week, we had one of these private tastings which turned out to be a pair of wines from the Rioja region of Spain, the 2001 Conde de Valdemar Rioja Reserva and the 2003 Finca Allende Rioja. Rioja, located in north-central Spain and only 200 miles from Bordeaux, is considered one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world. The primary varietal used in Rioja is Tempranillo. Both wines were good but all four of us preferred the Conde de Valdemar. We really enjoyed this tasting and the Ribera del Duero tasting [Spanish Ayes! post] we had in January as one of our goals this year is to learn more about Spanish wines.

2001 Conde de Valdemar Rioja Reserva: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo. Very pleasant earthy aromas with a hint of asparagus. A lot of fruit up front, especially black cherries. Medium-bodied, well-balanced, and a nice long finish. (Note: In Rioja, Reservas must spend at least one year aging in oak barrels and at least another year aging in the bottle.)
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop – Eastside (Seattle area), $13.49; K&L Wine Merchants (California), $16.99

2003 Finca Allende Rioja: 100% Tempranillo. Barnyard aromas mixed with scents of wildflowers give way to black fruits such as dewberries on the palate. Medium body with smooth tannins.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop – Eastside (Seattle area), $20.15; The Wine Country (California), $21.99

“You only have so many bottles in your life, never drink a bad one.” –Len Evans

Wine prices are not inherently linked to quality and pleasure. As we’ve said in the About page, we’ve tried wines in and from almost every major wine-producing area in the world. We’ve had blind tastings and wine tasting dinners to compare what we thought were our favorites from each region and each varietal.

My conclusion: A high price does not necessarily make a great wine. In fact, the least expensive wine has actually been the consensus favorite more often than the most expensive wine in our tastings. That is why we started this blog with the post, You can’t taste the label. Here are some examples of wineries I have found that produce great wines at reasonable prices:

United States
Washington:
Columbia Crest
Domaine Ste. Michelle (sparkling)
California:
Pedroncelli
Rosenblum
Sebastiani
Villa Mt. Eden

Australia
Jacob’s Creek Reserve
Penfolds (Koonunga Hill Range)
Peter Lehmann
St Hallett
Thorn-Clarke
Wynns Coonawarra Estate

Canada
Jackson-Triggs

Chile
Concha y Toro

France
Chateau Branda
Chateau Potensac
Chateau Thieuley
Guigal

Italy
Gabbiano
Michele Chiarlo

New Zealand
Kim Crawford
Nobilo
Matua Valley
Saint Clair

South Africa
Fairview

Spain
Las Rocas de San Alejandro

We’ll make specific vintage and varietal recommendations from many of these wineries in coming weeks and months as well as identify other great value producers from around the world as time goes on.

One of my goals for 2008 is to learn more about Spanish wines. Most of you are probably familiar with the easy drinking, widely available, great value Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha (Grenache) which retails for $7-10 in most areas. As you go up the quality ladder in Spain, you probably think of Tempranillos from the Rioja region. However, in recent years, the Ribera del Duero region, also known for Tempranillo, has really come to the forefront.

Last night we had a blind tasting of two Ribera del Duero wines with dinner. We tasted the 2004 Tinto Pesquera – Crianza and the 2004 Condado de Haza – Crianza. Both wines matched up well with our Swiss steak over pasta and salad. We found them both quite enjoyable but 3 out of 4 of us preferred the Tinto Pesquera.


2004 Tinto Pesquera – Crianza: This wine is very dense and exhibits a dull, inky purple color with aromas of chocolate, leather, and earth. It is very dry, especially without food. With subtle fruit, bold tannins, good acidity, and a long finish, it improves with food after it has been in the glass a while. Seems to be a wine that will really open up in a few years and should age well.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop – Eastside (Seattle area), $26.99; Hi-Time Cellars (LA area), $26.99; Sherry Lehmann (NYC area), $29.95

2004 Condado de Haza – Crianza: This wine is also dense and has an inky purple hue that is a bit brighter than the Pesquera. With a nose of chocolate-covered cherries, it shows lots of cherry and plum flavors up front. It is well balanced and with food became quite jammy. Ready to drink now but should last quite a while.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop – Eastside (Seattle area), $18.44; Ancona’s Wine (Connecticut), $24.99