After Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Syrah is the third most common red grape variety in Washington State. The total amount of Syrah grapes planted in Washington has greatly increased in recent years. As fans of the Shiraz/Syrah varietal, this is a trend that the Wine Peeps are excited to see.

Since we enjoyed all of the Washington Syrahs that we had at last month’s tasting dinner, we decided to try another set at this month’s dinner last Friday evening. As a whole this group of wines was not as strong as last month’s. From the very beginning, the top three set themselves apart from the bottom three.

Both the 2004 Chateau Ste Michelle Ethos Syrah and the 2003 Three Rivers Syrah were excellent with the 2005 Amavi Walla Walla Syrah finishing a solid third. For me, the biggest surprise of the evening was the 2003 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Shiraz which finished in last place. Columbia Crest is one of our favorite wineries, producing excellent wines at reasonable prices. Columbia Crest wines of many different varietals and vintages have been in a number of our 57 previous wine tasting dinners. I cannot remember a single one of their wines finishing below 2nd place until now. In fact, their 2003 Columbia Crest Two Vines Shiraz won last month’s tasting. And generally speaking, the Grand Estates label is considered superior to the Two Vines label. But that is definitely not the case with the 2003 Shiraz.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2004 Chateau Ste Michelle Ethos Syrah: Pleasant aromas of spice and lavender with hints of horseradish and tobacco. Crisp, black fruit flavors, ripe tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: MadWine (Washington), $25.99

2003 Three Rivers Syrah: My favorite of the evening. Movie theater-style buttered popcorn on the nose leads to luscious black cherry and plum flavors. Smooth tannins and good acidity. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Pete’s Wine Shop – Eastside (Seattle area), $15.99

2005 Amavi Walla Walla Syrah: Distinct smoky notes throughout. Fruit-forward with subtle tannins and a medium finish.
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), $22.99

2006 Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $22.39

2005 Seven Hills Walla Walla Syrah
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Price: $26.99

2003 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Shiraz
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Price: $8.99

If you know what you want and know a great deal on price when you see it, buying online or at a big volume local merchant makes terrific sense. In fact, most wine merchants try to move their excess stock twice a year, many in January and August, so those are usually very good times to buy.

Almost all significant wine merchants now have a website. Our experience with online buying has been generally very positive. We’ve ordered many, many cases from numerous online vendors without incident. We’ve also found great stores with terrible websites and vice versa. Over time, we’ve found a number of online vendors that we believe stand above the others in terms of ease of use, selection, price, and reliability:

Wine Exchange
MadWine
K&L Wine Merchants
Beverages & More!
Wine Library
Sam’s Wines & Spirits

We have ordered wine from each of these vendors—in most cases, multiple times. Of course, we cannot promise that your experience with these vendors will be as favorable as ours. We’re sure that we have also omitted some other great online vendors.

This week, an article in the Financial Times stated that Amazon.com is planning to start selling wine online. Certainly, Amazon entering the fray is indicative of wine buying online going mainstream.

If you are considering buying wine online, be sure to keep the following tips in mind:

• Be sure that the online vendor delivers to your state.

• Be sure that you are ordering wine bottles in the size that you want (ex. A standard bottle=750ml).

• Be sure that you get the vintage (year) that you ordered.

• Be sure that you read and understand the returns policy.

• Be sure that you check for case discounts.

• Be sure that you check out the minimum purchase for delivery.

• Be sure you find out the shipping costs before you order.

• Be sure that your wine is not delivered during extremely hot or extremely cold weather periods.

• Be sure that you have your delivery made to a business rather than a residential address as that will greatly simplify the process by facilitating an adult signature and eliminating wait time on your part.

• Be sure that you understand whether you will be charged for insurance on your order.

If you follow the above advice, the probabilities are high that your online wine buying experience will be as favorable as ours has been. We’d love to hear what your online wine buying experiences have been.

The March edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday is being hosted by Joel of Wine Life Today who selected Comfort Wines as our theme. He simply called for us to unwind and relax with a favorite bottle of wine.

“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” –Benjamin Franklin

Since we all have different ways of relaxing and different wines that we enjoy relaxing with, all four of us Wine Peeps participated in this WBW independently. Each of us has written about our comfort wine and relaxing experience in our own words…

.

Kori

Sydney, my 13 month old daughter, is asleep right now and I finally have a moment to sit down on the couch, relax, start reading a book that’s been on my nightstand for over a year, and sip one of my all-time favorite wines, the 2002 Peter Lehmann Shiraz. Too many times when Sydney is sleeping, I am frantically trying to get as much done as I can (paying bills, washing dishes, working on these blog posts, etc.) that I rarely take time for myself. This comfort wine theme was perfect in that it forced me to slow down and relax a little.

From the first sniff, this wine makes me completely relax. The aromas of black fruits, spice, and pepper permeate through my nose and go all the way to my toes, relaxing each part of my body along the way. In addition, it takes me back to wonderful memories of our time in the Barossa Valley of Australia. Blackberry, black currant, and pepper flavors dominate on the palate. This is an extremely well-balanced wine with bold yet smooth tannins, just the right amount of acidity, and a long, lingering finish.

Man, this is good stuff! I’m going to have to make time to enjoy this comfort wine ritual on a more regular basis.

2002 Peter Lehmann Shiraz
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: MadWine (Washington), $13.99 [2005 is the currently available vintage]; probably can also be found at your local wine outlet

.

John

When I’m not studying wine, I’m in the investment management business studying these crazy markets. I unwind at home in my sweats by sipping a good glass of wine while watching the sailboat races on Lake Union from my deck, reading a good book [currently I’m reading New Classic Winemakers of California], or going online where I browse sports, travel [fantasizing about my next trip Down Under], and wine.

My comfort wine is the 2004 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet. It’s a bright, fresh-looking sipper with nice aromas of fresh, ripe, dark fruit. It gets my attention early with its tannins, yet it morphs into a balanced wine with a long finish. When I’m drinking Koonunga Hill, I forget all of the problems in the world, the economy, and the stock market, and dream of my next evening in the Barossa.

Best of all, it’s a $7.99 bottle of wine that you can find almost anywhere. And where else can you find a wine at this price that will last 15 or 20 years? Let’s do the Koonunga!

2004 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine Exchange (California), $7.99 [2006 is the currently available vintage]; probably can also be found at your local wine outlet

.

Colby

My comfort wine is the Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot Cabernet. The price is right, averaging between $6 and $8 a bottle, and it is a great all around wine. The wine has a fragrant nose of red cherry and hints of minerality. On first sip it is fruit-forward and balanced with just enough tannins for a good body and a pleasant finish. After it has had a chance to breathe, you can expect the tannins to open up so you can experience its true complexity. It’s not overpowering but definitely not a wimpy wine either.

I typically enjoy this wine while watching TV, reading or working on our blogs (remember I’m the geek; computers are fun). This wine is one that I’ve enjoyed over the years, first while studying during grad school and now as an easy drinker that won’t break the bank. Give it a shot and tell us what you think.

2005 Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot Cabernet
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: WinoWorld (Idaho), $7.38 [2004 is the currently available vintage]; probably can also be found at your local wine outlet

.

LaGayle

Most evenings I unwind and relax with a book; my reading of choice is fiction. While I read I enjoy sipping a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, most often Nobilo. While many people might question a Sauvignon Blanc as a sipping comfort wine, it is those characteristics that it provides that I specifically like: the fresh, tart, grapefruity taste with the soft golden color. I do not like sweet or oaky flavors, but I love a crisp, cold white wine…even in winter!

2007 Nobilo Marlborough Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: MadWine (Washington), $9.99; probably can also be found at your local wine outlet

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

This year’s Open That Bottle Night was last Saturday, February 23. Open That Bottle Night, created by Wall Street Journal wine columnists Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, is the one night a year that we are all encouraged to get out that bottle of wine that is so special that no special occasion seems special enough to actually open it. Just open it already…and enjoy!

That’s exactly what the Wine Peeps did when we got together for dinner and opened a bottle of 1992 Henschke Hill of Grace that Dad (John) had been saving. The four of us fell in love with Australia and Australian wines when we visited in the spring of 2005. One of our favorite stops in our wine touring of the Barossa Valley was Henschke. The people were extremely friendly and welcoming. The cellar door (tasting room) had a warm, rustic feel. And the wines (all 15 or so that they insisted we taste) were excellent. A picture of their tasting bar with the lineup of wines was included in my Australia really wants your business post last week. We were there during harvest so we were able to see the winery in full action. Henschke’s Hill of Grace wine is 100 percent Shiraz from their Hill of Grace vineyard and is one of the two most famous wines in all of Australia, the other being Penfolds Grange. From Henschke’s website:

“Hill of Grace: this surely is one of the most evocative phrases in the world of wine. It is a translation from the German ‘Gnadenberg’, a region in Silesia, and the name given to the lovely Lutheran Church across the road. For Henschke it is the name of both the vineyard and the wine that has so captured the heart of the red wine lover.”

Since our family is Lutheran, seeing the lovely church and its connection to the vineyard gave the wine even more significance for us.

While the wonderful folks at Henschke gave us tastes from $70+ bottles, obviously their top-of-the-line Hill of Grace was not open for tasting. Upon returning home, Dad set out to buy a bottle to see if it was all it’s hyped to be. Since it has great aging potential, he wanted to buy a bottle that already had some age on it so that we could enjoy it sooner. He decided on the 1992 vintage which is considered to be one of their better (although probably not their best) vintages. Once he had it in the cellar, all he needed was an occasion to drink it. Enter Open That Bottle Night.

So Saturday night we sat down to a wonderful dinner of beef tenderloin with sautéed mushrooms, baked sweet potatoes, and steamed broccoli prepared by Mom (LaGayle) and opened that special bottle of Hill of Grace. It did not disappoint! It received two thumbs up from all four Peeps and was definitely worth the wait.

1992 Henschke Hill of Grace: 100% Shiraz. Brilliant with very little dilution in color on the rim despite the fact that it is 16 years old. Very perfumy and peppery with floral hints on the nose. Chewy and full-bodied. Lots of black pepper and black fruits on the palate. Not as overtly tannic or as alcoholic as most big wines. Very smooth and extremely well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Vintage Wines (California), $299.99

While our goal at Wine Peeps is to find excellent wines that are also excellent values, it sure can be fun to splurge every once in a while.

If you missed this year’s OTBN, go ahead and open your special bottle anyway. Or you can join us for next year’s OTBN on Saturday, February 28, 2009 (always the last Saturday in February).

Today is the first “virtual meeting” of the Wine Book Club. The idea was originally proposed by Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 and based on the model of Wine Blogging Wednesday. The concept brings together bloggers and wine lovers all over the world for book reviews and discussions every other month after reading a selected text. Our host for the first edition was David McDuff of McDuff’s Food & Wine Trail and the text he selected was Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch. As someone who has far too many unread books on my bookshelf and nightstand, this club was great motivation for me to actually get to reading.

At first the 531-page text seemed daunting but Vino Italiano is actually a very easy read. While I read the book from cover to cover (save for the reference material in Part III), the layout lends itself to use as a quick reference tool. And I am certain that I will be referring back to it frequently. The first section of the book, Part I: The Basics, covers just that—the basics of Italian wine history, laws, and labeling. The meat of the book, Part II: The Regions, covers each of Italy’s twenty-one regions, all of which produce wine. Each region’s chapter roughly follows the same format: introduction, map of the DOC zones of that region, and a discussion of the wines made in the region broken down into the following categories when applicable—Vini Spumante (sparkling wines), Vini Bianchi (white wines), Vini Rosati (rose wines), Vini Rossi (red wines), and Vini Dolci (sweet wines). Each chapter has a “Fast Facts” section that includes a few basic facts, key grape varieties, top vintages, wine touring information, and recommended tastings (all the recommended wines should be available in the American market). And, finally, each chapter concludes with an original recipe by either Mario Batali or Lidia Bastianich to showcase how regional foods and wines go together in Italy. Part III: The Data includes a glossary of Italian wine terms, a list of the grape varieties, a directory of DOC(G) and IGT zones, a list of producers, and additional miscellaneous resources.

As I learn more about Italy and their food and wine culture, I am continually amazed by how much a part of their everyday life it is. I am anxious to take a trip over there to experience it for myself.

Of all of Italy’s wine regions, chances are you have probably heard the most about Tuscany and very little, if any, about some of the others. As I mentioned in this month’s Wine Blogging Wednesday post, I have become particularly intrigued with learning more about Piedmont over the past year. Reading this book continued to fan that flame as it referred to Piedmont as the “wine-lover’s mecca.” Bastianich and Lynch made an interesting comparison between Tuscany and Piedmont:

“Tuscany is Italy’s Bordeaux, Piedmont its Burgundy: One is worldly and market-minded, the other more insular and scholarly. And both seem to like it that way.”

Besides Piedmont, another region that now interests me is Basilicata. It is home to Aglianico del Vulture, arguably the best red wine of southern Italy. As the book says:

“Looking at the current scene, it almost goes without saying that Aglianico del Vulture is one of the new generation of collectible wines from Italy. While your friends are battling it out for rare (and often incredibly expensive) Barolo and Brunello, you might consider checking out Paternoster’s rare but relatively inexpensive “Rotondo” aglianico, D’Angelo’s “Canneto” and “Vigna Caselle,” or Nataio’s “La Firma” Aglianico del Vulture. All of them are assertively aromatic, packed with black-berry fruit and wrapped in wooly blankets of tannin that will preserve them for years. If you care about the wine, not the show, Basilicata is a place to consider. Get there before everyone else.”

Vino Italiano did inspire me to try some new wines although I have not had an opportunity to do so yet. Some of the recommended tastings on my list to try are: Valtellina from Lombardia, Rosso Conero from Le Marche, Primitivo from Puglia, and Aglianico del Vulture from Basilicata.

I highly recommend this book to any wine lover interested in learning more about Italian wines, especially if you are considering a trip to Italy anytime soon. So head on over to Amazon or your book retailer of choice and pick yourself up a copy.

If you’ve already read the book, please leave a comment and let us know what you thought of it.

It should be obvious that if you drink too much you are likely to get a headache. So besides cutting back on the quantity of wine you drink at one sitting, or spitting instead of swallowing like the professional tasters do, what can you do to lessen the headache issue?

While sulfites often get the blame for headaches after drinking red wine, doctors say that a more likely culprit is histamines. Taking an over-the-counter antihistamine before drinking may be the solution to your problem. [We are not doctors so please consult with your regular doctor before taking any medication.]

And while we’re giving advice on headache prevention, also remember to drink plenty of water when you drink wine, because all alcoholic beverages have a dehydrating effect. And medical experts say that can also contribute to headaches.

It’s a myth that sulfites in wine cause headaches. In fact, all wine grapes have natural sulfites. Don’t be confused by the label that says, “No sulfites added.” That doesn’t mean “no” sulfites. Red wines actually have the least amount of sulfites added because they already have plenty of natural preservatives from the grape skins used to make them. If you truly believe that it is sulfites causing your headaches, beware of salsa, dried fruits, packaged cookies, and even orange juice. They all have much higher levels of sulfites than red wine. In fact, a typical salad bar uses ten times the sulfites in wine to keep its produce fresh.

In sum, for the best chance of headache-free wine tasting, take an antihistamine before you begin, drink plenty of water along with the wine, drink in moderation, and spit instead of swallowing, especially if you are the designated driver.

Andrew from Spittoon was our host for the February Wine Blogging Wednesday. His Just Seven Words theme was well-received and 60+ bloggers participated (see our post). Check out the WBW #42 Roundup for a fun, quick, and very interesting read. For a challenge of your own as you read the entries, try to guess what Italian red wine they are describing and then click on over to the full posts to see how close you are.

Do you have a favorite wine that totally helps you unwind and relax? If so, WBW #43 will be right up your alley. Joel of Wine Life Today has selected Comfort Wines as the next theme. He is not limiting us to a particular region, varietal, or a set number of words. He is simply asking us to choose a wine, any wine, that we enjoy drinking as we unwind and then share our thoughts about the wine and what makes the experience so relaxing on Wednesday, March 5.

And for the artists and other creative folks out there, don’t forget about the Wine Blogging Wednesday new logo contest. Visit the WBW website for more information or submit your logo idea via email to winebloggingwednesday@gmail.com on or before March 31.

Through the years, we have taken a number of trips to different wine regions throughout the world. As you might expect, we have had a wide range of experiences, some great and others not so great.

We found visiting Australian cellar doors (wine tasting rooms) to be one of the great wine experiences in the world. First, there are virtually no tasting fees (at least as of 2005 when we were last there). The hosts are knowledgeable and extremely friendly. Rather than limiting you to three small tastes for a $5 or $10 fee, the Australians want you to taste all ten or 15 wines they have on display and are almost offended if you don’t. And they don’t hide the “good” stuff. We had free tastings of $70-$80 bottles of excellent wine. [I realize that Liquor Control Board laws in many states in the U.S. do not permit this same level of hospitality.]

“…I found in Australia a soulmate. And I sometimes feel as though purely by chance we’ve both been beating the same path to the same destination at the same time. Good wine; enjoyable approachable wine available to all, affordable by all. Sometimes seeking to provide the greatest pleasure for the greatest number and achieving it. Sometimes saying ‘We’re not frightened, we can equal those old-timers from Europe.’ But more often saying ‘We’re Australian, we don’t try to copy anyone. Take us for what we are and enjoy it.’” –Oz Clarke, Oz Clarke’s Australian Wine Companion

In North America, we have found the wineries and tasting rooms in Washington State and the Okanagan Valley of Canada to be the closest to Australia in their friendly attitude toward consumers.

In contrast, we have visited a number of regions that are very well-known for their wines but, for the most part, the people seem to fall short in their customer service skills. While I would recommend that any wine lover take a trip to France if the opportunity arises because of its rich wine history, many chateaus in France are not open to the public and some of those that are act like they are doing you a favor to let you taste their wines.

Napa tends to be over-crowded and charge high tasting fees. We even found some people at the tasting rooms in Napa who looked down their noses at us and their other guests while charging us all to taste their third label. [If you go wine tasting in California, we recommend that you visit Sonoma instead where we have found the wines to be just as good yet the people are much friendlier.] And finally, the most disappointing in all of our wine trips was the reception we got (or should I say didn’t get) in Oregon. Really, what do they have to be snooty about?

Now, in which of those environments do you feel an obligation to buy? For me, the easy answer is Australia. Even though I am not able to visit Australia frequently, the positive experience that we had there, not to mention the fact that they produce outstanding wines at reasonable prices, makes me want to buy their wines and encourage you to do so also.

What have been your experiences, great and not so great, as you have visited wine regions throughout the world? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts with us.

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